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Resources for Internet Trainers
Section editor
Saskia Harmsen, IICD
sharmsen@iicd.org
Introduction
Being an effective Internet and ICTs trainer requires more than just being familiar with the tools. Developing a good training programme takes careful planning and an understanding of the organization's and individual learner's needs and context. This section draws on the ItrainOnline partners' experience in training and materials development, and offers a collection of resources for trainers which focusses on Internet and ICTs training in NGOs and community organizations.
This section lists resources which may assist you to become a more effective trainer, or to develop a training strategy for your organization.
One ItrainOnline partner has developed extensive resources for trainers. Bellanet's ITrain series is a collection of Internet training materials for instructors and students. The materials offer an interactive approach, engaging students in the learning process and supporting instructors in the customization and planning of the courses.
ICT4D - Information and Communication Technologies for Development
Developed by: Barbara Fillip, Knowledge for Development LLC
Type of resource: website, online modular course
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This is the self-paced version of the "ICTs for Development" course CD-ROM. It is meant as a self-contained set of training materials to allow people to learn at their own pace, without the need to submit assignments and without communications with a facilitator or instructor.
The goal of the course is to familiarize participants with key concepts and issues related to the potential and real impacts of information and communication technologies on the social, economic and political development of the less developed countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Modules include:
1. What is ICT4D?
2. What is the Digital Divide?
3. Addressing the Digital Divide
4. ICTs and Learning
5. ICTs for Better Health
6. ICTs and Agriculture
7. eCommerce
8. eGovernance
9. Telecenters
10. Knowledge Networking
http://www.knowledgefordevelopment.com/ICT4D03SP/i
ndex.htm
Editor's choice: resources @ participation
Developed by: FAO Rural Institutions and Participation Service (SDAR)
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
The Participation website aims to provide an interactive learning forum to share and exchange resources, knowledge and information on participation in development.
The resources sub-page includes a useful database on participatory approaches, methods and tools that can help trainers and facilitators design their participatory processes. The Resources also include examples of successful application as well as lessons learned when using participatory approaches
Tip: Enter 'train' into the Field Tools database and see all the useful resources and tips that the site contains.
http://www.fao.org/Participation/resources.html
Change Management Toolbook
Developed by: Change Facilitation
Type of resource: website
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
The Change Management Toolbook is a collection of more than 60 tools, methods and strategies which you can apply during different stages of personal, team and organizational development, in training, facilitation and consulting. It is divided in three principle sections: Self, Team and Larger System.
http://www.change-management-toolbook.com
Connecting Communities Training Programme
Developed by: Learning and Teaching Scotland
Type of resource: PDF Files
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Connecting Communities was a training initiative of Learning and Teaching Scotland designed to enhance the use of ICT for community development in Scotland. While the initiative ended in 2003, they have published online their full collection of training materials including classroom exercises, covering aspects of ICT in the community. Topics include “Benefits of ICT”, “Development Planning”, “ICT Tools” and “Partnerships”. The modules are free for educational use.
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/connectingcommunities
/index.asp
Development and the Internet
Developed by: The Berkman Online Lecture & Discussion (BOLD) Series, Harvard Law School
Type of resource: web site with on-line tutorials
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Part of a series of on-line courses offered by the Berkman Centre for Internet & Society. Selected offerings are open to the public and do not require payment of a fee (participants only have to register to get a user name and password). The modules include: Architecture, Entrepreneurship, Learning Policy and Conclusions.
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/online/
Gender and Photojournalism in Southern Africa - A Manual for Trainers
Developed by: Southern Africa Media Services Organisation (SAMSO) Gender Links (GL)
Type of resource: website with a review
Target audience: Women
Cost: Free access
“Picture our Lives”, a publication by Gender Links and SAMSO, provides penetrating insight into gender and photojournalism in Southern Africa. Developed by experts and practitioners in the field and targeted at trainers, the manual contains fifty handouts, a wealth of exercises and examples that will be an eye opener to those who make and take images, as well as those who daily consume them.
An invaluable tool for photojournalists, media training institutions and gender trainers in Southern Africa and further a field.
http://www.genderlinks.org.za/item.php?i_id=57
How to make effective flash cards
Developed by: Achieve-IT!
Type of resource: Article
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Flash cards are a low-tech learning aid that can be a great help to students who need to memorize a lot of facts. Each card has a question on the front and the answer on the reverse. Students can answer the questions on their own, or ask friends and family to quiz them until they have learned all the answers. In this article, "No-fail flashcard technique", trainer Brad Isaac lists his guidlines for making and using flash cards to get the topic you're learning down pat.
http://goalsuccess.typepad.com/goaltips/2006/07/th
e_nofail_flas.html
IctHub training knowledge base
Developed by: IctHub
Type of resource: Web page
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Issues around ICT training for staff in your organisation – analysing training needs and selecting appropriate training
http://www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk/training
Producing information materials through participatory writeshops
Developed by: Paul Mundy for IIRR
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Writeshops (intensive workshops to write information materials) are a useful way to document the knowledge of a group of experts. This technique is being used by ITO partners to design courses and develop materials for ICT training. The writeshop process described here was developed for the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction in the Philippines.
http://www.mamud.com/writeshop.htm
The Voice of the Learner
Developed by: Appreciative Inquiry Commons - Vega Associates
Type of resource: Trainer Toolkit (Word document)
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Appreciative inquiry (AI) turns problem-solving on its head - it focuses on achievements rather than problems. The use of AI exercises as part of a training session opens up channels of communication, generally creates an open and relaxed atmosphere and engages the group. This toolkit provides help and resources for trainers to be able to run Appreciative Inquiry exercises as part of a training programme. These exercises will provide data and feedback that will contribute to the consultation process and allow the voice of the learner to be heard and taken into account.
http://connection.cwru.edu/ai/practice/toolsTraini
ngDetail.cfm?coid=2522
Using ICTs for Government Transparency
Developed by: Richard Heeks, IDPM, University of Manchester, UK
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This site is aimed at a trainer who wishes to train a group of e-government practitioners from developing/transitional economies about e-transparency projects. The site would need to be modified somewhat for use in different situations; for example for use by an e-government practitioner as a self-study guide; or for use in training postgraduate students who lack public sector experience.
http://www.egov4dev.org/topic2train.htm
Computer Training Needs and Skills Assessments
Developed by: Cornell CIT
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Resources and templates that can be used for conducting ICT skills assessments (current skills levels) and Skills Needs Assessments (what is needed).
http://www.cit.cornell.edu/training/resources/asse
ss.html
Editor's choice: Training Works!
Developed by: JHPIEGO, Rick Sullivan
Type of resource: Free web-based course, downloadable guide(s)
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This handbook will be useful to anyone who has a role in the management, design, delivery, or evaluation of group-based training (for healthcare professionals). JHPIEGO focuses on using training to develop capacities of healthcare professionals in developing countries, but many of the standards discussed in the handbook also apply to other types of training, such as on-the-job training, distance learning courses, and computer-assisted learning.
The handbook summarizes the tasks that should be completed at each stage of training to ensure an effective training course. You may be a project manager, an instructional designer, a clinical trainer, an evaluation specialist, or a trainer who “does it all.” Or, you simply may be interested in knowing more about training to
help you make program decisions or participate in stakeholder meetings.
http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/english/6read/6traini
ng/Tngworks/index.htm
Editor's choice: Reference Guide for Instructional Design and Development
Developed by: IEEE
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
A simple and reference guide for persons wanting to develop instructional materials. Topics covered include: assessing needs, analysing learners, writing learning objectives, selecting an instructional strategy, developing materials and evaluating. Links are also provided on each topic for tools (e.g. checklists) and on-line references that you can use.
http://www.ieee.org/organizations/eab/tutorials/re
fguide/ans01.htm
Editor's choice: IRC Facilitation Toolkit
Developed by: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre
Type of resource: Website with downloadable documents
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
The Facilitator's Notes collection is a series of fact sheets and how to's around facilitation: concepts, tools, methods, skills, special assignments and exercises etc. It provides practical information on the most common methods, skills and tools for the facilitation of group interventions (meetings, workshops, trainings, seminar, etc.) in a learning-by-doing process.
Originally developed with the water and sanitation sector in mind, the large majority of these files can be used in any other context.
http://www.irc.nl/page/30476
Editor's choice: Source Camps Replication Materials
Developed by: Tactical Tech Collective (TTC)
Type of resource: wiki
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
An online online resource wiki for anyone interested in the organisation of free/open source software training workshops aligned with the Source Camp methodology that was developed by Tactical Technology Collective.
It is a website where you can find information, templates, tips and secrets about organising Source Events.
In the spirit of Free and Open Source Software and the general philosophy of the Source Camps the materials show how they were organised and share Tactical Tech's experiences in such a way that anyone who would like to organise their own Source Camp or other event inspired by Source Camps could do so using a set of materials.
http://replication.tacticaltech.org
A Guide for Trainers
Developed by: Fahamu
Type of resource: Distance Learning website
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Distance Learning notes that have been drawn from handouts developed for Fahamu's Writing for change trainers' workshops. The notes don't constitute a complete manual on training, but are drawn from A Trainer's Guide for Participatory Learning and Action, by Pretty N, Guijt I, Scoones I and Thompson J, International Institute for Environment and Development, London, 1995.
http://www.fahamu.org/WFCEng/reshlp7.html
A Manual for Media Trainers : A Learner Centred Approach
Developed by: Duncan H. Brown and Drew O.McDaniel
Type of resource: PDF manual
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This manual is divided into several sections, each dealing with specific topic. These include: What is training? Training Needs Assessment, Motivating Adult Learners, Training Techniques, Evaluation, Supporting Newly Trained Staff, Additional Resources
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/publications/media_
trainers/manual.pdf
Active Training & Teaching - 25 Proven Activities to Make Learning Active
Developed by: Business Training Works / Kate Zabrieski
Type of resource: Word Document
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
The average adult can sit and just listen for about ten minutes. After that, any lecture tends to lose its punch. What’s an instructor to do? Talk faster? Simply hit the highlights? No, of course not. By building active learning techniques into the structure of the class, any instructor can improve his or her class.
The Word document provides 25 ways to engage participants in a lecture-based program or lecture module in a training seminar.
http://www.businesstrainingworks.com/Onsite%20Trai
ning%20Web/Free%20Articles/PDFs/Active%20Training%
20and%20Teaching.pdf
Analyse yourself as facilitator: disempower yourself
Developed by: IDS
Type of resource: website
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
A useful resource page in the FAO Particpation database intended to help trainers and facilitators reflect on how to
'facilitate others in the sense of handing over the stick, disempowering yourself as a facilitator, leading by withdrawing'.
http://www.fao.org/Participation/ft_more.jsp?ID=92
0
Basic Facilitation Primer
Developed by: International Association of Facilitators
Type of resource: Downloable PDF (450K pdf)
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
A PDF primer on Basic Facilitation Skills that will help trainers getting started on making meetings, training and workshops even more effective.
http://www.iaf-world.org/files/public/FacilitatorM
nl.pdf
CamStudio
Developed by: CamStudio
Type of resource: Software
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
"CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer" - useful for creating software tutorials and for offline demonstrations of tools.
http://www.camstudio.org/
Competency checklists
Developed by: Link to Learn
Type of resource: PDF files
Target audience: General
Cost: Free access
These lists of goals and skills relating to areas such as web site creation, presentation design and MS PowerPoint are a useful resource for trainers who need to develop pre- or post-training assessment tools, as well as for overall curriculum development.
http://pd.l2l.org/lrn_competency.html
Designing Instruction for Web-Based Distance Learning
Developed by: Distance Learning Resource Network
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This guide will help trainers in the design of a course or materials for the Web or convert an existing course into an online course.
http://www.westedrtec.org/course/
Gender and Training: Mainstreaming gender equality and the planning, realisation, and evaluation of training programmes
Developed by: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Type of resource: PDF file
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Based on the concept of "didactics that promote gender equality", manual prepared by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for its staff and consultants, the manual defines key terms and practical tips for being gender aware in the workplace. It encourages trainers to examine content, work forms and methods, their own gender knowledge, language and communication.
http://www.siyanda.org/docs/sdc_toolkitenglish.pdf
Information and Communication Technology Training of Trainers
Developed by: Peace Corps
Type of resource: PDF file (153 p.)
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
This Facilitator Guide and Reference Manual is intended for use in train-the-trainer programmes. The aimes of the
ICT TOT are to prepare graduates of the course to conduct
effective computer technology and Internet training so as to help others better accomplish their development objectives; understand and apply participatory training methods that are effective in experiential learning situations; and learn how to tailor a training program to the needs of the audience. The materials have been field tested in a number of developing countries.
http://www.peacecorps.gov/library/pdf/T0122_icttot
fg.pdf
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
Multimedia Development Tools
Developed by: Georgia Institute of Technology
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
The site provides links to a number of useful tools that will help trainers and course designers to plan and implement multimedia-based training. The process (and tools suggested) follows the stages of analysis, design, management, production and evaluation.
http://mime1.marc.gatech.edu/MM_Tools/
PowerPoint Multimedia
Developed by: Simon James
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
These guides and examples from University of Tasmania show how MS PowerPoint can be used to create self-instructional multimedia learning resources without expensive multimedia software or specialized technical knowledge. MS PowerPoint can include lots of rich content (video, audio, photos, and some animation), and allows hyper linking between slide all that is needed to make useful multimedia resources.
http://www.agsci.utas.edu.au/ppmultimedia/
PRO::ICT - Promoting ICT to female students
Developed by: Leonardo da Vinci Programme, EU
Type of resource: web based searchable database
Target audience: Trainers, Women
Cost: Free access
A European collection of gender-sensitive training material which includes approximately 50 descriptions of sensitivity material, workshop designs (including e-learning courses), information material about the ICT market and occupations, handbook and guidelines for organisational interventions and case studies of successful gender-sensitive training activities.
http://www.pro-ict.org/
Running Effective Online Trainings - tips for creating a successful training program
Developed by: NPower / TechSoup
Type of resource: article on a website
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
An article in TechSoup's Learning Centre on preparinga and conducting online trainings. Provides advice on chosing learning platforms, costs associated with several of them, and many tips on setting up and running the actual training. Article is written with doing technology training online in mind.
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/pa
ge4893.cfm
Teaching Tips Index
Developed by: Honolulu Community College
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Developed as a part of the college's support to faculty the page provides a number of useful links on a wide range of issues that teachers/trainers must account for. These include: assessment techniques, course design, how people learn, motivating students and preparing a lesson plan.
http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacD
evCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm
Technology Tutorials
Developed by: Nortel Networks Kidz Online
Type of resource: web site
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Twelve Units of technology tutorials from simple internet searching to 2D and 3D animation are offered in this complete teachers resource. Teachers can benefit from ready-made lessons plan which can be easily inserted in their own plans, and accompanied by multimedia resources.
http://www.nnkol.org
The Copernicus Education Gateway
Developed by: EdGate
Type of resource: Portal
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Provides links to several other resources/websites/portals that links to good resources that instructors can use in developing lesson plans, content and instructional activities - see link for "Teacher's Toolbox."
http://www.edgate.com/
Time to Get Online
Developed by: Kabissa
Type of resource: website with downloadable PDF or ZIP (150 pages)
Target audience: General, Trainers
Cost: Free access
Kabissa's Time to Get Online learning materials are designed to be both a self-learning curriculum and to be distributed during hands-on internet training workshops with African Civil Society organisations. The 150-page curriculum is appropriate for both persons new to the Internet and Web experts. It includes snapshots of useful Web sites, lists of practical resources that can be found on the Web, tricks and tips on using the Internet, and case studies on how other organizations are using the Internet to further their mission. The materials cover: Connecting to the power of the internet; Accessing information and opportunities; Interacting with like-minded organisations; Establishing your web presence; Advocating for your community; Integrating the internet into your organisation;
http://www.kabissa.org/learning_materials.html
Train The Trainer for Technology Support Professionals
Developed by: Cornell University, Technology Training Services
Type of resource: Web-based course
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
A web-based course aiming to assist the technical support provider in developing the skills necessary to deliver effective technical training to an adult audience.
The course provides the learner with working knowledge of common training delivery methods, understanding of the basic principles of learning, an understanding of basic teaching skills and presentation skills, and a working knowledge of effective classroom and anxiety management techniques.
Useful for trainers to enhance their own skills, as well as reference materials for use in training others.
http://www.cit.cornell.edu/training/materials/facs
taff/ttt4tsp/ttt4tsp.html
Wikibooks: Computer software bookshelf
Developed by: Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection
Type of resource: Web site
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
Wikibooks have made available a number of free, open content textbooks and guides for teaching computer software subjects. Many of the books are still works-in-progress, but others are nearly complete. These are: Gmail, LaTeX, phpMyVisites, Learning the vi editor, Knoppix, Linux For Newbies, Basic Computing Using Windows, and Computers for Beginners. Because there are almost no copyright restrictions and each chapter can be downloaded separately, these materials are useful for trainers who intend to customise them for a specific group of students (for example by adding screen captures and exercises geared to the students' specific work setting).
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikibooks:Computer_so
ftware_bookshelf
Wink
Developed by: DebugMode
Type of resource: Software
Target audience: General
Cost: Free access
Wink is a widely-used free screencasting tool which offers a variety of output formats, including Flash.
http://www.debugmode.com/wink/
Zhaba Facilitators Materials
Developed by: Zhaba Facilitators Collective
Type of resource: Website
Target audience: Trainers
Cost: Free access
ZHABA is a network of facilitators that work with environmental, civil society and development organisations to help them make change happen and increase the effectiveness of their work.
This section of their website makes literature resources on facilitation and organisation, as well as worksheets and tools useful for facilitating workshops and training events, available for free.
http://www.zhaba.cz/index.php?id=20
Gender Training Wiki
Developed by: INSTRAW
Type of resource: wiki
Target audience: General, Trainers, Women
Cost: Free access
INSTRAW has launched a wiki for compiling events, institutions and materials regarding gender training. Available in Spanish and English, and increasingly, French, the wiki is full of links to handbooks, indicators, and tips on gender training with a wide range of content areas including poverty, leadership, environment, and violence against women. Of particular interest for ItrainOnline users are the handbooks regarding ICTs and gender and media, although
trainers will find the site very useful overall.
http://www.un-instraw.org/wiki/training/index.php/
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