"TakeCharge computing for Teens and Parents"

May 22, 1997

Pam Dixon, author of "TakeCharge computing for Teens and Parents," chats about finding the most relevant, useful software and Web information available today for teens and their parents. Dixon tells you how to use your personal computer as an educational tool for your teens. Find out how to explore college and career possibilities with your kids online and get useful information about test preparation software that may help teens achieve high scores on the SAT, ACT, or CLEP.

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LyriCCC: IDG Books Worldwide and The Talk City EduCenter are proud to present a chat with Pam Dixon author of "Take Charge Computing for Teens and Parents." Pam Dixon is an author, journalist, and former teacher. Pam received a Johns Hopkins University Fellowship for outstanding teaching. She's the coauthor of "Be Your Own Headhunter Online," a recent Computer Press Association finalist for best non-fiction computer book of 1995. Hiya, Ashley! In addition to being a hard-working author, Pam enjoys reading novels, mountain climbing, and working out. Her current book, "Take Charge Computing for Teens and Parents" is part of the fabulous IDG "Dummies" series. It's a fun, easy, valuable resource for teens, parents, and everyone who is eager to use the World Wide Web for learning and enjoyment. .Welcome, Pam! We are honored to have you .as our guest today!

Pam: It's a pleasure to be here!

LyriCCC: Our pleasure, Pam! Pam, how did your past experiences prepare you for writing this book, and what was your motivation for doing so?

Pam: Let's see -- do mean the all-nighters I pulled in college, or the content part of the book? (smile)

LyriCCC: (laughing) All of the above, Pam! I guess I am wondering about your background and why you wanted to write the book.

Pam: Actually, I felt pretty passionate about this book. I wanted teens to be able to take charge of their lives. Computers are a great medium for this. I wanted to get the word out!

LyriCCC: And you have done a fine job of that with this book, Pam! This book contains a wealth of ideas and materials. How were you able to complete the extensive research that needed to be done?

Pam: The research was incredibly difficult -- it took quite a bit of telephoning and basically getting in there and talking to lots and lots of people. But, it was also fun.

LyriCCC: Pam, how long did it take you to research and write this book?

Pam: Well, computer books are notorious for having short deadlines, which is reasonable. The books need to be fresh. So, all told, the book took about four months

SteelDream: That's got to be the hardest thing about writing about the internet.

Pam: It is -- just as you write one thing, the facts change under your feet. But actually, that is part of the fun! But writing about the software isn't quite like writing about the Internet -- it is more stable.

LyriCCC: In the first chapter, you reveal some "shocking" ways in which teens can use their computers to change their lives. Could you share a couple of those "shocking" ways with us, please?

Pam: Let's see -- I think the most shocking thing is that computers do so much more than word processing -- that was the main idea I wanted to get across

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