Teahing the Newbie
We all have those folks in our lives that need a bit of help bringing a computer into their lives and call on us. Sometimes it’s a simple question; other times it’s a broader education that’s needed.
Here is how I begin teaching those around me that ask for some help.
Most people call with a specific question and this is where I start. Assisting them with their problem makes them grateful and until we deal with their issue they are usually not in the headspace to think about what they need to learn.
New Computers have dispensed with manuals or have such limited ones that they are useless. The result is lots of folks don’t understand the basics. I do all the configuring of their email accounts, wi-fi, and ISP accounts before the teaching begins as this is confusing and once it’s done they rarely need to worry about it again. I also load their purchased software. Most home users purchase a computer to gain access to the internet and email so I usually start here.
I bring my Apple laptop to each lesson, a DVD disc with a Word doc., Excel sheet, a presentation, a couple of photos, a video, a movie DVD and a dozen songs. I bring my computer bible the “Missing Manual Series” by David Pogue appropriate to their operating system.
I always let them drive. I show them how to turn the machine on and off, talk a bit about mouse use, show them where their files are stored and then dive in.
I start with email. I show them how to launch the program, how to write and send an email. I bring my notebook along and send them a message and have them get it, read and respond. I then show them how to attach a photo. I talk about photo sizing for email and show them how to reduce image size for email use. I talk about attaching Word, Excel and PowerPoint files if they will be working with them. If not I skip this part.
I then move to the address book or contacts and we enter a few and then use those entries to address an email, use the spell check and send it. I talk a bit about email etiquette like NO CAPS, limited use of the !!!! key, not sending me every joke email they receive and not using the “reply all” button.
We then move onto their web browser. I always set their browser to open at Google Canada. I show them how to search using key words and talk a lot about how to get better search results. I show them how to type in a URL and bookmark their favourite websites.
Next is usually iTunes were I get them to upload their favourite CD. I show them how to use the store, where their tunes live in the library, how to make use of the party shuffle and how to load a video. Then we plug in their iPod and get it syncing to their computer. I want them to understand that the iTunes stuff lives on their computer and the iPod gets it’s tunes from iTunes not the other way around.
Then we take a tour of their photography program and I show them how to make minor adjustments to their images and print them off. We sometimes take a detour here and I get them to use photos with email or burn to a disc.
Now its time for a talk about security online and if they are PC users they get the lecture about updating their virus protection regularly. We talk about NOT opening attachments they don’t recognize as coming from a trusted source and being careful about what they download.
We talk about being secure online and never giving their email address to sketchy websites. I have them set-up a second email with Yahoo, Gmail, or Hotmail for use online or when traveling.
We throw in a movie DVD so they can see how to enjoy a rented movie on their computer.
Finally, if they need it, I give them a quick tour of MS Office.
I don’t talk about bit torrents, on-line banking, additional browsers, chat, calculators, etc, etc. That’s for another day once they have spent a couple of months enjoying their new toy.
Here is how I begin teaching those around me that ask for some help.
Most people call with a specific question and this is where I start. Assisting them with their problem makes them grateful and until we deal with their issue they are usually not in the headspace to think about what they need to learn.
New Computers have dispensed with manuals or have such limited ones that they are useless. The result is lots of folks don’t understand the basics. I do all the configuring of their email accounts, wi-fi, and ISP accounts before the teaching begins as this is confusing and once it’s done they rarely need to worry about it again. I also load their purchased software. Most home users purchase a computer to gain access to the internet and email so I usually start here.
I bring my Apple laptop to each lesson, a DVD disc with a Word doc., Excel sheet, a presentation, a couple of photos, a video, a movie DVD and a dozen songs. I bring my computer bible the “Missing Manual Series” by David Pogue appropriate to their operating system.
I always let them drive. I show them how to turn the machine on and off, talk a bit about mouse use, show them where their files are stored and then dive in.
I start with email. I show them how to launch the program, how to write and send an email. I bring my notebook along and send them a message and have them get it, read and respond. I then show them how to attach a photo. I talk about photo sizing for email and show them how to reduce image size for email use. I talk about attaching Word, Excel and PowerPoint files if they will be working with them. If not I skip this part.
I then move to the address book or contacts and we enter a few and then use those entries to address an email, use the spell check and send it. I talk a bit about email etiquette like NO CAPS, limited use of the !!!! key, not sending me every joke email they receive and not using the “reply all” button.
We then move onto their web browser. I always set their browser to open at Google Canada. I show them how to search using key words and talk a lot about how to get better search results. I show them how to type in a URL and bookmark their favourite websites.
Next is usually iTunes were I get them to upload their favourite CD. I show them how to use the store, where their tunes live in the library, how to make use of the party shuffle and how to load a video. Then we plug in their iPod and get it syncing to their computer. I want them to understand that the iTunes stuff lives on their computer and the iPod gets it’s tunes from iTunes not the other way around.
Then we take a tour of their photography program and I show them how to make minor adjustments to their images and print them off. We sometimes take a detour here and I get them to use photos with email or burn to a disc.
Now its time for a talk about security online and if they are PC users they get the lecture about updating their virus protection regularly. We talk about NOT opening attachments they don’t recognize as coming from a trusted source and being careful about what they download.
We talk about being secure online and never giving their email address to sketchy websites. I have them set-up a second email with Yahoo, Gmail, or Hotmail for use online or when traveling.
We throw in a movie DVD so they can see how to enjoy a rented movie on their computer.
Finally, if they need it, I give them a quick tour of MS Office.
I don’t talk about bit torrents, on-line banking, additional browsers, chat, calculators, etc, etc. That’s for another day once they have spent a couple of months enjoying their new toy.
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