What are the most important factors to consider when hiring a technology trainer or mentor?

[sarah washburn]

We've talked to nonprofits and libraries that are starting technology
training programs, and many shared their struggles around hiring
trainers to do the job. What are your thoughts?

[Elliot Harmon]

Jason Schroeder of the Appalachian Center for Collaborative and Engaged Learning wrote an excellent guest blog post for TechSoup about hiring trainers. He argues that someone having an approachable personality is top priority:
http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/hiring-trainers-for-my-community-based-nonprofit

When I interviewed Jason for the project, he explained why he sees tech expertise as a secondary concern: "You can teach anybody how to use a computer, and we are going to do it with 5000 people.  So by golly, we should be able to teach 15 people how to use a computer if they don't know how." I think that's a good attitude.

There's also a lot of value in hiring from within the community you're serving. I recently met Damien Ramos, a computer trainer at a low-income housing complex in San Francisco. He'd already lived in the complex when he got the job, so the users knew him as a friend and neighbor. When you have that kind of peer relationship between trainers and trainees, it's a lot more than a job.
http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/tourists-travelers-and-snowbirds-empowering-community-leaders-to-navigate-broadband

I'd love to hear others' thoughts on hiring trainers.

Cheers,
Elliot

[Stephanie Harrison]

I would agree...we have participants in all of our programs fill out
evaluations, and probably the number one thing people comment on is
how friendly and approachable the PCC staff is.

Stephanie Harrison, MLS
PCC Director
Poughkeepsie Public Library District
93 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845-485-3445 x3381
shar...@poklib.org

On Jan 7, 5:33 pm, Elliot Harmon <elliothar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Jason Schroeder of the Appalachian Center for Collaborative and Engaged
> Learning wrote an excellent guest blog post for TechSoup about hiring
> trainers. He argues that someone having an approachable personality is top

> priority:http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/hiring-trainers-for-my-commu...

>
> When I interviewed Jason for the project, he explained why he sees tech
> expertise as a secondary concern: "You can teach anybody how to use a
> computer, and we are going to do it with 5000 people.  So by golly, we
> should be able to teach 15 people how to use a computer if they don't know
> how." I think that's a good attitude.
>
> There's also a lot of value in hiring from within the community you're
> serving. I recently met Damien Ramos, a computer trainer at a low-income
> housing complex in San Francisco. He'd already lived in the complex when he
> got the job, so the users knew him as a friend and neighbor. When you have
> that kind of peer relationship between trainers and trainees, it's a lot

> more than a job.http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/tourists-travelers-and-snowb...

>
> I'd love to hear others' thoughts on hiring trainers.
>
> Cheers,
> Elliot
>
> On Wed, Jan 5, 2011 at 1:43 PM, sarah washburn <sa...@techsoupglobal.org>wrote:
>
>
>
> > We've talked to nonprofits and libraries that are starting technology
> > training programs, and many shared their struggles around hiring

> > trainers to do the job. What are your thoughts?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[sarah washburn]

We recently published a survey on the topic of hiring trainers at
libraries, and learned quite a bit. Here's a sampling of what was
shared:

"Remember that many people 'over 40' are actually very "techie" - and
are quite empathetic with those who are not."

"Not everyone who knows 'how to do it' can explain it. When
interviewing, ask the trainer applicant to explain how to do something
very basic - and/or better yet, have the applicant write instructions
for a very simple procedure to be followed, such as signing up for an
email account, or accessing a database, or doing a simple search - to
determine if the applicant can deliver clear, simple to follow
instructions."

When asked to rank the top 3 skills one looks for in a trainer, most
shared that subject matter knowledge was required, but many more felt
that soft skills--patience, friendliness--were equally important.

One librarian shared: "Knowledge of technology, but not 100% geek-
like. Needs to be customer friendly and passionate."

Do you have ideas on hiring trainers? Please share your thoughts here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/trainerdescription

Thanks,
-sarah

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarah Washburn
Library Program Manager, TechSoup Global
415-633-9428
Twitter: TechSoup4Libs
--> learn how TechSoup supports libraries: http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org