Hands-On Computer Classes

“Tell me and I’ll forget.  Show me and I may remember.  Involve me and I’ll understand”
a Chinese proverb popularized by Benjamin Franklin.

hands-onThis tenet of education is never more true than with learning computers.  I’ve heard people spout off-the-wall nonsense about their computer because it was what they thought they heard from the last computer ‘expert.’  Hands-on is the best way to learn and understand your computer.  ”Define, Show, Do, Review”  This was the teacher training program as a part of our Productivity Point network of computer training centers in the 1990’s.  Those were also the steps I promoted as a member, then President, of the International Computer Training Association back in 1993. Define = first you explain to students the concept they are about to learn.  Show = next you demonstrate an example of that concept.  Do = let the student complete an exercise which proves the concept being taught.  Review = ask questions of the students to be sure they grasped the concept being taught.

Today, as Geeks on Tour, we still believe that hands-on is the best way to learn.  It’s just more expensive,and more difficult to arrange, so we create our tutorial videos as the next best alternative.  Whenever possible however, we do schedule a hands-on class.  We just delivered our first ever Photo Editing Workshop – a hands-on class with Picasa.  And, we also offer a hands-on class on computer basics for Windows.  We call that our Computer Boot Camp, or ‘Camp ReBoot.’

Photo Editing Workshop with Picasa

In this class, students work with their own computer and the Picasa program that is installed on their computer.  We provide sample photos on a USB ‘thumb’ drive.  The pictures on the thumb drive have been specifically selected to demonstrate all the editing features of Picasa.  After we demonstrate, the students have time to do the editing themselves, hands-on, at their own computer.  This is a two hour class.  It includes the USB thumb drive with sample photos, tutorial videos for review, and an instructional class workbook.  Students get to keep the 2GB thumb drive.  This workshop is being offered twice at the FMCA Convention in Madison, Wisconsin.  The fee is $40 and preregistration is required at the convention.

  1. FMCA: Madison, Wisconsin
    Thursday, August 11, 2011
    4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  2. FMCA: Madison, Wisconsin
    Friday, August 12, 2011
    4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Camp Reboot – What you need to know about your Laptop and Windows 7

What you would have learned in high school, IF you had computers in high school!  This 2 day workshop provides exercises that allow you to get acquainted with your laptop computer.  What’s the operating system?  How much disk space?  How much memory?  What are all those keys you’ve never even noticed?  How do you make folders and manage files?

Topics covered include:

  • Know your computer; make & model, operating system, hard drive size, memory size, support website, shutdown and sleep options, what to do when things go wrong
  • How to write a letter with software on every Windows-based computer (WordPad), save it, and find it again. How to print it on someone else’s printer if you don’t have one by copying it to a USB drive.
  • File Management, using Windows Explorer, folder structures, finding files, copying and moving files, identifying file types.
  • How to backup important files to CD, and keep your computer clean and safe
  • How to Use WiFi to get online and browse, search, set up favorites.
  • How to access your email using webmail. Email ‘netiquette.’

You have two opportunities to attend our Computer Boot Camp this summer:

  1. Aug 26-28: Escapade pre-rally in Gillette, Wyoming
    For more detail: Escapade Camp Reboot Event
  2. Sep 23-24: Gypsy Journal pre-rally in Celina, Ohio
    For more detail: Gypsy Journal Computer Boot Camp
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