Computer Classes for Beginners Salem-South Lyon District Library 9800 Pontiac Trial South Lyon, MI 48178 (248) 437-6431 www.ssldl.info Holly Hibner – Reference Librarian [email_address] Mary Kelly – Reference Librarian [email_address]

Why teach computers to beginners? Extension of reference philosophy What is a reference question? Computer-driven reference questions E-filing, unemployment, job applications, eBay, e-mail Our inspiration The High Maintenance Smelly Lady

Extension of reference philosophy

What is a reference question?

Computer-driven reference questions

E-filing, unemployment, job applications, eBay, e-mail

Our inspiration

The High Maintenance Smelly Lady

In the Beginning 6 laptops 1 hub for wired Internet access Windows ‘98 MS Office ‘97 No mice – touch pads on laptops Big screen with LCD projector

6 laptops

1 hub for wired Internet access

Windows ‘98

MS Office ‘97

No mice – touch pads on laptops

Big screen with LCD projector

Mistakes We Made: Hardware Laptops were too small – keyboard and screen Too many cords! Touch pads too difficult for new users

Laptops were too small – keyboard and screen

Too many cords!

Touch pads too difficult for new users

Mistakes We Made: Instruction Computer jargon Too many concepts at once Assumed too much: skipped the basics

Computer jargon

Too many concepts at once

Assumed too much: skipped the basics

What We Noticed About Beginners Intimidated by technology changes Afraid to break something Overwhelmed by today’s technology Appreciate learning with their peers

Intimidated by technology changes

Afraid to break something

Overwhelmed by today’s technology

Appreciate learning with their peers

Changes We Made New Goal Ease their fear Get their hands on the equipment Make them “familiar” “ Lab” computers on carts Full sized Real mice Offer trackball mice Wi-Fi

New Goal

Ease their fear

Get their hands on the equipment

Make them “familiar”

“ Lab” computers on carts

Full sized

Real mice

Offer trackball mice

Wi-Fi

More Changes We Made One-hour classes Limited number of concepts Teach one way to do tasks Start with absolute basics Relate to typewriter Keep it light! Class “policies” Broken parts Chants Teacher rivalry

One-hour classes

Limited number of concepts

Teach one way to do tasks

Start with absolute basics

Relate to typewriter

Keep it light!

Class “policies”

Broken parts

Chants

Teacher rivalry

Classes and Handouts Update regularly! Beginner Classes Computers 101 and 102 MS Office Suite Handouts are “topic sheets” Higher Level Classes Excel, Web Design, Computer Security, Social Networking, Digital Photography Handouts available at http://ssldl.info

Update regularly!

Beginner Classes

Computers 101 and 102

MS Office Suite

Handouts are “topic sheets”

Higher Level Classes

Excel, Web Design, Computer Security, Social Networking, Digital Photography

Latest Updates Computer lab Windows Vista MS Office 2007

Computer lab

Windows Vista

MS Office 2007

Updated E-mail Class Hands On Created Hotmail and Yahoo “dummy” accounts Hand-outs for Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail Read an e-mail Send an e-mail Open an attachment

Hands On

Created Hotmail and Yahoo “dummy” accounts

Hand-outs for Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail

Read an e-mail

Send an e-mail

Open an attachment

More Recent Updates Beginner class focus changed to parts/terminology, internet, and e-mail Windows functions like open, save, making folders, etc. moved to second level class Added more classes on downloadable audio, digital photography solutions, and Internet searching skills

Beginner class focus changed to parts/terminology, internet, and e-mail

Windows functions like open, save, making folders, etc. moved to second level class

Added more classes on downloadable audio, digital photography solutions, and Internet searching skills

The results are in! Improved our skills Outlet for those needing basic computer help Improved relationships with patrons More respect for library service (and librarians!) Great marketing for the library

Improved our skills

Outlet for those needing basic computer help

Improved relationships with patrons

More respect for library service (and librarians!)

Great marketing for the library

Holly Hibner [email_address] Mary Kelly [email_address] Slides and handouts available at www.slideshare.net/hhibner