CST 361S - Week 3

Library Training

This week, I spent 4 hours attending my first library computer skills class and going over teaching materials used in these classes. 

Computers 2 SD Kids has a program where they travel to public libraries across San Diego and hold two hour long sessions teaching attendees on basic computer skills and knowledge, such as word processing, how to use a keyboard properly, searching the web for information, and common Internet safety tips that every computer user should know such as dealing with phishing emails and suspicious ads/pop ups that still appear occasionally. After attending the class, attendees qualify for a free desktop computer from the warehouse, and are eligible for internet service through Cox's subsidized monthly program, Connect2Compete, if they do not already have access at home. 

Most of the attendees of the class were recent immigrants to the United States from Africa, and most them had very little experience in using a desktop computer before or knowing how to search the Internet. I sat down and helped out a gentleman from the Democratic Republic of Congo (he insisted that everyone calls it the "DRC"), who had come to the United States a few years ago after a 26 year long career as a French teacher back in the DRC. We went over basic keyboarding and word processing skills, how to search the Internet for music, and good practices in keeping passwords safe.

At the end of the class, he was very grateful and found the class quite interesting, and he even wished that the session was a bit longer. He asked me specifically if he could use the Internet for studying for the US citizenship test, and was especially glad when I showed him how to do so. He told me he has a son in high school who is quite savvy with technology, and now that he was going to have a desktop computer of his own he could become more familiar with using computers, improve his English, and have his son help him at home on his own system instead of having to share.

Although it's been said many times before, experiences like these are always good to bring into perspective how many people from different backgrounds don't have such luxuries or privileges that we and others in our community take for granted growing up. It also puts into perspective how our environments or careers have a large effect on our technical and academic skills - even though I was the teacher and he was the student in the context of computers and technology, the fact he taught French for almost as long as I've been alive meant that he probably knows as much French and is as proficient in it as I am with computers.

I'm glad I got to attend the computer skills class , and I found it a fulfilling experience. I'll still be mostly at the warehouse working on refurbishing systems on the weekends, but I am planning on going to at least one more class before 361S is over.