________________________________
From: Gary Schnabl <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thu, 30 June, 2011 23:50:09
Subject: Re: [libreoffice-documentation] Re: Proposal for major revision of
Getting Started Guide
On 6/30/2011 4:27 AM, Marc Paré wrote:
>> Based on my experience as a K-12 teacher a decade ago, I know that kids do
>> not
>>bother to read texts, even if assigned as homework. So, users will do as much
>>as
>>they can on their own before consulting the online help or user guides.
>>
>> One reason for low book sales is that much fewer users will bother to read
>>books nowadays.
>>
>>
>> Gary
>>
>>
>
> Hi Gary
>
> Some schools do operate on a set programme, for example, at my primary
> school,
>although I teach French Second Language, I am in charge of teaching Word
>(Writer) basics to grades 4-5; PowerPoint (Impress) to grades 6,7 and until a
>couple years ago, our previous grade 7 teacher was in charge of teaching Excel
>(Calc) to grades 8 and advanced macros in preparation to high school. The
>"Getting Started Guide" would be a great addition to any Library collection
>for
>student referral/reference.
>
> In my experience, there is still a small segment of the student population
> that
>do read manuals and they usually pass on their knowledge to others in their
>class.
>
> I have thus far taught for 18 years as Math, Science and Technology
> consultant
>(primary and secondary schools); classroom teacher; computer classroom
>specialist and French Second Language specialist at various times during these
>years. I am presently off on disability for crushed spine and complications
>but
>hope to get back to class soon.
>
> Cheers
>
> Marc
>
Late in my (engineering and other things) career, I taught at both public and
private K-12 schools, last teaching back in 2001. All of the schools were long
computerized by then. During the computer labs, most of the kids were "taught"
by teachers, who only a few months earlier typically taught subjects as social
studies and the like and were most often only a day or three ahead of their
students in subject matter--if that.
Most kids then learned office-suite apps mostly by intuition because those apps
were designed that way from day-1. At one middle school, during the computer
labs I dropped in on my kids on occasion. Once, one kid asked me to help him
with a simple problem. I first inquired what the on-line help suggested. He did
not even know (primarily because lazy teachers often do not teach such useful
things...) that there even was any on-line help. So, I interrupted the class
(although the newly-ordained computer-lab--previously an older social-studies
teacher at the school--teacher initially objected) so that they all knew about
how to use on-line help from the Help menu.
At another school--a private K-5 school where I taught the fifth grade, at one
half-day in-session (kids go home early those days) the administration was
discussing ways to save money, if possible. Waking up from a short nap, I
suggested that the school fire the young woman who taught their computer labs
because she was incompetent. To my surprise, that suggestion was instantly
accepted, and the teachers were ordered to teach their own classes in the
computer lab.
One little snag though. Not all the teachers then were computer literate. So, I
took over some of the computer labs and had those teachers teach (or baby-sit)
my fifth grade class during those times.
I again assert that people most often will not employ user guides, or even the
on-line help, and will usually ask somebody else for help, as any problems
occur.
Gary
Hi :)
I agree up to a point. Many people are sociable up to a point and often find
it
easier to ask other people than look things up. I can think of a few
exceptions
tho! People with even mild aspergers or other issues might tend to shy away
from people prefer books and computers. Various forms of arrogance or honour
or
pride. Fear of being seen as weak. Shame. Fear of being indebted to anyone.
In many countries it goes against the culture and is considered rude to ask for
help. Some people just love books.
Sociable people are generally the people we notice most often. People that are
good at hiding away are less easy to notice.
Regards from
Tom :)
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