The Refugees Online course model

This is a method, developed by UNHCR/Refugees Online, for an intensive short course introducing trainees to the basics of website production, focusing especially on information-led sites (rather than those which lead on design, graphics or multi-media). 

The course is available from this website to any refugee group planning similar training.  On these pages we've outlined the aims, structure and basic elements of the course, which has been designed to be as flexible as possible - the style and detail of the training can easily be adapted to suit local conditions.  

The main aim is to teach online skills to enable trainees to communicate with and build links between communities in the UK.  Ideally, by the end of the course, trainees should be able to launch a simple, well-designed website which is accurate and fair and which doesn't breach any libel or copyright laws. 

The course has six core teaching elements, as shown below.  Several of these (eg. Using web authoring software, Organising a website, Writing for the web, Using email) should be taught concurrently throughout the course. 

1. Using web authoring and file transfer software
2. Planning and organising a website
3. Writing for the web - including bias and objectivity
4. Using the web for research
5. Marketing and promoting your website
6. Using email - including email lists

There are also sections on

• Preparing to set up a training course for refugees
• Follow up and dissemination.

All the materials on this site can be used free of coypright, although an acknowledgement to UNHCR/Refugees Online (and a link to this site) would be appreciated.   Participating trainers and trainees are welcome to join the Refugees Online email forum and to submit their websites for the Links page on this site.

The course was developed for Refugees Online/UNHCR in Spring 2000 by Claire Pollak and Cathy Aitchison.