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Topic-Specific Resources for Trainers
This section provides annotated links to resources on specific topics, from Internet basics to advanced
technical skills. All resources listed include materials specifically for trainers, such as handouts, slide
shows, and workshop outlines. For resources of general interest, see the
lists under "Learn about" on the left.
Editor's choice: Video: Computer Hardware in Plain English
Developed by: Common Craft
Type of resource: online video
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
A short online video which explains of the basic parts of computers and what they do to make computers work. The video focuses on the Hard Drive, RAM and Processor. Very good video to show in Basic ICT training activities.
http://www.commoncraft.com/computer-hardware
Low-Power Computing
Developed by: IT +46
Type of resource: Downloadable PDF
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
A report/handout that discusses the requirements for the usage of a low power computers in rural environments, in hot and dusty locations, and powered to a solar backup system. The report lists some of the existing low power computing alternatives, and compares them with respect to different criteria, and draws conclusions about effective computing solutions for rural areas.
http://www.it46.se/courses/ict4sd/2008/projects/IC
T4SD_dematte_palmisano.pdf
MainTain IT Cookbook: Small and Rural Libraries
Developed by: The MaintainIT Project
Type of resource: Downloadable PDF
Target audience: General, Trainers, Information intermediaries
Cost: Free access
This Cookbook covers fundamentals that are valuable for any library, and is a great resource for someone wanting to know a bit more about supporting and sustaining public computers. Learn about locking down public computers, use a handy maintenance checklist, and more! These topics are covered: technology Planning, Computer Maintenance, Volunteer Recruitment, Technology Training Tips, Library Technology in the Future
http://maintainitproject.org/cookbooks/small-and-r
ural-libraries
GetOpenOffice.org
Developed by: Solveig Haugland
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Users' guides, training materials, templates, and information about OpenOffice.org. Some resources are free, and some can be purchased from GetOpenOffice.org.
http://www.getopenoffice.org/
Editor's choice: RDN Virtual Training Suite
Developed by: University of Bristol ILRT
Type of resource: Online tutorials
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Conceived and built by staff at the Institute for Learning and Research Technology at the University of Bristol and part of The Resource Discovery Network (RDN), Virtual Training Suite is an initiative designed to teach information skills to students, lecturers and researchers in higher and further education-and help them to become e-literate! Although primarily designed for higher education in the UK, it is also freely available for anyone else to use. It comprises a set of "teach yourself" tutorials delivered over the Web, each of which offers Internet skills training in a particular subject area grouped under six main headings: engineering and mathematics, health and life sciences, the physical sciences, reference, the humanities, and the social sciences, business and law. 39 subject areas are covered at this time, with each tutorial created by a subject specialist drawn from universities and professional organizations across the UK. The tutorials take around an hour to complete, and includes quizzes and interactive exercises to lighten the learning experience. Each tutorial is structured under four sections: (i) Tour key Internet sites, (ii) Discover tools and techniques to improve your Internet searching, (iii) Review the critical thinking required when using the Internet, (iv) and Reflect on how to use the Internet for studying, teaching or research. The Virtual Training Suite is also an excellent resource for librarians who need tools to support their user-education programmes.
Of particular interest will be "The Internet for Development" at http://www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/tutorial/development/
written by Tracy Zussman-Kay of ELDIS at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.
http://www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/
ITrain Overview of the Internet
Developed by: Bellanet
Type of resource: Students' and instructors' manual in PDF and zipped MS Word format
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
The instructor and student manuals give a very general introduction to the Internet and its use. This course deals with Internet myths and realities; the physical Internet; Internet services; components of the Internet; and uses of the Internet. The introduction also includes demonstrations of the Web, email, and mailing lists. This course is developed for a half-day training but can easily be adapted to a one day course or be integrated with other course components.
http://www.bellanet.org/itrain/materials.cfm
ITrain E-Mail Related Resources
Developed by: Bellanet
Type of resource: Students' and instructors' manual in PDF and zipped MS Word format
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Modules on e-mail with Eudora 4.3, Eudora Light 3, Outlook Express 5, Pegasus Mail 2.5, Pegasus Mail 3.12
http://www.bellanet.org/itrain/materials.cfm
ITrain List Facilitation Module
Developed by: Bellanet
Type of resource: Workshop module in PDF and zipped MS formats
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This module is designed to help participants become better list facilitators. It does this through an exploration of the nature of face-to-face communication vs. online communication. It teaches practical facilitation skills and includes practical checklists for the list facilitator. It is a highly interactive course with a number of exercises and games designed to draw out facilitation experiences and skill in the participants.
http://www.bellanet.org/itrain/materials.cfm
ITrain Resources on Navigating the Web
Developed by: Bellanet
Type of resource: Students' and instructors' manual in PDF and zipped MS Word format
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Modules on navigating the web with Internet Explorer 5 and Netscape Navigator 3 and 4.
http://www.bellanet.org/itrain/materials.cfm
Editor's choice: University of California (Berkeley) Searching Resources
Developed by: University of California (Berkeley)
Type of resource: Web articles, presentations and handouts
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
The University of California at Berkeley offers an excellent online tutorial on "finding information on the Internet", covering basic through advanced search techniques. Included are an overview of the features of major search engines, detailed instructions for using seven of the most commonly used search engines, PowerPoint slides for presentation purposes, and search engine exercises. This is probably the most useful search engine training site, and includes information on browsers and "getting connected", and a glossary of Netscape and Internet jargon.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Int
ernet/FindInfo.html
ICT for Library and Information Professionals: A Training Package for Developing Countries - Module 5
Developed by: Lourdes T. David
Type of resource: Website with downloadable resources
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
The package available on this website is intended to provide the knowledge and skills required to deal with the application of ICT to library and information services. It is meant for library and information personnel who may become trainers in the area.
By the end of Module 5, learners should Module 5 is designed to enable participants to acquire knowledge and skills that will help them train other information professionals to use the Internet.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Identify Internet tools and resources
2. Utilize Internet search tools and services
3. Evaluate Internet tools and resources
4. Cite properly the information found on the Internet
5. Address the trends and issues concerning the Internet
6. Use the Internet as an information resource
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/publications/ictlip
5/index.htm
ITrain Effective Internet Searching
Developed by: Bellanet
Type of resource: Students' and instructors' manual in PDF and zipped MS Word format
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This training module is designed to teach advanced Internet searching skills to participants. The materials explain how search engines work, how to choose among search engines, advanced search engine techniques, and how to go beyond search engines in finding information on the Internet.
http://www.bellanet.org/itrain/materials.cfm
100 Ways to search the Deep Web
Developed by: AGEG weitzenegger.de
Type of resource: website with links to search tools
Target audience: General, Trainers, Information intermediaries
Cost: Free access
This list offers 100 tips and tools to help you get the most out of your Internet searches, including Meta-Search Engines, Semantic Search Tools and Databases, General Search Engines and Databases, Academic Search Engines and Databases, Scientific Search Engines and Databases, Collaborative Information and Databases and more.
http://www.weitzenegger.de/en/deepweb.html
MainTain IT Cookbook: Small and Rural Libraries
Developed by: The MaintainIT Project
Type of resource: Downloadable PDF
Target audience: General, Trainers, Information intermediaries
Cost: Free access
This Cookbook from the MaintainIT project covers fundamentals that are valuable for any library, and is a great resource for someone wanting to know a bit more about supporting and sustaining public computers. Learn about locking down public computers, use a handy maintenance checklist, and more! These topics are covered: Technology Planning, Computer Maintenance, Volunteer Recruitment, Technology Training Tips, Library Technology in the Future
http://maintainitproject.org/cookbooks/small-and-r
ural-libraries
How Open APIs Can Change How Nonprofits Manage Data
Developed by: NTEN
Type of resource: PDF document
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Nonprofits manage lots of data: research, files, data on constituents, donors, and clients, etc. Choosing
software to manage this organizational data is difficult enough. Getting applications to talk to one another
in ways that are efficient and in support of the organization’s mission is even harder. Application Programming
Interfaces or APIs provide a way to simplify data management tasks. Software vendors and open
source software projects are increasingly using APIs to help their customers/users increase the extensibility
and integration possibilities of their software. This paper examines the problem that APIs try to solve, technologies
behind APIs, vendor strategies, and examples of things you can do with APIs.
http://www.nten.org/sites/nten/files/NTEN_OpenAPI.
pdf
OpenOffice Training Materials
Developed by: ByteBot.net (Colin Charles)
Type of resource: Web site - OOo and PDF files
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Ready-made OOo slide presentations (also available as PDF files) introducing all the tools in the OpenOffice.org suite. Useful for both trainers and end-users.
http://training.bytebot.net/
Tips for Switching to Open Office
Developed by: OpenOffice.org Training, Tips, and Ideas
Type of resource: Web site / Blog
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
This is a very big blog with lots of tips, tricks and ideas about using Open Office effectively. Pne ofthe categories deals specifically with tips and advice on transitioning to Open Office, with technical advice for users, strategic advice for IT managers, tips on how to motivate staff to use Open Office and more.
Browse through the different blog entries and tags to find useful tips and tricks.
http://openoffice.blogs.com/openoffice/switching_t
o_openoffice/
Free knowledge for ICT literacy
Developed by: The Community Education Computer Society
Type of resource: Portal
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
This portal provides access to free learning resources for ICT literacy using free/libre and open source software to enable people to change the conditions of their lives for the better.
The portal includes a wealth of information about FOSS, learning resocures and tools.
http://www.flosslit.org.za/
Editor\'s choice: \"Copyright, copyleft and everything in between\': A multimedia curriculum on copyright alternatives in South Africa
Developed by: The Learning Commons
Type of resource: website and downloadable executable file to save to CD
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
The Learning Commons technology collective offers this downloadable file on open content in South Africa. Written by Kerryn McKay and Heather Ford and animated by Phillipa Moore from Paraffin Interactive, these animated materials offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of copyright, the impact of copyright and technology on local culture and indigenous knowledge, and new alternatives to copyright that enable you to freely copy and redistribute royalty-free content on the internet. Available in multi-media CDRom with printed booklets for facilitators, the tool is geared toward Grade 9 students in South Africa. In \'Copyright and left\' learners engage in interactive games throughout the CDRom, and can take part in fun and challenging group work in order to apply the knowledge that they have learned. The final assignment will demonstrate the learners\' abilities to successfully combine the themes of the curriculum by developing a website for their peers on copyright and its alternatives.
http://www.learningcommons.co.za
10 online icebreakers
Developed by: Lasagna and chips - unexpected combinations for creativity and innovation
Type of resource: Blog post
Target audience: General, Trainers, Information intermediaries
Cost: Free access
A personal list of 10 most interesting online icebreakers for online teams or working groups, compiled by an expert in online collaboration and development.
http://joitskehulsebosch.blogspot.com/2009/03/10-o
nline-icebreakers.html
Building Electronic Communities and Networks
Developed by: IMARK
Type of resource: E-learning web site (CD version available)
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
The module covers the approaches, methods, and tools used to build electronic communities, and covers the various steps and procedures for developing and facilitating electronic communities. The total curriculum consists of 29 lessons, ranging from approximately 15 to 90 minutes duration, grouped into five units, for a total of about 16 to 22 hours of self-paced instruction.
http://www.imarkgroup.org/moduledescription_en.asp
?id=10
Facilitating a Community of Practice - Instructor Manual
Developed by: Bellanet
Type of resource: Downloadable manual
Target audience: General, Trainers, Information intermediaries
Cost: Free access
The Facilitating a Community of Practice - Instructor Manual is part of a series of ITrain materials. Although a little dated (2002), the Instructor Manual and accompanying Participant Manual provided a detailed guide through a workshop that aims to achieve the following objectives:
a. Develop a shared understanding of Communities of Practice;
b. Clarify the role of a facilitator of a CoP, including the differences between face-to-face facilitation and online facilitation;
c. Begin to develop skills in facilitating online Communities of Practice;
d. Learn how to set up an online Community using Yahoo!Groups;
e. Develop an action plan for facilitating a Community of Practice.
Download
Online Community Manager: What Does It Take to be Successful?
Developed by: WebWorker Daily
Type of resource: Web article
Target audience: General, Trainers, Information intermediaries
Cost: Free access
This blog post describes what it takes to be successful as a community manager, and looks at skills to learn and work habits that are useful for community managers. A concise and useful overview with links to other relevant articles.
http://webworkerdaily.com/2009/02/02/online-commun
ity-manager-what-does-it-take-to-be-successful/
Online Interaction Training of Trainer content
Developed by: Project Harmony, Armenia School Connectivity Programme
Type of resource: Website with downloadable resources
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Outline of a Training of Trainers curriculum with downloadable resources per chapter, including themes such as: Basics of Online Interaction, Pre & Post Evaluation, Online Interaction Project Management & Leadership, Communication & Facilitation Skills for Online Leaders and Facilitators, All Things Technical, Content and Subject Matter Experts, The Importance of Adult Learning for ToT.
http://ascp.projectharmony.am/docs/tot/tot_content
.html
8 Steps For Building Community On Twitter: Tips For Membership Organizations
Developed by: TwiTip
Type of resource: Blog post
Target audience: General, Trainers, Information intermediaries
Cost: Free access
Twitter is a micro-blogging tool and can be a great space for building community around your membership-based organization, whether you work for a professional society, trade association or a cause-related nonprofit. This is a quick eight-step guide of how to set up a Twitter account for your “.org”. If you are starting from scratch, this is what TwiTip finds works the best.
http://www.twitip.com/8-steps-for-building-communi
ty-on-twitter-tips-for-membership-organizations/
Learning 2.0: 23 things
Developed by: Learning 2.0
Type of resource: Tutorial
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
A discovery learning program designed to explore new technologies.
You will find 23 Things small exercises that you can do on the web to explore and expand your knowledge of the Internet and Web 2.0.
http://plcmcl2-things.blogspot.com
The DigiActive Guide to Twitter for Activism
Developed by: DigiActive
Type of resource: Downloadable PDF guide
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
This short guide (22 pages) provides an introduction to Twitter, offers some advice on best practices, and draws on five case studies to demonstrate possible uses of Twitter for political activists and other organisations.
http://www.digiactive.org/wp-content/uploads/digia
ctive_twitter_guide_v1-0.pdf
Message-in-a-Box
Developed by: Tactical Technology Collective
Type of resource: Web site with How-To Guides, Case studies, tools, etc.
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
"Message in-a-box" is a set of strategic guides to using communications tools for social change, together with a suite of open source tools to get you making your own media. The toolkit is designed for small and medium-sized NGOs, advocates, and citizen journalists to help them create and distribute content for their advocacy efforts while exploring the constantly evolving world of campaigning and communications.
http://www.messageinabox.tacticaltech.org
Mobiles-in-a-Box
Developed by: Tactical Technology Collective
Type of resource: Web site with How-To Guides, Case studies, tools, etc.
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Mobiles in-a-box is a collection of tools, tactics, how-to guides and case studies designed to help advocacy and activist organisations use mobile technology in their work. Mobiles in-a-box is designed to inspire, to present possibilities for the use of mobile telephony in your work and to introduce you to some tools which may help you. After reading the material in this toolkit you can expect to be able to design and implement a mobile advocacy strategy for your organisation.
http://www.mobiles.tacticaltech.org
Editor's choice: Knowledge Sharing Toolkit
Developed by: Bellanet, Mark Faul, Kemly Camacho
Type of resource: Word Document
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This (draft) kit contains tools that are designed to make it easier to benefit from the collective experience, knowledge and expertise of your peers, co-workers and partners. The knowledge sharing techniques described in this toolkit are a selection of KS tools that are simple, quick, and proven to be effective methods for providing and promoting open, transparent discussion on topics, issues, activities and projects, and can be effectively used as training/facilitation techniques for workshops.
Download
Editor's choice: Strategic Tech Toolkit
Developed by: Summit Collaborative and Strategic Tech
Type of resource: Website and PDFs.
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
These materials, developed by Summit Collaborative and Strategic Tech trainers, provide simple resources and background material such as fact sheets, sample agendas, surveys, check lists and assessment tools for technology planning. The toolkit covers all facets of technology planning - from building a technology team, understanding staff attitudes towards technology, working with a board of directors, to actually developing and then implementing the plan. Session outlines spell out the steps in collaborative technology planning, and instruct how the different resources can be employed in the overall process.
http://www.summitcollaborative.com/cwpm.html
Building a Web Site Together: A Curriculum for a Team Web Site Building Workshop
Developed by: SA Women'sNet / SANGONeT / APC WNSP
Type of resource: Curriculum for facilitators
Target audience: Trainers, Women
Cost: Free access
"Building a Web Site Together - How the Women'sNet Site was Born" is a guide that presents how to develop a small site collectively, from start to finish. The workshop curriculum is organized into the following main sections: site planning, WWW (HTML) skills training and site structure concepts, building the site, site evaluation, and planning ongoing site development and maintenance.
http://www.womensnet.org.za/about/curric.htm
Helping Voluntary Groups Plan Websites
Developed by: ICTHUB KnowledgeBase
Type of resource: Web article
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
"You may be a circuit rider, ICT consultant or website designer, working within a voluntary organisation, a freelancer or volunteer. Whatever your role, here are some ways you could help a voluntary organisation to plan and develop their website."
http://www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk/helpgroupspl
anwebsites
ITrain Web Site Construction
Developed by: Bellanet / SANGONeT
Type of resource: Students' and instructors' manual in PDF and zipped MS Word format
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This training module was developed by SANGONeT and is a two-day module focused on the basics of developing a website.
http://www.bellanet.org/itrain/materials.cfm
Planning web accessibility training
Developed by: W3C
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
This set of training resource pages outlines strategies and resources which can be useful in preparing training sessions on web accessibility.
http://www.w3.org/WAI/training/
Minidisc Guide Guidelines & Recommendations
Developed by: Transom.org
Type of resource: website
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Guidelines and Recommendations on whether & how to use MiniDiscs for recording and interviewing
http://www.transom.org/tools/recording_interviewin
g/200306.minidisc.html
Digital archiving of audio content using WINISIS and Greenstone software: a manual for community radio managers
Developed by: UNESCO
Type of resource: Downloadable PDF
Target audience: General, Trainers, Information intermediaries
Cost: Free access
This self-instructional handbook is aimed at helping managers of community and FM radio stations, public service broadcasting agencies and any other organizations that deal with audio files create prototype archives of digital audio documents.
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/files/28434/1236789
3463digital_archiving_en.pdf/digital_archiving_en.
pdf
Telecentre.org
Developed by: Telecentre.org
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Telecentre.org makes social investments and provides services that build the capacity of telecentre operators around the world. The telecentre.org site is the first site in what is hoped will grow into a global community of telecentre network sites.
http://www.telecentre.org
Bandwidth optimisation training resources
Developed by: INASP
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Briefing packs, workshop materials and information resources on bandwidth optimisation.
http://www.inasp.info/training/bandwidth/briefing.
html
Hushmail
Developed by: APC
Type of resource: Trainers' kit
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
MMTK introduction to the Hushmail secure web-based e-mail.
http://www.itrainonline.org/itrainonline/mmtk/secu
rity.shtml
Information security planning
Developed by: APC
Type of resource: MS Word files
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Developed by APC member Ungana-Afrika, this ItrainOnline MMTK unit aims to help NGOs plan for more secure use of information and communications technologies.
http://www.itrainonline.org/itrainonline/mmtk/secu
rity.shtml
Access control
Developed by: APC
Type of resource: Trainers kit.
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
MMTK introduction to passwords and firewalls.
http://www.itrainonline.org/itrainonline/mmtk/secu
rity.shtml
Informit Reference Libary
Developed by: INFORM.IT
Type of resource: Web site - Reference manuals
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
A reference website offered in collaboration with Sams Publishing, the site offers free online versions of selected "Sams Teach Yourself" series, featuring "Teach Yourself" in 24 hours, 10 minutes, or 21 days tools in operating systems, programming, databases and productivity software. Tutorials cover Microsoft Office, Visual Basic, SQL, HTML, and JavaScript, among others.
http://www.informit.com/library/index.asp
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