In "Father on the Farm", Kenneth C. Cragg relates a 1920's story of a farmer's first introduction to his new automobile, "a handsome, big Gray Dort."
"He drove it only once, a matter of some 100 yards on an erratic course in the big barnyard. On the first circuit, he missed the cement water trough and on the second he cut through a corner of the hog wallow. " Finally, he manages to stop the car in a straw stack. Without a word, he hitched up the team and "manouvred [the car] into a far corner of the drive shed. There it stood up on blocks...until the boys got big enough to tell him "Either we run the car or you run the farm yourself'".
Nowadays, we wouldn't think of driving a car without some instruction. Whether through formal lessons, or (as my mother did) practicing through a slalom of hay bales, we must develop enough skill to pass a driving test before venturing onto public roads.
New computer owners are in a similar position to Cragg's farmer. Computer stores are no more likely than car dealerships to include lessons with their product, yet not all new owners can avail themselves of formal instruction.
The Users Group, including several members of the Bobcaygeon Seniors Centre have taken up this challenge, and are offering computer lessons at the Centre. Drop by most afternoons and you will find "students" learning the nuances of Windows 95, or "new grads" sending email messages or surfing the 'net.
Mike and Ellen Ricks have been a driving force behind the success of this program. At last count, more than 35 people were enrolled for lessons. When I remarked that this must require quite a bit of organization, Mike was quick to point out that, other than scheduling, the program is very informal. Initially lessons were given to classes of three or four people, but this proved unsatisfactory. Mike says "people have to do it themselves. It's no good to just watch someone, and to keep asking 'how did you do that?' You really need one-on-one instruction."
Mike himself has many years of computer experience - long before the advent of PCs. This gives him a perspective on teaching. Many people are, like him, familiar with computers but not with the Windows screens. "With Windows", he explains, "there may be a hundred items of information on one screen. The instruction to 'simply click on the Print icon' isn't simple if you don't know what the Print icon looks like or where to find it."
When not in use for lessons, the computer is available to any member for a fee of $1 per hour "off-line" or $2 per hour "on-line" (ie, connected to the internet). Half of this goes to the Seniors Centre, to defray the cost of the 'phone line, and half to the User Group, to recover their initial cost of the computer. The internet account has been provided, free, by Nexicom.
The instructors, all volunteers from the Kawartha Internet Users Group, include Larry Muter, Wally Schneider, Don Carpenter, Jarvis Wedley, Tony Campbell, Agnes McNeil and June Johnson. And, Mike proudly added, one of the first "grads", - Carol Merritt, is now teaching!
So, if your're contemplating buying a computer (or have one gathering dust in a corner!) get in touch with the Seniors - or come to the next User Group meeting on March 11th. See "Out & About" for details.
