| Intellectual
Infrastructure
Community Strategies and Resources
Awareness Building
There are a number of ways to
increase community awareness of the benefits of information
technology. Seward and York have held brown bag lunches
with IT presentations. Several communities regularly
include articles on information technology in the local
paper. Frank Odasz outlines a number of strategies for
increasing awareness in this article
in Community Technology Review. He lists additional
resources at http://lone-eagles.com/clyde.htm
.
An information technology conference is another way
to increase awareness. The agenda for Aurora’s
IT Conference in March, 2001 provides a sample conference
agenda.
General Skills
In many communities, there is a
tremendous demand for basic computer training. Many local libraries,
community
colleges, high
schools, and the University
of Nebraska Extension's Connecting Nebraska program offer computer
training. The Kearney Public Library and Information
Center was one of the first libraries in Nebraska to install a
computer lab, averaging over 1,500 patron visits a month.
In Northeast Nebraska, a roving computer lab was used to provide
computer training in a 7-county area. In its first year of
operation, 560 participants received training on basic computer
operations, Windows 95, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, farm
and household financial records, and the Internet.
Other Resources
Camp
Yahoo! offers free training materials to qualified non-profit
organizations, community centers, libraries, schools, and service
groups.
America
Connects has an extensive list of resources.
ZDNet's
Help and How-To includes tutorials, beginners' guides, news, and
trouble-shooting tips. Lone
Eagle Consulting offers a number of tutorials and resources for
communities.
CTCNet's Center Start-Up
Manual offers advice on starting a community technology
center. Computers
in our Futures Toolkits provide advice on starting community
learning centers.
Advanced Skills
A number of organizations offer advanced
information technology training in Nebraska, including:
Online Training Resources
E-commerce
In a recent survey of Nebraska
businesses, over seventy percent of the
respondents indicated that their biggest challenge was understanding
the opportunities available through the use of the Internet.
Communities and regions which help their local businesses understand
how to utilize the Internet to reduce their costs and expand their
markets will be better prepared to compete in the digital
economy.
Resources
The University of Nebraska's Connecting
Nebraska/Nebraska Electronic Main Street Program
provides e-commerce training for small businesses in rural
communities.
The E-Commerce on Main Street session
from the 2000 Nebraska Rural Institute is available from Rural
Routes. (Click on Families/Communities and then
Strengthening
Communities.) Panelists include Gene
Gage, Papa Geno's Herb Farm;
Sue Finkral, Midwest
MicroSystems L.L.C.; and Mark Patterson. You will need RealPlayer
to view this clip.
E-Commerce
Guide offers reviews,
tips, and resources for e-commerce.
ZDNet
E-Commerce site has best
practices, case studies, reviews, tips, and more.
Start-Up Training
Resources Web Tour by Frank Odasz has an extensive list of
e-commerce training resources.
Professional Organizations
Nebraska Organizations/Chapters Association
of Information Technology Professionals--Cornhusker Chapter
IWA-Nebraska Chapter of
the International Webmasters Association
Midwest Information Systems
Professionals
NebraskaCERT
Professional
Association of Women in Technology--Omaha
Women
in Science and Technology--Lincoln
National/International Organizations
Association
of Information Technology Professionals
Association
of Internet Professionals
Association
for Women in Computing
International
Webmasters Association
Internet Professional Publishers
Association
Information
Systems Security Association
International Information
Systems Security Certification Consortium
Women
in Technology International
Funding Resources
Nebraska
Workforce Development Training Program provides grants for worker
training.
Other
Funding Sources
If you would like to suggest a
resource, please e-mail abyers@notes.state.ne.us
10/19/2001
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