Help Needed - What to teach?

[witch]

I have been approached by the IT teacher who would like me to talk to some Year 7's about what I do, the computer system etc - one lunchtime a week, every week.

They are quite a savvy group, and I really don't know what sort of things to tell them or where to start!

Any advice gratefully received as I would rather not sit here looking a complete idiot.

[apoth0r]

Depends what you do?

Are you a bit of everything person like most of us are, if so, give them a little bit of information on it all.

Website / Server / Cabling / Clients / etc etc (obviously brief and not too complicated detail)

Also explain how you go about talking to be people to find out what are the causes of problems with computers - Who, what, when, where, why and how. How you ask these questions of the teachers so that you can gain the most amount of information.

You could kind of make it a bit detective'y and perhaps let them try with a crib sheet or something.

[Domino]

Maybe a bit about networking

 

I doubt many kids know about the kind of server- switch-PC hierarchy ?

 

Also maybe the guts of a computer and what it all does?

[apoth0r]

Old kit to hand to show the insides of a hard drive for example, always facinates them

[AyatollahPies]

And when do you get your lunch hour?

[dhicks]

You could kind of make it a bit detective'y

 

Ooh, now there's an idea - getting children to problem-solve properly with a CSI-like bunch of clues...

 

--

David Hicks

[penfold]

If you do have a spare PC then the building a machine up from the ground and installing basic software can take a few weeks. If you have a couple then it can also be done in groups with the pupils helping each other. I have had some old (very old) computers that hadn't been thrown away and together with an IT teacher we had the kids rip out and put back the insides. Obviously telling them to be carefull not to cut themselves on the case. They were really entusiastic and I didn't mind them being heavy handed as the equipment wasn't going to be used again anyway.

[SYNACK]

You could also possibly take them through a few of the decision making type procedures. For instance the process of finding the exact need from the client, say a printer (how fast, cheap, quiet) then the basics of researching for one that will fit the needs and work with the system. After that you have setup and training.

 

They could each do a mock proquirement of a bit of hardware or software over several lunchtimes to experience it themselves.

 

If they were really advanced you could get them to look the process of finding new solutions themselves and justifying them to purchasers.

[mossj]

Breakout some Open Source games, and use that to teach them about switches and ip networking, advantages fo dedicated servers etc..

 

Maybe you could have them build up a few pc's with the view to playing a multiplayer game at the end (should teach them about spec, etc)

[bossman]

@witch:

 

And will you be getting a payrise due to your teaching prowess?

Me thinks not, I feel only too often this is a lazy teachers way of getting you to do something which she/he cannot do themselves.

 

I would point out that having only so much time between schools only gives you enough time to carry out your normal functions and that if the school requires you to do some teaching or entertain some students with your knowledge then they will have to book some extra time for you to deliver this resource as a consultant and that they will of course be required to pay consultants fees.

 

Now some of you will have me pegged as someone who is tight and not flexible but you would be far from the truth. If a teacher has to deliver something they are not familiar with they contact an outside agency who then deliver the resource which is then paid for in the correct manor through the right procedure, why are we not classed as the same.

[penfold]

@Bossman: They will problably get round this by saying that it is not teaching but informing the pupils what you do by giving them a talk once a week. I never even thought about the point you raised, and aggree that as witch is on limited number of hours, would this be a good use of your time? Or is this in addition to your current work?

 

Instead of my original suggestion, maybe you could go with the "how to troubleshoot" process instead. At least if you show some pupils how to check the basics, it may cut down on the the unneccesary jobs coming your way. Other than that I completely agree with Bossman, although only you will know how you are likely to be treated by the school and whether it is in your interest to take on teaching type duties.

Edited January 5, 2010 by penfold

[PEO]

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