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Too bad I can't edit the OP anymore. What I'd like to add is, it might be advisable for middle and high schools to provide some selective and simple course to the effect of "Computer Fundamentals"...
My links are not blue. They are purple..by my doing.
I think how user friendly computers have become don't really do much for learning how to use them to the fullest potential. Remember having to use multiple disks to even turn the thing on?!
These newbs would probably drop dead if they had to do that and then deal with run commands. LOL
What I find really funny is if you tell someone like this a puter fixing tip blab: "reinstall your drivers" and you get replies like:"drivers? I did not use screwdrivers? I only used these disks" And then you yank the one out that says: "DRIVERS" on it. LOL
Well, an instruction like the following shouldn't be too much for any literate.
Data Backup Instruction
1. Insert a flash drive into your computer.
2. Click here.
"The blue hyperlink is kind of old school. Most websites nowadays use flash or graphics, you rarely just see a text hyperlink. So I can understand younger users not recognizing that as a 'rule'. "
Interesting point.
"of netbooks, which don't have installed applications at all but rely entirely upon web-based programs, "
This is not true.
Too bad I can't edit the OP anymore. What I'd like to add is, it might be advisable for middle and high schools to provide some selective and simple course to the effect of "Computer Fundamentals"...
Teaching computer componentry, programming, or other fundamentals is about as relevant today as teaching auto repair. Public schools are not vocational schools. They are supposed to be providing a general, well-rounded education. Teaching of trades do not fit in that. Even a student interested in computer repair or programming would require more education in that specialty than a high school could provide, and those programs will assume that all students know nothing about the subject when they start.
For everyone else, all you really need to know is how to google a problem, error message or other topic, and how to call for service.
kodaka, "Computer Fundamentals" (ball park estimate would be 5 to 10 hours total), and computer programming totally different cup of tea. And why? critical skill !
With the latter, it's an extremely complex undertaking, intelligent people with relevant training and constant learning still find it challenging for doing it exceedingly well even after 10 years, 15 years...
kodaka, "Computer Fundamentals" (ball park estimate would be 5 to 10 hours total), and computer programming totally different cup of tea. And why? critical skill !
With the latter, it's an extremely complex undertaking, intelligent people with relevant training and constant learning still find it challenging for doing it exceedingly well even after 10 years, 15 years...
Alright then, what would you include in a class called 'computer fundamentals' other than backing up data and setting window preferences. And why are these things that a school needs to teach instead of something a student needs to learn on their own time?
I teach a Basic Internet Research class to seniors mostly in the age range of 68 - 85. I think they retired from the workforce before computers got to be commonplace. They have them in their homes because a spouse uses one. Logging on, Windows menus, website navigation, downloading, how to use a mouse, scrolling --- all new to them. I assumed they all used e-mail on a regular basis and would be familiar with menus and navigation and all I would be teaching was how to research the web, videos, images and news. Doesn't everyone get e-mails with links in them? I assumed wrong. The sad thing is, if they become less physically mobile, they'd probably enjoy the interaction from their respective homes and their lives could be so much easier if they had quick access to information.
For your students:
1. Take them on a trip to the Control Panel.
2. Their home computer is probably not part of a network like their school and workplace computer would be so teach them something about functioning in a network environment.
3. Security.
We had a required computer class in my high school (and this was 10 years ago). You learned Microsoft Office, typing, and basic Mac software. It was the easiest class I'd ever taken because I knew how to do all of it already. I took all the proficiency tests the first week and then played Oregon Trail the rest of the semester . . . pure bliss.
Not news to me since I used to teach college students computer literacy. What was even more disheartening, was their inability to write a grammatically correct sentence.
kodaka, "Computer Fundamentals" (ball park estimate would be 5 to 10 hours total), and computer programming totally different cup of tea. And why? critical skill !
With the latter, it's an extremely complex undertaking, intelligent people with relevant training and constant learning still find it challenging for doing it exceedingly well even after 10 years, 15 years...
Programming is interesting. A class mate of mine was terrified about C, but he easily mastered Java and became TA !
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