Using CIVNET to Promote Partnership Exchanges

Overview

• Purpose & history• Tools

• News & Calendar• Resources• Grant & Fellowships• Blogs & Forums

• Ideas for partnership exchange• Future tools• Questions / feedback

What is Civnet?• “It is a worldwide online civic education community of civic

educators, scholars, policy makers, civic-minded journalists, NGOs and other individuals promoting civic education all over the world.”

• User-driven• Only user-generated website dedicated to civic

education.• Not limited to the CIVITAS programs or

network. • Managed by Desarrollar, Argentina.

Civnet Statistics• Site traffic has tripled in 4 months.• In August Civnet had 2500 Hits = 81 hits/day.• Newsletter subscribers 389• People from 143 countries visited Civnet in 2008.– Top visitors are from:• USA• Latin America• Western Europe • North Africa / Middle East

Virtual Community: Tools

Community Benefits

• Monthly newsletter (Spanish & English)• Collaborate and connect• Link to other networks / individuals• Advertise & promote• Increase your websites traffic• Increase participation• Advertise events

Collaborate Connect CommunityParticipate Network

News & CalendarNews

Calendar

• Submit articles • Share announcements• Upload news / media

• Meetings / conferences• Call for papers / participants• Highlight events e.g. Project Citizen Showcases.

Resources

Curricula & Standards: Books: Articles & Speeches:

External Links:Multimedia:

Grants & Fellowships

• Discover and share grant & fellowship opportunities

• Funding for individuals, organizations & programs

• Updated daily

Blogs• Create your own online journal • Comment on other peoples entries• Examples: – Blog of the month: Civic Education & Digital Inclusion – Travel journal for PC

Forums• A discussion group

• Uses: Ask questions, request advice, share best practices, innovations, lessons learned.

Forums & Exchanges

• Regional• Partnerships• Trainings / Events• Delegation Visits

India, U.S. & Kazakhstan Exchange• Meet and learn more about colleagues

participating in the exchange.• Discuss expectations prior to and experiences

during and after the exchange visits.• Exchange knowledge, resources, and

strategies to advance active and responsible citizenship.

Other ideas• Personal / organization webpage • Program promotion – Events– News / Announcements– Publish papers, presentations, speeches, research

• Newsletter– Share your newsletter

Future tools• Chat function (October, 2008)• NEW forum tool (October, 2008)• NEW photo gallery / multimedia section

(December, 2008)

Civnet.org

Questions

• What improvements can be made to the site to benefit your needs?

• What are some of the ways you would likely use the website?

• How have you used Civnet in the past?