Our Tutoring Service

Practically everyone feels like they need a little extra help now and then when it comes to doing things on the computer. Even I do. So one of the services we offer is computer training classes or in-home tutoring.

Now I know that different people are going to have different needs in this area, and I'm probably not going to be able to fulfill everyone's needs here, but I'll do what I can.

If you need individual in-home tutoring, we offer that at $40 / hr without a Service Agreement or $20 / hr with a Service Agreement.

If you have a group of people, including more than one person from the same family, that would like training we can do that either at your home, someplace else that you set up (church, community center, club meeting hall, etc), or someplace that we set up. Prices will be charged per person, depending on whether they have a Service Agreement with us or not, $20 per person without one or $10 per person with one. If a family has a Service Agreement, you all will be covered under that same agreement. The cost of books and materials is extra.

But I'm not going to try to tutor more than 10 people at the same time.

Now tutoring is something that we'll have to set up at least a week in advance, so that I can get the materials ready and so that we can schedule it with a minimum of fuss. I imagine that most tutoring will be the after work or after school variety, but I can work it in at other times too.

The tutoring will come in hour-long blocks, but if you want, I might consider scheduling two blocks back-to-back, with a short break in between. Each block should equate to an individual class from the list below. If any of them end up being longer than that, I'll change this page to reflect that.

The subjects we'll currently be offering include:

Introduction to Computers (basic "what's this" stuff, how to navigate, how stuff works, what things not to do, etc)
Computer Hardware (a more detailed, "inside," look at how stuff works, probably with props)
Introduction to Office Software (using Microsoft Office as an example, basic word processing, spreadsheet usage, email, and presentation software)
Intermediate and Advanced classes in each of the Office programs above
Introduction to Databases (using Microsoft Access)
Introduction to the Windows Operating System (you need to specify which version you want, 98, 2000, XP, etc)
Introduction to DOS (you need to specify which version again, 5.0, 6.2, 98, 2000, XP, etc)
Introduction to Networking (what it is, a little of how it works, and more about how you can use it)
Introduction to the Internet (what it is, a little of how it works, and more about how you can use it)
Introduction to Computer Security (viruses, hackers, identity and credit card theft and what to do about them, etc)
Ask if you don't see what you'd like to learn about or if you'd like a more extended class.

There are other things I can teach too, but these will require a special contract and will cost more, starting at $50 per hour per person. These include intermediate and advanced courses in Windows, Networking, Installation and Planning of Networks, Broadband and Wireless, Computer Security, the Novell Operating System, other Operating Systems (Unix, etc), Computer Troubleshooting, etc. We'll need to have an interview with you before we start teaching these subjects too.

One other thing I need to mention here is about tutoring different age groups. I spent several years as a Boy Scout Scoutmaster for Troop 178 in Winchester, plus 4 years as a Computer Analyst for Frederick County Public Schools, plus I've got my own baby daughter right now. So I have a pretty good idea of how to work with kids. And my wife has a BA in Education too, in case I need help. I've also written several of my own courses, plus taught those and a variety of other courses, including some in the US Army and Air Force. So I'm willing and able to teach children as well as adults, but I really want to stay away from mixing those groups as much as possible.

By the way, I'm offering a $5 discount on tutoring for Senior Citizens, with or without a Service Agreement, individually or in groups. I'm impressed that they're the fastest growing segment of computer users in the US, and I really respect them for doing that. More power to you!

Ok, that's enough here. Home