Volunteering at The Tech Virtual

How to become an official volunteer:

Step 1:  Enter yourself as a Tech Museum volunteer at http://www.thetech.org/about/volunteer/
Important: Under the "Referral" field, please enter "The Tech Virtual".   Tech Virtual volunteers will be working remotely, and will generally be able to work at hours convenient to the volunteer.  A mandatory background screening will be conducted by The Tech volunteer department at no cost to the volunteer.

Step 2: Create an account at: http://thetechvirtual.org/createMember
This will be your profile on this website. There is no cost to the volunteer.

Step 3: Create an account at: https://join.secondlife.com/
This may not be required for your project assignment, but it is a place where The Tech conducts online meetings, so for full participation it is encouraged.  There is no cost to the volunteer.  If your computer does not support this program (http://secondlife.com/support/sysreqs.php), no problem, just select a job description that does not require it.

Step 4: Contact the Tech Virtual team with your assignment choice
from the list below at:  http://thetechvirtual.org/help/contact-info

Volunteer Job Descriptions

(Listings subject to change)

Grant Writing Researcher
Supervised by: Carlos Camargo
Open opportunities: 2
Prerequisites: Requires skill in conducting internet searches and rapidly locating useful information. Ability to summarize a wide array of information into a reliable report.
   
Job description: Assist grant writing at museum by providing background on needs, demographics, historic and current trends and factors. Locate existing projects that serve similar needs and report on their size, scope, institutions and funders.
   
Deliverables: Locate approximately 20 articles on topics as assigned.  Report on articles with 3 sentence summaries and prepare a hyperlinked page.  Obtain background on projects and institutions as needed.

Survey Researcher
Supervised by: Carlos Camargo
Open opportunities: 2
Prerequisites:  Prior experience with survey research. Understanding of basics of survey methods and institutional goals of educational museums.

Job description: Assist in drafting a survey of audiences locally or online as required. Develop questions that accurately obtain needed data.  Determine a means to reach defined audience and conduct survey if time allows. 

Deliverables: At least 1 completed survey with summary paper of results. Compile data and add to existing and developing projects or data sets.

Demographics and Marketing Analyst
Supervised by: Carlos Camargo
Open opportunities: 2
Prerequisites:  Ability to rapidly use Google Maps online software.  Ability to locate and rapidly sort and compare information. Ability to analyze geographic reach of programs.

Job description: Create a visual depiction of participating schools, students, and other types of audience members using online software.  Arrange existing data for visualization and planning as needed.  Use US census or other available data to enhance visualizations. Develop plans to reach untargeted areas as time allows.

Deliverables: Illustrate the geographic distribution of at least 1 audience group using Google Maps.  Prepare descriptive summaries of populated areas which illustrate demographics and compare to coverage of current marketing efforts.

Exhibit Design Reviewer
Supervised by: Bob Ketner
Open opportunities: no current availability
Prerequisites: Ability to provide constructive feedback to interactive museum exhibit designers.  Ability to use web feedback mechanisms. Knowledge of design and experience in science and technology centers extremely helpful.  Knowledge and experience in Second Life program ideal and preferred. Account at https://join.secondlife.com recommended for full participation.

Job description:  Use The Tech Virtual platform to give constructive feedback for active exhibit design concepts. Use comments feature to point out good aspects, confusing aspects, or recommend additional resources. Ask questions for clarification where needed.  Encourage designer to progress in clarity and specificity in the design process. Attendance of virtual meetings extremely helpful but not required.

Deliverables: Comment on all active projects in The Tech Virtual and Program for the Future entries. Draft brief report on current projects with your analysis and notes of any interactions.  Join an existing project and contribute material if aligned with your course of study and interests.

Virtual Museum Docent
Supervised by: Bob Ketner
Open opportunities: 4 or more
Prerequisites: Experienced user of Second Life software required. Knowledge of virtual museum projects and The Tech Virtual platform required.  Patience for leading others and enthusiasm for the subject required.  Account at https://join.secondlife.com required.

Job description: Use the Second Life virtual world environment to lead users through a tour of the virtual museum and answer questions as needed.  Encourage greater participation in The Tech Virtual program and explain pathways to doing so.  Add users to the group and give them URL's for signup and followup.

Deliverables: Lead 4 or more :20 - :30 minute tours of The Tech Virtual museum in Second Life.  Draft a brief report on the feedback obtained from visitors, with notes and observations about the interactions.

Topical Researcher
Supervised by: Bob Ketner
Open opportunities: 6
Prerequisites: Requires skill in conducting internet searches and rapidly locating useful information. Ability to locate relevant material from web searches and identify relevant and helpful content.  Ability to summarize a wide array of information into reliable report. 

Job description:  Obtain resources to guide and inspire educational museum exhibit designers in a chosen field. Use online searches to locate, condense, and hyperlink to precise information to support the creation of museum content.  Compose orientation pages for topics as formatted on previous Tech Virtual pages.

Deliverables: Draft at least 1 page describing an exhibition theme (if available) or at least 1 subtopic as organize on The Tech Virtual platform.  Deliver page in the form of 1 hyperlinked document of organized resources.

Members on this assignment (2009): 
http://thetechvirtual.org/portal_memberdata/lroper

http://thetechvirtual.org/portal_memberdata/bfitz

http://thetechvirtual.org/portal_memberdata/lisasmedley

Market Researcher - Museum activity
Supervised by: Bob Ketner
Open opportunities: 4
Prerequisites: Requires skill in conducting internet searches and rapidly locating useful information. Ability to locate relevant material from web searches and identify relevant and helpful content.  Ability to summarize a wide array of information into reliable report. 

Job description:  Conduct online research to assist The Tech Virtual project in profiling museum activity worldwide.  Obtain pertinent information related to 1. museum efforts to create online museum exhibits  2. topical focus of specific museums and planned expansions 3. market trends in museum attendance  4. staff contacts in museum organizations 5. businesses serving the museum exhibit design and fabrication market (US and/or international).

Deliverables: Draft a comprehensive report detailing the activities of museums in at least 1 of the topic areas above.  Deliver the report in a page including hyperlinks and summaries with market analysis.

Members on this assignment (2009):

http://thetechvirtual.org/portal_memberdata/hcwu/  [completed 12 hrs June 09]
http://thetechvirtual.org/portal_memberdata/GCortez11 [completed 12 hrs June 09]

Virtual Design Instructor (Second Life)
Supervised by: Bob Ketner
Open opportunities: 4
Prerequisites: Teaching ability, high level of proficiency in Second Life building and scripting tools,  patience with technical as well as group challenges, leadership of small groups. Previous experience leading group activities required.  Design or engineering experience required. Account at https://join.secondlife.com required.  Experienced
    
Job description: Conduct 4-6 design workshops inside the Second Life virtual world.  Allot  ~1hour preparation and 1 hour for class itself.  Choose from 20+ pre-existing 1 hour class outlines or develop your own. 

Deliverables: Complete instruction of 6 courses.  Provide a documentation and feedback report about your approach and environmental factors you encountered.

Exhibit Designer
Supervised by: Bob Ketner
Open opportunities: no maximum
Prerequisites: Creative thinking required. Familiarity with the concept of an interactive science and technology museum required.  Ability to create a new interactive flow that is based on a distinct topic.  Expert knowledge of some field of expertise helpful (but not required). Ability to use Second Life virtual world ideal and preferred.
   
Job description: Use any tools and methods you are familiar with to generate an interpretation of subject matter as an interactive museum exhibit.  Attend virtual meetings to obtain feedback on your work.  Revise and improve your concept. "Pitch" your idea at design workshops and provide rationale for elements used.  Build a 3D interactive to the level of your capacity or team up with others to complete your design.

Deliverables: At least 1 well considered exhibit concept outlined as a "project" on The Tech Virtual platform.   Project materials should include design outline, sketches, interaction flowchart, and (ideally) a 3D representation. 
To select an open topic area, please visit http://thetechvirtual.org/projects

Members on this assignment: