Welcome to the Curriculum Guide for the Computer Basics Workshop of the WIT '99

Aim

This Workshop aims to teach attendees the basics of how to use computers (Macs and / or Windows based).

Rationale

Attendees who come to the WIT may not be as familiar with computers as they need to be in order to get work done. This class will help attendees learn how to use computers and how computers work.

Audience

As part of WIT, only those attending WIT may participate in this workshop.

We invite members of WIT to attend who a) feel they don't know enough about computers or b) feel they don't know as much as WIT Mentors feel they need to know in order to progress through WIT.

We not now know the level of those who will come to WIT. I suspect there will be a goodly number who could make good use of this class.

Prerequisites

Attendees of this workshop should be at least glancingly familiar with computers. By this I having held and rolled a mouse around at some time. I require little more than that. But please be forewarned: we will talk about and demonstrate how to move a mouse! But we will also cover how computers work--something useful for all levels.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this workshop attendees should be able to understand:

Key computer terminology (e.g.: CPU, RAM, Mb)
Use a mouse to control icons and menus
The Desktop Metaphor as a way of managing files, folders and volumes on computers
How to create and use folders to store files (including naming conventions in the different operating systems)
How computers work and their limitations
More

Instructional Plan

Attendees will have instructional web pages to work from. I will also go over some points with the class as a whole. Depending on the level of attendees I may separate them into groups and work with some more intensively than others.

I and any other mentors in attendance will make ourselves widely available for questions, elaboration and hands on assistance.

List of Materials

Computers with access to the Web. The URL for the course content.

Assessment / Evaluation

Pretest

I will use a show of hands to assess the level of the group. (E.G.: "Every used a computer before?" through "quite familiar?") This will give me a gauge for what the group needs.

Assessment and Evaluation

I will not assess actual tasks learned as this group should be motivated to get all they can out of this workshop as it should be well and clear how much they need computers to complete WIT. I will hand out a short answer course evaluation at the end of the workshop to see how well they thought the workshop went. Here are the questions from the one I've been using; I'll revise it before the workshop.

1. How could we present this material more clearly? Were we clear in our terminology?
2. How could we present this material in a better organized fashion?
3. How could we improve our coverage of this subject? Did we cover too much,
too little or just the right amount of material?
4. How might we improve this presentation? (Examples might include clarity, focus,
amount of material ó or any other comments you wish to make.)
5. Please tell us (briefly!) about your prior computer experience.
What kinds of computers have you used? What kinds of software?
6. What, if anything, was particularly helpful? Was this class relevant to your needs?
7. Please tell us about other computer related classes you would like us to provide.
8. How was the length of the class? Would you have preferred lots more information in a more compressed form or a slower paced class with more help.
9. Any other comments?