Online volunteering is a great way to contribute to a cause, learn new skills, and connect with others. However, it also requires some preparation and guidance to ensure a positive and productive experience. In this article, we will share some of the best practices for training online volunteers, based on our own experience and research.
Before you recruit and train online volunteers, you need to have a clear idea of what you want them to do, how you will measure their impact, and what kind of support and feedback they will receive. This will help you design a relevant and engaging training program that aligns with your mission and values. You should also communicate your goals and expectations to your volunteers, so they know what is expected of them and how they can contribute.
Online volunteer training is inexpensive as a mode of training as it not only accommodates many people from different locations,but provides a platform where experts can be invited to speak to the volunteers at a go. For example, after successfully establishing my staff volunteers program the first order of business for me was to invite experts to sensitize the volunteers on the national policy on volunteerism while I explained the strategy and guidelines. This provides a platform for immediate feedback and global understanding as all volunteers were communicated to at the same time as all queries answered making it easier in management of volunteers as concerned are addressed in a uniform way
When I founded "Atharva Foundation," an online initiative to combat climate change, I was overwhelmed by the influx of enthusiastic volunteers. But enthusiasm alone wasn't enough. I needed structure. I sat down, penning our mission, vision, and the roles we needed. I then crafted a training module, ensuring every volunteer knew our goals and their role in achieving them. a college student from Hyderabad, India, joined us. Through our clear training, she understood her responsibilities and soon spearheaded a digital campaign that reached thousands. It was a testament to the power of clarity and structured training in online volunteering.
Online volunteering can involve various tasks and activities, such as research, writing, translation, design, social media, mentoring, and more. Depending on the nature and complexity of your project, you may need different platforms and tools to train and manage your online volunteers. For example, you may use a learning management system (LMS) to create and deliver online courses, a project management software to assign and track tasks, or a video conferencing tool to conduct live sessions. You should choose the platform and tools that suit your needs and budget, and that are easy to use and access for your volunteers.
When "Teaching4All," my online initiative to bridge the digital divide, started gaining traction, we faced a challenge. With volunteers from diverse backgrounds, from software engineers to school teachers, how could we streamline our operations? I researched and opted for an LMS for structured lessons, Trello for task management, and Zoom for interactive sessions. An old Professor, was initially hesitant about the tech aspect. But with user-friendly tools and a bit of guidance, she soon led virtual classrooms, teaching wellness to college students across continents. The right tools transformed our well-meaning volunteers into a global force for change.
Online training can be challenging to keep your volunteers motivated and interested, especially if they have to balance it with other commitments and distractions. Therefore, you should create engaging and interactive content that captures their attention and stimulates their learning. You can use various formats and methods, such as videos, podcasts, quizzes, games, case studies, simulations, and scenarios. You should also use clear and concise language, avoid jargon and acronyms, and provide examples and stories that relate to your volunteers' backgrounds and interests.
When I launched "Yoga&Quantum Science campaign," an online class to train volunteers on Modern Physics & Yogic Sciences, I faced a challenge: keeping our diverse volunteer base engaged. I remembered my college days, how a professor's storytelling made complex subjects relatable. Inspired, I revamped our modules. Instead of plain text, I introduced animated videos based stories, narrating the journey of characters. And then, incorporated quizzes with real-life scenarios, like helping "Tom the Trader" set up his Yoga Studio after studying Tao of Physics. Our engagement rates soared. Volunteers, like Raj from India, shared how these stories reminded him of his grandmother, making the learning experience personal and memorable.
Feedback and recognition are essential to motivate and retain your online volunteers, as well as to improve their performance and skills. You should provide feedback and recognition regularly and consistently, using both formal and informal methods. For example, you can use surveys, quizzes, and reports to assess your volunteers' progress and achievements, and provide constructive and personalized feedback. You can also use certificates, badges, testimonials, and shout-outs to recognize your volunteers' contributions and celebrate their successes.
One of the benefits of online volunteering is that it can connect people from different locations, cultures, and backgrounds. However, it can also create a sense of isolation and detachment, especially if your volunteers do not have opportunities to interact with each other and with you. Therefore, you should foster a sense of community among your online volunteers, by creating spaces and activities that encourage communication, collaboration, and socialization. For example, you can use forums, chats, blogs, and social media to share information, ideas, and feedback. You can also organize online events, such as webinars, workshops, and social gatherings, to build rapport and trust.
Finally, you should evaluate and improve your training program regularly, to ensure that it meets your goals and expectations, and that it provides a valuable and enjoyable experience for your online volunteers. You can use various methods and sources to evaluate your training program, such as feedback from your volunteers, data from your platform and tools, and your own observations and reflections. You should analyze the results and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your training program, and make adjustments and improvements accordingly.