Building support for technology within the community is one strategy to increase technology spending. For residents to demand technology services, however, they must be technology users. The community needs hands-on demonstrations, and some hand holding, to embrace the benefits of the information age. Community technology training needs to address a basic level of understanding. It means insuring a basic level of technical literacy in society.
Most people are eager for technology training.
The information highway receives daily news coverage, and many fear being left behind. In a survey of residents in 20 communities, across six states, The Rural Policy Research Institute found that respondents consistently rated technology education as the most important policy initiative among telecommunication issues. Training Venues Approaches to technology training are as varied as the communities that have undertaken this effort. The common element of successful efforts is that the communities use multiple formats to address the diverse needs of its residents. The lab is used in the evenings and on weekends to conduct training classes for the community.