[OS:N:] Seniors and open source

[Etienne Goyer]

I did taught introductory computer class a few years ago, and some of
the participants where senior.  From my experience, I would say that the
biggest error I made was trying to teach concepts instead of tasks.  For
example, I wanted them to understand how the file system work at a
conceptual level : what is a file, what is a directory, how can
directory are nested, etc.  This was a total failure.  I wish I had
spent more time in the word processor, because that was what the
participant really wanted and what would have been the most useful skill
for them to acquire.

Also, make no assumption.  For example, some of your participants may
have to be taught that to write caps, they have to hold down the Shift
key, and to "skip" line, they have to press Return.

That was about 6 or 7 years ago.  Computers have become more commonplace
in the meantime, so the situation may have evolved.

Godd luck in this endeavour !

Etienne Goyer


Jay Scherrer wrote:
> Hello,
> I was on this list awhile back, and wanted to see how we have
> progressed. 
> I am asking for some help on planning an open sourced introductory class
> mainly for Seniors but open to all interested. Are there any suggested
> sample syllabuses available from the list? I am probably going to use
> the Open CD project <http://www.theopencd.org> for the classroom
> material because we do have access to several Microsoft machines. But I
> haven't quite taught a class before, let a lone to Seniors. The director
> warned me that most of the Seniors are not very computer savvy. So any
> idea's will be appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> Jay Scherrer
> 
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