Community Tech Network is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and helping communities access the internet. Here, you’ll find answers to common questions about our offerings, including online courses, customized training packages, and direct services. You can also read more about our volunteer opportunities. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
- Staff Capacity Building & Online Training Packages
How CTN shares its knowledge and expertise to help organizations launch a digital equity initiative and/or take their current digital inclusion efforts to the next level. - Direct Services
How CTN supports community members with digital skills training and more - Volunteer Activism
How YOU can transform community members’ lives by helping them access technology
Staff Capacity Building & Online Training Packages
The online courses are self-paced online training offerings for individuals (such as librarians, digital navigators, etc.). They can be purchased directly from our website.
The LIFT packages are designed to support organizations and contain access to our online courses PLUS personalized, 1:1 support from our team of digital equity experts.
Packages also include complementary resources, including a curriculum (which can be used to teach technology courses), learner workbook, and other useful materials. You can fill out our Inquiry Form to get a quote.
Once a member of your team completes our Inquiry Form, a CTN representative will contact you within two (2) business days to begin needs assessment discussions.
Refunds can be processed within 48 hours after purchase and if 0% of the training is completed. Refund requests must be submitted to lift@communitytechnetwork.org.
Policy:
Community Tech Network offers a 48-hour refund policy on all e-learning material. To be eligible for a refund: (1) the refund request must be submitted within 48 hours from the date and time of purchase; and (2) the course must not be started or in progress. You can submit a refund request from the email sent to you confirming the purchase. Should you have any problems initiating this request, please contact our team at: LIFT@communitytechnetwork.org. Please note, it can take up to 10 business days for a refund to fully process.
For those who purchase a course online: You will have access for 90 days from the time of purchase. We encourage you to return to the content and review concepts as much as you would like during this time. Remember to save resources and bookmark links so that you can easily access them in the future.
For those enrolled in LIFT training: You have one year of access to the courses and digitalLIFT community forum.
After each purchase, you will receive an email confirmation that includes the next steps to logging in and accessing the purchased content.
To view our list of training packages and special promotions, click here.
All capacity building training is currently provided in an online learning environment and is completed asynchronously, with a 90-minute collaborative, virtual workshop/debrief upon completion.
Please contact your LIFT Support Team regarding any issues at: LIFT@communitytechnetwork.org
Yes, Community Tech Network’s Founder and Executive Director, Kami Griffith, was also one of the founding members of the NDIA and we work closely with the organization. Our digital navigator training in particular is based on a concept of navigators developed by the NDIA.
CTN’s Diagnostic Needs Assessment (DNA) will help to identify agency-based needs, if there are any.
Meanwhile, the Community Needs Assessment template, which we provide to our partners for their outreach and program development, assists them in determining their community’s needs regarding device access and connectivity. Additionally, CTN has extensive knowledge of which devices are best suited for various purposes and can advise partner agencies on selecting the right devices for their sites and services. We can also help identify resources to support low-cost internet services or provide Wi-Fi-enabled devices for clients.
Direct Services
CTN offers digital skills group classes and one-on-one technology tutoring (both remotely and in-person). We also provide internet-enabled devices, help low-income individuals receive discounted internet services at home, and provide tech support (by hosting in-person pop-up events with our partners and inviting learners to continue their education through virtual Q&A sessions).
Let us learn more about you. Fill out our brief Inquiry Form and someone from our team will reach out to you within two (2) business days.
Not a problem! Many of our programs are funded by government grants. We have almost a decade of experience helping organizations prepare their grant applications – at absolutely no cost to them! – and know all the tips and tricks to help submit a successful proposal.
Since its inception in 2008, CTN has provided digital literacy training and devices to adults of all ages in public libraries, low-income housing developments, senior centers, schools, and social service agencies. We primarily serve older adults and individuals from marginalized communities, including those who have recently experienced homelessness, are not English-speaking, or who live in high-poverty areas, such as the Tenderloin in San Francisco.
Yes, we often offer devices at no cost to the learner, depending on community needs.
Over 50% of CTN’s learners speak languages other than English and we are committed to providing culturally-responsive programming. We work with local partner organizations to design personalized curriculum based on community needs, and we offer our training in ten languages: Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin dialects), English, Farsi, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The CTN team also strives to provide volunteers and staff from the learners’ own communities.
Of course! In addition to in-person classes, CTN also offers remote technology training through our Home Connect Program. Learners connect via phone call with their instructors, who can see their device screens through a platform called AnyDesk. No previous technology experience is required! Learn more about Home Connect.
Unfortunately, individuals cannot sign up for our technology programs at this time if they are not affiliated with or referred by one of our partner agencies.
All programs are designed in tandem with the partner organization and are based on community needs. Some of our programs have lasted just a few months, while others, like SF Connected, have been ongoing for years!
Volunteer Activism
Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to volunteer. Our volunteers range in age from 18 to 65+.
No particular educational background or experience in teaching is required. Volunteers must have at least intermediate-level technology skills.
Remote volunteers must be US residents. This does not apply to in-person volunteers.
Just one hour per week! We’re very flexible, and you can create your own schedule.
In-person volunteers typically host drop-in hours and offer tech support at our partner community centers. We work with you to figure out the best placement for you based on your location and schedule.
Remote volunteers can become digital coaches. They’ll be paired with an older adult and meet weekly over Zoom for between one to three months (depending on the learner’s needs).
These learners have already acquired basic technology skills through CTN’s Home Connect program and are looking for specialized technological support based on their interests. For example, some folks might want to learn how to use social media to keep in touch with their family and friends. Others might be looking to learn how to access certain educational or entertainment resources online. Digital coaches adapt their lessons based on the learner’s interests.
Yes! Let us know what your school or organization’s requirements are and we will be happy to work with you.
Yes! By becoming a CTN volunteer, you’ll join a community of other volunteers. The volunteers support each other and often become good friends. In fact, we host monthly (virtual) meetups for all of our volunteers! Volunteering with CTN will connect you with like-minded people.
Once you’ve been approved to volunteer, our staff will walk you through our digital training resources, including sample curriculum. However, there are no set topics that you must teach. Your role as a volunteer is to address the needs of the learners, which will vary.
The steps for becoming a CTN volunteer (as outlined in more detail in this blog) are as follows:
- Submit a volunteer application. The form is very simple and shouldn’t take you long to fill out.
- Complete online training. You’ll learn tips for working with older adults, and you’ll get trained to recognize and report elder abuse. You must also complete an information security training. We’ll email you the links.
- Participate in a phone interview with our Volunteer Coordinator.
- Consent to a background check.
Once we receive your application, you can sometimes begin volunteering within just two weeks!
Does your group have a corporate social responsibility objective? You and your coworkers can volunteer as a group with CTN! Best of all? You can personalize the experience to best fit your needs. Select the:
- Location: Both in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities are available. If you want to give back to a particular community, we serve seniors from all over San Francisco, such as the Mission, Tenderloin, and Ingleside districts (and many more).
- Opportunity Type: Lead an info session on a specific topic (such as how to buy groceries online) or provide basic tech support at a workshop.
- Language: Many of our learners speak languages other than English, so you can choose to volunteer in a spot where you know you’ll be able to put your team’s language skills to use!
Reach out to CTN’s Program & Volunteer Coordinator, Josh Chan, at josh@communitytechnetwork.org for more information about volunteer opportunities.