The Beginner's Workshop -- Android Smartphones and Tablets Bootcamp
Android devices can be quite intimidating for total beginners. This workshop includes plenty of hands-on learning designed to help you get functional and to understand what you're doing. No prior experience is needed. Please bring your charged Android Smartphone or tablet, and be ready to rock! No Apple products please.
Offered just prior to the Spring CFS term, this is a great lead-in to the broader Android course described below.
Workshops Powerpoints, viewable online:
Day 1 Powerpoint (click here)
Day 2 Powerpoint (click here)
In-class labs:
Android devices can be quite intimidating for total beginners. This workshop includes plenty of hands-on learning designed to help you get functional and to understand what you're doing. No prior experience is needed. Please bring your charged Android Smartphone or tablet, and be ready to rock! No Apple products please.
Offered just prior to the Spring CFS term, this is a great lead-in to the broader Android course described below.
Workshops Powerpoints, viewable online:
Day 1 Powerpoint (click here)
Day 2 Powerpoint (click here)
In-class labs:
Additional challenge:
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The Course -- Android Smartphones and Tablets
Androids are among the most common mobile devices, but they also are frequently frustrating to users. This comprehensive course will help students understand and make the most of their Android device using common sense solutions and methods. We also will identify “must-have” apps that are free, easy to use, and very powerful. Students are encouraged to bring their Android smartphone and/or tablet to class.
This is an eight-week course to be presented in the spring of 2015.
Note: This course does NOT cover Apple products, such as iPhone and iPad. Android is the "other guy" in the smartphone and tablet world, and they are quite different in how they work.
Please see links below to the weekly handouts and powerpoints (added each week)
The eight sessions:
Week 1: Android basics, versions and updates -- We explore your device -- controls, buttons, screens, "swiping", "pinching" and "expanding" etc. Learn how phones and tablets are similar and different. We discuss how different models have different buttons and more. To view the slides click here.
Week 2: Notifications and more -- Here's where we begin to explore some very important features of your device, such as notifications, the Launcher and general housekeeping functions. We discuss WIFI and Cell connections, hooking up. We also will discuss how to be adaptive when your phone/tablet throws you a curve. To view the slides click here.
Week 3: The GO Launcher -- We explore how to set defaults, particularly the Home Launcher, and then replace yours with the GO Launcher. We then review some of the more common settings and configuration methods to make your Android your own. To view the slides click here.
Week 4: Security and stability of your Android device -- We explore various security measures to protect your device, your data and your identity. We also learn about ways to protect the stability and usability of your device, and how to handle problems like tasks that hog the cpu, low memory situations, and weak batteries. To view the slides, click here.
Week 5: Basic Apps, plus music, photo and video apps -- the must-have apps, in a variety categories. We also explore some of the best ways to save, access and enjoy your photos, videos and music, and using your built-in cameras. How to make use of the Cloud for storage and retrieval. To view the slides, click here.
Week 6: Sensors and the magic they do -- Without sensors your Android tablet or smartphone would be pretty non-smart! We look at the various internal devices that greatly increase your enjoyment and capabilities. This includes GPS, motion and orientation, temperature, cameras (of course) and lots more. To view the slides, click here.
Week 7: Apps - some of my favorites -- In this session we take a look at a variety of apps, the ones you'll want as your usage matures. We cover a wide range of apps, from music to editing and more. This is the "icing on the cake", now that you're ready to handle some of the more challenging aspects. To view the slides, click here.
Week 8: Expanding your enjoyment -- We look at keyboards, mice, cases, screen protectors, bluetooth devices and lots of ways to use your phone and tablet that go way beyond phone calls and texting. We also explore new features such as multi-window, screen captures, remote PC control, screen sharing, hooking your phone up to your car and home stereo, and more. To view the slides, click here.
This class is presented by Neil Rosenberg, an avid Android user and a lover of all things "geeky". Neil ([email protected]) is an experienced technology instructor whose mission is to make complex subjects understandable to non-technical folks. He also brings humor and perspective to the material to keep it interesting and enjoyable.
Androids are among the most common mobile devices, but they also are frequently frustrating to users. This comprehensive course will help students understand and make the most of their Android device using common sense solutions and methods. We also will identify “must-have” apps that are free, easy to use, and very powerful. Students are encouraged to bring their Android smartphone and/or tablet to class.
This is an eight-week course to be presented in the spring of 2015.
Note: This course does NOT cover Apple products, such as iPhone and iPad. Android is the "other guy" in the smartphone and tablet world, and they are quite different in how they work.
Please see links below to the weekly handouts and powerpoints (added each week)
The eight sessions:
Week 1: Android basics, versions and updates -- We explore your device -- controls, buttons, screens, "swiping", "pinching" and "expanding" etc. Learn how phones and tablets are similar and different. We discuss how different models have different buttons and more. To view the slides click here.
Week 2: Notifications and more -- Here's where we begin to explore some very important features of your device, such as notifications, the Launcher and general housekeeping functions. We discuss WIFI and Cell connections, hooking up. We also will discuss how to be adaptive when your phone/tablet throws you a curve. To view the slides click here.
Week 3: The GO Launcher -- We explore how to set defaults, particularly the Home Launcher, and then replace yours with the GO Launcher. We then review some of the more common settings and configuration methods to make your Android your own. To view the slides click here.
Week 4: Security and stability of your Android device -- We explore various security measures to protect your device, your data and your identity. We also learn about ways to protect the stability and usability of your device, and how to handle problems like tasks that hog the cpu, low memory situations, and weak batteries. To view the slides, click here.
Week 5: Basic Apps, plus music, photo and video apps -- the must-have apps, in a variety categories. We also explore some of the best ways to save, access and enjoy your photos, videos and music, and using your built-in cameras. How to make use of the Cloud for storage and retrieval. To view the slides, click here.
Week 6: Sensors and the magic they do -- Without sensors your Android tablet or smartphone would be pretty non-smart! We look at the various internal devices that greatly increase your enjoyment and capabilities. This includes GPS, motion and orientation, temperature, cameras (of course) and lots more. To view the slides, click here.
Week 7: Apps - some of my favorites -- In this session we take a look at a variety of apps, the ones you'll want as your usage matures. We cover a wide range of apps, from music to editing and more. This is the "icing on the cake", now that you're ready to handle some of the more challenging aspects. To view the slides, click here.
Week 8: Expanding your enjoyment -- We look at keyboards, mice, cases, screen protectors, bluetooth devices and lots of ways to use your phone and tablet that go way beyond phone calls and texting. We also explore new features such as multi-window, screen captures, remote PC control, screen sharing, hooking your phone up to your car and home stereo, and more. To view the slides, click here.
This class is presented by Neil Rosenberg, an avid Android user and a lover of all things "geeky". Neil ([email protected]) is an experienced technology instructor whose mission is to make complex subjects understandable to non-technical folks. He also brings humor and perspective to the material to keep it interesting and enjoyable.
Weekly Handouts (to be provided as the class progresses):
Weekly Slides (in PDF format, Powerpoint available upon request):