Archive for March, 2005

03.26.05

It’s About Time!

Posted in computers, family, learning at 11:48 pm by Mrs C.

Here I sit at my laptop, noticing it’s almost midnight and wondering what to write. Now that I finally have time, I can barely remember what’s been happening.

Youngest daughter just had a beautiful baby boy and I would love to be spending my time with her little family, but I need to learn to let go. Not so easy, no matter how old they are.

I’ve done three sessions of the new seniors’ computer club and so far everyone seems to be enjoying it. There are over a dozen women, mainly novices, but all very eager to learn. We don’t have computers, so are relying on a few laptops to get the concepts across. Every week I’m going to try going over a small project with the ladies and get them to try it out on their computers at home. Then when we get together the next week, we can discuss problems, etc.

I bought a small keyboard for my laptop at a computer show the other day and found that the connection didn’t fit when I got it home. I can use it on my old laptop, but it reminded me of the importance of making sure that components are compatible.

03.01.05

I Did It!

Posted in computers, life in Canada, learning at 11:15 pm by Mrs C.

My first seniors’ computer club session was today and I managed to get over my nervousness and actually enjoy the time. Once I start talking about all the ways that computer literacy can enhance our lives, my enthusiasm takes over and I’m fine. There were 9 women, most new users and all very interested. They asked a lot of questions and the hour and a half flew by. They are all keen to come again next week, along with 10 others who have signed up. I think there may be one or two men in the next group too. I’ve been wondering why more women want to learn than men - my newsletter at motivatedtolearn.com is the same, the majority of my subscribers are women. Could it be that they didn’t have the opportunity before for various reasons and now they realize how important a skill computer literacy is?

I had all kinds of computer gadgets and software to show them - proof of my hopeless addiction to all things computereze (is that a word?) We talked about blogs, viruses, digital cameras and everything in between. I finished by taking pictures of them with my digital camera and showing how to connect it to the computer and download the pictures - at which point my computer refused to recognize the camera!