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-   -   "New Desktop User" tutorials? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-desktop-74/new-desktop-user-tutorials-478524/)

ahz10 08-29-2006 03:22 PM

"New Desktop User" tutorials?
 
Does anyone know of any good, up-to-date tutorials for new desktop users--basically, "for dummies"? This is for people who have either not used a computer or have had a little experience with Windows. Assuming people have never, ever covered these topics, I'm looking for tutorials on topics such as:
  • how to use a mouse
  • how to start GUI applications
  • how to minimize/restore programs
  • how to copy a file (using a GUI)
  • how to use basic features of a word processor
  • how to use a web browser
  • etc

This tutorial (just Chapter 6) is too old.
http://cafecomputer.com/guide/users-guide.en.html

The following is distro-specific and does not have enough pictures. :(
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/End_User_Manual

The following introductory stuff is OK-ish, but I need more stuff and higher-quality stuff. :)
http://www.tutorialsforopenoffice.or...rocessing.html (maybe too sparse for new computer users; format is ugly)
http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/l...started-guide/ (old)
http://www.apdip.net/news/linuxurerguide (a bit old since it uses Mozilla instead of Firefox)
http://www.gnome.org/learn/users-guide/latest/ (reads more like a manual than a guide; should be more linear)

I'm not looking for tutorials on installing Linux, installing new applications, using console interface, or anything "nerdy" since these tutorials are for our computer lab running Linux. (The systems are already setup, and learning to use the CLI is not important.) I need something self-paced to give the instructor to give to the students. The students are men in a drug and alcohol recovery program, and many have neither computer experience nor a high school diploma.

There's bonus points available for resources made for classroom use! :)

bigrigdriver 08-30-2006 05:31 PM

Point you favorite browser at www.google.com/linux for Linux-specific issues. Searchword 'tutorials' will turn up > 3 million hits.

ahz10 08-31-2006 03:41 PM

bigrigdriver, I don't think you understood my post. I've found plenty of tutorials. The problem is many of most are useless, and many of the rest are not very good. So far, I've found two that are barely tolerably good.

RedNovember 09-05-2006 09:20 AM

Well, you could write it yourself and release it CC... :)

ethics 09-05-2006 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedNovember
Well, you could write it yourself and release it CC... :)

This isn't such a bad idea, that way you can make it as basic as you want and tailor it to your target audience, get them involved, work together on coming up with something simple that gets the information across. This would also give them a feeling of achievement and teamwork.

As a computer user, sitting down and trying to go back to the first time is difficult, it'd be far easier documenting those first users problems and questions and turning it into a guide.

I think this is a great project and i actually went digging for my old school ICT worksheets for you(some were as basic as starting a computer, using the keyboard/mouse) alas, it was quite a while ago and they've all vanished into the ether.

ahz10 09-05-2006 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedNovember
Well, you could write it yourself and release it CC... :)

That's a nice idea, but it assumes I don't have other obligations like working full time, going to college, managing 7 open source projects, trying to have a life with the wife, trying to get one good night's sleep every once in a while, etc.


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