A program of the:A program of the:

PurposePurpose

The purpose of the Technical Assistance/Training Network is to provide free technology training and support by phone, e-mail and on-site to all Ohio adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) programs and practitioners.

The Ohio Literacy Resource Center (OLRC) coordinates the Network and currently has 20 consultants from around the state who are available for 2, 4, 6, or 8 hour training sessions/workshops, at the program site or alternate location of the program’s choosing.

OverviOverviewew

HistoryHistory

The Technical Assistance/Training Network started as a pilot project. It was established at the Ohio Literacy Resource Center, located at Kent State University, in September 1996. The project is currently supported with state leadership funds from the Ohio Department of Education.

Beginning of Project Beginning of Project

PhasesPhases PROJECT PHASESSeptember 1, 1996October to November, 1996

January 10, 1997January 11, 1997January to February, 1997

February 1, 1997

February 27, 1997September 30, 1997

Grant period beginsRequest for applications for technicalconsultant positions distributedConsultant orientation, Day 1Consultant orientation, Day 2Notification of availability of free,on-site technical training/assistanceOfficial Start of TechnicalAssistance/Training NetworkFirst training performedGrant period ends (last day of trainingunder 1997 budget)

Program completes and returns program request form to OLRC

Arrangements are made so the Technology Consultant can provide on-site Technical Assistance/Training to the program

Confirmation letters are sent to the contact person at the program as well as the technology consultant

Layout of the training session/workshop is decided by the Technical consultant

ProceduProceduresres

After the training session, the consultant completes and returns the report and reimbursement form to OLRC

After the training session, the program completes and returns the evaluation form(s) to OLRC

The consultant receives a copy of the evaluation form (s)

Consultants are paid after each workshop/session

ProcedurProcedureses

Subjects Subjects coveredcovered

General System Internet Hardware Software

Computer Purchase World Wide Web Troubleshooting

Program update

System upgrade Email/ Electroniclist/ News groups/Chat rooms

Purchase /installation

Operatingsystems

System maintenance Web page setupdesign/ maintenance

Upgrading / newcomponents

Office suites,databases

Technologyapplication

FTP, Drivers,Downloading,Plug-ins

Fax/Modem Softwareinstallation

Communications Search Engines, WebBrowsers, ISP

Network setup/Backup/Diskscanning

Desktoppublishing

96/97 Evaluation averages96/97 Evaluation averagesPertinence to my needs 4.371 5 = Highly relevant, 1 = IrrelevantOverall organization 4.46 5 = Excellent, 1 = PoorIdeas and activities 4.50 5 = Very Interesting, 1 = DullContributions of consultant 4.68 5 = Excellent, 1 = Poor

Allocated amount $ 20,000 is requested for the Technical Assistance Network. $12,000 would be used to support the per day fee for the consultants and

travel $ 6518 would cover travel for the consultants' training meetings at Kent and

travel to ALT, the remaining $ 1,481 is overhead.

Actual amount used $6,600 ($37.5 x 176) 29 sessions/ 29ABLE Programs received on-site technical training and/or

assistance 176 hours of on-site training and/or assistance have been provided 10 Technical Consultants

97/98 Evaluation averages:97/98 Evaluation averages:

Pertinence to my needs 4.91 5 = Highly relevant, 1= IrrelevantOverall organization 4.91 5 = Excellent, 1 =PoorIdeas and activities 4.78 5 = Very interesting, 1 = DullContributions of consultant 4.83 5 = Excellent, 1 = Poor

Allocated amount$12, 000 for consultantsActual amount used $6,187.5 = ($37.5 x 165) 59 sessions/ 59 ABLE Programs received on-site technical training and/or

assistance 165 hours of on-site training and/or assistance have been provided 25 Technical Consultants

98/99 Evaluation averages: 98/99 Evaluation averages:

Pertinence to my needs 4.51 5= Highly relevant, 1 = IrrelevantOverall organization 4.40 5 = Excellent, 1 = PoorIdeas and activities 4.41 5 = Very interesting, 1 = DullContributions of consultant 4.51 5 = Excellent, 1= Poor

Allocated amount$16,000 for consultantsActual amount used $ 13, 275 = ($37.5 x 354) 77 sessions / 77 ABLE Programs received on-site technical training and/or assistance 354 hours of on-site training and/or assistance have been provided 17 Technical Consultants

99/00 Evaluation averages: 99/00 Evaluation averages:

Pertinence to my needs 4.55 5= Highly relevant, 1 = IrrelevantOverall organization 4.41 5 = Excellent, 1 = PoorIdeas and activities 4.43 5 = Very interesting, 1 = DullContributions of consultant 4.67 5 = Excellent, 1= Poor

Allocated amount$10,000 for consultantsActual amount used $7,928.78 total amount used $5,850 = ($37.5 x 156) on-site visits $2,087.78 travel expenses (training session January, 2000) 31 sessions / 31 ABLE Programs received on-site technical training and/or

assistance 156 hours of on-site training and/or assistance have been provided 20 Technical Consultants

Willingness to answer questions-practical advice

Very knowledgeable of the system Follow up phone support Very friendly, non-intimidating Handouts and instructions Presentation and consultant Patient and explained everything

thoroughly On-site help, wonderful at both sites Opportunity to work hands-on Explanations were easy to understand

97/98 Consultant’s Evaluation: 97/98 Consultant’s Evaluation:

Things I liked best wereThings I liked best were

Unfortunately, I was the only staff member

Needed more time Computers were not upgraded Problems with fax, printer, & email-

discovered Night staff couldn’t participate Everything was great Not enough time No lunch My own lack of computer knowledge There was nothing I didn’t like The glitch which occurred with the

software program

97/98 Consultant’s Evaluation: 97/98 Consultant’s Evaluation:

Things I liked least wereThings I liked least were

Consultant was easy to work with Responded to our needs in a very

helpful & timely manner Handouts Professionalism Eagerness to assist Attitude Desire to help Worked non-stop Good explanations Ideas & knowledge of the presenter Their patience

98/99 Consultant’s 98/99 Consultant’s Evaluation: Evaluation: Things I liked best wereThings I liked best were

Went through steps quickly Wasn’t familiar with Macintosh

computer Training on Saturday Lack of knowledge of Excel Wasn’t organized Difficulty explaining certain areas Too much material covered in time

permitted Information was insufficient Needed more time for session Working with the different levels in

session

98/99 Consultant’s Evaluation: 98/99 Consultant’s Evaluation: Things I liked least wereThings I liked least were

Getting answers to my questions Helpfulness and patience Didn’t make me feel stupid when I

made mistakes Taking time to explain Giving us plenty of time to finish our

activity Presenter walking around Convenient location Teaching style Hands-on exercises Taught well-good presenter

99/00 Consultant’s Evaluation: 99/00 Consultant’s Evaluation: Things I liked best wereThings I liked best were

Slow pace Took too long to get training session

scheduled Lack of time Limited time only a half day Seemed disorganized at times Difficulty explaining certain areas Couldn’t see screen Couldn’t hear well Having training in the afternoon Too many personal questions that

could have been addressed after the session

99/00 Consultant’s Evaluation: 99/00 Consultant’s Evaluation: Things I liked least wereThings I liked least were