The last week is pretty loosely structured. The kids are pretty excited to get their computers. See the see also section below for the Impress presentation which is shown to the students, and any other documents which are distributed.

See preparation

• Make sure that all students have their certificates printed out, and double-check the spelling of the student names.
• Make sure a camera is present, and has sufficient battery/film/disk space.

Currently, the email_class is being taught at the start of the graduation day class. The e-mail class should be limited to 1 hour or less, to provide time for showing how to hook up computers (See below).

The first order of business is establishing who needs to do makeup classes before they can receive their computer. Options for makeup classes are:

• Complete the makeup classes after the graduation class. This is a good way to go, if there are enough instructors present. If multiple students need to make up various classes, one instructor can teach one makeup class while another instructor teaches a different makeup class.

• Schedule makeup classes. Sometimes the student(s) who need to make up a class won't be available immediately after the graduation class. Obviously, it's best to schedule the makeup class as soon as possible.

Note: Keep at least 1/2 an hour free to show students/parents how to assemble computers. See the Parents/Handout FAQ http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bworks_shop/files/Parents-Handout_FAQ/

• Get a ready-to-go student computer from the back table and assemble it in front of the class.
• Point out where the particular cables go on the computer. An important point is to show difference between the keyboard and mouse PS/2 ports.
• Stress the point of being gentle when inserting cables. If the cable gives resistance, then it's probably being incorrectly inserted.
• Show how not to bend the pins on a PS/2 port
• Show how to use the thumbscrews on the monitor cable
• Show the modem jack and phone cable.

• Pictures were taken against the wall with the newly painted drawings.

Those that are receiving their computer that day need to tell their parents to get the trunk of the car ready to bring the computer home. Those that don’t have a car, we can usually deliver the computer to, but of course the parents need to be aware of this.

Once the computer is assembled, show how to connect to the internet through dial-up. Students should be prepared for slower internet experiences than what they are used to at school and at Byteworks. Note since the CIN's closing, this step might need to be modified to point out the various Internet options that are available.

At this time I show them email basics. We used to do this during the internet class, but found by the time they get their computers, they forgot the information. I open up Evolution (the email client program), the concept of the inbox, outbox, sent box, how to write an email, what CC means, what the subject line is for, etc. I go over how to not get spam (tell the students to not give out their email address to any web pages, but rather only to people that they know).

At this point, the class is dismissed for those whose parents are there. Students may play games/use the Byteworks computers until parents/guardians arrive.

• Find an outline of the graduation day preparation steps that are needed.
• Create an OpenOffice Impress version of the email_class wiki document, and remove the document from the wiki, or create a link to the Impress document.