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At that meeting, I said I would send to the list some thoughts I had on topics to cover, especially on finding Windows equivalents. All week at work I've been jotting down ideas, I typed them up this evening, then found that I'm probably taking the cake for extreme wordiness. Okay, it won't be the first prize I've gotten for that, so here goes my 5 1/2 cents' worth: Suggestions for a curriculum for new Linux users: Start with simple easy things. Show them early on that they can get into Linux and be productive without having to be a supergeek systems admin or programmer and without having to totally abandon Windows. (They may arrive at any or all of those later on their own.) Hold off on teaching how to install and tweak the OS until an intermediate level or on a separate track for intermediate to advanced users. Windows users nearly always buy a new computer with the OS and a lot of apps already installed. Let's get them productive as fast as possible, then start installing things. I found two articles on the Internet in the past few days that give some ideas for our classes and helping new users: "How do I do (insert task here) in Linux?"at http://users.netwit.net.au/~pursang/dtil/ . This one has a new users guide that is pretty well written. Experiences in helping a new Linux user, at http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8221013471.html . This is rather wordy, but illustrates how someone who knows and cares zip about any OS can work happily in Linux with a little help from a mentor. I found these at http://www.linuxdailynews.com/ . This and similar news sites would be good to point out to students at all levels as a way of keeping informed. It might be good to arrange the classes either (1) as one long track, from beginner to advanced over the whole period that is planned, or (2) as two tracks, one beginner to intermediate with an emphasis on typical consumer apps, and the other as intermediate to advanced with an emphasis on working more with the OS, networking, etc. The intent in either case is to give both beginners and advanced students their own classes without boring the other. A topic that I think needs to be covered well, possibly to some extent in many different sessions, is "what's in it for Windows users" hopefully without aggravating Windows lovers too much. Security, stability, reliability, use as an Internet gateway, server for all the computers in the house, free and low-cost software, and other topics like this can be mentioned often. Early sessions for the newest users might be something like this, assuming that the OS and applications are loaded, and peripherals are attached and working: 1. Survival 101: How to turn it on, log in as a user, find most commonly used apps, open and close them, and end a session (what to do inside the app probably needs its own class). The need to work as a user rather than at root. How to power down safely. When to power down and when to let it run. 2. Survival 102: What's all the rest of this stuff on the screen? How to use four (or more! Wow!) screens? How to set up those screens for different uses. How to find and use the Help or User Guides. Open a terminal, and what the dickens is a terminal for? (add ...) 3.Productivity 101: How to use email, Internet, a word processor, a spreadsheet program, and a game or two. How to print documents and make backups. 4. Productivity 102: How to use software for loading digital images from camera or email, scanning and editing photos, sending photos through email. How to play music on the computer while working. Other office apps, depending on the interest shown and level of expertise. 5.New stuff 101: Installing new or revised software. Installing or connecting new hardware, like printers. Downloading software and installing it. 6.Productivity 201: More advanced graphics apps, like Gimp, or ...? Burning to CD music, photos, data backup, ... Using software for financial management, databases, genealogy, music editing, ... That's a start. Y'all help me out with specifics. I'm trying to picture a typical user, who does a fairly limited number of things, but whatever he does, he wants his computer and programs to work well without the old BSOD. At all levels, mention the Linux equivalent to Windows apps, or at least a way to accomplish the same thing in Linux that a specialized Windows app does. At the intermediate to advanced level, include: 1.ways to use Windows apps in Linux , like Wine 2.dual booting 3.understanding the OS, what a beginner can do safely at root 4.managing files and directories as a user and at root 5.syncing with a laptop and a pda 6.using a Linux-based pda 7.downloading GPS data 8.... Y'all help me here... I'm running out of ideas. Okay, last in a long message, my personal list of specific Windows apps that I would like to see in a Linux equivalent: WordPerfect Office, the whole thing, not just WP, version 11 Dragon Naturally Speaking Corel Draw and PhotoPaint, ver 11 Mapping software: ArcView, ArcGIS, ArcPad, StreetMap Music software: Cakewalk Games: Puzz3D (3d jigsaw puzzles), hundreds of versions of solitaire (from various sources) Norton Utilities (hopefully not needed, considering the strengths of Linux!) Financial software: Quicken Genealogy software: Family Tree Maker and Personal Ancestry File That's enough for a start. There's a lot I want to learn about using Linux, but wherever I can help in this endeavor, I will. I hope this flies. Sue At 07:14 AM 1/28/03 -0800, you wrote: >I want to thank John for taking over the Libranet install for me when I >had to leave the install fest last night! I hope it went well after I left. > >At the meeeting we discussed a focus for the class. The general feeling >seemed to be a class focused on how a user accustomed to Windows 95, 98, >or XP can accomplish similar tasks with Linux. > >Some frustration with a lack of standardization was expressed as well as a >desire to understand how to configure the menus and desktop to suit >personal tastes. > >Any suggestions for particular tasks and focus. > >John also mentioned that this is being sponsored by the CCCC, and that >memebers will get their seats first. If you are not a member of CCCC, now >might be a good time to join. > > > > >Warmest Regards, > >Doug Riddle >http://www.dougriddle.com >http://fossile-project.sourceforge.net/ >http://www.libranet.com >-- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are >the Peoples' Liberty Teeth." - George Washington -- > > > >Do you Yahoo!? ><http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com>Yahoo! Mail >Plus - Powerful. Affordable. ><http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com>Sign up now --=====================_15229625==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" <html> At that meeting, I said I would send to the list some thoughts I had on topics to cover, especially on finding Windows equivalents. All week at work I've been jotting down ideas, I typed them up this evening, then found that I'm probably taking the cake for extreme wordiness. Okay, it won't be the first prize I've gotten for that, so here goes my 5 1/2 cents' worth:<br><br> <font face="Times New Roman, Times">Suggestions for a curriculum for new Linux users:<br><br> Start with simple easy things. Show them early on that they can get into Linux and be productive without having to be a supergeek systems admin or programmer and without having to totally abandon Windows. (They may arrive at any or all of those later on their own.)<br><br> Hold off on teaching how to install and tweak the OS until an intermediate level or on a separate track for intermediate to advanced users. Windows users nearly always buy a new computer with the OS and a lot of apps already installed. Let's get them productive as fast as possible, then start installing things.<br><br> I found two articles on the Internet in the past few days that give some ideas for our classes and helping new users:<br><br> How do I do (insert task here) in Linux?at <a href="http://users.netwit.net.au/~pursang/dtil/"; eudora="autourl">http://users.netwit.net.au/~pursang/dtil/</a> . This one has a new users guide that is pretty well written.<br><br> Experiences in helping a new Linux user, at <a href="http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8221013471.html"; eudora="autourl">http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8221013471.html</a> . This is rather wordy, but illustrates how someone who knows and cares zip about any OS can work happily in Linux with a little help from a mentor.<br><br> I found these at <a href="http://www.linuxdailynews.com/"; eudora="autourl">http://www.linuxdailynews.com/</a> . This and similar news sites would be good to point out to students at all levels as a way of keeping informed.<br><br> It might be good to arrange the classes either (1) as one long track, from beginner to advanced over the whole period that is planned, or (2) as two tracks, one beginner to intermediate with an emphasis on typical consumer apps, and the other as intermediate to advanced with an emphasis on working more with the OS, networking, etc. The intent in either case is to give both beginners and advanced students their own classes without boring the other.<br><br> A topic that I think needs to be covered well, possibly to some extent in many different sessions, is what's in it for Windows users hopefully without aggravating Windows lovers too much. Security, stability, reliability, use as an Internet gateway, server for all the computers in the house, free and low-cost software, and other topics like this can be mentioned often.<br><br> Early sessions for the newest users might be something like this, assuming that the OS and applications are loaded, and peripherals are attached and working:<br> 1. Survival 101: How to turn it on, log in as a user, find most commonly used apps, open and close them, and end a session (what to do inside the app probably needs its own class). The need to work as a user rather than at root. How to power down safely. When to power down and when to let it run.<br> 2. Survival 102: What's all the rest of this stuff on the screen? How to use four (or more! Wow!) screens? How to set up those screens for different uses. How to find and use the Help or User Guides. Open a terminal, and what the dickens is a terminal for? (add ...)<br> </font><font size=4>3.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">Productivity 101: How to use email, Internet, a word processor, a spreadsheet program, and a game or two. How to print documents and make backups.<br> </font><font size=4>4.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"> Productivity 102: How to use software for loading digital images from camera or email, scanning and editing photos, sending photos through email. How to play music on the computer while working. Other office apps, depending on the interest shown and level of expertise.<br> </font><font size=4>5.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">New stuff 101: Installing new or revised software. Installing or connecting new hardware, like printers. Downloading software and installing it.<br> </font><font size=4>6.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">Productivity 201: More advanced graphics apps, like Gimp, or ...? Burning to CD music, photos, data backup, ... Using software for financial management, databases, genealogy, music editing, ...<br><br> That's a start. Y'all help me out with specifics. I'm trying to picture a typical user, who does a fairly limited number of things, but whatever he does, he wants his computer and programs to work well without the old BSOD.<br><br> At all levels, mention the Linux equivalent to Windows apps, or at least a way to accomplish the same thing in Linux that a specialized Windows app does.<br><br> At the intermediate to advanced level, include:<br> </font><font size=4>1.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">ways to use Windows apps in Linux , like Wine<br> </font><font size=4>2.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">dual booting<br> </font><font size=4>3.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">understanding the OS, what a beginner can do safely at root<br> </font><font size=4>4.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">managing files and directories as a user and at root<br> </font><font size=4>5.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">syncing with a laptop and a pda<br> </font><font size=4>6.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">using a Linux-based pda<br> </font><font size=4>7.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">downloading GPS data<br> </font><font size=4>8.</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">... Y'all help me here... I'm running out of ideas.<br><br> Okay, last in a long message, my personal list of specific Windows apps that I would like to see in a Linux equivalent:<br><br> WordPerfect Office, the whole thing, not just WP, version 11<br> Dragon Naturally Speaking<br> Corel Draw and PhotoPaint, ver 11<br> Mapping software: ArcView, ArcGIS, ArcPad, StreetMap<br> Music software: Cakewalk<br> Games: Puzz3D (3d jigsaw puzzles), hundreds of versions of solitaire (from various sources)<br> Norton Utilities (hopefully not needed, considering the strengths of Linux!)<br> Financial software: Quicken<br> Genealogy software: Family Tree Maker and Personal Ancestry File<br><br> </font>That's enough for a start. There's a lot I want to learn about using Linux, but wherever I can help in this endeavor, I will. I hope this flies.<br><br> Sue<br><br> <br> At 07:14 AM 1/28/03 -0800, you wrote:<br><br> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>I want to thank John for taking over the Libranet install for me when I had to leave the install fest last night! I hope it went well after I left.<br><br> At the meeeting we discussed a focus for the class. The general feeling seemed to be a class focused on how a user accustomed to Windows 95, 98, or XP can accomplish similar tasks with Linux.<br><br> Some frustration with a lack of standardization was expressed as well as a desire to understand how to configure the menus and desktop to suit personal tastes.<br><br> Any suggestions for particular tasks and focus.<br><br> John also mentioned that this is being sponsored by the CCCC, and that memebers will get their seats first. If you are not a member of CCCC, now might be a good time to join.<br><br> <br><br> <br> Warmest Regards,<br><br> Doug Riddle<br> <a href="http://www.dougriddle.com/"; eudora="autourl">http://www.dougriddle.com</a><br> <a href="http://fossile-project.sourceforge.net/"; eudora="autourl">http://fossile-project.sourceforge.net/</a><br> <a href="http://www.libranet.com/"; eudora="autourl">http://www.libranet.com</a><br> -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the Peoples' Liberty Teeth." - George Washington --<br><br> <br> <br> Do you Yahoo!?<br> <a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com";>Yahoo! Mail Plus</a> - Powerful. Affordable. <a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com";>Sign up now</a> </blockquote></html> --=====================_15229625==_.ALT--
