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Index of Subjects
Index of Subjects As Chris points out, one of the differences between CCN and other ISPs is that CCN provides training, and at no cost. CCN's mandate is to provide internet access to all, without regard to financial or technical difficency. In this regard CCN is actively narrowing the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots'. The process of requiring IP editor training/certification/orientation is to create a standard of technical competency. It is this standard that ensures the technological gap is bridged. How many so-called literate people do you know who are computer illiterate, but pride prevents them from using the technology. Providing compulsory sessions may provide the needed push to overcome the problem. Given that a good part of the material covered is (should be) CCN orientation and not computer training per se, then all prospective IP editors should pass through the system. I think we should emphasis the positive aspects of the IP training requirement in our converstions with prospects and in our promotional literature. It is a service we are providing, and demonstrates commitment to the success of the IP's site. Doug M Quoting Christopher Majka <nextug@is.dal.ca>: > Hi Ashwin et. al.! > > On Sun, 8 Aug 1999, Ashwin Kutty wrote: > > > I have had to go through the IP process myself once before and I havent > > had much difficulty in terms of training or getting the directory > > structure setup etc. but I do see the problem that it takes quite a lot > of > > time as compared to say sympatico to get everything up and going.. This > > again is probably due to the lack of obvious resources.. Does anyone know > > how many employees sympatico hires for their call centers that can be > > accessed 24 hours of the day 365 days of the year, its quite a lot and > > getting Chebucto to compare to that would be almost imposssible. > > Indeed. > > > Here's a suggestion anyways:- > > > > 1) Make the IP training a helping hand, not a mandatory thing.. > > See below. > > > 2) Setup detailed FAQ with all the problems that all the current Editors > > > have faced at one point or another or some quirks specific to Chebucto.. > > This is a very interesting idea: maybe something along the lines of > "everything you need to know to be a CCN IP Editor" with links to all the > resources which are available. I've often argued that we have a lot of > great documentation and help/support materials on the CCN but the > organization and cross-referencing of these materials sometimes leaves > something to be desired. Maybe the process would also point out places > where our documentation is weak or missing. Id say, if you are interested, > go for it. We could make such a FAQ (or whatever) accesible by linking it > to appropriate places in the Help Desk the IP Support page and elsewhere. > > > 3) The above two to be mentioned in the agreements etc. > > > > This might take some work and a little bit of time, but with all the > > information that already exists it wont take too much.. and I volunteer > to > > compile such an FAQ if need be, along with a little search engine if need > > be.. As an extra feature a singular email address be setup seperate from > > the regula help so as to reduce their work as well as make the questions > > distinct for both the Ip stuff as well as general help.. > > What do you see as the function for a new list? We already have ml-admin, > userhelp, ccn-ip, editors, ip-help, ccn-ipe, helpdoc, & ccn-tech. Maybe we > can better harness one of the existing lists or make the group of them > more visible. I wouldn't create another list unless there was a clear use > for it. > > > its just a suggestion, in terms of easing the IP process.. > > In a nutshell the Current IP process (basically three steps) does three > things: > > 1) Gathers info the CCN needs about the proposed site: > a) contact name, address, phone, fax numbers > b) names of majordomo lists, directory names > c) description of what the IP is > > 2) Creates a contactual basis for the operation of the site on the CCN via > the IP Agreement which sets out the terms of our agreement with the IP. > This (in broad terms) sets out what we and they can and cannot do and > hence gives us the authority to pull the plug if IPs misbehave. > > 3) Ensures (via IP Training) that IPs know what they are doing via a basic > test & tutorial of HTML and of site-specific administrative knowledge > (RCS, majordomo, on-line editing, FTP, etc.) This is to try and ensure > that: > > a) sites should be at least minimally properly functional; and > b) hence (through a standard way of presenting information to people) cuts > down on commonly asked questions (and hence on demands of our tiny support > capacity). > > I don't see how we could dispense with # 1 & 2 at all (although perhaps > with some more thought and better design they could somehow be > streamlined). > > With regard to # 3, training, it has historically been the position of the > CCN that, as opposed to many commercials ISP's where IPs pay their money > and the ISP doesn't care at all what they do in their site and whether it > works correctly or not, that as a community organization we would take a > little more responsibility for the technical standard of material running > on our system and hence that we would provide some training which (should) > ensure that things are at least minimally, properly functional. > > It could be debated whether we should do this at all, or how much training > we should provide or whether it should be optional or not. > > One thing I've felt we might do would be to change the 'spin' which we put > on our training and call it "IP Certification" (or something along this > line) which might give it a little more cachet. Something along the lines > of "become a CCN certified information provider editor" which would make > it look more like an accreditation and less like compulsory training. Thus > those people who chafe about having to take training might like the feel > of it more. We could create a little 'CCN Seal of Approval' that could be > awarded to people that could be displayed on their home page, etc. > Comments? > > Cheers! > > Chris > > _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. > Christopher Majka <aa051@chebucto.ns.ca> > Editor-in-Chief: Chebucto Community Net - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada > URL = http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Home.html > > "Often his editorial policy was a nice compromise between blackmail and > begging"