This project involves working with the Director and staff of the Second Chance Shelter to install a computer lab for use by the resident families (adults and children). Six computers will be set up in the lab. If time allows, the project team will also try and test and set up two printers and a scanner owned by Second Chance. Because the families served by Second Chance usually only remain at the shelter for three months, the lab will be used primarily for conducting online job searches, accessing information from service agencies, communicating via e-mail, and for word-processing tasks such as letter or resume writing. Children at the shelter may also use the lab to complete homework assignments or to play games via educational software installed on the computer or at pre-screened Websites for children.

The computers will be running the Linux Mint operating system. Linux, rather than a Microsoft product, was selected for two primary reasons: 1) it is open source, therefore the shelter will not need to go to the expense of obtaining a license to use the software; and 2) it is not subject to the same viral attacks as Windows systems, therefore we hope that the computers will remain online and functional even though there will not be someone doing regular maintenance on the lab. Along with the Linux Mint, the computers will also be preloaded with select educational and productivity software (such as a word processing program) and with a Web browser and other tools necessary for accessing content from the Internet.

In addition to setting up the lab at the shelter, the project team will also be putting together documentation and providing some basic training on the use of the computers and the functionality of the Linux Mint OS to the Director (and other staff members) of the Second Chance Shelter.

Student Presentation secondchanceshelter