Community technology assessments

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Community technology assessments
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WHY DO ASSESSMENTS?

• The long term development of a community rests
  on its ability to uncover and build on the
  strengths and assets of its people, institutions,
  and informational organizations. (Beaulieu 2002)
• Look for strengths, and identify all the positive
  qualities of your community
• Identify gaps
• Help communities realize there may be multiple
  ways to achieve goals

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CONNECTING COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS

• Quick start assessments
• Community readiness
• Capability
• Individual
• Organizational
• Infrastructure

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COMMUNITY READINESS ASSESSMENT

• Level of cooperation and collaboration
• Potential leadership team members
• Potential partner organizations
• Existing digital development projects

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LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER WORKSHEET

• Leaders (formal and non-formal)
• Technology experts

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DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENTS

• Organization capability to use digital tools
• Individual capability to use digital tools
• Digital infrastructure
• Internet
• Organizational

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TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS

• Whats there?
• First step is to agree on what connected
  community means
• Where are the gaps?
• Needs assessment
• Community assets (mapping)
• Whats the focus?
• Technology
• Formal organizations
• Individuals

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MORE CHOICES

• Secondary data
• Primary data
• Telephone or mail survey
• Focus groups
• Face-to-face interviews
• Public forum

• Online
• Formal
• Informal
• Non-Profit
• Business
• Government
• Access to technology
• Capacity

• How is it being used?
• Health issues
• Economic conditions
• School success
• Family issues
• Early childhood development

• Business and Industry
• Healthcare
• Libraries
• Higher Education
• Community-Based Organizations
• Tourism, Recreation and Parks
• Agriculture

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TWO PURPOSES

• Whats available? Network, appliances
• How its being used? In segments and across the
  community
• Do we need to hire a consultant?
• What do we know?
• What do we still need to know?
• How will we collect additional information?
• Who and what will we ask?
• Who will collect the data?
• How will we compile analyze the data?
• How will we report our findings?

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Partnerships vision statement should guide the
  assessment
• Assessment should focus on specific topics
• Assessment is an ongoing process
• Views the community from multiple perspectives
• Takes an in-depth look at diversity within a
  community
• Coordinator can facilitate information gathering
  by many participants

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SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT

• Understand the current situation first
• Define a vision of the future
• Allow questions to drive the assessment process
• Address issues that stakeholders believe are
  important
• Communicate information back to stakeholders

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NOW WHAT?

• Completing the assessment is only the beginning
• An assessment is the means to achieve your vision

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.ConnectingCommunities.info