Syllabus

Week 1: What Is Free Software
Summary
What is free software? Course roadmap, learner input, account setup & questions
Agenda
Introduce Ourselves
Learning Circle Policies 
Safer Spaces Policy
Safer In-Person Gatherings
Discuss and modify as needed
Break
Facilitator Presentation: What Is Free Software? 
Course Roadmap Draft
Learning Circle Input 
Break
Bookstack Account Setup
At Home Activity 
During the next week, note the proprietary software you use and what you use it for. Think about software you would like to have but don't have a good reason to pay for a license. Bring this to the next class. 

Week 2: Acquiring Free Software
Summary 
Acquiring Software & Using the wiki
Agenda
Presentation: Finding Free Software
Workshop: Installing OnlyOffice
Presentation: Using BookStack & Taking Notes for Yourself 
Workshop: Using OnlyOffice
Collaboratively Edit Notes
At Home Activity
During the next week, write down questions you encounter with free software you use. 

Week 3: Asking For Help
Summary 
Asking for help, becoming your own IT person, and developing the means to build out a network of trusted community and resources so that you have the freedom to delegate your technology concerns to groups and people who you trust and who respect you. 
Agenda
Presentation: Getting Help 
Search
Documentation 
Forums
Forges
Workshop: Formulating Questions for Internet Strangers

Week 4: Free Software in the Browser
Summary 
During this week we will go over web browsers, useful extensions to improve web browsing, and password managers. 
Agenda

Week 5: Playing & Manipulating Media
Summary
This week we will look at how to get media files to play back to us and simple tools for basic file manipulation. 
Agenda

Week 6: Office Software
Summary
We return to office software and work with PDFs & Spreadsheets
Agenda

Week 7: Creative Software
Summary
We look at alternatives to for photo editing, illustration, flyer design, and video processing 
Agenda

Week 8: Social Software
Summary 
This week looks at social software and discusess the future of Free Computer Club.
Agenda