[Digital-Mentor] digital mentor role - what is it?

Tue Oct 14 07:09:10 EDT 2008

Mark, the flexibility is definitely a key point. Whether funding allows for
this, remains to be seen! The role as I see it, could be a precursor to
other forms of training / teaching / skills sharing etc based on the
'communities of practice' model - Maybe the 'Net is showing us the way!

2008/10/14 Mark Walker <mark at scip.org.uk>

>  Hi Stuart
>
> This sounds like really good stuff.
>
> I notice that it isn't funded and I wonder whether this is why it turned
> out so good? If funders had stuck their oar in you may not have been so
> focused on simple achievable user-driven transferable support? Just a
> thought.
>
> It also reminds me that the work on Digital mentors needs to link with the
> many many community-based UK Online Centres around the country. UK Online
> did some work on Social Impact Demonstration projects , which funded some
> work I did at neighbourhood level in Brighton last year. The combined
> findings of their projects may point to some important lessons about how
> interventions can work at the very local level – and where digital mentors
> may well be found already hard at work, just waiting for a new badge to
> wear...
>
> Is anyone talking to UK Online? [I've copied in my regional contact for
> info]
>
> Mark
>
>
>
>
> On 14/10/2008 11:14, "Stuart Parker" <stu at wesharestuff.org> wrote:
>
> I've found it depends on the audience. Over in the Black Country (my last
> 'proper' job!) we had a typical 'Job Shop' thing that was born out of
> neccessity more than anything. The Centre had 8 public usage PCs and we
> found the Job Centre were suggesting us as a friendly, unintimidating place
> to go 'use the computers' and look for jobs. We didn't have a JCP contract,
> nor did we recieve funding to offer any specific training. It began as a
> simple drop in, browse the newspapers and use the 'Net to search sites like
> the JCP, monster, local council job sites etc. The majority of these
> clients, it turned out, had few IT or 'Internet' skills so we began
> developing a list of resources and making them available on our intranet
> (straight in at the deep end, no mouse or keyboard skills here - but that's
> another argument) Over time and without really knowing it, we developed a
> system for jobseekers. It included things like links to job search sites, CV
> templates, links to benefit info etc. As the 'Net evolved, we started to
> find it easier to find tools and resources specific to the client needs
> which we could then easily include in the resource list. We eventually took
> this off the Intranet and moved it to I-google, which clients could have
> bespoke information and resources at their fingertips.
> Now before we had all the digital stuff, we always did I.A.G (Information,
> advice and guidance) with all our clients - This is about developing a
> trusted relationship with the clients and hopefully progressing to help them
> develop clear and defined achievable goals (SMART) <
> http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/smart-goals.html> .
>
> We were melding the IAG with the technology skills, not tutoring and not
> bound by targets or structure. The engagement thing is key, selling the
> technology as a useful tool and promoting exploration of the Internet, while
> being on hand to offer guidance.
>
> Evidently, it will differ for each clent group but the beauty of it is that
> the Internet today, can be moulded to a group or individuals needs.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 2008/10/13 Mike Amos-Simpson <mas at yomo.co.uk>
>
> cheers Dave - yep I agree with you - good to get thinking what all those
> different approaches will be though and then try and pick out common themes
> so that it can be presented as a project/programme.
>
> To get the ball rolling - in terms of looking for existing good practice
> you can split the 'digital' and the 'mentor' - so there will be examples of
> good digital learning programmes/approaches, and also examples of good
> methods for mentoring. If people know of examples of these that are
> particularly effective for certain audiences/target groups that would be
> useful.
>
> Failing that if we just have ideas & thoughts about what those different
> approaches could be and who they would work well with that would be good
> too.
>
>
>
>
> Mike Amos-Simpson
> Director of Development
>
> mas at yomo.co.uk
> +44 (0)208 133 2878
>
> www.yomo.co.uk <http://www.yomo.co.uk>
>
> Building the Capacity of Young People to Participate in Society - Practical
> Ideas for Participation!
>
> YoMo is a registered Company in England & Wales number 06579500
>
> YoMo
> Suite 218
> 29 - 30 Horse Fair
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> OX16 0BW
>
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>
>
> On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 7:47 PM, Dave Briggs <db at davepress.net> wrote:
>
> 2008/10/13 Mike Amos-Simpson <mas at yomo.co.uk>:
>
> > The current stuff to do list has:
> >
> > Can I suggest that we start with some consideration to this one 'discuss
> > what the role of digital mentor actually consist of'? there were plenty
> of
> > ideas posted up before but not necessarily agreement so it might be
> useful
> > to have some discussion about what we think digital mentors role should
> be
> > so that we can look for the best resources/ideas etc.
>
> That's a good idea, Mike. One task I have to do in the next day or two
> is start a wiki page with a list of the blog posts that have been made
> so far about this topic, which will be full of ideas. It's my view
> that while we will no doubt be able to agree on a basic set of roles,
> tools and resources, the actual approach to be taken in any one
> project will be different and unique. So we need as many ideas as
> possible!
>
> If people want to ping stuff into this mailing list, then perhaps Mike
> and I can between us transfer it all to a wiki page?
>
> > I haven't read the relevant white paper either - does anyone have the
> link?
>
> Here you go:
> http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communitiesincontrol
>
> Cheers
>
> --
> Dave Briggs
> db at davepress.net |  http://davepress.net |  07525 209589 (Mobile)
>
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>
> Mark Walker
> Project Manager and South East Regional ICT Champion
>
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>
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