Tonight went ok I guess. It reminded me of when I was in adult education teaching beginners computer lessons. Some have a reasonable skill level and will dive in and have a go. The people I feel for are those who are completely out of their depth. Every instruction needs to be explained and in some cases to create some momentum, done for them.
I don’t think it is impossible for anyone to learn how to use a computer, or to blog, if they want to. It is a big IF though. My mum has learnt to use facebook to stay in touch with my overseas sister. I heard on the weekend my dad is doing footy tipping online. I have helped them both out on the computer, they have slowly become more competent, yet I imagine this game my dad is playing will have him build skills faster because it’s something he enjoys. I have watched Darin’s mum learn how to use skype, to connect with her grandchildren who live interstate, in a short period of time. She wanted to do it badly enough that she kept at it. She asked lots of questions. She enjoyed some success when it worked and now I reckon she could guide someone else to do it.
The resistance I find when introducing new things to any student, is always the problem. The reluctance to make a mistake leads to them to stick with what they know. I have no idea what it is like because I have gradually expanded my skills over years. I wanted to learn. I made plenty of mistakes and then corrected. I have in no way made all the mistakes yet, there is still bucketloads more I don’t know. I remember this game I played a long time ago called the maze game. It was played in teams and you had to navigate your team through a grid that sometimes changed. People would stand there, with their foot up in the air afraid to put it down, because if it was wrong, you had to start all over again. The lesson was to make the mistakes quickly by just having a go. The quicker you made the mistake, the quicker you would get it right in the end. I wish I could find the instructions to that game and play that with some classes. It is a lesson that could make all learning come easier. So many of us have been taught to avoid making mistakes.
Some are not just learning blogging, they are learning a whole range of skills, even how to use a keyboard. If they are that disinterested in computers, when they have been around them for so long, I feel a bit of personal frustration to think I can share much with them at all. It is going to take time and practise for them to be competent enough to use them in a classroom. I doubt they have the time or the interest to practise. I know I shouldn’t make assumptions about students and I don’t weigh up young people like that as I have tonight with the adult learners.
All in all though, it is a start.
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