Designing Activities

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To attract residents and community members to a Neighborhood Networks center, offer programs that meet their needs. Center programs generally fall into two or more of the following categories:

Public access and/or open lab time. There should be at least one staff member or volunteer for every 10 users. Schedule hours during the day and in the evening. Some centers ask for a voluntary contribution or charge a nominal fee from participants in open labs.

Preschool and family programs. These programs allow parents and young children to explore drawing, animation, and educational software. Plan an introductory session or two for the adults.

Afterschool activities. Such activities can be structured for different age groups or offered as open lab time for youth. In addition to learning basic computer skills, kids may enjoy educational software, games, surfing the Internet, multimedia publishing, and music making.

Adult education. You will need classroom or tutorial space for non-computer-based learning and qualified instructors. Partnerships are invaluable when it comes to adult learning. Adult education generally includes:

	General Education Development (GED) classes.
	English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.
	Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes.
	Lifelong learning opportunities.
	Basic computer training.

Senior services. Seniors often prefer to learn about computers in classes made up of other seniors. Offering seniors-only courses may go a long way to helping them feel comfortable at the center and return to it.

Career development and job preparation. A comprehensive jobs program requires instructors who have the experience and qualifications needed to conduct the classes. Job-skills training include basic computer literacy, keyboard skills, word processing, graphics applications, spreadsheets, and databases. Job-search activities include resume writing, interviewing skills, and job hunting.