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The University of Texas at Austin

Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

Online Handbooks for Volunteers

These are online guidelines by other organizations for their volunteers, representing an array of volunteer areas.

Community Workers' Handbooks

Community empowerment, management and development resources to support volunteers of Seattle Community Network (SCN). Includes:

Master Internet VolunteerSM Program

An online educational program designed to train volunteers to help other people in their communities with the Internet and related technical issues. The program was created by the University of Minnesota Extension Service as a way to educate community volunteers in the concepts and applications of the Internet, and the web site helps train these volunteers to provide this assistance. These community volunteers are then able to more effectively assist others with applications of the Internet. Master Internet VolunteersSM work with University of Minnesota Extension Service county offices and directly with community organizations to help others learn and make effective use of the Internet. The University of Minnesota Extension Service provides this training in exchange for volunteer time, including:

National Service Resource Center (NSRC)

NSRC is a training and technical assistance provider to programs funded by the Corporation for National Service (AmeriCorps, VISTA, SeniorCorps, etc.). Its web site supports these volunteers in their work, and includes a database for effective practices (Epicenter), and an extensive online resource library that includes volunteer support materials for its volunteers, such as:

NetDay How-To Guide Index

NetDay sponsors one-day, all-volunteer efforts to build appropriate wiring infrastructure in schools so they can access the Internet. The NetDay How-To Guide provides everything volunteers need to undertake these one-day events successfully:

Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) Understanding Technology Series

VITA places volunteers in developing countries to provide access to information and knowledge, strengthen local institutions and introduce improved technologies. Its areas of assistance include (but is not limited to) agriculture, business and industry, energy, environment, food processing and management, health and medicine, housing, information and communication, transportation, water supply and sanitation. VITA technical papers are used by volunteers as guidelines in selecting technologies suitable to specific situations. Charts, diagrams, graphs, and the like are not included in these online, text-only versions.

World Links for Development (WorLD) Resource Materials

The World Links for Development (WorLD) program provides Internet connectivity and training for teachers, teacher trainers and students in developing countries in the use of technology in education. WorLD then links students and teachers in secondary schools in developing countries with schools in industrialized countries for collaborative learning via the Internet. The WorLD training materials help familiarize volunteers and other participants with how the Internet to enhance education programs, and includes: