MIV NEWS
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March 2000

The North Dakota Master Internet Volunteer program is running full steam ahead with programs currently underway in many counties.

This month in MIV NEWS:

About the MIV Program
Burke County News
New Programs Gearing Up

About the MIV Program
By Rhonda Conlon

The Master Internet Volunteer (MIV) Program is an educational program designed to train volunteers to help other people in their communities learn about the Internet. This program was originally created by the University of Minnesota Extension Service as a way to educate community volunteers in the concepts and applications of the Internet. These community volunteers are then able to more effectively assist others with applications of the Internet. The program is now being implemented by North Dakota State University with permission of and in cooperation with the University of Minnesota.

Extension agents from several counties are planning to offer this training locally in 2000.

COMPUTER BUFFS ARE TRAINED
by Kristi Bohl    (reprinted with permission from the  Burke County Tribune,  March 29, 2000)

Each one had an interest in the Internet before the program began, but had different ideas on why they signed up for the course and what they wanted to get out of it.

Allie Sagness of rural Bowbells said it best when she joked, I’m trying to catch up to my kids. At that, the other members laughed, commenting that might never happen...to keep up with the younger set.

Barb Matte, Bowbells, wanted to go surfing with her son, Michael. Internet surfing that is. She also was interested in learning more about the Internet and how to find things on the web.

I recently purchased a computer and was unfamiliar with the Internet, said Carol Wittman, rural Bowbells. I wanted to get started with the basics.

The Master Internet Volunteer program was designed by NDSU as a way to educate community volunteers in the concepts and applications of the Internet. These volunteers are then able to more effectively assist others with Internet applications.

The North Dakota State University Extension Service provides this training in exchange for volunteer time. As part of the program, each Master Internet Volunteer is required to be a computer consultant, in any capacity, totaling 30 hours over the next year.

Topics covered in the class included, but were not limited to, Windows 95 and 98 File Management, Internet history, search engines, e-mail, mailing lists, netiquette, viruses - myths and facts, web page development, web editors, and safe surfing.

Burke County Extension Agent Dan Folske was the instructor for the ten-week program. Each session, held on Wednesday evenings at the Bowbells School, lasted three hours. Folske has spent many hours attending the instructor’s class and learning the program in order to teach the class.

Volunteers gain skills that will help them take advantage of the Internet at home and work, Folske explained. They work with the county offices and directly with community organizations to help others learn and make use of the Internet.

Colette Bryan of Bowbells feels like she missed the computer age in college and took part in the class to learn more about the Internet.

Jared Mahlum and Hal Ross also wanted to learn more about the Internet, and Mahlum was interested in web page design.

Each student was given a binder chock full of information and lessons for the class, and was given assignments to work on at home between classes. All students in the class already have computers at home, and found the extra time very valuable to reinforce what they learned during class.

I found this class very worthwhile and informative said Leslie Nelson, of Lignite. Much of it was review for me, but I wanted to learn more about web design, as I hope to develop websites for our businesses.

Folske said some of these volunteers will be put to work at additional classes, such as this as part of their 30-hour volunteer time.

In addition, these individuals will be able to help their neighbors, friends and colleagues in gaining more experience with the Internet and their computers in general.

*Staying Connected

All of the county participants stay "connected" during the week through their membership in an electronic mailing list for their county. They also belong to a statewide list that will provide contact with other Master Internet Volunteers. These lists will help keep the groups together during the volunteer period that follows their formal training.

Burke County is gearing up to offer another Master Internet Volunteer training session shortly, and other counties will be offering the program later in 2000. The extension agents who teach all of these workshops attend their own intensive Internet training to get prepared. We fondly call those workshops, "boot camp."

Interest in learning about the Internet continues to grow in the state and worldwide. The Master Internet Volunteer program is growing right along with it. My thanks to all of the extension staff and volunteers involved! --Rhonda Conlon

   This is supposed to be fun!