How To Compute© - C.U.R.E.

Second hand information in the information age is the new slavery. If you have to go to another for your daily data it will be old news by the time you get it, if you get it.

WELCOME TO THE EVOLUTION

WHAT IS LITERACY?

In the 1900’s to be literate meant to be able to sign your name. By World War II it was to read at a 4th Grade Level. By 1960 it was raised to complete the 8th Grade. Then, in 1991 the National Literacy Act defined literacy as one’s ability to read, write and speak English & compute-solve problems necessary to function on the job, in society; to achieve one’s goals and develop knowledge. - Source: Emmy Bledsoe of Project Plus, New Jersey

Welcome Conductors and Passengers to the Computer Underground Railroad, a training stop for the Information Age. This is a journey into computer literacy, designed as a road map to the basics of how to use a computer. Please use this material to help train folks who are not yet computer literate. Anybody able to think through a computer via microphone, keyboard, laser, digital still or video camera, mouse, whatever, are actively participating in this evolution called human plus computer. Make sure you have a good time.

Learning generally requires you go over the material at least twice. The first time just let the information flow over you and the second time interact with the computer. If you are the teacher, conductor, demonstrate and add whatever wisdom you will. Work material should come from a participant’s own life. Material like letters we all need to write, flyers about causes one cares about, web pages as a way to kick a conversation up a notch or sell a product to a wider marketplace, e-book creation and just having a good old time on the web with games, video and music. You can be your own web station. We are limited only by our imaginations. IMAGINE PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

You’ve made a wise decision to participate in the Information Age either by entering or helping others learn how to be here. You don’t hear about a product recall until the news decides to report on it, if they do. After 2005's Hurricane Katrina, computers united many family members after the storm, and helped others find support.

From filling out forms to engaging in digital commerce on the Internet, a grasp of cyber skills is now vital for survival. For example, many companies no longer give out product information over the phone. They just tell you to go to their website. If you don’t have access the attitude is ‘shame on you.’ Fortunately, shame and guilt are just emotions so we can go forward. In the words of 92 year old Roxanna Dawson about learning how to compute “If I can do it, the rest of you have no excuse.”

Massive amounts of information are being exchanged, some about you. Unlike the old days, you don’t have to know the deep inner workings of a computer or other technology in order to be able to take advantage of the information it offers. PDA’S, Beepers, TV, and many other products and services in the process of coming on the market, will help you make your voice known. That’s the purpose in becoming computerized. To make your voice heard.

Please make sure everyone in your world is computerized to the best of your ability. There is no excuse for illiteracy any more. Computers can teach folks how to read, write, etc. No excuse. We are on our way to the Promised Land of safe, effective computerization. This course is a basic introduction to computing and the process of computerizing your life. It is designed to help you, or who you are teaching, become computer literate within 10 weeks, 4-5 hours a week. The lesson plans / study notes are a guideline. Cover what you can then move on to the next. Let the process be as comfortable as possible.

How To Compute is covered in 5 lessons and 5 computer time workshops. Lesson One is a basic overview of the computer, how to handle your equipment and what is where. Lesson Two is about Windows and the Web, which you use to look into the different programs, and to be on the Internet. Lessons Three and Four are about Word Processing, and Lesson Five Desktop, print oriented and Website (web oriented) publishing. The recommended schedule is one week of class and one week of review, completing the program in ten weeks. At the beginning of each lesson is a bit of prose reflecting or revealing the author’s point of view as a human who’s been on computers since 1977. The pieces reflect her point of view on the beauty of the computerization process. “Lord,” “God” and “Jesus” are used to reflect the power that tells our hearts how to beat and our lungs how to breathe when we are asleep, while coordinating the rest of the universe. ‘By any other name still smells as sweet.” Insert and delete the words as your heart guides. By the end of this training you will be able to reproduce those documents, and do better, with your words and pictures so you can let the world know what’s really on your mind.

Throughout this study guide, you will see words, web addresses with an underline, usually in a different color than the regular text. This is a link. When you put the mouse pointer over the characters in a “link” and click, it will take you to a page (or on the web, or someone’s e-mail address, or bring down a file from the web, or to a different place in the document) with more information about the point made.

Computerizing a life is a radical change, so take it slow. As you begin to work with the Insert and Delete keys, you will find yourself inserting more good and deleting the unnecessary drama in your life. The CTRL (control) and ALT (alternative or alternate) keys can set your mind to new possibilities. You are limited only by your imagination. The information is here.

Reading both on screen and in books is encouraged. Throughout this document are traditional and non-traditional books linked to Amazon.com. None are required reading for this line of study to complete the work. For example, the 1921 classic by Henry Thomas Hamblin, Dynamic Thought, is recommended, not required. Follow your inner wise guide.

As Anthony Robbins says in his book AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN…”I can’t overemphasize the power and value of gaining even one, single distinction – a sole piece of information – that can be used to change the course of your life. Information is power when it is acted upon, and one thing is that you never know when you’re going to get it.”

We must use technology wisely. Thinking through a computer helps sharpen your thoughts simply by recording and conveying. Thank you for making the decision to free yourself and others. We are in the Promised Land.

The Lord has provided computer angels for us all. We just have to pay attention. You got it now. Enjoy the journey.

PRODUCTION DOCUMENTS – HOMEWORK

Lesson One – Review the lesson, computer parts, keys on the keyboard, etc.. Open and close the internet program. Play 'follow the cords' to see where each part of your computer connects with the CPU. Click around on the web.

Lesson Two - Review the lesson. Do the Windows Tutorial that comes with the edition of Windows on your computer. ACCESSORIES – then find the tutorial (Tour Windows). Each version of Windows is different, which is why you should do the tutorial for the version you are working on. Check your e-mail. Look at web pages. Do the Yahoo E-Mail Tutorial.

Lesson Three - Review the lesson. Create letterhead and a letter – write a letter to someone you have not communicated with for awhile. Fill out web forms. Go to Ebay www.ebay.com . Click around. Create a card or go to Yahoo Greetings and send an e-card to an on line friend.

Lesson Four - Review the lesson. Sketch out a flyer on a piece of paper. Picture here, headline there, whatever looks right to you. Then, on your computer create a flyer expressing your personal interests – Whatever is your passion, create a flyer about it using words, pictures, centered and bold text in different sizes, and then put it in a page or text border. Start with Geocities to build your first web page. Just click around there and see what they have to offer. You are not limited to the free website. Geocities offers great e-commerce sites too and have for a long time.

Lesson Five - Review the lesson. Create a mail merge on an issue you feel passionate about to the president, congressperson, senators, mayor etc. Remember to copy your friends when you mail it out. Begin with TOOLS – MAIL MERGE and follow the yellow brick road…a wizard that will guide you through the process. Do the same letter on line to your elected and appointed officials. Most have websites with contact information.

Create a table, like in your checkbook - as a 4 column (Date - Item - Amount - Balance). If you’re on a public computer don’t use meaningful numbers. Like in the real world, thieves are on the web too. Pay attention.

For more training in Microsoft Office, at the end of Lesson Five is a list of Microsoft tutorials on line to explore Excel, Access, Publisher and other Office Programs. If the links are old, go to the main microsoft.com site and ask questions in their search engine (type what you are looking for in the search box and hit GO or SEARCH.)

Enjoy your tools. Like the old Macintosh commercial said in the 1980’s “It’s an exciting time to be alive.”

Please pass this knowledge
(or some other good, needed deed)
on to at least two other people.

Click below for the Free Training Notes E-book
HOW TO COMPUTE

By J. Nayer Hardin, Founder , Computer Underground Railroad Enterprises (C.U.R.E.)
Website: www.computerhealth.org , www.compurest.com
E-mail: nayer@compurest.com / cureworks@yahoo.com