First Class
David
Zermeno The coordinator of the Community
Programs at CCTV
will come into the first class, with you. He will take about thirty
to forty minutes of the class time for Orientation. David will discuss
with students the history of CCTV and why it's important.
Students will fill out a Membership Application for
CCTV's records. He will also give your students a Class
Assessment. This assessment will gauge how comfortable the
incoming students feel about computer technology. At the end of the
12 week program, you or David will give them another assessment to see
how much they have evolved in confidence and ability. Lastly, David
will explain the "Contract fo Success". This is a contract
that students signs that bind them to attending 11 our of 12 classes.
He will explain that instructors are here on a 'volunteer' basis. Instructors
are investing their time and energy to students, in order to help them
reach their goals. CCTV asks that students show respect
and committement by attending all classes and spending
a minimum of 2 hours per week, practicing and doing
homework at the free CCTV computer lab facilities.
Next you will discuss what 'computer literacy'
means.
Engage your students in
the discussion of computer literacy. Ask them why they feel computer
literacy is important? Do this by going around the class and asking
each student:
-
their name
- why they're taking the class
- what they hope to achieve
Be sure you understand each student's individual
goals. Write it down in your journal so you can cater
lessons and exercises to fit the goals of the students. Remember,
you are there to teach them but also to listen to their
individual goals.
Giving Students a Taste of "What's
to Come"
Don't be surprised if most students tell
you they're taking the class because they want to learn how to use the
internet and email. Explain to the student thtat before they jump into
the internet, they'll have to grasp basic word processing skills. They
will be using Microsoft Word first. However, you may want to go online
and show them the amazing things they can do with the internet. Show
them these three things (or something more creative you can think of):
- Job Search site.
- Online shopping site.
- Online google picture search
This will
give them a better and more exiciting understanding of the world of
computer literacy. Explain to them that to get to point
'B', they'll have to start with point 'A'. Explain that you can't move
onto the internet and email until they're proficient in basic word processing
skills.
What it takes to get from point 'A'
to point 'B'
-
Stress the importance
of showing up to class on time. Showing up 15 minutes after the
start of class is unacceptable. Many time the facilities lock their
doors after classes start. Therefore, students may not even have
access to the building if they cannot arrive to class on time.
-
Stress the importance
of doing homework and spending at least 2 hours
in the computer lab, practicing. If they don't, then the instructor
will have to 'waste time' in the next class, going over old lessons
and not learning anything new.
-
Tell them you want
to see EVERYONE with a pen, notebook binder, notepad and or tape
recorder and WRITE down (or record) notes. Explain to them that
you require note recording so they have a source to refer to when
they're doing homework and can't remember specific things that was
covered in class. Keep notes organized and sequential.
- Tell them to ask questions.
The more they want to know, they more it will benefit them.
Getting to Know the Computer
Explain the parts of the computer:
- monitor
- keyboard
- mouse
- printer (optional)
- scanner (optional)
- Have a handout prepared to explain these
items. Use analogies if students don't understand. Example of a handout
(.pdf file) for the CPU.
Let students know that they
shouldn't be 'scared' of the computer. Explain to them that they shouldn't
be scared and that they will not BREAK the computer if the hit a button
'by mistake'.
**Most important,
tell students to never drink or eat anything around their computer.
One small spill can ruin a $1200 computer.**
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