It passed

The M&M debacle seems to have passed, so to speak. It remains to be seen what Molly will do next time I am late for dinner. She is a lousy meal planner.

I started a new computer class on Monday. One of my coaches (assistant teacher, I gues would be a good description) is a much older gentleman who states he has a hearing difficulty, although he always answers me and I have a very soft voice. From now on I will carry a big stick, too.

Our students are all senior citizens who generally have no idea which way is up with a computer. I empathize with them. I have only been online since 1998 and am self taught. I did not grow up with computers in classrooms. We didn't even have calculators. I went through differential equations with pencil and paper only. I do not always stick to our manuals when I teach. I go over things first, then then manual, then try to go over the same processes at least once more, if not again on another day.

This gentleman, to use the term broadly, suddenly asked me during my class today why we were only on page 9 of a 29 page lesson and not following the book. I thought, "how rude," and explained carefully what I was doing. I finished the entire lesson in time, and everyone seemed to follow the concepts just fine. Learning to highlight, cut, copy, paste - those are hard concepts to someone who has never touched a computer before. Just explaining why we have five ways to do these things takes a few minutes.

My students love me because I always insist there are no dumb questions and will stop at any time and address anything. The gentleman was quite surprised when I asked the class if they wanted me to go over today's concepts again on the next session and they said yes.

I have to teach spreadsheets and data bases to a class that is boggled by the concept of "save as." I think I have drilled into them the difference between cut and copy.

I will also have to get a substitute for one class because I am going out of town at the end of the month. I think he should fill in for me. Let him teach email. Actually I like the email lesson. One time I asked a few journalers to send emails to the students, and they came through with pictures and everything. It was a big hit. It was much more fun than sending emails to each other. Maybe I will do the email lesson early and let him do the spreadsheets. I don't like teaching spreadsheets.