Rough Course Outline for "Teaching Tech to Seniors"

Intro to Web 2.0 or Intro to Social Media (aka Teaching Tech to Seniors)

Module 1: Computer Basics

• Terms & Equipment
• Software Concepts
• File Storage (Cloud, Flash/USB drive)
• Using Edmodo (course management)

Module 2: Safety 

• • Password selection & Protection
  • Spamming
  • Suspicious Emails (links & attachments)
  • What Personal Info to Share & What Not to Share

Module 3: Communicating & Sharing Ideas

• • Emails (gmail for in-class use)
  • Blogging (WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, etc.)
  • Skype
  • Pinterest

Module 4: Intro to Social Media

• • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • MeetUp
  • Possibly others

Module 5: Photo & Video Sharing (possible editing)

• • Instagram 
  • Flickr
  • Photobucket
  • YouTube
  • Vine
  • Online Photo Development (CVS, Walgreens, WalMart, etc)

Module 6: Online Shopping

• • Amazon
  • Ebay
  • Zulily
  • Travel Sites
  • Craigslist, ETSY

Module 7: Mobile Technology (BYOD or Bring Your Own Device - will be hard without WiFi)

• • iPad
  • Smart phones
  • Others (nooks, tablets, etc.)

All sections will review the following:

• Basic terminology and requirements
• Account setup
• Privacy & Safety
• Connecting to friends and family
• Being responsible digital citizens

Possible Objectives:

• choose the social network or networks that you can engage with
• understand the processes you will need to follow
• walk through the joining and publishing processes
• understand terminology
• dispel some of the myths about social networking
• understand the implications of some of the steps you are invited to take
• manage your accounts so that you can control your own data
• use social networking sites to enhance your life, not have them control you
  

I hope to have an a virtual classroom set up on Edmodo. I will use it for instruction, videos, activities, tutorials, and examples. It will be something students (and staff)can access outside of the classroom too. It will be an easy thing to add to each computer station in the lab; I will add it to the favorites and to the desktop.

 

I think I should probably include a section on Netiquette as well. Possibly in the section on Safety. It may be a good idea to include some information on Online Research and possibly Online Banking.

 

This will be my first experience teaching strictly the 50+ age group. I've done quite a bit of research on possible accommodations and strategies, and I've reviewed successful course programs from other areas; hopefully, the research and my own teaching experiences will help the course go smoothly. Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!