What Would be the Content of a Pre-IC3 Training Program?

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Helen and Jodi:

It appears that the IC3 training program is going to involve somewhere 
between 60 and 120 hours of training and homework time to get students to 
a level where they can pass the exam.  Which I agree is both valuable 
training and a valuable certification.  Nothing but praise for the 
materials I've seen.

The question:  How do you get teens, or single parents, living in HUD and 
public housing, with less than wonderful experiences in school and the 
workplace, to be motivated to move into the IC3 training?  You could argue 
that an IC3 experience could create a fourth skill (like reading, writing 
and math) that is essential in today's world, and that in acquiring it one 
would develop a fifth foundation skill, "learning to learn."  But that's a 
belief that has to be instilled in the learner.  The IC3 materials are 
generally clear, easy to navigate and fun.  But it's a long experience. 
There has to be a lot of fall out.

Perhaps a short course to get started.  I've sensed the need over the past 
few years for an introduction to the introduction to the "basic" course in 
computers, the Internet, email, etc.  To get people from nowhere to 
somewhere, on the path to IC3 and to the ability to use content portals, 
and then on to the other interesting destinations on the information 
superhighway.

If you had 20 hours, for this PreIC3 training (perhaps selecting out of 
IC3 and adding some other useful instruction) and the goal would to get 
maximum participation into, and through, the instruction:

       1.  what would be taught?
       2.  how?
       3.  in how many sessions?  of how many hours?
       4.  over what period of time?

The objective would be to maximize the completion % of those who start. 
And who are inspired to move on.  Think NCAA athletic powers graduation 
rates.

I'm currently thinking about this.  Would welcome the ideas of others.

Don Samuelson
Chicago

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