Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Lisa Linn <Lisa.Linn AT sas.com>]

> You're learning how to use a computer. You're learning about 
> this thing 
> called the Internet. What basic skills and basic terminology can you 
> remember having to learn/wonder about as a complete and total newbie?
> 

> *saving/naming files

i did a lot of training of computer novices at one point.   a huge, difficult 
thing for them to grasp is file & directory structure & management.   because 
we were working either on a mainframe or on a UNIX system (yes-- i had to 
train novice computer users how to use UNIX!), an understanding of directory 
& file concepts was crucial.    It seems that folks starting today with 
Windows systems can often cruise along without truly understanding the 
directory structure contained in their PC, and this will work most of the 
time but eventually it's going to come back and cause problems, especially 
once you start needing to map drives, access networked servers & the like.

i think the method that worked best for us was to explain the filing cabinet 
metaphor to them first, then show them how it applies to their computer.


-lisa linn