This is the plan:
I write a bunch of tutorials (or if I get desperate, beg/borrow/steal them) and give them to the students to do. Then I hover about (or sit at my laptop and continue writing/stealing more tutorials) and assist as needed.
The benefits of this method is that the entire class doesn't have to be on the same page. Which is going to happen because of the way enrollment goes in this class.
Now what I need to work on, aside from the lessons themselves, is a timetable of what the students should achive at each week or so in the class (it's supposed to run for 12 weeks). Perhaps I should write seperate goals for different ablilities, for instance if someone comes in never having touched a computer versus someone who's had previous training.
But I need to get a more "big picture" look at what I'm doing. Ask What are my goals? and How can each of those goals be achieved?.
I need a whiteboard. Or a cork board... Use some color cards for the goals and some other for the methods, lessons, etc.
-TheLoneGoldfish
Friday, May 19, 2006
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Teacher Takes Time to Talk
I am at school. I managed to get one more computer to run OpenOffice.org in addition to loading the software on the one fully functional computer we had, bringing our total to two. Except the computer does not have a working disk drive, so the students cannot move their work or get it printed.
There's not much going on with construction today, but there's also not much going on in the class either. One prospective student came in early, but was dismayed when I related the state of our computers (he had taken MS Office training previously and just needed to practice). Later another student showed up, and is currently going through the typing tutor again.
I did find some interesting links today though.
http://www.zefrank.com/
Video: Powerpuff Girls Z trailer
We went through the American Kennel Club website looking for Dovermen rescue sites, and doing general research on local breeder/rescue resources. The students could have at least that to do in here if we had the wireless cards that we were supposed to get.
Anyways, enough bitching for today.
There's not much going on with construction today, but there's also not much going on in the class either. One prospective student came in early, but was dismayed when I related the state of our computers (he had taken MS Office training previously and just needed to practice). Later another student showed up, and is currently going through the typing tutor again.
I did find some interesting links today though.
http://www.zefrank.com/
Video: Powerpuff Girls Z trailer
We went through the American Kennel Club website looking for Dovermen rescue sites, and doing general research on local breeder/rescue resources. The students could have at least that to do in here if we had the wireless cards that we were supposed to get.
Anyways, enough bitching for today.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Possible solutions
I can go home tonight and buy some blank cd's and burn one with OOo-Dev. And I can suggest Gordie's work out something with computers for schools. But these alternatives take time, and both my students and I are getting a little frustrated at the moment.
Fish teaches typing
I've been teaching a computer software applications class (Word, Excel, etc) to ex-offenders at a community center in Chicago for three weeks now. I've come in on Monday of week four and everything has gone to shit, so I thought I'd write about it to help get my thoughts together.
I've had 4 students in the course, one has gone AWOL, while one just enrolled today.
The materials I have to work with include six computers in various states of repair, all five to nine years old. One computer only has a disk drive for media input while some have CDroms, network cards, and USB ports too. One of the machines can be considered "fully functional", i.e. has MS Office and a working disk drive (I'm not asking for much here)
I've been trying to get Open Office on the machines so I would have some software to teach the students on. Last week I tried to run a network between my laptop and the computers, in order to copy the files, but I was met with failure and futility. This morning I purchased a USB drive and assumed I could get the files through that way.
Apparently windows 98 and 95 don't auto-detect usb drives (kind of makes sense for 95, but I'd think that 98 would download the driver from the device... no such luck).
So in the process of installing OOo-Dev on two of the machines, I restarted them and got locked out. Now I'm down to 2 computers that at least have the typing tutor program on them. At least only 2 students have shown up today.
So now I need to get a USB thumb drive driver for 98 or install CD roms in some of these blasted things...
I've had 4 students in the course, one has gone AWOL, while one just enrolled today.
The materials I have to work with include six computers in various states of repair, all five to nine years old. One computer only has a disk drive for media input while some have CDroms, network cards, and USB ports too. One of the machines can be considered "fully functional", i.e. has MS Office and a working disk drive (I'm not asking for much here)
I've been trying to get Open Office on the machines so I would have some software to teach the students on. Last week I tried to run a network between my laptop and the computers, in order to copy the files, but I was met with failure and futility. This morning I purchased a USB drive and assumed I could get the files through that way.
Apparently windows 98 and 95 don't auto-detect usb drives (kind of makes sense for 95, but I'd think that 98 would download the driver from the device... no such luck).
So in the process of installing OOo-Dev on two of the machines, I restarted them and got locked out. Now I'm down to 2 computers that at least have the typing tutor program on them. At least only 2 students have shown up today.
So now I need to get a USB thumb drive driver for 98 or install CD roms in some of these blasted things...
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