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 Master Internet Volunteer Program







1997 University of Minnesota
Master Internet VolunteerSM Pilot Program
Summary of Participant Feedback

Summarized by Rae Montgomery
February 1998


The Master Internet VolunteerSM Program was piloted in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine counties from October 1997 to January 1998.

46 participants completed the 30-hour, 10-week training courses held in Cambridge and Mora.

The data summarized here was gathered through survey instruments administered at the beginning and at the end of the course.

The participants indicate they gained considerable skills and knowledge about the Internet during the course and are confident in their ability to help others learn.

Demographic Data

    Participant Use of Computers:

      86% have a home computer.
      80% use a computer at work.

    Participants used E-Mail and the World Wide Web an average of:

      4.8 hours per week prior to enrolling in class
      11.3 hours per week during the course
      11.1 hours per week estimated in the future




Participant Feedback: At the Beginning of the Course

Participants said they decided to apply for the Master Internet Volunteer program to:

  • Learn and teach others
  • Learn
  • Learn (work related)

Participants were looking forward to:

  • Learning about the Internet.
  • Learning in general.
  • Sharing their knowledge with the community.
  • Creating web pages.
  • Learning to search the Internet efficiently.
  • Networking with others.
  • Learning about computers.
  • Building their confidence.
  • Learning to use E-Mail.
  • Learning to download files.

Participants were concerned about:

  • Not having enough time.
  • Time to volunteer.
  • Time to attend class, do homework.
  • Gaining enough skills to help others.
  • Volunteering.
  • Giving presentations to groups.
  • Driving in the winter to class.

Participant Surveys

Participants responded to the following questions at the beginning of the course and again at the end of the course. The survey instruments were adapted from instruments developed by Cynthia Crawford at the University of Missouri.

The Internet

Participants responded using a 1-7 ordinal scale:

1= Never heard of it or thought about it.
2= Have heard of it and know a little about it.
3= Have had instruction.
4= Have used it some.
5= Can provide some info to others / can answer some questions.
6= Use it frequently "Been there done that."
7= I can teach this to others.

Class average
beginning
of course: 		Class average
end of
course:		 Gain: Question:
4.2 5.8 +1.6 My current level of knowledge and use of the Internet can best be described as:
3.9 5.3 +1.4 My current level of knowledge and use of my Internet service provider can best be described as:
4.4 6.0 +1.6 My current level of knowledge and use of E-Mail (electronic mail) can best be described as:
4.2 5.7 +1.5 My current level of knowledge and use of searching the World Wide Web (WWW) can best be described as:
2.9 4.8 +1.9 My current level of knowledge and use of downloading files from the Internet can best be described as:
2.0 4.1 +2.1 My current level of knowledge to create a web page can best be described as:
3.6 5.4 +1.8 My current level of knowledge and use my browser program (for example Netscape or Explorer) can best be described as:
2.7 4.4 +1.7 My current level of knowledge and use of virus protection can best be described as:
2.4 5.3 +2.9 My current level of knowledge and use of practices to evaluate information from the World Wide Web can best be described as:


Community Volunteer Education Hours

Participants responded using a 1-7 ordinal scale:

1= Unthinkable today.
2= I'm not too sure about this aspect.
3= I'm open - but not too confident.
4= With some support, I'll give it a try.
5= I can do this.
6= I like to do this.
7= I can help others learn how to do this and build their confidence.

Class
average
beginning
of course: 		Class average
end of
course: 		Gain: Question:
4.2 4.9 +0.7 I can facilitate youth learning about the Internet:
4.4 5.4 +1.0 I can facilitate adults learning about the Internet:
3.8 4.9 +1.1 I can give community civic groups short programs about the Internet:
4.0 4.8 +0.8 I can teach a class on selected aspects of the Internet:

Participant Feedback: At the End of Course

The highlights of the class for the participants were:

  • The instruction.
  • Meeting like-minded people.
  • Learning searching techniques.
  • Learning to download software.
  • Class presentations.
  • Learning about browsers.
  • Learning about E-Mail.

Class suggestions for improving the Master Internet Volunteer program:

  • More lab time.
  • Separate the beginners and advanced learners.
  • Hold more classes.
  • Get online at the beginning of the course.
  • Have an IBM computer for each student.
  • Include more on downloading.
  • Include more depth to the curriculum.
  • Have fewer students.

Participants from the class would tell others thinking about enrolling in the Master Internet VolunteerSM Program to "Do it! Go for it!"

The class thought they should connected through E-Mail and Listserv with occasional get-togethers.

Participants want to learn more about web pages and downloading files.

88% of the participants read quite a bit of the class textbook "Internet for Dummies and 60% found it very helpful.

94% of the participants felt having hands-on lab sessions during the course to be essential to the course. They suggested having more lab time, using IBM Computers and both Netscape and Explorer, and having one computer per person.


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