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CompuMentor Mentor Handbook

Mentor Handbook- Chapter One
Introduction to Mentoring


I. What is Computer Mentoring?

Computer Mentoring is people volunteering to help schools and nonprofit organizations solve the computer problems they can´t afford to pay someone to solve for them.

CompuMentor is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to match technically skilled people with traditionally underserved schools and low income organizations.

CompuMentor´s mission is to provide appropriate technical assistance to organizations that serve low income populations. Based on a thorough understanding of a client organization's mission, resources and technology skills, and our experience in the technical and nonprofit/public education environments, we develop solutions that are appropriate in terms of affordability, sustainability and level of technology. We primarily implement solutions by matching mentor volunteers with organizations.

Since mentors are integral to the fulfillment of CompuMentor´s mission, sustaining and developing the mentor community is a key aspect of CompuMentor´s work. To accomplish this, CompuMentor has developed a process for recruitment, deployment and supervision of mentors; we are committed to seeking ways to continuously improve this process.

Why mentors are necessary

  • Public schools are seeking to find the balance between more accessible ´recycled´ machines, expensive new technology, ambitious ´leading edge´ visions, educationally coherent technology plans and the hard realities of limited resources and sometimes techno-averse teachers
  • Proliferating ´community technology centers´ are concentrating on providing access and training, tied to employability. These agencies need help in gaining access to sizable contributions of both high and low end equipment, support for ´training the trainers´ and specialized technical trouble-shooting.
  • Collaborating agencies are developing connectivity capacity. Their needs include: choice of connectivity platform; staff training; internet access; connectivity applications and groupware.
  • Larger organizations are making strategic use of new technology - including Web-based intranets, LANs and voicemail - to meet internal communication needs.
  • Nonprofits with significant public presence or outreach components are assessing possibilities and allocating resources for Web development - for information dissemination, fundraising, marketing, recruiting and renewing donors.
  • Many organizations need technical support for high end applications such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and advanced use of relational databases.
  • Many client agencies need basic training in simpler applications, and this need frequently underlies the need for more advanced support (e.g., advanced use of the internet requires a high comfort level with word processing applications and email.)
Expectations from Mentor-matching

Nonprofits and schools can expect that CompuMentor will help them build solutions that will promote their self-sufficiency, as they benefit from understanding and managing their own information systems. They can expect that with their investment of time and energy exceptional value can be achieved by working with CompuMentor. They will receive an honest and knowledgeable evaluation of their information systems, within the unique context of their organization.

Mentors can expect to be directed to volunteering opportunities that reflect their skills and interests. They can expect to enter a project with goals identified, a plan established, and a client prepared to help execute the plan. Mentors will be given the opportunity to use their skills to make a positive impact on the school/npo.

CompuMentor expects the process to be collaborative, with each party motivated, involved and straightforward about their capabilities and requirements.