[Offtopic] Lunchtime Computer Club ideas

[Kevork Krozian]

Hi Folks,

 Sorry for cross posting.

 We already have a lunchtime computer club that attracts a large number of students.

However, I feel much of the time is unproductive and purely for amusement and entertainment with little skill acquisition. 

Therefore I have proposed to my colleagues that we work towards creating simple bite sized , lunchtime sized activities that we will use to get the students to complete thereby achieving a number of goals :
 
   1. Increasing awareness of the different aspects of ICT
   2. Increasing engagement , enthusiasm for ICT in middle and senior years.
   3. Educating students about the many different aspects of ICT beyond their fairly narrow interaction in many cases eg. specific game playing only
   4. Certifying students with a piece of paper as having achieved X, Y and Z skills.
 
Sounds like another class doesn't it ?  Maybe, but I feel if we can get the Yr 8 - 9 group fired up they will want to select VCE/VET  IT subjects more readily purely from the perspective of confidence, knowledge and hopefully some fun along the way. It is also a way for students to discover what they like.

 Here are a few ideas for worksheet lunchtime sized activities :

 1. How to upgrade the RAM in a computer, verify it and evaluate before and after performance
 2. How to add a new hard drive to your computer , verify .....
 3. How to backup files 
 4. How to install XP or Vista  and restore backed up files
 5. How to install virus protection
 6. How to setup a SOHO LAN  ( Small office, home office ) with router
 7. How to setup wireless networking with graduated levels of security
 8. How to create a simple web site .... all the way to a high powered multimedia web site
 9. How to interact between a web site and a back end database, or MySQL server
 10. How to program games in gamemaker
 11. How to program with Python ,  PHP or VB.NET
 12. how to program/use mobile devices.

 the list goes on and on.

 My request from all readers is that if we can share these types of worksheets/resources we can build a formidable skill base for our lunchtime students and continue to update it for currency.

 If you have any ideas or samples please send them in and I will build a section for these resources on the edulists site for all to share.

 One statistic that hit me yesterday was in the 4 senior IT VCE/VET classes running at Forest Hill College, of the 60 or more students in these classes there are ONLY 2 girls.......... 
Perhaps we can build fund things for girls to do at lunchtime so that there is a niche for EVERYONE in ICT and not just one group ...

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kevork Krozian
IT Manager , Forest Hill College
k.krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au
http://www.fhc.vic.edu.au
Mobile: 0419 356 034