Dear Alan,

I have been doing exactly what you are starting here in Reading,
Pennsylvania, USA for about 6 years. I volunteer teach at the Alvernia
College Senior's College (A  subsystem of Alvernia College).

If you would like any tips, please feel free to contact me directly at
[log in to unmask],

A good website for ideas is http://www.newbieclub.com/.

The very first thing to do is encourage questions..My favorite statement to
my students is "There is ONLY one stupid question. That's the one you
didn't ask because you were afraid."

One of the first things I give them is a simple glossary, with the
admonition that if they do not understand a word I use, ASK !!!

Next, and this is a matter of opinion, teach them the difference between a
left click, and a right click. I make them practice at the start of each
program by exercising with their arms above there heads, then left click
--forefinger, right click --ring finger.  (Many start out uncoordinated and
when they click use both fingers together.)

I truly enjoy this experience of opening a new, exciting world to my
students. In class I call the computer "My magic machine"

Good Luck, and Patience,,,Patience,,,Patience

Dave Childers


At 11:26 AM 2/2/2002 +0000, you wrote:
>Hi Listers
>
>I hope someone on the list will be able to offer some help with my problem
>although it is not specifically software related.
>I have been asked by a charity here in the UK to teach some senior
>citizens how to use computers. This teaching would start at the most basic
>level, i.e. indicating the various pieces of hardware, powering the PC up,
>use of the mouse, shutting down properly etc, eventually I want them to
>have the confidence to send e mail and do simple web searches.
>What I need to get started is some basic handout material that I can
>reproduce and give to my students to help them recap what I have taught them.
>If anyone can point me toward stuff like this I will be really grateful.
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Alan Hodges
>
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