Computers necessary for a good education
Over 30 years as an elementary and junior high teacher in Alberta, David Fladager has seen technology transform the way children learn. Early in his career, he used a spirit duplicator—a precursor to the photocopier invented in 1923—to copy documents for students to work on. By the time he retired, homework was stored on cloud servers.
Yet through all the change, one thing remained constant: students with access to the latest technology had a major leg up.
“It was always a very unfair playing field,” says Fladager. “Some students were connected, had everything at their fingertips to access information, compared to other students who had absolutely nothing.”
Levelling that playing field is why Fladager decided to come out of retirement in 2016. He now works as the Edmonton shop supervisor for Alberta Computers For Schools (ACFS), a nonprofit organization that distributes refurbished computers to schools and nonprofits free of charge.
Since 1994, CFS has distributed more than 220,000 computers to Albertans who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them. Most of its donated systems come from the federal and provincial government, though the private sector and individual donors are also important sources of used computers.
Recipients of CFS systems include public, private, charter and home schools. CFS also distributes systems to other non-profits and to Indigenous schools and communities.
“We give people the opportunity to be connected,” says Fladager. “That’s vital to have to participate in the world.”
Heather Allie received a computer over the summer through a non-profit that works with CFS.
“It’s made a big difference. I had my phone before, but looking things up on my phone is not as nice,” says Allie, who also receives subsidized Internet access through the TELUS “Internet for Good” program. “It’s much easier to use a computer. Now I don’t use my data on my phone.”
ACFS distributes about 10,000 computers annually to those in need. The organization offers governments, businesses and individuals an efficient and cost-effective way to extend the life of thousands of surplus computers.
While ACFS will accept a donation of any kind of computer, it won’t put every donated system into a classroom. The machines need to meet certain performance standards to be useful—no student can use an Apple Lisa in the classroom.
ACFS, through partnerships with local tech recycling companies, diverts those donated machines that aren’t up to snuff from the landfill to the recycling depot. Every year, around 450,000 pounds of potentially toxic electronic waste is properly recycled, thanks to ACFS.
The organization’s efficacy is attracting increasing attention. ACFS recently signed up ATF Financial, Husky Energy, and Telus as donors. It also participated in Telus’ “Internet For Good” program, which provides low-cost, high-speed Internet to eligible Alberta families.
“In today’s world, you need a computer: you need access to the Internet; students need them for research and homework and for job-hunting,” says ACFS executive director Kari Cope. “It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity, but the financial reality is some organizations and some people simply can’t afford it.”
With refurbishing shops in Edmonton, Calgary and Brocket, the main community on the Piikani Nation reserve, the organization also provides valuable job skills and training to young people. Through a workexperience program, youth securely wipe donated computers’ hard drives, load software and test computers before they are distributed to schools, preschools, libraries, indigenous communities and other nonprofit organizations.
However, demand far exceeds supply. ACFS is always seeking donations of computers less than five years old, with laptops with 19-inch monitors or larger being especially needed.
“There’s a huge shift toward mobility,” Cope says. “We’re getting more and more requests for laptops, but we just don’t have donations to keep up with demand. That’s our biggest hurdle right now.”
There’s also a need for newer desktop computers with a minimum 160 GB hard drive, laser printers, multimedia components, USB keyboards, optical mice, 19-inch displays and more. Tax receipts are available upon request. Full details are at the ACFS website,
In today’s world, you need a computer: you need access to the Internet; students need them for research and homework and for jobhunting. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity, but the financial reality is some organizations and some people simply can’t afford it.