Lesson Plans for Saturday, July 18

To do:

-        Pack up computers

o        Don’t forget power cords, monitors, computers

o        Extra computer with purple dot in the closet?

o        Bring Linus Mint Cd’s, D-Ban, Windows Cd, Windows service pack CD, and program Cd’s.

o        Make copies of program CD’s so that everyone has a copy (if we have time)

o        Bring a hard drive to explain what it means.

o        Print out copies of the pdf on the program cd (steps post-install)

o        Print out lesson plan copy.

o        Tape and markers

o        Posters?

-        Drive to St. Louis

-        lunch?

-        Unload computers

-        Switch rooms (if needed)

-        Decide order of computers (ex/ arrange in biblical order? lol)

-        Set-up computers, leave room for the huge printer

-        Clean the computers and/or remove tape?

-        Install other programs (complete steps 8-?)

-        Lesson with students

-        Take pictures of set-up and network cords/equipment

-        Measure lengths for cord that will be needed.

Lesson Plan:

-        Explain who we are (ESLARP, GSLIS, etc)

-        Self-introductions

-        Computer lab process to date:

o        Received old computers

o        Went into BIOS to record information on the memory, processor speed, and hard drive storage space.

o        Wiped their hard drives using DBAN (explain that this involves going into BIOS and then booting DBAN from disc – show them BIOS later).

§       Activity: Explain what BIOS is

§       Ask them to restart the computers and go into BIOS and then look around at things.  Explain how to do this and point out where it shows the memory and how you can change the boot order to boot from disc/CD.

·       Ask them to remember how much memory they had, and to look at which memory banks are full.

·       Explain what memory is and what it does. Explain the difference between memory and hard drive space (pocket vs. backpack analogy).

o        Activity: Go through a memory upgrade with them.

§       Give them the memory they will need, and walk them through how to open the case, take out the old memory and put the new memory in.

o        Then, we had to install the Operating System. A computer without an Operating System is a pretty boring computer. Without the Operating System, you can’t do anything. The Operating Systems job is to serve as a go-between the CPU, the applications and the user. For the user, it provides the graphic interface (explain what this means, maybe try comparing to command interfaces like MS-DOS).

§       Can anyone tell us the name of an Operating System?

§       Show of hands –who has used windows?mac?linux?   Have you noticed that there are different versions? Ex/Windows 2000 versus XP.

§       Which OS/version do you prefer? Which is better? Why do you think so?

§       Which OS is installed in these computers? How do you know? How do you know which version is installed?

§       Optional: ask students to discuss electronic equipment besides personal computers that also run on operating systems (game systems, mp3 players, phones, etc).

§       Our turn—we explain that there are disadvantages and advantages to the available OS and that people have different preferences, usually due to familiarity.

·       People can have very strong preferences for an operating system—just look at all the commercials on TV!  (Maybe offer our preferences?)

·       Some observations (try to sound objective): Windows and Mac usually come pre-loaded on their prospective computers, and Mac OS only works on a Mac, but Linux can work on any computer. It is also free and easier to install.  Linux and Mac (especially) are less susceptible to viruses than XP, mainly because they are less popular and thus less targeted by hackers.  XP and Mac require licenses, and new versions of the OS can’t be installed on them sometimes (some older systems run too slow for XP/Vista and no license = problem), whereas Linux doesn’t require a license, so you can use any version that you want.  The main problem with Linux is that most people don’t know about it or are unfamiliar with it. Later today we’ll let you play around with our favorite version of it and give you a CD that will allow you to try it out or install it on computers that you refurbish later.

·       Most important thing: keep up to date with the updates for whatever version you have.

§       Process for installing Windows on these computers

·       Check for Windows XP sticker.

o        Explain why this is important for licensure.

o        Explain why this can be confusing (sticker on front versus sticker on the back)

·       Install Windows XP

o        Make sure that you also install service Pack 2 and 3. These are important updates. It’s very important to install the updates, because they patch up holes that need to be fixed so that your computer can run slower and be more protected from hackers.

·       Install anti-virus and ad-ware to protect your computer

o        Ask them to explain what each of these things do and explain why they are important.

o        Ask them to find the anti-virus and ad-aware programs that we installed. Tell us what they are called.

o        The Next step is to install Open Office.  (Do we want them to do this? Skip if we have already done it)

§       What is Open Office?

§       Has anyone used Open Office before?

§       How is it different from Microsoft Office?

§       Walk them through the installation steps – may not have enough CDs?

o        Okay, you have just installed an application using Windows. Now, we’re going to have you do a few other things on Windows. Some of this may be seem easy or like review to you, but we want you to pay close attention because next we are going to try to do these things in Linux, and we want you to compare the difference. Take notes if you need to.

§       Put them in groups if necessary.

§       Optional: ask them to find the name of the computer (in about the computer?) and write it on a piece of tape.

§       Have them start completing the activities listed on the board/worksheet.

o        Hand out the Linux Mint cds. Explain that there are many versions of Linux, but this is our favorite. Linux can also be adapted to look even more like Windows (I think?) .

§       These CDs are yours to keep, practice with and install on refurbished computers in cases where you don’t have a license to install XP (or when you think your customer would prefer it).

§       Walk them through the steps of booting Linux from CD.

·       Insert CD

·       Go into Bios like you did before and change the boot order to CD.

·       Run Linux

§       Ask them to work through the board activities.

o        Discussion: How do Windows and Linux compare?

§       What do you prefer? If you prefer Windows, is it because it is better or because you are more familiar with it? Sometimes it is hard to be non-biased to what you prefer. (personal stories anyone – students or gslis? Ex/ switching from windows to mac?).

§       What do you like/dislike about it?

§       Would you recommend this to friends? Would you use it on used computers? Why or why not?

-        Discussion: What is missing from this lab?

o        Give them a software disc and tell them that there is additional software that they can install (for homework) if they want.

o        Explain that next time we will be setting up the Internet. It will involve making cables and setting up a router.

o        A print is coming…next time. It will need to get hooked up to the network.

-        Questions? Requests?

o        Ex/ We can make posters or workshops of something if they want us to.

Activity Handout

Comparing OS:  Windows OS vs. Linux Mint (worksheet)

What can the Operating System tell you about your computer?

o        Find “About this computer.” What does it tell you?

o        How do you restart the computer or login under a different user?

o        How do you force quit an application?

-        What does the interface look like?

o        What does the background look like?

o        Is there a menu or tool bar?

o        Does it display the time anywhere? Where?

o        Are there any icons for Internet? What do they look like and where are they?

-        How do you access applications?

o        Where are the applications? How do you access them?

o        Find the anti-virus software and open it.

-        How does the Operating System change the applications?

o        Find Open Office.

o        Open the application and create a document.

o        Save the document.

o        Try to make the document bigger (percentage wise).

o        Minimize the window, find where it went, and then re-open the window.

o        Try to re-name the document.

o        Close out the document.

-        How do you add/delete?

o        Create a folder, name it, copy it to the desktop (if not already there), and then delete it.

o        When you delete the folder, where does it go? hint: where is the trash?

-        How easy it the Operating System to use?

o        Where do you go if you need help? Try using the “help” option. Is it helpful?

Comparing Operating Systems:

Windows XP vs. Linux Mint

What can the Operating System tell you about your computer?

-        Find “about this computer” information. What does it tell you?

-        How do you restart the computer or login under a different user?

-        How do you force quit an application?

What does the Graphical User Interface (GUI) look like?

-        What does the background look like?

-        Is there a menu or tool bar?

-        Does it display the time anywhere? Where?

-        Are there any icons for Internet? What do they look like and where are they?

How do you access applications?

-        Where are the applications? How do you access them?

-        Find the anti-virus software and open it. How easy is this (0-5)?

How does the Operating System change the applications?

-        Find Open Office, open the application and create a document.

-        Save the document.

-        Try to make the document bigger (percentage wise).

-        Minimize the window, find where it went, and then re-open the window.

-        Close out the document, find it and re-open it.

-        Try to re-name the document.

Notes on the process:

How do you add/delete?

-        Create a folder, name it, copy it to the desktop (if not already there), and then delete it.

-        When you delete the folder, where does it go? hint: where is the trash?

How easy it the Operating System to use?

-        Where do you go if you need help? Try using the “help” option. Is it helpful?