Basic user guides for teachers

[nephilim]

Do such things exist? I am looking for the following.

Basics of Windows 7
Basics of MS Office 2010
Basics of ActivInspire for Promethian IWBs

Then Intermediate and Advanced of the above.

If such things exist I will go through them and pick the bits required for staff here.

Many thanks!

Carl

[sted]

Dummies guide?

[nephilim]

something a bit more basic...I am not even kidding when I mean basic.

I am basically in a school where they are all mac users, and over summer it was all replaced with a Windows Network.

When I got here I had to teach them how to turn up sound, set the date and time on their machine etc. They are all at a basic level of understanding but its a case of dragging heels and unwilling to learn unless its simple as they are avid Mac fans. The HT and AHT's/DHT's (all 5 of them), and the board of directors agreed that a windows network is cheaper and easier to maintain as it requires less specialism, but they are clinging on as much as possible to their mac's.

Whilst they are lovely people, the stubbornness and unwillingness to learn anything that is not Mac based has put a halt on things. Basic things like renaming and copying files etc is something they dont want to learn. In speaking with the HT and AHT/DHTs they are giving the staff the option to learn or leave, so need everything set to the basic level as possible.

[glennda]

Possibly Invest in an Adobe captivate license and make quick annotated video how-tos?

(or use the 30 day trail)

[nephilim]

Good idea, but I think some of the stuff I do is too much for them, and I am in no way being detrimental. They can show me up on a Mac no problem (and I have no issue with that)...need to think about this with some careful planning.

[glennda]

Get all there macs and a large amount of kindling/petrol and burn it all infront of them?

[nephilim]

Nah, I will most likely format them and shove windows on.

[nephilim]

MS Office stuff I found on the MS website, but the windows guide is too long...thankfully I can cut out what I dont need on the office stuff lol

[DaveP]

Do such things exist? I am looking for the following.

Basics of Windows 7
Basics of MS Office 2010...

...If such things exist I will go through them and pick the bits required for staff here.

Have you had a look here:

Link: Download free textbooks online?

Sign up is required for download but it does not commit you to anything.

There are guides targeted at different audiences:

Word:



Other Office products also have an advanced book to guide the user. The books are presented in PDF format and are free to download. The books are funded by adverts placed inside the books. The books are offered in 9 languages [including English]

There are over 5000 books offered for download with more being added.

Download free textbooks online


Bookboon's free online textbooks for students are focused and to the point. They are all written by highly respected professors from top universities in the world and cover topics such as economics, statistics, IT, engineering and natural science.

[theriver]

There's a few Windows -> Mac guides around, e.g., Switch 101: On Windows, I used to... - I reckon these would give you a starter as to what are likely to be the FAQs, plus a head start on the text.
Also: A Windows User's Guide to the Mac OS

[DAZZD88]

You could do what some places do and buy into the Microsoft IT Academy program. Basically if you buy into the more expensive of the two options, you get unlimited access to Microsoft training materials as well as a whole host of other benefits including one of you becoming a Microsoft certified trainer in Office which you can then use to get your staff certified. It's something I'd like to do here but right now, we just don't have the budget.

[nephilim]

I did that at my old place and it went very well, however here its a case of staff dragging heels because they want their old Mac network back. I dont mind having a Pure Mac Network or a Pure Windows Network, but never liked mixing the two!!