SeniorNet Volunteer Coordinator:

Our instructors and coaches are vital to the program! Our instructors are responsible for teaching the SeniorNet curriculum to students. Volunteers can be any age and background, from retired professional to college students with some time to spare. The common thread is the willingness and skill to teach older adults how to use current technology. Our volunteer coordinator should be someone who enjoys working with

Serve as a liaison for potential volunteers:

Staff will receive inquiries from potential volunteers and forward them to a contact for interviews and possible placement. This person should be knowledgeable about the SeniorNet program and be comfortable meeting with volunteers in person or by phone for interviews. Additional tours of the lab and coordination of new volunteer sitting in on existing class may be required as needed.

Interview and place new instructors and coaches:

 Sample of interview questions:

Here are some questions for potential SeniorNet teachers and coaches:

1. Have you worked with seniors before?

2. Have you taught classes before?  If so, what classes?

3. Do you have experience using Windows XP and/or Windows Vista?

4. What office programs do you have experience using?

·        Microsoft - Word, Excel, PowerPoint 

·        What version - 2003 and/or 2007?

5. What other programs do you have experience using? (For example, PhotoShop, Paint, etc.)

6. Do you have a lot of patience? For example, would you have a problem repeating something 10 times in one class?

7.  Is there anything that would prevent you from completing the full 8 week session or assigned tutoring sessions? Class preparation takes a lot of time, planning and effort to have everything ready for that first day of class. Cancellation of a class is very time consuming and presents a problem for staff who have to notify disappointed students and process refunds.

8. Are you interested in being on-call as a substitute in the event of an instructor absensce?

If possible, prospective volunteers should sit in on an existing class to get a good feel of a typical lesson. Ask staff if there is a particular class the volunteer should attend and ask for help if needed to contact that instructor to ask permission.

Once it is determined that new volunteers are suitable for placement, get an idea of their

schedules for the next session. They will be placed accordingly.

Potential Substitutes:

If a volunteer is unable to commit to an 8 week session, but is interested in substituting in the event of an instructor absence, please make note of this with staff.