Technology-Enhanced Community Neighborhood Organizations                          

TECNO built competency among teachers, parents and students to access online resources and instructional materials that are culturally and linguistically appropriate to prepare students to meet NCLB and state-mandated expectations.

The project provided access to computers, Internet, online resources and multimedia technologies through community technology centers. By providing community technology access, TECNO enabled teachers to fully integrate technology instructional assignments, such as online research, inquiry-based learning and student-initiated projects that involve technology.

With IDRA training and technology integration assistance teachers at the computer centers are available to help students master the TAKS objectives and improve their computer skills. These teachers provided students with one-on-one tutoring, small group coaching, peer teamwork on classroom assignments, extension or enrichment, and peer team projects.

TECNO was created through a partnership of the Intercultural Development Research Association, the Edgewood School District, the Benitia Family Center, the Edgewood Family Network, the West Side YMCA, the YWCA, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation-Making Connections-San Antonio project. TECNO was funded through the U.S. Department of Education as a one-year project in 2004-05.

IDRA’s evaluation shows that the program was overwhelmingly successful. Preliminary numbers show that more than 2,000 pre-kindergarten through grade 16 students, parents and community members used the centers during the six-month period.

Two recent immigrant students won the regional science fair based on work they had completed at a TECNO center.

Teenagers assisted their parents as they completed job applications online, while other parents used the centers to kick-start a business.