[MacTUG] Lion intro online?

Thu May 10 15:19:01 EDT 2012

One of the things I like about the Lynda videos is you can pick and choose the parts that are needed for the purpose you have in mind. That is how I used it with newbies for instance. Most of them did not need to go through everything but we could pick the parts that they were interested in and I was around to answer questions or to add my 2 cents. This was a small group of about 5 so it was easy. I used to be like you in that I thought they were not worth it until I actually starting experimenting with them in teaching that I found out they are really quite good.

Good luck on this.
Richard
On May 10, 2012, at 11:50 AM, Donald Duff-McCracken wrote:

Richard, regarding me thinking these training vids are too long, maybe my mom was right, and sometimes I have a short attention span ;-)

But seriously, and not beat a dead horse, I probably would not tell anyone about date and time settings. Most users do not care. I would probably set their mac or pc to connect to a time server and leave it at that. And I can't remember a person ever asking me how to change the display of their time in the menu.

And I am not looking at these training videos from my perspective, I am more trying to put myself in the perspective of a faculty or staff person who I am suggesting that they take half a day to learn how to 'switch to a mac' -- a lot of my users would find the stuff too granular. We have a hard enough time getting people to attend SEW courses for stuff that is almost mandatory.

I feel the same way about these videos as I used to feel about those "Bible" type of training books — you know the ones that were 4" thick. Sometimes I feel that folks in the training industry have a 'more is better' perspective, perhaps out of genuine interest in the consumer having a good learning experience, or maybe thinking it is people will be more likely to buy if they know they are getting X hours or Y pages for the price.

I have requested access to linda, so I will have a look at it, especially if you are endorsing them haha. I found the Drupal vids were kind of brutal — but I think they were about 20 hours or so. Maybe if I know there are some good sections in the Mac one I can recommend it (and tell those with short attention spans which sections are important).

don
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Donald Duff-McCracken
Technical Services Manager
Mapping, Analysis & Design
Faculty of Environment
University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 x32151
http://www.environment.uwaterloo.ca/computing/people/don.html
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From: Richard Crispin <richard.crispin at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:richard.crispin at uwaterloo.ca>>
Date: Thursday, 10 May, 2012 9:04 AM
To: Donald Duff-McCracken <dsmccrac at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:dsmccrac at uwaterloo.ca>>
Cc: MacTUG <mactug at mailman.uwaterloo.ca<mailto:mactug at mailman.uwaterloo.ca>>
Subject: Re: [MacTUG] Lion intro online?

I beg to differ. The videos that I have used are very well done and interesting. I have taught courses using the Lynda.com<http://Lynda.com/> stuff and the people taking it really enjoyed them and learned a lot. Because it might be dull and boring for you does not make it dull and boring for everyone.
The 4 minutes for Date and time is not unreasonable since it takes you right from starting the system preferences and includes the options for automatically getting date and time. You try explaining it to a new user in under 4 minutes!!!
Richard

On May 9, 2012, at 04:04 PM, Donald Duff-McCracken wrote:

Boy I just looked at that video (or the index for it). Wow -- almost 4 hours for showing someone how to use a mac! That is the problem with these linda videos, and all of their ilk, I think. They take way longer than they should, for example half an hour to explain setting system preferences

Setting System Preferences26m 17s
Customizing appearance10m20s
Adjusting date and time settings 4m4s
Adjusting sound options3m35s
Using energy saving options5m16s
Adjusting Spotlight preferences3m2s

Over 4 minutes to explain date and time??? Now I know people can skip ahead if they know the area, but in a lot of cases these vids just bore people and they tune out. Haha, maybe I have unresolved pain for the week I spent watching the linda.com<http://linda.com/> Drupal videos :-)

I actually requested an account so I could check it out, but I think most of my users would respond along the lines of  "4 hours to show me how to switch from windows to mac? I thought you said it was easy to use!"
------------------------------------
Donald Duff-McCracken
Technical Services Manager
Mapping, Analysis & Design
Faculty of Environment
University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 x32151
http://www.environment.uwaterloo.ca/computing/people/don.html
------------
To request help from MAD please use Request Tracker. For info see:
http://environment.uwaterloo.ca/computing/faculty_staff/

------------
This email communication is intended as a private communication for the sole use of the primary addressee and those individuals listed for copies in the original message. The information contained in this email is private and confidential and If you are not an intended recipient you are hereby notified that copying, forwarding or other dissemination or distribution of this communication by any means is prohibited.  If you are not specifically authorized to receive this email and if you believe that you received it in error please notify the original sender immediately.

On 12-05-09 2:06 PM, "Glenn Anderson" <anderson at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:anderson at uwaterloo.ca>> wrote:

Hi Dani,

Why don't you suggest they take one of the Lynda.com<http://Lynda.com/> courses that are available on this topic.

Maybe the Switching from Windows to Mac ( 10.7 ) might be a good starting point.

http://www.lynda.com/Mac-OS-X-10-7-tutorials/Switching-from-Windows-to-Mac/94248-2.html?srchtrk=index%3A3%0Alinktypeid%3A2%0Aq%3Amac%20os%20x%20lion%20intro%0Apage%3A1%0As%3Arelevance%0Asa%3Atrue%0Aproducttypeid%3A2

The person can call ext. 33456 or email a request (request at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:request at uwaterloo.ca>) for an account.

On 2012-05-09, at 12:39 PM, Dani Roloson wrote:

Unfortunately the Apple support videos are out of date
so I'm looking for something to point a former Windows
new Mac user at.  Her machine is all configured so none
of that is needed. Any good ones out there?
Dani
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Richard Crispin      Phone: 519-884-8111x28307
290 Westmount Rd N   E-Mail: rcrispin at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:rcrispin at uwaterloo.ca>
Waterloo, ON  N2L 3G3
Canada
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When I die I'd like to die the way my grandfather died, peacefully in
    his sleep...      ... not screaming and shouting, like his passengers.
"Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!" Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales
"Time, heat and pressure.
   The same things that make a diamond also make a waffle." Scott Meyer
"Every morning is the dawn of a new error." unknown

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Richard Crispin      Phone: 519-884-8111x28307
290 Westmount Rd N   E-Mail: rcrispin at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:rcrispin at uwaterloo.ca>
Waterloo, ON  N2L 3G3
Canada
---
When I die I'd like to die the way my grandfather died, peacefully in
    his sleep...      ... not screaming and shouting, like his passengers.
"Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!" Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales
"Time, heat and pressure.
   The same things that make a diamond also make a waffle." Scott Meyer
"Every morning is the dawn of a new error." unknown

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