Computer Technology Center

What Services Do We Offer?*

An important component of the neighborhood and APCC’s Adult Education program is the CTC. People of all ages and abilities can learn about computers, use the Internet, further their education, or develop work skills. APCC’s Community Technology Center (CTC), part of our Adult Education Department, fulfills that mission by providing access to and education about technology to adults.

APCC’s Community Technology Center (CTC) offers a broad range of free and low-cost technology services to the Albany Park Community:

Computer-assisted education is available for the English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education, GED preparation, and citizenship preparation classes.  Students in 18 classes regularly use our APCC’s Community Technology Center (CTC), is the only CTC in Albany Park with 13 workstations and state-of-the-art software. Computer-assisted education builds upon and reinforces what students learn in the classroom, while also providing key computer skills that benefit students in the workplace and other situations.  Trained CTC teachers and assistants are available to orient students (including many who have never before used computers) and assist them to learning through technology.

Computer literacy classes for both for Introduction to Computing and the Internet, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel classes are offered on weekend days, to accommodate the busy schedules of working adults. More than 120 students per year acquire important technological skills through this program.  Students report greater ability to find work and advancement on the job as a result of participating in computer literacy education classes.  

Bilingual computer literacy courses: Weekend Bilingual English/Spanish - Introduction to Computing and the Internet, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel classes

Open access hours for the CTC are available to all Adult Education Department students and the community at-large who want to further practice their computing skills, job search skills, and/or further educational goals.  Over 1700 participant visits are recorded yearly during day and evening open access hours in the CTC.  The CTC also offers individualized assistance by our trained staff and volunteers during open access hours.  We help with a variety of computing needs.  We have helped open lab visitors to setup email accounts.  We have helped parents help their children with homework and science fair projects.  We have also helped open lab participants to develop resumes and find employment.

About our clients…

• learners that need computer-assisted education to build upon and reinforce what they learn in the classroom

• adults who want to improve their reading, math, and other skills through technology

• learners that need computer skills to benefit them in the workplace and other everyday life situations

• adults with busy schedules and those who work during the week

• bilingual English/Spanish computer learners

• learners who want to complete their secondary education through GED-I online

• community residents who want to realize their hopes for a better life

• community members with lack of computer availability

We help families and the community to develop the technology skills to be on the productive side of the “digital divide.”

For the purpose of compliance with Section 511 of Public Law 101-166 (the Stevens Amendment), the cost of this program is approximately 47% federally funded.

*Most services are offered at no cost to participants