Finished Up My Teaching Gig Tuesday

[Kennah]

I've been teaching a basic computer skills class at a senior center. It was a paying gig, $10 an hour, but total of just 14 hours.

2 of the women had birthdays today, well on the 25th, and I mentioned that ironically my anniversary was the 24th and my Mom's birthday was the 23rd. They made cupcakes and brownies and shared with me.

I noticed cards being passed around to sign, and it wasn't until the end of class that I realized one of the cards was for me.

I had been worried they were bored that I wasn't really helping and that they were just being nice to me. I was genuinely touched by the card. It came as total surprise, and a very pleasant one.

Even though I was following a curriculum, there were a number of things I skipped over that I thought were way too much for a beginner class. I also ad-libed a lot of things into the course, particularly about security.

We're a very computer centric society, and one really takes for granted that something as simple as mastering Double-Click of a Mouse can be a real challenge for someone who hasn't used a computer before or who has only had very limited experience.

Couple of times I was asked about other classes, and I told them to check out the free classes at the library. Gave them the name of one the librarians there at the branch in that community, whom I ironically have met a couple of times, and said he's very smart and helpful and teaches a lot of the library's computer classes. Also told them to ask the librarians about the free online MS Word and other training the library offers.

I suck as a salesman.

It was hard at times not to feel like I was talking down to women who are my Mom's age. Their words in the card told me I must have done something right.

Christmas cards, birthday cards, Valentine's cards, and the like just don't do anything for me. They seem so impersonal and just a ritual. There is something really special about a meaningful card.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. It sounds like your class was a great success, no matter how much they learned about computers.

I think they gave you an A. :D

[a kennedy]

2. and screw the e-cards.....I love to hold and feel the cards,

I love to look on the back and see what company it came from, how much it cost, and what other stuff is on the back. I'm happy for you. :toast: