Triniman
January 12th, 2007, 01:27 AM
I'm involved in a community project in which surplus computers are outfitted with either Windows 2000 or Ubuntu and loaned out to poor families in order to give them Internet access and the ability to learn how to use a computer, do word processing, etc. Some of these people have gone on to enter the workforce after learning computer skills.
The recipients are given a 40-hour course on how to use Microsoft applications. Then, they are given a Windows 2000 computer, usually a Pentium 3. Microsoft ponies up the money to pay for the 40-hour training, so that's why the apps taught are mostly MS. They are taught a bit of OpenOffice, since the computers are have OO loaded on them, not MS Office.
My open source advocacy group became involved in the project. We are trying to load half of the machines with Ubuntu to spread the idea of open source software. Also, we believe that users will have fewer problems with malware. Many of the Windows 2000 computers are being returned because they contract malware and they become inoperable.
About a half dozen Ubuntu computers have been loaned out and we haven't heard any complaints yet. However, we would like to add some training on how to actually use Ubuntu to the training the recipients receive.
We're looking for advice on creating or finding a curriculum that will get most users up and running on their own. Also, if there was a curriculum in, say, PDF format, we would load it onto the computers so that they have easy access to helpful information.
What we don't want to do is overwhelm these recipients, many of whom may not have owned or used a PC before. We just want to get them up and running on how to do things like file management, add a printer, update the computer, install some programs, surf the net, etc.
If anyone has ideas on what would be a good way to proceed, please let me know.
Triniman, Triniman@shaw.ca
Winnipeg, MB
Canada
The recipients are given a 40-hour course on how to use Microsoft applications. Then, they are given a Windows 2000 computer, usually a Pentium 3. Microsoft ponies up the money to pay for the 40-hour training, so that's why the apps taught are mostly MS. They are taught a bit of OpenOffice, since the computers are have OO loaded on them, not MS Office.
My open source advocacy group became involved in the project. We are trying to load half of the machines with Ubuntu to spread the idea of open source software. Also, we believe that users will have fewer problems with malware. Many of the Windows 2000 computers are being returned because they contract malware and they become inoperable.
About a half dozen Ubuntu computers have been loaned out and we haven't heard any complaints yet. However, we would like to add some training on how to actually use Ubuntu to the training the recipients receive.
We're looking for advice on creating or finding a curriculum that will get most users up and running on their own. Also, if there was a curriculum in, say, PDF format, we would load it onto the computers so that they have easy access to helpful information.
What we don't want to do is overwhelm these recipients, many of whom may not have owned or used a PC before. We just want to get them up and running on how to do things like file management, add a printer, update the computer, install some programs, surf the net, etc.
If anyone has ideas on what would be a good way to proceed, please let me know.
Triniman, Triniman@shaw.ca
Winnipeg, MB
Canada