Computer Classes for Arabic Language Speakers
Curriculum & Goals | Course Handouts | Online Resources | Computer Class FAQs
Curriculum & Goals for Instructors and Class Participants
Gateway / Al-Bawaba Instructor Overview
Gateway / Al-Bawaba Curriculum
How to Use the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Community Learning Curriculum
Gateway / Al-Bawaba Goals for Students and Instructors
Computer Class Handbook: Beginning to Intermediate Levels
Handouts: Arabic/English
Exercises to Practice Using Search Engines
How Can I Turn Off My Computer?
How to Connect to the Internet
Modifying Input Language to Search and Type in Arabic
Saving Files From a Source to Your Computer
Searching for Saved or Forgotten Files
Translating Texts or Web Pages
Handouts - English
Entering a Web Address Into an Internet Browser
Inserting an Attachment Into Your Email
Label Window Parts: Internet and Other Programs Open
Learn How to Type With Free Software
Online Resources
Resources in Arabic
- MSN/Arabic: Includes free downloadable Arabic Language books!
- BBC/Arabic
- CNN/Arabic
- Google in Arabic: You can search by typing your subject in Arabic
- ArabO Search Engine and Directory
- Microsoft in Arabic
- E-mail in Arabic
Arabic Music
- Nogomi: Download Arabic music with a free account.
- Multiply.com: Download Arabic music with a free account.
- ListenArabic.com: Listen to Arabic music while doing another task on the computer.
Library Resources
- San Diego Circuit: a tip sheet explaining the new Library service that enables customers to be able to check out library materials from the 4 major universities in the County
- How to Create a PIN for your Library Account
- Premium Online Resources: Brochure discussing the subscription ("premium Internet") resources available from the SDCL web site.
- Handouts for Using Some of the SDCL Premium Internet Resources:
TERC: Testing & Education Resource Center
Ancestry Library Edition
History Reference Center
Literature Resource Center
LitFinder
Student Research Center
Training/Hand-out Ideas
- http://www.learnthenet.com/english/index.html
The Librarian's Index to the Internet describes this site as: An excellent site - in 5 languages: German, Spanish, French, Italian, and English. Covers the basics and has a great interactive search engine tutorial using AltaVista. - http://www.netskills.ac.uk/onlinecourses/tonic
This site is described by the Librarian's Index to the Internet as: A "self-paced web tutorial with quizzes designed for beginners to learn about the Internet ." Contains an overview of networks, finding information, tools for communicating, creating web pages, and more. Registration (free) required.
Free Web Services (e.g. email, online storage, photo-sharing sites)
- Compiled List on the InfoPeople Web Site
Infopeople is a non-profit organization that provides training to library professionals. The following page from their web site lists free web services, such as the different free email services, places for free online storage, etc. These might be services that you suggest to your customers if they are interested. - Mail2web.com
Mail2web.com is a free website that enables you to access any email account type from any PC. Sometimes on the SDCL public-use PCs, as well as other PCs, customers have difficulties accessing their paid-for email services (i.e. AOL, Road Runner, SBCGlobal, etc.) This site will allow them to logon to their respective email account for these types of services (as well as the free ones). - Yousendit.com
The particularly helpful part of this site is for when you need to email very large documents (e.g. large PowerPoint files, documents with many photos, etc.) Sometimes the average email account has limits on the size of the files that can be emailed as attachments. This site will enable you to email attachments of up to 1G.
Typing Tutorials
- TypeMaster
Unfortunately, can only be used on Macs or computers using the Linux operating system, but if your student has access to one... - Keyboarding Books & CD-ROMs
This search in the SDCL Online Library catalog lists books & CD-ROMs that can be checked-out from the library. - Keyboarding Practice
A series of 17 drills to help you improve your keyboarding technique and speed. - Senselang - Touch Typing
Free program that lets you exercise and learn touch typing. - FreeTypingGame.net
Typing games that teach how to use the right finger on the right letter.
Internet Safety for Kids
- Kidsclick.org
This is a great site (created by librarians) with subject-based guided access. They list about 8 websites under Internet Safety (written for kids/students). Under Computer/Internet, click on Internet Safety. (This is a good go-to site for many needs.) - Web Wise Kids
The mission of this web site is to act as an internet safety resource center for parents, teachers and children. It is also our desire to help parents and teachers equip themselves and their children for the possible dangers that lurk in cyberspace, and to prepare them to make good choices when confronted with difficult or confusing situations online. - http://pbskids.org/license
This site lets a kid earn a license to drive on the superhighway. Fun and informative concept. - Child Safety on the Information Highway
Children and teenagers get a lot of benefit from being online, but they can also be targets of crime and exploitation in this as in any other environment. Trusting, curious, and anxious to explore this new world and the relationships it brings, children and teenagers need parental supervision and common sense advice on how to be sure that their experiences in "cyberspace" are happy, healthy, and productive. - CyberNetiquette Comix
Welcome to CyberNetiquette Comix, an entertaining, interactive way for families to learn valuable lessons about online safety. Join classic Disney characters for adventure, fun, and online awareness tips. We encourage parents and childrento enjoy and discuss these interactive fables together. - http://www.netsmartzkids.org/indexFL.htm
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- "Identity Production in a Networked Culture: Why Youth Heart MySpace" by Danah Boyd: http://www.danah.org/papers/AAAS2006.htm