COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY
ASSESSMENTS
WHY DO ASSESSMENTS?
•
“The long term development of a
community rests on its ability to uncover
and build on the strengths and assets of its
people, institutions, and informational
organizations.” (Beaulieu 2002)
•
Look for strengths, and identify all the
positive qualities of your community
•
Identify gaps
•
Help communities realize there may be
multiple ways to achieve goals
CONNECTING COMMUNITY
ASSESSMENTS
• Quick start assessments
• Community readiness
• Capability
o Individual
o Organizational
• Infrastructure
COMMUNITY
READINESS ASSESSMENT
• Level of cooperation and
collaboration
• Potential leadership team
members
• Potential partner
organizations
• Existing digital development
projects
LEADERSHIP TEAM
MEMBER WORKSHEET
• Leaders (formal and
non-formal)
• Technology experts
DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT
ASSESSMENTS
• Organization capability to use
digital tools
• Individual capability to use digital
tools
• Digital infrastructure
o Internet
o Organizational
TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS
•
What’s there?
o
•
•
First step is to agree on what “connected community”
means
Where are the gaps?
o
Needs assessment
o
Community assets (mapping)
What’s the focus?
o
Technology
o
Formal organizations
o
Individuals
MORE CHOICES
•
Online
•
Formal
•
•
Informal
How is it being
used?
Health issues
• Libraries
o
Economic
conditions
• Higher Education
Non-Profit
•
Business
o
School success
•
Government
o
Family issues
•
Access to technology
o
Early childhood
development
Capacity
• Healthcare
o
•
•
• Business and Industry
• Community-Based
Organizations
• Tourism, Recreation
and Parks
• Agriculture
TWO PURPOSES
•
What’s available? Network, appliances
•
How it’s being used? In segments and across the
community
o
Do we need to hire a consultant?
o
What do we know?
o
What do we still need to know?
o
How will we collect additional information?
o
Who and what will we ask?
o
Who will collect the data?
o
How will we compile & analyze the data?
o
How will we report our findings?
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
•
Partnership’s vision statement should guide the
assessment
•
Assessment should focus on specific topics
•
Assessment is an ongoing process
•
Views the community from multiple perspectives
•
Takes an in-depth look at diversity within a
community
•
Coordinator can facilitate information gathering
by many participants
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY
ASSESSMENT
• Understand the current situation first
• Define a vision of the future
• Allow questions to drive the assessment
process
• Address issues that stakeholders believe
are important
• Communicate information back to
stakeholders
NOW WHAT?
• Completing the
assessment is only the
beginning
• An assessment is the
means to achieve your
vision
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
WWW.C ONNECTING C OMMUNITIES . INFO
Southern Rural Development Center