Web Design For Kids

July 3, 2007 by
Filed under: Blog Entries, Business, Community, Education, Technology 

I wanted to share this new DVD with you all called “Web Design for Kids”, created by Brian Richardson. I found this on Black in Business and thought it was a good idea. I’m a tech guy and understand the importance of teaching kids about technology at a young age. Once a skill used by an elite few, the need for being computer literate is important skillset for everyone to have. This is just one product that people can use.

I’m amazed at how kids pick up on things so quickly. My two year old sits at my PC mimicking me and uses the mouse like he knows what he’s doing. I also find this skill important because the African-American community needs this type of training. We are opening more businesses every year and the Internet is an easy and affordable way to market our products/services. I’ve taught classes on web design and people are amazed at how easy the process has become.

Here is an article from the Baltimore Times with more information:

Former PS 164 student returns to help students build a web page
by Ken Morgan
Baltimore Times
Originally posted 5/4/2007

A couple of months ago, Brian Richardson a former student at PS 164 had an idea and a plan. He wanted to show that young people living and going to school where he lived and attended school were more than capable of learning to use computers and building a webpage. “I grew up in Cherry Hill. I live in Houston now. I teach computer literacy in Houston and I have a business called Click Drag Solutions,” he explained. Richardson originally approached Verna Chase, principal of Cherry Hill PS 164 to take on the project.

“It’s been wild coming back. It is almost like an out of body experience,” said the enterprising 1987 City College graduate. Chase then selected the four students to be part of the project. Neko Speed, Ashley Jones, Archie Lynch III, and Jamal Howard were selected to build a webpage. Archie Lynch III is in the sixth grade. Ashley Jones is in the seventh grade. Neko Speed is in the sixth grade. Jamal Howard a seventh grader was not available for the interview.

Brian a solid example of what the Baltimore City Public School system can produce said, “I am really trying to teach people, especially young people, that creating a webpage site is really a simple task if you do it the right way.”

He added. “I asked the principal to get well-behaved students who could pay attention for four days. Mission accomplished. It went real well. They knocked down a four day project in three days,” said Brian who trained these eager students. The young man has put his computer learning technique on DVDs. He calls it “demystifying HTML.”

“I was wondering how we were going to build our website with Notepad,” Archie said calmly and assuredly. Neko matter of factly explained the construction. “We typed in the background and used HTML language,” he said. Chiming in one after another explaining what they did, first Archie, then Ashley and Neko said, “We typed in the background. We added the color. We used HMTL language.”

All three young people bubbled with confidence that their classmates could do what they did. “I can help other people now learn how to do it,” said Lynch. Ashley agreed. Neko said “I can help other people. If I could do this, I could do anything to help people.”

They replied to how completing the website affected their confidence. “I could help people learn how to do it,” said young Lynch. Ashley said much the same thing as Lynch. “If I could do this, I know I could do anything to help people,” Neko said.

Richardson plans to develop a DVD to help youngsters like the four students at PS 164. “The World Wide Web is for everybody. It would be beautiful to close the digital divide,” Brian exclaimed. Ashley, Archie, Neko and Jamal think so. Visit their website pages at www.clickdragsolutions.com.

Now if only BCPSS can secure ample funds to get wiring, computers and training for all of its students.

 

When it comes to education in the black community I’m always down, so spread the word about this DVD. If you know of any others, let me know.

 

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Comments

2 Comments on Web Design For Kids

  1. JD on Thu, 5th Jul 2007 9:02 am

    2. Theo, thanks for the post on this topic. I can just picture your 2 year with the mouse!

  2. theo.johnson on Thu, 5th Jul 2007 10:56 am

    3. JD,

    No problem. I think it’s a good concept. I hope to see more of it and I’m even planning my own classes (which I’ll blog about on a later date). Thanks for letting me know about it.

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