Tech Corps, Maryland
	This volunteer group may have the tech savvy volunteer you need. Learn how to find the volunteer that matches your needs ...

Quick Click Guide: Click once on any of the following links to quickly go to that topic:
These topics are "scaffolded", each link provides information that that supports the next.
On your mark - background information
Get ready - Strategies to maximize the success of finding volunteers that can help your school
Go - links to Tech Corps Maryland and more

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On your mark - background information:
What is Tech Corps Maryland (TCMD)?
Tech Corps Maryland is a non-profit organization dedicated to make the abilities and knowledge of technology-savvy volunteers available to schools that need them, in support of the idea that learning is improved when technology is infused into the instructional process.

How can my school find volunteers?
The TCMD School/Volunteer Clearing House is much like a "match making" service. You have tech support needs and they have volunteers that can provide specialized tech support.

Will one or more of the volunteers have the skills that match your school needs? You'll never know until your school is registered with TCMD. Use the TCMD web site's tools to find out

• Is your school registered? Visit the TCMD Registered Schools page and find out: http://www.techcorpsmd.org/clearhouse/sch_list_reg.cfm

• To register your school go to the Tech Corps Maryland School Sign-up Page: http://www.techcorpsmd.org/clearhouse/sch_welcome.cfm

• See the links below for additional information about Tech Corps Maryland:
  Go - links to Tech Corps Maryland and more

Once your school is registered it is important that you revisit the TCMD site and search for volunteers! The new volunteer that just signed up may have the skills you need!!! Tech Corps will not contact you, you must be pro-active.

Note: TCMD does not do any screening of volunteers; volunteers submit all information about themselves.

See the strategies and links below for more information!

Get ready - Strategies to maximize the success of finding volunteers that can help your school:

1. Visit the TCMD page to determine the kinds of projects and tasks that TCMD can support see http://www.techcorpsmd.org/clearhouse/info_description.cfm and the links below for ideas.



2. TCMD volunteers can provide support in a wide variety of areas, for a list of the large projects they have supported go to: http://www.techcorpsmd.org/projects/



3. If you do not already have one, create a Technology Committee and develop an Action Plan; for assistance contact your Regional Technology Coordinator: http://www.pgcps.org/~support/team.html#RTC. TCMD can help with technology planning; if planning is a stumbling block, make this your first TCMD volunteer need, skip to step 3 and contact TCMD ASAP!
   • Establish your needs based on your school's Technology Plan.
   • Organize the identified needs into specific tasks or projects.
   • Prioritize and create a timeline to meet your goals.
   
   
4. Make sure the Principal agrees with your Action Plan; select one staff member from the Technology Committee to be the TCMD contact person.
   


5. Visit the TCMD School/Volunteer Clearing House and register your school.
   1. Check to see if your school has already been registered: http://www.techcorpsmd.org/clearhouse. Use the "Schools" button in the lower, right-hand corner of the page. If your school is listed, find out who did the registration so you can build on what they started.
   
   
6. Once your school has been registered do a search for volunteers by skill area.


7. Make sure you keep your school's needs updated.


8. Revisit the TCMD School/Volunteer Clearing House and search for volunteers regularly.


• Contact the volunteers about your school's support needs, be as succinct but descriptive as possible.


• Remember that TCMD volunteers usually have full time jobs so you may need to be flexible in scheduling times for meetings and work.


• Specific tasks with defined start and finish times have the highest potential for success.

Tech Corps Maryland home page

Make sure you click on the "Other Resources" link to find Technology Planning resources plus more!
School/Volunteer Clearing House

Follow this link to register your school and search for volunteers!!!
Web Teacher

A very helpful, self-paced, web tutorial resource sponsored by Tech Corps and Cable in the Classroom.
Tech 4 Schools

Free online mentoring, sponsored by Tech Corps and Compaq Computer Corporation.
PowerPoint Show

A brief overview of Tech Corps, Maryland; presented at MICCA, 2002.

If you have questions or would like to propose a large project visit the the Tech Corps Maryland home page and click the link "Get in Touch with Us".