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What to cover - computers for the terrified

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  • 01-11-2008 7:35pm
    #1
    Kazbah
    Registered Users Posts: 764 ✭✭✭


    Hi All,

    I've been asked to give a presentation once a week at work to bring people up to speeed technically. Some of the things I plan to cover are creating using PowerPoint & Word, used a shared network, installing/using printers, basic network troubleshooting but I'm looking for suggestions of other topics to cover?

    Thanks,
    Kaz.


Comments

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    #2
    Myxomatosis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 429 ✭✭Myxomatosis


    Depends on what the end goal for these people is.

    Get them to open up a PC, take a look at the insides, identify HDs, CD/DVD Drives, RAM, Processor, Graphics card etc.

    Copy, Cut and Paste. You'd be suprised how many people don't actually understand copy and paste, weather it's for files or text.


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    #3
    JonathanAnon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,718 ✭✭✭✭JonathanAnon


    Well the first thing I would suggest would be make handouts for all of the things that you teach. Put them together in Word, and have them very easy to follow. Otherwise you will be plagued with follow up calls.

    Where there are a number of steps in a particular operation I use Windows Media Encoder to create a video of me actually doing it, and then upload the video to youtube for my clients.

    You could ask for suggestions from the people you work with. But I would focus on the most used apps i.e. Word, Excel, Email client. I would put together a sheet of shortcuts as well. Like "Windows Key + E" brings up explorer, copying and pasting functions etc etc.


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    #4
    Kazbah
    Registered Users Posts: 764 ✭✭✭Kazbah


    Myxomatosis wrote: »
    Depends on what the end goal for these people is.

    Get them to open up a PC, take a look at the insides, identify HDs, CD/DVD Drives, RAM, Processor, Graphics card etc.

    Copy, Cut and Paste. You'd be suprised how many people don't actually understand copy and paste, weather it's for files or text.

    Opening up the box would frighten the life out of them I imagine. Most of them have a laptop not a desktop. The end goal is to enable them to enhance their ability to do their job with the help of I.T. - we are teachers. I must cover using data projectors as well.

    Good call on the copy/cut/paste.

    I definately plan on doing handouts - thanks.


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    #5
    Myxomatosis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 429 ✭✭Myxomatosis


    My Mother is a teacher and it's like banging my head against a brick wall trying to show her the most basic of computer opperations.

    All I can say is good luck to you ;)


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    #6
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,046 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    Make sure you teach them about viruses/malware. Both how to cure damage done by a virus and how to prevent getting one.


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    #7
    Enright
    Registered Users Posts: 943 ✭✭✭Enright


    go to www.ncte.ie

    a lot of resources for teachers and ideas for areas to be covered


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    #8
    TechieEddy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 185 ✭✭TechieEddy


    Another really good site here

    http://www.teach-ict.com/


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    #9
    daftdave
    Registered Users Posts: 1,082 ✭✭✭daftdave


    this might be of use to you also

    http://www.howstuffworks.com/search.php?terms=computers&x=0&y=0


  • Options
    #10
    uberpixie
    Registered Users Posts: 1,864 ✭✭✭uberpixie


    Myxomatosis wrote: »
    Copy, Cut and Paste. You'd be suprised how many people don't actually understand copy and paste, weather it's for files or text.

    +10

    Also cover SHIFT selecting and CTRL selecting of files, how to rename files/use 2nd mouse button. How to search for files would also be good.
    (basically anything you think is too easy to teach and insults their intelligence make sure you cover it.....)

    I would worry more about teaching basic concepts to people that they can apply these else where than a learn by rote myself, but cheat sheets and full proper proceadures on how to do basic taks in word etc would be advisable. A lot of people seem to view learning PCs as learning by rote as they couldn't be arsed thinking or they just hate tech in general.

    They don't need to know hardware other than the difference between hardware and software and what an OS does.


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    #11
    Kazbah
    Registered Users Posts: 764 ✭✭✭Kazbah


    Great suggestions. Some of that stuff is so second nature to me I forget that people don't know it! Thanks...


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