1. Sharing a Machine – it will often be necessary to share a machine during class time. It can be very difficult to share a machine and learn what you came to learn on this course, so it is important that everyone has equal time alone. Please try to work this out among yourselves. I do appreciate the spirit of helpfulness and support which everyone has shown in class so far. (** The reason we take so many people for the class is that it is common with the "optional programs" that some people who register do not even show up, this was the case with 4 people this year. Also, some people usually drop after a couple of weeks because of other commitments. So, if we took only 11 or 12 subscriptions, then this would mean that right now there would be only 7-8 students leaving 3-4 unused computers. This is our rational for taking more.)

2. Course Credits – this optional program is worth 2 credit points. It is difficult to base this credit on an evaluation of ‘learning’ because, as you can see by now, this is very much an individual thing because of the huge range of skill levels we have in the class. So, one of the obvious criteria for me to use is class attendance… which is why you need to attend at least 8 out of the 10 classes in order to receive the points. I do, however, have some discretion in this, and it is possible in some cases to miss more classes and receive the points. This discretion is based upon whether or not you are able to do and complete the small ‘assignments’, the readings, participate in discussion, etc. There has also been, this year, some people needing to arrive a bit late, and others asking to leave a bit early. I do not mind, as long as it seems that you are proceeding along with the lessons – after all, because you can access the course homepages from anywhere, you can conceivably get up early in the morning and complete the assignment… just as easily as if you stayed up late at night. However, if you do not have much access to computers it obviously makes more sense to stay the entire class period so that you can take advantage of the computer time.

3. Learning to become computer literate – some of you who have less experience with computers will be finding that the learning pace is rather slow… and probably frustrating. There is something to bear in mind here. Firstly, as far as the course goes, you are only going to get a taste of what is possible in 10 lessons. My goal is to show you what is possible so that you can proceed on your own to become more computer literate if this is something you feel is important for you. It is good to realise that learning to use a computer is more like learning another language than it is like learning to use the telephone or typewriter or some other electronic communication tool. Just think about the range of things that are possible when you push a single button on the computer keyboard versus the single button on a typewriter. The A key on the typewriter, when pushed once, produces an A… it’s a one to one correspondence. Of course, you could say the same about the computer keyboard, but the computer keyboard also contains keys and buttons which, when pushed once, send a document to the other side of the world. This is a big difference. (For more on the notion of computer "literacy" you might wish to read Nancy Kaplan’s hypertext article on the topic… it’s rather theoretical, but interesting. It also shows a possibility for a new way of reading. See if you think it is easier to read what she writes than to read what I’m typing here to you.)

4. Access to Computers – in order to become or stay more computer literate it is important to be able to access computers. This is a problem for some of you I know. Computer facilities at the different AHK faculties vary a lot. So, I have some outside suggestions. You may not realise it, but Amsterdam won Sweden’s Bangemann Challenge Special award this last spring "in recognition of its exemplary model of open public access to telematics". At that time the city, apparently, had 65 public Internet terminals. Some of these are at De Waag, Nieuwmarkt 4. Here you will find a computer table designed by Rolf Pixley which one this year’s Rotterdam Design Prize for it’s innovative physical interface – the computer screens pull up out of the table and under the table is a screen for children. You can also use computer terminals in some of the public libraries… and there are a couple of Internet Cafés where you can rent some time on machines.

However, one of the best options for you might be to purchase a membership card to one of the University of Amsterdam Computer Centers. The main center (and possibly the place you need to purchase the card) is at located at Turfdraagsterpad 9. It is possible also for AHK students to purchase a membership card. The cards cost 10 hfl per month or 30 hfl per 6 months (this is an amazing deal). Printing and other services are extra. With the same card you can access the other UvA computer center in Roeterstraat 11.
 

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