Tally now is eight

Gave away our eighth computer and got one back – something not working. Well that will be good experience for the students won't it.

Feedback from recipients about the students continues to be extremely positive.

Ubuntu saves the day

We have been using Mandrake 8.? to install on the recycled computers. This is challenging for us (the students and I) as we are still on a very very steep learning curve with Linux. It was almost too much of a challenge.

Our Network Administrator recently came across Ubuntu, a distribution of Linux. http://www.ubuntulinux.org/ Well this is just the bees knees for a computer that will be used for basic office and student type tasks. It installs very very easily and comes with Open Office and Gimp already installed. Our learning curve suddenly seems manageable again.

Our thanks to him also for using his personal adsl link to get the cd for us. That certainly saved us a few shekels.

Seventh computer given away.

The "Community Computer Recycling" program has given away seven computers in the short time that it has been operating. The recycling program is operated by the Computer Technician class. The recycling of the computers gives them lots of hands on experience with building computers and installing software. The experience that they get is authentic and the product that they produce is of practical use to our community.

We conducted two handovers this week.

The recipients of the computers said that the students

• Were very thorough and well prepared.
• Worked well as a team
• Were knowledgeable
• Customized the training to meet their needs
  

The students said that

• It was easier than they thought
• It is easier the second time
• Preparation was important
• It was good fun
• If makes them feel proud

Well done Computer Technician students.

To find out more about this program

http://www.granths.sa.edu.au/home/ccr/

Lions Club support

Allan Dowdell and Graham Carter of the Mount Gambier Lions Club handed over a cheque for $500 on friday to help us pay for the supply of power and network to our recycle scheme work bench area. The total cost of this was $1800 and it was great to get the support from this Lions club. Raising money is not easy and so with this in mind we are very grateful.