### How to Run Every Session (same structure every week) **0–5 mins: Warm start** - “What did you make last week?” - “Pick today’s win: what do you want finished by the end?” **5–15 mins: Demonstration (visual only)** - You do it once, slowly, narrating _actions_ (“Click here”, “Drag this”) not concepts. **15–45 mins: Guided build** - They do it with you, step-by-step. **45–65 mins: Solo build** - They repeat the same thing with small variation. **65–75 mins: Share + save** - They show what they made. - Save to the right folder. - Quick checklist: “What was easy? What was annoying?” ##### Dyslexia supports that stay on all month - Use a **single folder** called: `Skills Bootcamp` - Inside: `Week 01`, `Week 02` etc. - Keep instructions as **short bullets**. - Use **icons** and **colour** for meaning. - Avoid long reading: you read instructions aloud; they follow visually. --- ### Month 1 (Weeks 1–4): Computer Confidence + Word + Excel Basics **Outcome by end of Month 1:** A clean **1-page profile/CV**, and a usable **money + weekly tracker** in Excel. --- ###### Week 1 — Setup + Word: “My Profile One-Pager” **Goal:** Saving files, headings, spacing, insert image, export PDF. **What you need:** Laptop, Word, 1 image of them (or a placeholder). ##### Session plan (75 mins) **Warm start (5):** Show the folder structure. Create `Skills Bootcamp/Week 01`. **Demo (10):** Open Word → make title → add headings → bullets → insert image → save. **Guided build (30):** Build together: 1. Title: **FULL NAME** (big, 28–36pt) 2. Subtitle: “About Me” 3. Three headings: - **Things I’m good at** - **Things I enjoy** - **Goals this year** 1. Under each: 3–5 bullets (1 line max each) 2. Insert image (top right), set wrap to “Square” 3. Add line divider (or simple horizontal line) 4. Save as: `Week 01 - Profile.docx` 5. Export as PDF: `Week 01 - Profile.pdf` **Solo build (20):** They make a second version with a different look: - Change font - Add a colour theme - Change heading style **Share + save (10):** Open the PDF and check it looks right. ##### Dyslexia-friendly tweaks - Use **Styles** (Heading 1/2) so formatting is one-click. - Bullet rule: **no bullet longer than one line**. **Between-session mission (10–15 mins):** - Add 3 more bullets to each heading. --- ###### Week 2 — Excel: “Weekly Routine Tracker” **Goal:** Tables, autofill, simple sums, formatting for readability. ##### Session plan **Warm start (5):** Open last week’s folder. Confirm saving works. **Demo (10):** Show a simple table, then convert to Table (Ctrl+T), then SUM. **Guided build (30):** Create columns: - Day - Task - Time (mins) - Done? (Y/N) Steps: 1. Fill Day column (Mon–Sun) using autofill. 2. Enter 2–3 tasks per day (keep short). 3. Enter time as numbers (15, 30, 45 etc.) 4. Convert to Table (Ctrl+T) 5. Total time: `=SUM([Time (mins)])` (or sum range) 6. Add conditional formatting: - Done = Y → light highlight - Done = N → different highlight Save: `Week 02 - Weekly Tracker.xlsx` **Solo build (20):** They create a second tab: - “Gym / Walk / Study tracker” with same layout. **Share + save (10):** They explain what the sheet does. ##### Dyslexia supports - Use **big headers** and **striped rows** - Keep numbers only in the Time column (no “30 mins” text) **Between-session mission:** - Use it 3 times in the week and tick Done. --- ###### Week 3 — Word: “One-Page CV (No waffle)” **Goal:** Structure, spacing, bullet discipline, PDF export. ##### Session plan **Demo (10):** Show a simple CV layout. Explain: “It’s a **scan**, not a book.” **Guided build (35):** Sections (keep to 1 page): - Name + contact - Skills (6 bullets) - Experience (even informal counts) - Education - Interests Rules: - Bullets start with action words: “Helped”, “Built”, “Organised” - Max 2 lines per bullet Save: `Week 03 - CV.docx` and PDF. **Solo build (20):** Make a second version “CV for a café job”: - Swap skills and interests to match job. **Share + save (10):** Open PDFs and compare. **Between-session mission:** - Ask a family member for 2 skills they think you have; add them. --- ###### Week 4 — Excel: “Money Tracker (Real Life)” **Goal:** Simple budget, totals, remaining, “warning colours”. ##### Session plan **Guided build (45):** Columns: - Date - Item - Category (Food/Travel/Games/Other) - Money In - Money Out Steps: 1. Enter 5 example rows together 2. Totals: - Total In = SUM - Total Out = SUM - Remaining = In − Out 1. Conditional formatting: - Remaining < 20 → warning colour 1. Make it readable: - Currency formatting - Freeze top row Save: `Week 04 - Money Tracker.xlsx` **Solo build (20):** Add a “Category totals” section using SUMIF (you do it once, they copy). **Between-session mission:** - Add 5 real expenses (even small ones). --- ### Month 2 (Weeks 5–8): PowerPoint + TikTok **Outcome by end of Month 2:** A clean **5-slide deck** and **3 edited TikToks** with text, cuts, and basic pacing. --- ###### Week 5 — PowerPoint: “5 Slides About Me (Visual First)” **Goal:** Layouts, images, alignment, minimal text. **Guided build:** Slides: 1. Title 2. My interests (icons/images) 3. Something I’m proud of 4. Goals 5. Thanks / Q&A Rules: - No paragraph text - Max 6 words per line - Use alignment tools Save: `Week 05 - About Me.pptx` **Mission:** Show it to someone for 60 seconds. --- ###### Week 6 — PowerPoint: “Teach Me Something” **Goal:** Simple storytelling + presenting. Pick a topic they like (gaming, football, music, gym, cooking). Slides: 1. What it is 2. Why it matters 3. How it works (3 steps) 4. Common mistakes 5. Quick summary Add: - One simple animation (appear) - One transition (fade only) **Mission:** Present it again, record a quick video of them presenting (optional). --- ###### Week 7 — TikTok: Shoot + Edit Basics **Goal:** Record, trim, text overlay, sound, captions. **In-session output:** 1 finished 10–15 second TikTok (saved as draft). Video prompt options: - “3 things I learned this week” - “Before/after my PowerPoint” - “A quick tip: how I track money” Steps: 1. Record 2–4 clips (different angles) 2. Trim clips 3. Add text overlays (BIG font) 4. Add auto-captions if available 5. Save draft **Mission:** Make a second draft during the week. --- ###### Week 8 — TikTok: Make 3 Formats (Template Library) **Goal:** Repeatable formats so they can keep going. Create 3 short videos: 1. **List format**: “3 tips / 3 favourites” 2. **How-to**: “How I do X in 10 seconds” 3. **Story**: “I used to… now I…” Focus: - Hook in first 2 seconds - Text is readable - Cut every 1–2 seconds **Mission:** Post 1 (if comfortable) or keep as drafts. --- ### Month 3 (Weeks 9–12): Obsidian “Second Brain” **Outcome by end of Month 3:** An Obsidian vault that is genuinely useful: daily notes, goals, learning notes, and a simple system. --- ###### Week 9 — Obsidian Setup + 4 Core Notes **Goal:** Notes, links, simple templates. Create vault: `Skills Vault` Create notes: - Home - Goals - Learning Log - Projects Teach: - `[[link]]` - Headings - Checklists **Mission:** Add 1 thing per day to Learning Log (bullet). --- ###### Week 10 — Daily Notes + “3-Line Journal” **Goal:** Reduce overwhelm with tiny consistent writing. Daily template: - ✅ Win: - 🧠 Learned: - 🔜 Next: Teach: - Daily note creation - Linking day → project **Mission:** Do 4 daily notes this week. --- ###### Week 11 — Projects System (No chaos) **Goal:** Make Obsidian practical. Create project template: - What is it? - Why does it matter? - Next 3 steps - Resources (links) Create 2 projects: - “Learning Office” - “3D printing” **Mission:** Update one project twice. --- ###### Week 12 — Make It Nice + Easy to Use **Goal:** Navigation and comfort. Add: - Simple homepage dashboard: - Links to Goals / Projects / This Week - Tags: ###school ###work ###ideas - A “Saved Snippets” note (copy/paste useful stuff) **Mission:** Use Obsidian to plan next week (5 bullets). --- ### Month 4 (Weeks 13–16): 3D Printing + “Tracking” in Excel **Outcome by end of Month 4:** They design a simple object, slice it, print it, and track prints properly. --- ###### Week 13 — 3D Design Basics (Tinkercad) **Goal:** Drag shapes, scale, align, group, measure. Build: - A simple token/coin with initials Steps: 1. Base cylinder 2. Text raised 3. Hole punch (optional) 4. Export STL **Mission:** Make a second design: a simple keyring. --- ###### Week 14 — Slicing Basics (Cura/PrusaSlicer) **Goal:** What slicing is, settings that matter, preview. Steps: 1. Import STL 2. Select printer profile 3. Layer height (normal) 4. Infill (simple) 5. Supports on/off (explain visually) 6. Slice and preview 7. Save gcode **Mission:** Slice the keyring too. --- ###### Week 15 — Print + Troubleshooting **Goal:** Run a print and learn 5 common failures. Print the token/keyring. While printing, teach: - Bed adhesion (clean bed, level) - First layer check - Stringing - Supports - Warping **Mission:** Take a photo of the print and write 3 bullets in Obsidian: what worked, what didn’t, what to try. --- ###### Week 16 — Excel: “3D Print Tracker + Wrap Presentation” **Goal:** Turn making into a repeatable system + celebrate. Excel tracker columns: - Date - Model name - Material - Settings (layer/infill) - Print time - Result (Pass/Fail) - Notes Add: - Drop-down list for Result (Data Validation) - COUNTIF totals: number of passes/fails - Simple chart (optional) Then final 10 minutes: - They present: - their CV (Word) - one spreadsheet (Excel) - one PowerPoint - Obsidian vault structure - their printed object **Final output:** “Portfolio folder” with best versions. --- ### What You’ll Need to Prepare (Once) ##### Create a “Success Kit” folder Inside it, save: - CV template (simple) - Excel tracker starter - PowerPoint theme (1 clean theme) - Obsidian templates note - 3D printing checklist (first layer, etc.) ##### Accessibility setup (worth it) - Increase cursor size (Windows settings) - Use Word “Read Aloud” - Enable dictation (if helpful) - Use a dyslexia-friendly font if they like it (optional) --- ### If You Want This to Work Really Well: The “No Shame Rule” If they forget homework, you do not punish it. You just say: - “No worries. We’ll build from here.” Consistency beats intensity. --- If you tell me **the session length** you want (60 vs 90 mins), and whether the 3D printer is **FDM (filament)** or **resin**, I’ll tailor Weeks 13–15 to the exact machine type and typical beginner failures.