Talk:Education (PPS)

Education Coordinator tasks & responsibilities:

• Computers for Kids - helping resurrect

-networking/liason with other educational institutions

-develop or obtain a degree/certification franchise (e.g. on the Computer Driving License or some other accreditable model).

• expand Build - mac build, enterprise build, laptop build

-increase uniform documentation to increase volunteer involvement (job-training) -advanced testing -personalizing/maximizing Freekboxen experience (so you wanna do what? do more with computer)

• classes related to Linux (application classes)

-netequiette, typing, basic skills - relevant to workplace could be hook

• alleviate burden from other areas (leads to more production = more money)

-staff "volunteer" hours

• coordinate with Knowledge Bees
• coordinate interns in every area (eventually? this program is another thing in itself)

Notes: -it's already happening in a limited way, but takes away from other staff doing all their work --show how more people would be positively affected by more education (compare past numbers/history) -it's integral to our mission -we're on a solid path of financial self-sufficiency and it's time to seriously concentrate on our educational aspects -how to evaluate goals, objectives, measurable outcomes (the goo!)

Program Basics

• Program Name: Education Program
• Program Description:

The Education Program will enable volunteers to gain real world computer and life skills. The Education Program will also educate staff in business related functions.

 what are business related functions?  and why would the education program help staff with them?

• What best describes this program? The Program is expected to do all three of these things in this order
  1. Administrative (expected to support other programs that generate income and/or meet program needs)

 Production could concentrate more on production (i.e. more bulk sales, advanced testing stuff, etc.) and 
 this will result in increased income AND increased reuse

• 1. Meets program needs (expected to cost more money than it makes)

 This position is the epitome of mission-related.

• 1. income generating (expected to make money for Free Geek)

 How is this program directly related to generating income?  I don't think it is!

• Why does Free Geek need this program?

FG has educational programs already (such as Build) but we need a wider breadth and depth of real-world educational opportunities. Community members should be able to take from FG knowledge that could benefit them in a job-training sort of way (i.e. Enterprise Build, more advanced command line classes, structured internships, etc.). It is absolutely integral to FG's mission to actually have effective, organized and supervised educational opportunities. There is already a list of classes on the Main Page that we should have but don't.

Job Position Basics

• Would there be a dedicated staff position associated with this program? YES
• Position Title: Education Coordinator
• Job Description:

The Education Coordinator will facilitate the ongoing education of Free Geek volunteers and staff. This will be done by setting up education tracks and course outlines, with the help of teachers. The Coordinator will develop and implement avenues for volunteer leadership, increase of adoption classes, and fine-tuning the educational atmosphere and structure of FG

Costs and potential costs

• What are the expected financial staffing costs of the program? (Include all costs to the organization such as salary, payroll taxes, and benefits.)

...

 What is the figure for staffing?

• What other costs are associated with the program? (Include costs of materials needed, etc.)

Most materials would be those already available although more printing would likely occur. The classroom space would have to be usable and available.

• If there will be a dedicated staff position, how much time would be needed for training?

Depends on how familiar the person already was with FG.

• How much time would existing staff need to put in?

Staff scheduling would shift around significantly but most likely staff hours would decrease as the Education Coordinator took over responsibilities and eventually trained volunteer teachers

• How time would existing volunteers need to put in?

NEED? Well, hopefully volutneer participation would increase as volunteers became more energized and empowered.

• Once the program is up and running how many staff how many hours per week would it take?
  • In paid staff time? 35 hours a week
  • In volunteer time? It really depends on how the program evolves.

Drawbacks

• Outline the intangible costs for the position and program:

This program would utilize the systems and software currently running at Free Geek. System administration may be more of a concern. The classroom space might be less available for social or flex activities, although it's also posssible that a re-organization would increase space suability. This program will probably not make enough money to pay for itself very quickly, if at all.

• Are there any possible negative impacts on Free Geek's mission, and if so what?

None.

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions currently in effect?

This program would relieve current staff of the task of setting up classes. It could lighten the load on tech support and provide feedback about the quality of the freekboxes and their fitness for the needs of the adopters. The connections reinforced in the class could lead to more returning volunteers. The education coordinator could help make the build program more educational.

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions being considered?

More education = more empowerment. The program would coordinate the further education of staff and volunteers. This would require a full-time staff person with dedicated admin/office space and time. This program will probably not pay for itself, which would inhibit other projects from being funded.

Benefits

• Would the program generate income? Not directly
  • If yes, how much income would be expected once the program is up and running?
  • If yes, how long would it take for the program to get to that point?

 Perhaps a more structured eduactional aspect of FG would lead to more grants from foundations,
 good word-of-mouth in the community and therefore increased donations?

• How does the program support the mission of Free Geek?

Education is essential to the mission of Free Geek.

Measuring Success

• How can the success of the program be measured?

Freeekbox adoption classes are running regularly, with satisfied teachers and students. The curriculum changes as necessary to remain up-to-date, and covers materials that make the students more self-sufficient. Additional classes are offered to help students move beyond basic knowledge, to provide job-related skills, and to supplement the build curriculum.

 How can you measure to happiness of volunteers?!
 More classes, more volunteer teachers, more return volunteers

• For most income generating positions, the costs initially outweigh the benefits. If this is an income generating program, how long until it is expected to break even?

Never?

• Outline a plan for implementing the program:

Hire Education Coordinatior who has the answers to everything....

++++not"----"

I am liking this format for "Discussion/Talk" item-by-item Address of Points, and cherish it as unique' FreekiWiki devel'. -Moorere 11:33, 1 February 2007 (PST)

scrambled thoughts

In my mind an EdCoord would figure out how to maximize the educational potential of the existing Free Geek programs. This would mean less of an emphasis on establishing classes that some might expect of the job, and more things like:

• If you learn how to do one thing at Free Geek, does that make it easy to learn something else? (Is the documentation consistent, etc.?)
• What about people that can't learn (easily) the way we teach? How can we provide an educational service to them? (For example, folks who have a hard time reading may need one on one attention. They may learn by hearing.)
• How do we make sure our paid interns are really learning job skills and not just filling shifts on the schedule?
  • Same question, but for volunteer interns.
• When we do hold classes, how do they support with the hands on learning that we're better at? (It's better to do this as directly as possible, I think.)

RfS 17:49, 28 March 2007 (PDT)