Can You Teach Computer 101?

The HeliOS Project has settled nicely into our new home.  We've stashed, stuck, and stacked all of our computers and components in the correct places.  We've built our work environments and stocked the shelves with most of the parts we need and we're well on our way to getting these computers to kids who need them most.


 Another part of the HeliOS mission is to teach people how to use computers...and it's not the kids that need this help....


It's the adults.


Here are just a couple of real-life examples for you.

While we were teaching a 101 class down at the Bruno Knaapen Technology Learning Center, we covered keyboard shortcuts.  You and I know how much time they can save, but the computer novice has no clue.

Many older adults finally get tired of not being able to receive emails from the grand kids and family so they grudgingly decide to at least try to learn the basics.  Just teaching them to grasp the difference between left and right mouse clicks can test one's patience and compassion.


As I ran through the different shortcuts, I demonstrated the F11 full screen feature.  Most everyone met the discovery with assorted "meh" attitudes but one older lady sat with her face in her hands and was visibly affected.  She asked me....

"Is this key the only thing that can make that happen, I mean make everything go away but the screen?"

I assured her that under normal circumstances it was.

She went on to share with the class that from time to time, she would inadvertently hit that key, making the screen go full.  Of course, she had no idea what key she had pushed.  

Honestly, I thought she was going to cry.

No one in the assisted living center knew how to bring the menus and task bar back and she was frozen in place, unable to do anything.

In desperation, she would reinstall Windows from scratch.  Not knowing anything about data backups, she would lose everything she had accumulated.

Just because she did not know that the F11 key was the culprit and the cure.

And this just in from the "If I had only known" desk...

You and I take the cut, copy and paste commands for granted.  I think almost everyone does.

Almost everyone.

We ran into a gentleman that had no clue about these commands.  When he wanted to keep or send a particular part of something on a website, he would shrink his browser to half size, open an instance of notepad and then type the text verbatim and then save it.  He had an entire library of folders, based on subject and date, filled with text files of things he had copied over time .

Keep in mind, the gentleman did not touch type...it was index fingers and cramped wrists for his efforts. 

I swear, when he finally grasped the concept of copy and paste, I thought the Hallelujah Chorus was going to fill the room.

And it's for reasons like this that we teach computer and Internet 101.

Our classes are held at our classroom in Taylor, every other week on Tuesday-Thursday evenings, from 7 to 8 PM.  Currently, I am caught between staying at home with Diane and teaching these classes.  There are some nights I am not comfortable in leaving her alone.

If you are interested in volunteering to teach for us, please contact me via email. 

The very best we can offer you is unlimited cold drinks and our thanks.

Of course, you can always help us save someone from reformatting a hard drive and reinstalling an operating system out of ignorance.

All-Righty Then