NDSU Master Internet Volunteer Program Planning Guide

Program Planning Guide

This Program Planning Guide contains the following:

Starting a Master Internet Volunteer^SM Program
in your county

Any North Dakota State University Extension Service county office can initiate a Master Internet Volunteer^SM Program. Read through the information about the program and decide whether the program is right for you. There is considerable time and effort involved in running a program and managing the volunteers.

North Dakota State University Extension Service county staff are responsible for teaching or arranging for instructors to deliver the curriculum in their community. The curriculum is in a modular format, allowing for guest presenters to help deliver the instruction. County offices are encouraged to look for people in their communities who may have skills and interests in helping teach some of the classes.

For more information, contact:
Dave Rice
(701) 231-7381
drice@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Go to Top

Checklist of Program Activities

Assuming the curriculum is divided up into 10 weeks:

When

What to do

PrePlanning:
(2-6 Months Ahead)

	Determine the availability and cost of computer labs with Internet connections in the community.
	Discuss your plans with your district director.
	Notify Dave Rice of your desire to participate
	Schedule the computer labs.
	Arrange for presentation equipment (laptop and projector) and Internet connections if needed.

1-2 months ahead:

	Attend ACCS MIV Boot Camp (mandatory)
	Arrange for instructors for each class.
	Advertise the program.
	Register learners and collect registration fees. (Keep registration form on file in your office for the duration of the MIV program year.)

2 weeks ahead:

Order curriculum materials for participants from Dave Rice (include number of copies and names of registrants).

Week 1:

	Have students complete the "Begin at the Beginning" evaluation form in class.
	Clearly explain volunteer component and expectations. Clear up any misunderstandings that may have occurred.
	Have participants read and sign "Policies Regarding Master Internet Volunteers." Collect one copy and keep in your office.
	Send Begin at Beginning evaluation forms and list of participants to Dave.
	Suggested Workshop: Navigating with Windows 95 (optional) and/or Introduction to Internet. If you use Intro to Internet lesson here, move subsequent lessons up one week.

Week 2:

	Hand out volunteer screening forms in accordance with the current Child Protection Policy. All Master Internet Volunteers will potentially work with youth and must complete a form. Direct any questions about this to your district director or Marilyn Lesmeister.
	Suggested Workshop: Introduction to the Internet. You might also have time to start the email workshop.

Week 3:

	Collect Volunteer Screening forms
	Introduce the Volunteering Action Plan
	Suggested Workshop: Electronic Mail and Mailing Lists
	Instruct students to subscribe to Master Internet Volunteer mailing list when you present the email lesson (this included in their take-home assignment for this lesson).

Week 4:

Suggested Workshop: The World Wide Web

Week 5:

	Order Master Internet Volunteer^SM nametags and certificates of completion (4 week delivery time)
	Suggested Workshop: Searching the Web

Week 6:

Suggested Workshop: Advanced Web

Week 7:

Suggested Workshop: Creating Web Pages with HTML

Week 8:

	If screening volunteers, complete the Volunteer Screening process and send letters to volunteers.
	Suggested Workshops: Creating Web pages with AOLPress and Web Design Issues.

Week 9

Suggested Workshop: Web Issues/Volunteering (If you have adequately covered these issues as questions arose during the course, then consider using this a work time to allow participants to work on their projects.)

Week 10 (last class):

	Wrap up remaining topics.
	Have "Show and Tell" session for web projects
	Hand out nametags and certificates.
	Have students complete the "At the Conclusion" evaluation form in class.
	Send evaluations forms to Dave

Throughout the classroom training:

	Be an active participant at each class.
	Ensure the classroom environment facilitates learning.
	Review previous week's lesson
	Relate learning to volunteering activities. Sample questions: How could we apply this in a volunteer situation? Have any of you had an opportunity to share anything you've learned so far with someone this week?
	Encourage learning outside the classroom through electronic discussions.
	Pay expenses for costs incurred.

For one year after classroom training:

	Track volunteer time for one year.
	Guide learners to volunteer opportunities.
	Use your county's miv mailing list to encourage additional participation
	Answer questions from Master Internet Volunteers^SM throughout the year (encourage the use of e-mail).

Go to Top

Advice from the University of Minnesota pilot project team

The pilot project team from the University of Minnesota offers the following advice to their colleagues.

Planning

Start planning 6 - 9 months in advance. Computer labs are often scheduled up to a year in advance.
Consider asking the local community education director and the local computer lab director to be on the planning team.
Avoid holding classes in the winter or create an alternate plan for re-scheduling classes due to the weather. Students are concerned about driving in winter storms, especially in the evening.

Labs

Although it is possible to deliver the Master Internet Volunteer^SM Program to students through presentations, hands-on computer labs greatly enhance the instruction and the experience for the participants. The pilot project team recommends using a computer lab for every class session.

Try to find computer labs that have IBM PC's rather than Macintosh computers. Participants in the pilot project had IBM PC's at home and had some difficulties using the Macintosh computers at the schools. A particular problem area was transferring files between IBM's and Macintosh's.
Arrange for one computer per student. Sharing computers inhibited the learning of some of the students.
Try to establish a partnership with a local facility in exchange for use of computer labs at no cost. Renting computer labs can drive the total cost of the program up, easily to a point where the program will not break even.

Textbooks

Although the Minnesota pilot project provided a textbook (Internet for Dummies) for each student, they found it wasn't necessary. They recommend providing students with a recommended (and up-to-date) list of books about the Internet.

Go to Top

Site Menu
HOME | THE PROGRAM | CLASSES | REPORTING FORM | CURRICULUM

The Master Internet Volunteer Program was developed by the University of Minnesota Extension Service and was adapted for use in North Dakota with permission. Copyright � 2000 North Dakota State University. All rights reserved.

North Dakota State University Extension Service