List of Activities to Make the Re-launch Successful:

Computer Builds

• Define computer specs
• Obtain MAR's licenses (order from Wits at 314-382-1650 - http://www.witsinc.org/wits_009.htm)

Teaching

• Establish curriculum
• Set class schedule
• Assign instructors

Recruiting Students

• Use existing call list (extensive)
• Determine registration process
• Further “marketing” to recruit students

Random Ideas: - Please add your thoughts here
Doug Dillard Thoughts: Computer Specs: There are 2 parts to this – hardware & software: Hardware: Sticky one for me: We want to give the students some speed, but we don't want to run out of stock – Here is my put for something to aim for: Pentium 4; greater than 800 MHz; 80 Gig disk; CD ROM; 1 available USB2 Port; NIC; speakers.
Software: Office 2003; Adobe Reader; Internet Explorer 8; Firefox; Flash add-ins for IE & Firefox. TuxType??; Avast Virus Protection;
Curriculum: I bow to the common wisdom on replacing Excel with Photograph – Let's keep Excel in the curriculum. I am all in favor of using Clarence's worksheets. Although I have some reservations about the order in which he presents topics, It seems to have worked in the past. We still need to add the introductory parts, keyboarding, and assembling your computer.
Class Schedule: Getting tight for a class that ends in 2009: Working Backwards on my calender – skipping Thanksgiving Week and Christmas thru Year End , the latest the 7 classes + one make-up can start is the week of October19th.
Instructors: I think I have lost track, but I count Doug Dillard; Michelle Meekie; Michael Scott, and Clarence Johnson (Saturday only). Have I missed any? At any rate we need to get a list and find out when everyone is available.

Doug Dillard's thoughts on Clarence Johnson's study sheets (from his “Introduction to” documents):

• These nicely line up with sessions 2-7 of the adult curriculum. The topics are:

   Day 1:  Word Processing using Microsoft Office -Word 
   Day 2:  Spread Sheets using Microsoft Office -Excel 
   Day 3:  Presentation Software using Microsoft Office -PowerPoint 
   Day 4:  Using the Internet 
   Day 5:  Using Electronic Mail 
   Day 6:  Computer Hardware 

• Still need an introductory class including keyboarding and using the mouse. People will go crazy trying to pick these up in the following classes.

(Mike's comment Sep 15 - I can create an outline for this class)

• Spread Sheets using Microsoft Office -Excel – gotta watch this. I think this presupposes high school. We may want to simplify if our students are not ready for some of this math.

(Mike's comment Sep 15 - agree, we can keep it very simple)

• Using the Internet: Need to chop off the registration for e-mail at the end of this and provide an alternative exercise.

• Using Electronic Mail – We will probably pre-register students in Gmail; so the registration part of this is not needed. We will need an exercise to logon to preexisting accounts and maybe change passwords.

• Computer Hardware – Good for the last class – use to review the introduction and show folks how to put their computer together.