Helping old people

[kthdsn]

I have volunteered to help out at my kids school where there is a computer course for old people. I went thismorning to meet everyone and I have been helping this lady get to grips with the basics of MS Word. It was kind of fun actually, I love computers and its nice to put my skills to good use. Its a really friendly informal kind of course, which I thought was really good because these people can actually learn how to do the things they want rather than useless CLAIT crap etc. They just want to know how to write a letter and get send an email and general stuff like that.

 

Yey, I'm helpful :)

[merciarich]

I have volunteered to help out at my kids school where there is a computer course for old people. I went thismorning to meet everyone and I have been helping this lady get to grips with the basics of MS Word. It was kind of fun actually, I love computers and its nice to put my skills to good use. Its a really friendly informal kind of course, which I thought was really good because these people can actually learn how to do the things they want rather than useless CLAIT crap etc. They just want to know how to write a letter and get send an email and general stuff like that.

 

Yey, I'm helpful :)

Hey kthdsn,

 

Nice one. I do like it when technological-minded people like ourselves help those that maybe arent so used to computers.

 

Keep it up, man

 

Regards,

 

merciarich

[Cooper]

i used to do this kinda thing .. i used to work for a pc shop called pc academy in my lil town .. i lost my job .. boss was a bit iffy and this n that .. anyways when i used to be sent out on call outs to help people .. some of the olddies where some of the better ones to teach .. they used to be really into it .. and i agree with you sayin they just want to know how to type a work document and send an email.. it kinda was self forfilling helping them .. ill always remember the best of them all "mr brown" :P .. he was the nicest guy in the world.. he always use to pay me a lil tip at times.. but i could never take it ..lol

 

makes me wanna help more people now :(

[merciarich]

We need more places like that, I think.

 

And yeah, I agree. CLAIT isn't the best thing in the world........

 

Regards,

 

merciarich

[andyhargreaves]

I've come across a great little set of qualifications. Check out http://www.theingots.org

 

Based upon the open-source community, really easy to administer, with levels ranging from preschool to 'A-level' equivalents.

 

Worth a look in this sort of context.

 

 

Andy

[kthdsn]

I had a look at the ingots but I don't think they are really suitable for the people I'm helping. The school where I help has some very stuffy short sighted people who make all the decisions, they won't even swap from ms office to open office because its "different". We are locked into teaching ms word to our oldies and because thats what they learn, thats what they use at home as well. They are scared to try anything new because they think it will be difficult. They want to learn specific things like what does that button do etc rather than exploring the concepts of computing. Its alright for the old people but its such a shame for the children. Mind you thats the national curriculum for you, its totally useless.

 

Rant over :)