Re: [plug] Re: Computer Bank - please dont give them away.

[Kylie Davies <beckster@warehouse.net>]

> 
> Paul Wilson wrote:
> 
> > > What I'm looking for with our doco project, is a set of manuals that can
> > > be used directly as training manuals -
> > > something that a technically knowledgable person could follow as a
> > > course...
> >
> > There seem to be two different target audiences here - technically aware
> > and absolute beginner. Both of those need different manuals, the beginner
> > migrating over time (hopefully) to become techically competant.

How does one define technically competent?

> >
> > Soemone who is interested in the idea of Linux/UNIX but knows little or
> > nothing will need an enormous amount of hand-holding, via manuals and
> > possibly one-to-one as well. Can that be done successfully ?

I dont think it will be that complex...anyway I am giving
it a shot with some children on Wed. They know very little
about gnu/linux except what i have told them. 

> 
> The idea is to give them a basic intro course that gives them a feel for the
> system and where to look for info (machines should have a copy of html'd LDP
> doco wherever possible)... need to encourage mindset of experimentation and
> willingness to mess-about... a bit of RTFM training might not go astray
> too... however, after that, it's preety much up to the recipient to take it
> further (as it would be with the rest of us who have discovered linux and
> computing...)

Basic intro lessons yes...dependent on needs and dependent
on what one wants to learn I'd say.

> 

> computer bank project is about acheiving the following goals:
> 
> Number 1 goal. Giving computers to people who otherwise would not be able to
> afford them.
> Number 2 goal. Give them some basic trainng so they are not completely lost
> (thereby  effectively relegating the computer to boat-anchor status), and
> have a chance to get _somewhere_.

Yes.
> 
> Having acheived goal number 1 and 2, they have the resources to aquire skills
> in a very employable area... however like with anything, it's up to them to
> get into it...

They would but whether they'd want to is ultimately up to
them. 
>

> 
> Where _possible_,  I am thinking that we should get them on the net and show
> them how to use it - a quick lesson in using usenet searches and web-searches
> would be handy - also feed them into existing support networks - such as
> linux user-groups etc... we are wanting to give people a kick-start, but like
> with anything the only way to learn computing is to just get in there and
> mess around...

Existing linux user groups may actually prove to be very
overwhelming for a new user to cope with...although would
be a great learning vehicle if they wanted to know heaps
more. Also some people on existing linux user groups might
get frustrated with newbies. 

I have had several expressions of interest from people
willing to provide email support to users. We could start
a mailing list for this purpose or something. The user
could be subbed to it when the system is set up for
internet access.
> 
> Can't see a "helpdesk" happening - it seems to me to be too hard to
> organise... (other than feeding into existing user-groups...)

? maybe...this would be dependent on what we are able to
achieve with respect to formalising and obtaining funding.

> 

> comfortable with the system, and to make sure they are actually
> interested (before we give them a computer)
> 

how will we determine interest?  

Eg: My friend is only interested in email and browsing for
info...would that make him ineligible?


> That's my $0.02 anyway....

and mine...

Cheers,

Kylie