shiawasseecounty.net

I am thinking about starting a skill share where people can learn the skills necessary to pass the CompTIA A+ Certification test. This is the entry level test for a pc technician and it is listed as one of the ten most valuable certifications, in the opinion of this tech republic blogger - http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10thi ... ag=nl.e071

The way I see this going, it would be a Sat or Sun class, probably 2 or 4 hours. At the end of whatever period of time I figure out (probably 4 weeks), students would hopefully be prepared to take the A+ test.

The classes would be free to the students, but they would have to meet certain criteria:

Be a Shiawassee resident

Be unemployed or underemployed

Be ineligible for any other kind of free education or skills training, and be unable to afford conventional training. In other words, I don't want someone who can afford to take a proper class to take a seat from someone who cannot.

Have no advanced knowledge of the subject matter. (I don't want to waste my time entertaining someone who knows everything and just wants a refresher)

Be able to take good notes, because we won't have text books

Be willing & able to take the A+ certification test within a few weeks of the class, so that they will have improved their chances at getting a job in the IT field.

Here's what I would need:

A location with tables and a white board or a smart board

Donated computers and computer parts (they don't have to be new, but modern would be nice)

People who would be interested in helping me teach, either with presentations or assisting with the hands on labs

Here's what I would like some rich person to do:

Buy 1 textbook for each student

Sponsor each student's A+ test

I'm thinking that next spring would be a good time to start, because that gives me a few months to think about it and see if there's any interest in it. Not to mention find a location, find parts, blah blah.

So I'm wondering if anyone out there has any thoughts on this. Good idea or bad? Would this be duplicating something that's already out there and available to Shiawassee residents? I don't want to put a lot of work into something that isn't necessary. I also am not in love with the idea of taking on another project, but this kind of thing could help out the people who fall through the cracks of the system.

This would be a great idea Christine. I would recommend calling Mike at Say Computers. I am sure he would help you with anything you needed.

Hold classes at the Korner in Vernon?

Sounds like a good idea. If a projector is available, you could use it to project a slideshow of the most important points in the lessons. An email of the slide show to the students ahead of time, would allow them to pre-print a copy before the lesson, and they could make notes in the margin as the presentation was verbalized.

We use a projector at church for visual aids during bible study, and for sermon presentations. The last few secular classes I taught or attended as a student also used slide shows through a projector to aid in the learning process. Of course, the real work is in preparing the slide show, but it does help the instructor when the time to present the material arrives.

The projector is a wicked good idea. The boss would probably let me use the office projector, which would save me that expense. And if I could email the presentation out to the students and they did their own printing, that would save that expense too. And by using a projector, I wouldn't need the white board or a smart board to write on, I would just need a good wall (though a whiteboard or screen would be nice)

To Rolo's point on location, I wouldn't mind rotating locations. So that 1 class might be in Owosso, the next round would be in Vernon, the next in Perry, etc. 1 class = the entire class, and not just 1 session. I don't know if that helps people get to the class or not, but it's a thought.

Does the Korner have good lighting and a good wall to project on? I'll have to get out there sometime. I hear they have something going on on Saturdays out there.

We can make arrangements for that. LOL Sounds like a great idea. We would be happy to accomodate. It is a very comfortable place to be. And, ...yes, .....we could bare a wall for projection quite easily.

Must see to appreciate.