Teaching a Basic Windows Operations Class.....

[Loki]

So what should i include in the curriculum? Ideas? I'm thinking first explaining what everything is (i.e. desktop, start menu, a window). How to change basic setting through control panel. Minimizing, maximizing, closing windows.....what else?

[giambona]

I wouldn't go over control panel. they don't need to know about configuring hardware and stuff and it will only confuse them i think. just make sure they're comfortable with all the basics (i.e. resizing windows, shut down/log off, using IE, some common programs, etc.)

[revil]

using IE to find porn.

[Markel]

CTRL/ALT/DELETE


also,

FORMAT C:\

[Nija]

cut and copy, maybe some of the basic keyboard functions (like how to cut and copy! hehe sorry it pisses me off when people don't know how to cut and copy)
How to change the desktop pictures, and themes, other really basic stuff that AOLers don't know how to do :D

Nija

[g222leav]

i for one never knew what alt+F4 did til like last month...


ohhhh, i just had a windows XP training last night.

i agree, don't get to complicated. stick with customizing windows for personal preference. touch on control panel, but don't get to crazy. also tell them about the common mishaps of windows...i.e. like what causes crashes, remedies to that, common error messages and what to do..etc...etc..

i mean really, this one pissed me off the most (and still does)

"you have performed an illegal operation 'fill in the blank with a *****ty progam' will now shut down"

[jujubees]

My boss pays me to take some off-site comp courses (stuff like "How to Select an i-mac to Match Your Wardrobe") ...

I looked up the company's course outline for Intro to Winderz, and here's what it had to say:

Introduction to personal computing

Orientation to personal computers
Orientation to how computers work
The larger world of personal computers

The Windows environment

The Windows desktop
Orientation to the keyboard and mouse
The taskbar and the Start menu
Working with an open window
Using Help

The Windows hierarchy

An introduction to the Windows hierarchy
My Computer
Network Neighborhood
The Find feature

Using Windows Explorer

Orientation to the Windows Explorer
Creating folders
Copying and moving objects
Using the Recycle Bin

Working with Windows programs

An orientation to Windows programs
Cutting, copying, and pasting in Windows programs

Customizing the Windows desktop

Working with shortcuts
Using Web Style for the desktop and folders
Working with Control Panel settings

And the grand finale ...

Shutting down Windows

[Grimm]

How to create edit and delete shortcuts.
How the file system works.
What is an executable file. exe, com and bat.
Files that you should not delete to save space.
How do do an internet search (how to find prOn).

[oblongmelon]

FINDING FILES AND FOLDERS After they download them and cant find where they are!

[K2]

on and off... :D

[oblongmelon]

i was just gonna say that K2..o..and how never to boot up with a floppy in the drive. :)

[OC]

Make sure they know that right-clicking actually requires the use of the right (as in non-left) mouse button. It's astonishing how many people can't grasp that.

Some others - the computer tower is the "tower" or "case", not the "CPU". A hard drive is not "memory". AOL is not the internet.

-OC

[revil]

Originally posted by oblongmelon
FINDING FILES AND FOLDERS After they download them and cant find where they are!
No kidding! My mom had the biggest problem with that.

her: I just downloaded a file and i can't find it. you were on my computer earlier. what did you do?
me: what? stop accusing me. where did you save it to?
her: save it to? I just hit save. and it saved it. you must have done something because it's not where it's supposed to be.
me: :disa:

that was a couple of years ago. she still calls me up sometimes and asks why i do stuff to her computer (doesn't cross her mind that it isn't possible for me to do it). I think she is quite paranoid.

[g222leav]

judging by your SN i'd be paranoid too if i were your mother.

but i know what you mean...sometimes i just click click click...and it saves it to the IE temp folder and i forget how to get it...doh!

[sbp]

Introduction to the BSOD. You'll be seeing it alot.

http://sbp777.homestead.com/files/bsod.jpg

[Loki]

Hey guys/gals thanks for all of the ideas. That helps. Now I must go meditate so that I don't get too frustrated when I'm teaching...hehe

[attgig]

how to use a mouse...
the separate parts of a computer.

regedit.exe :D

[Markel]

Originally posted by att gig

regedit.exe :D
:eek: :disa: :nono: :shake:

[g222leav]

ok, i'm dumb, what is regedit..not familiar with that

[ChrisMG187]

If you don't know what it is, you don't need to know.

[revil]

regedit is a fun game!

[g222leav]

i don't trust rev evil, i really don't

[irwin]

regedit = Registry editor. Duh :)

[g222leav]

that's what i figured, but i wasn't sure.

[revil]

Don't believe Passwird! He's only a kid!

[g222leav]

dude, i still trust passwird more than i trust you
maybe i'll go to one of the school comps and try it....hmmmmm

[Burzhui]

Originally posted by g222leav
dude, i still trust passwird more than i trust you
maybe i'll go to one of the school comps and try it....hmmmmm

I really want to be evil and tell you that regedit is a game, you know a la reverendevil, but then again i guess passwird is trying to protect you for the evil that you are about to do to a computer