I have a similar situation. Last christmas I gave my parents my old pc. I thought about putting linux on it but I decided to wait. I figured I would work them into it Mozilla, OpenOffice.org and a few other apps to start with that way the switch won't be as hard when I do move them to linux.
The problem then becomes which distro to start them with. One they might learn a little easier and solve some of thier own problems or one I find easier.
You might want to try a lab in the subject you are interested in. They usually offer good insight into how things work, once you know what is going on it is usually easier to see where you need to start. As a Physics Grad Student I have taught labs and recitations. The students seem to understand the more challenging problems better if they do a lab and Pay Attention to what is going on.
Drawing pictures of what is happening is also very useful when working problems.
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I have a similar situation. Last christmas I gave my parents my old pc. I thought about putting linux on it but I decided to wait. I figured I would work them into it Mozilla, OpenOffice.org and a few other apps to start with that way the switch won't be as hard when I do move them to linux. The problem then becomes which distro to start them with. One they might learn a little easier and solve some of thier own problems or one I find easier.
You might want to try a lab in the subject you are interested in. They usually offer good insight into how things work, once you know what is going on it is usually easier to see where you need to start. As a Physics Grad Student I have taught labs and recitations. The students seem to understand the more challenging problems better if they do a lab and Pay Attention to what is going on.
Drawing pictures of what is happening is also very useful when working problems.