teaching computers need help!

jabbathehurt

hi all, ive been asked to teach a computer class. Its aimed at adult males who lack basic computer skills. Many have not used a computer before. Im looking suggestions or online courses websites that maybe helpful?

ntlbell

ECDL

job done.

FruitLover

Do male computer users have specific difficulties that females don't?

spurious

Do not presume anything.
Explain all terms you will be using as standard - mouse, monitor, computer, right click etc. Do not presume your understanding of any computer term is the same as theirs. Seriously, many people think the monitor is the 'computer'. I took a class once where one person was rolling the mouse up the monitor.

Adults especially are not great at admitting they don't understand something as it's far easier to let on you do.

If they are in a return to education setting, there may be a number of other issues you will need to talk to staff about - literacy, self-esteem etc.

Don't do too much in each class/lesson. Keep it simple.

RoadKillTs

Well best of luck with it anyways.

Lots of good content on this site. Link

Antar Bolaeisk

spurious wrote: »

Do not presume anything.
Explain all terms you will be using as standard - mouse, monitor, computer, right click etc. Do not presume your understanding of any computer term is the same as theirs. Seriously, many people think the monitor is the 'computer'. I took a class once where one person was rolling the mouse up the monitor.

Adults especially are not great at admitting they don't understand something as it's far easier to let on you do.

If they are in a return to education setting, there may be a number of other issues you will need to talk to staff about - literacy, self-esteem etc.

Don't do too much in each class/lesson. Keep it simple.

Good advice but can I add that you try to remove peoples fear of computers. Most of the people I see who struggle with computers are afraid that their credit card will be gobbled, their identity stolen and that they'll break the internet. Encourage them to press buttons to see what happens, it's extremely unlikely that they'd be able to do any irreparable harm.

unnameduser

jabbathehurt wrote: »

hi all, ive been asked to teach a computer class. Its aimed at adult males who lack basic computer skills. Many have not used a computer before. Im looking suggestions or online courses websites that maybe helpful?

ntlbell wrote: »

ECDL

job done.

Someone who lacks basics computer skills will have difficulty completing ECDL unless the course is full time over a long period i.e. 6 months.

As mentioned, with starters, the key problem is that users fear that they will do something that will damage the computer. I have an old P3 compaq machine that i use for my first class with trainees. It is a brick. I purposely push it and let it fall over with a bang. I simply put it back in position and show how it starts up and works perfectly. Ppl are amazed that it still works. I obv wouldn't try it with a new machine and certainly comps don't seem as rebust as in the past, but for me, this is a great way to show learners that if it can suffer a fall and still work, well then surely a few clicks and button pressing will not break it.

Also with beginners I find that unless they have a machine to practice on between lessons, it's almost a waste of time. Make sure they have some sort of PC to work on. Encourage them to practice, practice, practice. Make out detailed notes with screen shots. Make sure they are using similiar software!!! I.E. No point in teaching office 2003 to a person who bought a new comp with office 2007.

If you have not trained before then stick an ad in the paper for cheap individual computer training and get some vital training beforehand. Experience with stand to you.

Best of luck and enjoy.

AlmightyCushion

Make sure you have a section on internet security. The internet is probably the primary use of most consumer pcs and most people know feck all about how to prevent themselves getting a virus. Teaching this will do them a world of good and probably lower the amount of calls their techy friends get.

An Fear Aniar

Just point them to some porn, they'll soon figure it out.

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