Talk:Teaching Computer Literacy

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 * Teaching tips even basic ones.
 * Lesson plans/lesson outlines.
 * Organizing the information.
 * Changing to multiple pages at some point.
 * Corrections to grammar spelling etc.
 * Links to good software (preferably free).

A little more about me and this project
I'm Eric, and I started this wikibook because I've offered to volunteer teaching computer classes. Classes should start when school is out. They are still cutting through the red tape, and I am not sure if I will get the chance. I didn't realize that non-profit organizations had so much red tape. Anyway I practiced the lessons with my nephews 7 and 4 years old. But they are already familiar with a mouse, hopefully it doesn't skew my test results too much.

I tried to find some public domain material on the subject but came up with nothing, and so this book was started. I started with paint because I know it well. It does keep the interest of kids. As a native windows program you can teach some windows fundamentals. Simplified kids software is great but you can't teach what isn't there.

The organization I've offered to volunteer for says they have Microsoft Office. So far I'm not sure what is going to get teenagers interested in Microsoft Office. Any ideas please click 'edit this page'. Thanks for taking the time to read this, hopefully you find this book useful.

A few comments
1) I think we should either rename the article or perhaps expand its scope to non-windows machines. 2) I hope to make some of my own contributions, and maybe expand this beyond paint. 3) Is this really a worthwhile book? There are other, much more complete books on the same topic. 4) Anyone else still interested? --Jats (talk) 01:55, 27 February 2009 (UTC)

Wordpad
My name is Hall, I'm a computer teacher for both primary and secondary schools. I have found that Wordpad is a great program to teach beginners about word processing, keyboard skills and file management. The interface in wordpad is like a cutdown version of MSWord (without going to the trouble of customising the MS word interface), which helps the student focus on key skills, reduces choice/mistake anxiety, and helps the transition to a "real" Word Pocessor. I have about 3 lessons written up (if I can find them). If Eric wants to set up the chapters I'll paste them in.

Setting up Wordpad lessons
I would be glad to set up the Wordpad lesson. You can leave what you have in this talk page. Thanks, Eric

Timing
A helpful element for this book would be suggested/expected time that the lessons would take. I might offer this myself after trying some of it out today at a primary school in Newtown, Basseterre, St. Kitts today.

Not Paint, but WORD or rtf
The subject is presented well, but I teach Senior Citizens! I therefore prefer a TEXT program to start with, such as WORD since that makes immediate connection to the SC students. Easy to start them off with typing their life history for their grandchildren. Alternately, start them playing card games, which they often already know, but gives them plenty of opportunity to use the mouse, especially at home away from the classroom.