Hi Everyone,
I cannot believe how quickly this CAP year has gone by. This is the second last newsletter. Remember to send in all of your resources, promotional materials and success stories to your RC’s ASAP because the final newsletter will cover all CAP networks and we hope to get as much information as possible. This issue features some really interesting programs and will hopefully inspire some sites to implement some exciting new camps and tutorials for the final CAP month.
Enjoy :)

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Making the Computer Work for You! Accessibility Wizard

Don’t let the size of the font, icons, cursor or scroll bar influence the way you feel about the computer. Even if you are partially blind, or hard of hearing the computer has a program that will enable you to participate in any task. Here is a list of easy steps you can take to make your life a little easier:

1. On your main Computer screen you should be able to locate the start menu bar located at the bottom left hand of the screen in the corner. (usually green )
2. Left click on the word start once. This should bring up the start menu with several different options to click on.
3. Locate All Programs (near the bottom) and left click once.
4. From here you should be able to find Accessories located near the top of the new menu, left click once. (this should bring another menu)
5. Accessibility should be found at the top, then after clicking that Accessibility Wizard will appear at the top of the new menu.
6. Click once on Accessibility Wizard.
7. A new window should appear, Click Next.
8. Now it will bring you to a choice of how large you want the text to be. Choose one that suits you.
9. Display settings are next. Check off the boxes that apply to your needs.
10. Now after clicking next, the wizard options will appear. Read through your options and select the ones that suits you.
11. Some options include: Changing the mouse speed, switching the mouse to suit a left handed person, having the computer talk to you if you are hard of hearing, increasing the overall screen size or using a magnifier and several more options.
12. Once you are done, continue clicking until you are able to click finish!
13. The window should disappear and your new options should be noticeable.

In order to change back to the options before go back and repeat the same steps, this time clicking on the smaller option as opposed to the larger one, or setting the options back to “regular size.” Hopefully these easy steps will make your experience with the computer more enjoyable!
– Hailey Slaats – Rodney Public Library

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PROMOTIONAL IDEAS

The youth intern Amber Patrick at the Aylmer Public Library posted an advertisement in the local newspaper to create awareness about the events coming up for the month of January. This was a great idea to promote the CAPsite and the specific tutorials being offered.

Amber reported that having the newspaper ad was great! “My course allowed seven adults (because there were seven computers) and was full within the week of the ad. Once full, I started taking more and more one-on-one lessons. I had about four more adults start one on one once the course was full. Also, after the course finished, two of my students stayed to do one-on-ones. I definitely would say that the article helped because that is where most of the adults had heard about it. Also, other adults just started dropping in because they finally knew I was there. For example, one didn't want lessons but he needed help getting programs for his GPS and he had read my article and knew I was there to help him.”

Great work Amber! :)
– Amber Patrick – Aylmer Public Library

SUCCESS STORIES

One-on-One Training Tutorials
I think this is a very important program for many reasons. A large percentage of the people I’ve trained have never used a computer in their life, or have used them very little and under the continual guidance of a family member. This part of the program helps them to become more independent when it comes to using computers, and also teaches them some very important things that they need to do to keep their computer safe. I have had people come in who surf the Internet without anti-virus of any sort and with no firewall. In a day and age when commercial products have holes discovered and exploited daily, this is dangerous. One of the things we have been doing for these people is teach them what is safe, and what is not. I’ve shown a couple of people how turn on the Windows Firewall (which is essential if you’re running Windows), where to download an antivirus program (Avast Antivirus, which is free for home use) I’m also planning a couple of CyberCamps geared towards adults, to help them stay safe from scams and viruses. Ignorance can be dangerous when it comes to computers and the training that the Youth Interns provide help their clients learn how to stay safe.

And it’s not just security that is taught by the Youth Interns, but other basic computer skills that their clients may have missed out on. I’ve taught a couple of people how to use the mouse and helped more hold it in a more efficient way. And I’ve shown them how to use the keyboard (they still hunt and peck, but now they know how to make @ symbols and capitalize letters.) Some of my clients have told me that family members or friends have tried to teach them how to use the computer, but that they’re always too impatient or too aggressive, or they do things too quickly, which hinders the amount of information that they take in.

For the most part, my clients have been novice computer users, ranging from people who don’t know anything about computers to people capable of searching for and visiting websites. I have begun teaching one client how to make webpages with Kompozer, and a couple how to write brochures or letters. One man that I’ve trained went from knowing nothing about computers (he didn't even know how to use the mouse) to surfing the web and writing documents in OpenOffice.org Writer.
– Colin Jones – Huron County Library

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Benefit to CAP users and Youth Interns
Through my experience as a CAP Youth Worker I can confidently say that CAP is an invaluable program to the residents of Goderich and Bayfield. Right from the beginning of my internship I knew that the program would be popular as during my first night of work I was presented with a list of people eager to be contacted to schedule appointments. Now, even half way through the program, I am still seeing new faces along with many return clients.

It gives me great pleasure to see one particular client, a woman who had never even turned on a computer before, confidently using the library computers to check her email and begin to surf the web. She is even talking about purchasing her own computer in the future. She is eager to learn everything she can about the computer and Internet in order to become computer literate.

It’s also encouraging that many of the snowbirds in the area have booked lessons to learn about wireless Internet connections so that prior to heading south they will know how to stay in touch with their friends and family back home. Quite a few of these individuals have scheduled appointments for when they return in March so as to make the most of the CAP program while it is available to them. Moreover, quite a few of my clients have expressed regret that the program will be ending in March; they, as well as many of the library staff, feel that the CAP program should be a permanent program!

Finally, as a Youth Worker, I have found that I have acquired many computer and Internet skills in order to answer and help my clients. Many such skills I plan to use when I find a teaching position, the profession for which I am trained and hope to pursue in the near future. I’ve also discovered some great sites through the CAP wiki that I will use when I teach computers to students in the classroom. Therefore, both for myself and for my clients, CAP has been a wonderful learning experience!
– Andrea Wice – Huron County Library

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CAP UPDATE
I had my “Digital Camera & the Computer” workshop on January 27th with 11 people in the class. I had another on February 10th with three people in the class. There are still many people who want to learn about this, so I’ve scheduled them in for one-on-one sessions. One-on-one sessions are still going strong, with new and repeat participants. Just a few of the things we discussed:

• A former schoolteacher wanted to learn how to create a slideshow using PowerPoint. She wants to give an art history lesson to a group of adults who she is leading on a trip to Italy.
• A middle-aged participant was in the midst of changing careers and wanted to learn to use Microsoft Word in order to create a résumé
• A participant is learning how to use the Internet to keep informed about news in India and other parts of the country.
• A participant wanted to see photos of her son, who has been travelling for several months. I showed her how to view them in his online gallery, and she was very excited.
• Showed a participant how she could send an online comment form to a radio host on CBC.
• Led a participant through the steps of setting up a blog to voice her ideas.
• Participant wanted to voice her comments to CRA, found info on how to do this with her.
• Showed a retired gentleman how he could find out more info on the internet about his hobbies and banking.

I am finishing up at the end of February. I will definitely miss working in this position – I have learned so much more about the computers and Internet myself! I feel like a better teacher, and I feel as though I have more skills to offer the workforce. I’ll also miss a pleasant workplace environment and interacting with so many interesting individuals on a near-daily basis.
- Alison Brown - Bruce County Library

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Have a success story? Take a minute to share the great programs that are taking place at your CAP site with the rest of Ontario, send your stories and photos to your Regional Co-ordinator. Stories and ideas will be shared, space permitting, in the upcoming Newsletters.

Find a great resource? Share it with your Regional Co-ordinator.