Building Community in the New Millenium Community Information Networks

1
Building Community in the New MilleniumCommunity
Information Networks

• A Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach
  Initiative

Bill Shuffstall Extension Agent 814-765-7878 email
shuffy_at_psu.edu
2
A New Age

• Information Technology
• Driven and defined by digital tools
• Human interaction with appliances more natural
• Info is a commodity

3
Impact Similar to Industrial Age

• Geographic location distance irrelevant
• Benefit small business individuals more than
  big business
• Emphasis on life-long learning

4
Typical Communities

• Post-industrial economy
• Facing transition to Information Age
• Large corporations universities high tech
• Small bus., local gov., schools, majority of
  adults low tech
• Nation State governments national economy
  well into transition

5
Implications for Communities

• Threat - Digital Divide
• inner cities
• rural communities
• Opportunity
• develop Community Information Network
• share benefits of digital appliances

6
Community Information Networks Wagner and Kubicek
Are run by and for the local community, are to
serve a clearly defined geographic region, are to
address the needs of day-to-day life, are to
represent the local culture and strengthen the
cohesion of the local community, are provided at
no or little cost to the individual.
7
Community Information Networks Association for
Community Networks
Community networking occurs when people get
together to solve a problem or respond to an
opportunity. A community network is a community
owned and operated information and communication
service that can amplify and support community
networking.
8
Benefits Community

• Residents/organizations make transition
• access to tools training
• Efficient use of community resources
• Increased access to education and training
• Economic development
• Others

9
Benefits individuals groups within a community

• Individuals and families
• Local and county officials
• Community groups
• Education administrators and teachers
• Business
• Media

10
Benefits Families and Individuals

• Increased opportunities to develop self family
• Better education jobs - adults children
• Broader range of- entertainment-
  work-education training opportunities
• Increased involvement in community
• Opportunities to volunteer IT skills

11
Benefits Education

• Provide education prep for 21st Century jobs
• Enhance teachers job status
• Enhance administrators role status
• Improve home - school communication
• Build collaboration other schools, colleges,
  business, government
• Increase ability to deliver workforce training
  continuing education
• Reduce IT costs through sharing

12
Benefits Not for Profits

• More effective internal external communication
• More effectively advertise mission goals
• Serve community by being volunteers teachers
• Increase volunteer interest
• Increase members donors
• Improved ability to fulfill service mission
• Reduce IT costs through sharing

13
Benefits Business

• Local, area, national global access exposure
• Improve local economy
• Overcome geographic isolation
• Improve access to government industry contracts
• Reduce advertising costs
• Basis for current new businesses to address
  future markets
• Electronic fund transfers

14
Benefits Local Government

• Improve communication with public
• Expand hours of service
• Increase public feedback
• Reduce work
• Achieve positive impact on budgets, jobs, local
  economy
• Accept payments electronically
• Improved access to info from other governments
• Reduce IT costs though sharing infrastructure

15
Benefits Media

• Gain access to new, powerful, inexpensive media
• Be a player in the life of the Virtual
  Community
• Ability to expand from local to regional
  beyond
• Daily presence in community

16
CIN Components
Most important network is a tool to enhance
communication
Information created by people, network facilitates
info sharing
Largely invisible, but make communication between
people possible
Computers info services store content for
access by people
17
Community Information Network Initiative
Process that transitions communities into the
Information Age
18
Potter County

• 16,000 pop
• 5 Schools
• 50 St. Land
• Manu Ag
• Adelphia

19
Potter County Community Network

• 3rd year of project
• Task force
• http//www.pottercountypa.net/
• Tech Center in N Potter School (plans to open 2nd
  in Austin School)
• Volunteer Webmaster
• Annual IT Summer School
• Coudersport Boro going online Co. Agencies next
• Training for individuals organizations

20
Components of Successful CINs
21
Philosophy for Success

• Focus on people not technology
• All residents have opportunity to access learn
  to use tools of information age
• Integrate learning into daily life
• Maximize involvement
• Minimize project cost
• Reflects the community

22
Elements of Successful CINs

• Project champion(s)
• CIN Task Force
• Education on use not technology
• Show dont tell
• Focus on community infrastructure
• Use library or community center
• ID and support local ISPs
• Community support through shared vision

23
Project Champion

• Advocate importance and benefits of information
  technology community leader
• librarian
• teacher
• other
• Charismatic
• Knowledgeable
• Speak in plain, ordinary language

24
CIN Task Force

• 10 to 20 people who understand benefits
  importance
• administrators
• parents
• board members
• business leaders
• community leaders
• Willing to share tasks responsibilities to
  achieve goals

25
Education on Uses/Benefits for

• Individuals and families
• Government
• Civic organizations
• Media
• Education
• Business

26
Show, Dont Just Tell

• Large-scale demonstrations
• Small-group hands-on training
• Tailored presentations for civic organizations
• Hands-on training for key individuals

27
Community Tech Center

• Place to use network (public building)
• Library
• School
• Community college
• Free public access
• High speed connection
• Computers/software
• Assistance

28
Focus on Community Infrastructure

• What is available
• Fiber
• Internet service providers (ISPs)
• ISDN
• Cable modem
• etc.
• Start with what is there
• Plan for fastest infrastructure

29
Identify and Support LocalInternet Service
Providers

• Crucial to long term community economic health
• Respond quickly to changing technologies
• Important to rural areas (competition service)
• Increases access options methods

30
Community Support

• Shared vision
• Key local players willing to cooperate on
  community network
• local government - business
• libraries - media
• schools colleges - agencies
• Others?

31
Making It Happen
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed
it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead
32
Assistance

• Community Information Network Initiative
• CIN Rapid Response Team Penn State Cooperative
  Extension and Outreach 814-765-7878 email
  shuffy_at_psu.edu

33
Questions?