Bridge the Divide is a start up non-profit whose goal is to bridge the digital and nutritional divide that seem to be one of the largest and most controllable differentiators in learning and excelling for underprivileged children

1. Bridge the Divide
An Elementary Pilot Program

2. Agenda
• Introductions
• Technology as a Change Agent
• Nutrition as a Change Agent
• Introduction to Bridge the Divide(BTD)
• BTD Pilot Curriculum
• BTD Goals
• What is the School’s Role?

3. Technology as a Change Agent
“Technology is the great equalizer -- Giving individuals the ability to
dramatically improve the quality of a person’s life though the click of a
mouse button.”
Dimitri Kanevsky
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

4. Nutrition as a Change Agent
“I believe that parents need to make nutrition education a priority in
their home environment. It’s crucial for good health and longevity to
instill in your children sound eating habits from an early age.”
Cat Kora
Food TV Iron Chef

5. Identify the problem
Children in underprivileged households face many challenges, many of
which impact their learning.
1. Technology is expensive & underprivileged children have less opportunity
to use it.
2. Healthy foods are more expensive than unhealthy foods & underprivileged
households consume less of it.

6. Statistics of Underprivileged
1. National Assessment of Educational Progress
http://nationsreportcard.gov/

7. 0
10
20
30
40
50
4.5
7
11
15.7
18.1
32.7
46
8.1
9.1
12.6
15.9
22
34.9
48.4
7.6
9.3
13
16.3
21.1
34.7
47.4
PERCENT OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS WITH A COMPUTER BY INCOME
Rural Urban Central City
National Telecommunications & Information Administration http://www.ntia.doc.gov

8. Technology & Academic Achievement
• Teachers who had students use computers to solve simulations
observed “positive benefits” on achievement as measured in NAEP’s
mathematics test.

9. • Insufficient nutrient intake during childhood has been linked to physical and
mental health problems as well as emotional and behavioral problems, learning
deficiencies, and lower grades.
• Six- to eleven-year-old children from food-insufficient families had significantly
lower arithmetic scores and were more likely to have repeated a grade. [2]
2. Alaimo, K., Olson, C.M., Frongillo Jr., E.A. Food
insufficiency and American school-aged children's cognitive, academic, and psychosocial development. Pediatrics
July 2001;108(1):44-53;/
Nutrition Studies

10. • Coordinated nutrition education programs have improved children’s
eating habits, leading to a decreased reported daily intake of fat, and
an increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables. [3]
• School Breakfast Programs have been shown to improve
academic, behavioral, and emotional functioning, leading to
increased composite math and reading scores. [4]
4. Minnesota Department of Children Families and Learning. School
breakfast programs energizing the classroom 1998; [17] Murphy, J.M. et al. Effects of a universally free, in-classroom
school breakfast program: results from the Maryland Meals for Achievement Evaluation. Initial Report 1999 May 4;
Nutrition & Academic Achievement
3. Prevention Institute for the Center for Health Improvement (CHI). Initial Report May 2002

11. Introduction to
Bridge the Divide

12. Mission & Goals
Mission
“Bridging the educational divide through
technology, nutrition and authentic
experience.”
Curriculum Goals
To teach students how to feed themselves
both literally and figuratively through use of
technology and agricultural knowledge to
empower them toward fulfilling dreams, total
well being and simplification of practical
needs.
Nutrition
Authentic
Experience
Technology

13. Technology Key Concepts
• History of Computers
• Computer Components
• Basic Computer Skills
• Understanding Operating Systems & Programs
• Identifying creative outlets
• EduBuntu Education Oriented Operating System
• Lumosity Personalized Training Program

14. What is Linux?
• Linux is a free and open source computer operating system used on
computers, servers, and mobile devices.
QUICK FACTS
• More than 90% of today’s 500 fastest super computers run some variant of Linux.
• Android system on mobile devices is built on the Linux kernel.

15. EduBuntu
• Edubuntu is a variant of Linux designed
for use in classrooms.
• Developed in collaboration with teachers
and technologists in multiple countries.
• Designed for children, ages 6-18.

16. Typing & Word Processing

17. Math & Arithmetic

18. Arts & Sciences

19. Lumosity
Designed by neuroscientists to improve
core cognitive functions
• Enhance memory and attention
• Personalize a training program
• Track changes in performance

20. Nutrition Key Concepts
• What are Earth Sciences?
• Water Cycle & Recycling
• Gardening Basics
• Food Pyramid
• Environmental Conservation & Protection

21. Authentic Experience Key Concepts
• Team Building
• Self-Sufficiency
• Independence
• Confidence
• Entreprenuership
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Resourcefulness

22. Core Values
Respect
• For the Earth
• For the Welfare of Others
• For My Knowledge and the Knowledge of Others
Responsibility
• To Protect the Earth
• To Help Others
• To Build My Knowledge and the Knowledge of Others
Resourcefulness
• By Working in Harmony with the Earth
• By Sharing Our Harvest With others
• By Improving My Habits and Ideas and the Habits and Ideas of Others

23. Program Details
• Start Date: September 3rd
• Max Students: 30
• Length of Program:
18 weeks from 3:30PM-5:30PM
Tuesdays and Thursdays
• 1 Family Dinners
Prepared by students from their garden
• Fundraising & Entrepreneurship
Vegetables will be turned into Salsa and sold through fundraising
website
Fundraiser Dinner

24. Generic Day
3:30
Check In Prep & breakdown day, includes snack- 15 minutes
3:45
45 minute Session I for Group A, Session II for Group B
4:30
45 minute Session II for Group A, Session I for Group B
5:15
Unstructured time & clean up

25. BTD Pilot Curriculum

26. Technology Day
Exercise 1: Find the Computer
Introduction: Discuss what is and is not a computer
to determine the location of computers in everyday
life. This includes a brief history of the computer
and the components necessary to consider
something a computer.
Main Idea: To encourage innovating thinking about
how technology can be used to show students that
the computers and technology surrounding us are
not as complex as they seem.
Action: Students will identify common locations for
computers in everyday scenarios, aided by a
computer slide show.

27. Technology Day
Exercise 2: Basic Computer Components
Introduction: Look inside a computer to determine what
each component does.
Main Idea: Empowering and developing deductive skills
through understanding the working interior of a pc/laptop
and building a foundation for troubleshooting and
repairing basic common failures on their own.
Action: Using a partially deconstructed computer, ask
students to locate as many computer components as
possible and try to deduce their primary function(s.)
Answer the following:
What are the parts of a desktop computer?
What does each part do?
Can you take it out if it breaks and put in a new
one?

28. Agriculture Day
Exercise 1: “The Story of Stuff” by
Annie Leonard
Introduction: Share basic information about
Earth Science and how whole systems operate
to make everything work together on Earth.
Main Idea: Everything that can be recycled
back into the soil can be used to improve
upon and build new soil.
Action: View the short animated Film “The
Story of Stuff” by Annie Leonard on computer
screens or projector.

29. Agriculture Day
Exercise 2: Square Inch Garden
Introduction: Improve student’s knowledge of
the difference between “dirt” and “soil”.
Main Idea: Microorganisms work to utilize
detritus and frass (insect dung) back into living
matter and strengthen soil’s ability to provide
new growth.
Action: Each student will carefully examine a
small area of school garden grounds looking
for any signs of life: color
differentials, smells, movement etc. These will
be catalogued via discussion and written
capture.

30. Short Term Goals
• Access to Lumosity
• Finalize Non-Profit status
• Fundraising & Grants
• Help students apply core values of program into their life
• Teach students how to use technology to help them problem solve
• Learn to grow your own food through agricultural innovation no
matter where you live
• Identify gaps and shortfalls in curriculum

31. Long Term Goals
• Bridge the Divide & give every child in Louisville equal access to technology
• Upon completion of program students with a 90% attendance rate will
receive a recycled computer and plants in containers
• Hire Director to Program in 2014
• Help children to be well informed enough to make their own decisions in
the future (Tech/magnet school)
• Provide opportunities for peer mentoring
• City hot spots
• Integration into the JCPS daytime curriculum
• Evolve curriculum based on results of pilots

32. What is the school’s role
• Space
• Faculty
• Metrics for success
• Feedback loop

33. Bridge the Divide
A Wellington Elementary Pilot
Program