I will teach Linux to people of the ages 20-75 with no prior Linux knowledge. I want to teach some basic concepts (what's an OS, what's a file system) and some practical knowlede: How to install it, network configuration, set up email client, installing software with a packet manager, etc.

I have held a system administrators course in the past, but was under the impression that my method of teaching was not adequate. I've explained what I was about to show, showed students on the projector, told them to repeat it on their computers and summarized what they should have learned. They could ask questions all the time. But I fear they remembered only one-third of the knowledge I taught them.

I have two questions here:

• Are there better methods to teach this particular subject in a classroom equipped with computers?
• Are there some tricks that "slow me down" when I teach stuff that I know inside-out?