Welcome to the Curriculum Guide for the PC to Mac and Mac to PC Transition Workshop of the WIT '99

Aim

This Workshop aims to teach attendees how to use both Mac and Windows based personal computers, whatever type they may have worked with before.

Rationale

Attendees who come to the WIT may have used either Windows or Macintosh based operating system computers. Whatever their level of expertise, many may not have worked with *both* of these kinds of computers before. Within WIT they will almost certainly work with Windows and Macintosh computers. This workshop will point out similarities and differences and enable them to at least "get along" with both kinds of computer.

Audience

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

We invite members of WIT to attend who a) need an introduction or b) need more help / understanding on how to use that "other kind" of computer.

Prerequisites

Attendees of this workshop should be familiar with computers. Attendees should be above the level of "what is a menu" as we'll cover differences rather than "what is?" kinds of questions.

Learning Objectives

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

Key similarities and differences between the Mac and Windows operating systems
Issues relating to how to transfer files between Mac and Windows machines

The effects of differently formatted floppies
File formats and how to survive that (ie: different applications and how different versions of applications store files differently)

Naming conventions between DOS, Win95 and above; UNIX and Macintosh and how to name files that will work anywhere

What a file extension is and why you care

Instructional Plan

Attendees will have instructional web pages to work from. I will also go over some points with the class as a whole.

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

We will have all students format a floppy and store files on that floppy. Then mount this within a Mac (on their own or the teacher's Mac depending on what lab we use) and see how modern Macs and easily read and write to Windows formatted floppies. I will then show them (likely with screen shots in the Web page but possibly also on screen during class) how naming conventions affect work and how different apps open or don't open different files. And demonstrate file extensions within Windows based computers.

List of Materials

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

Assessment / Evaluation

Pretest

I will use a show of hands to assess the kinds of computers and experiences of the group.

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?