My 5-Day Computer Basics Course
Okay. I have four computers ready, although if better ones are donated (some are tentatively promised), I will be happy to replace my older, weaker models. I’ve been setting up the printers that have also been donated, but this is likely to be held up until I can afford to buy cartridges for this mix of models Only two are the same.
Meantime, I’m turning my attention this week to recruiting students, and I hope to have some ready to start next week! Since it is a first for me, and I may fumble a bit, I’m offering a special deal of just $75 for a week of half-day lessons. My regular fee will be $99/week, but I believe I need to be able to offer specials from time to time.
This short one-week course will be very introductory, meant for people like seniors who find they have a computer in the house and they are not sure how to use it. It still scares them a bit.
I plan to check with my community association too, as I see by their newsletter that they want to encourage the matching of courses and career advancement.
Later, about May, I hope to start my longer, four-month internship courses which will be all day long, and really be like an incubator to help people start their own home business from a computer.
This short course should boil down like this;
Monday - get familiar with the computer hardware and what’s hooked up with it, and how to change settings so it becomes really YOURS. I’ll throw some in about the advantages of Linux operating systems and their neat features.
Tuesday - explore your computer programs and what they can let you do, how to install and get rid of them, and how to do some basic trouble-shooting, and how to get the most out of your keyboard and mouse. How to keyboard nimbly.
Wednesday - using email safely and ethically, avoid spam- and how to scan pictures and send attachments, how to understand and set up a good filing system, and how to find things, and how to create graphics, etc. Then of course, also how to do backups regularly.
Thursday - surfing on the web, doing intelligent searches and research, how to shop online, and the barebones of websites and their basic structure, and how to use a blog effectively. How to avoid identity theft too.
Friday - discerning what is a good program to sign up for, so as to make money, and how to check out and avoid the scams. Some safe programs to join, and how to promote them so you can in fact make money from them.
Want to join me in praying that I’ll get the kind of students who will really benefit from such a course? Ask too, that I be a wise and effective teacher.