Comments on: Providing Computer Training

By: mflstc

mflstc — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:27:42 +0000

I am thinking of teaching a computer begginers class for older learners at a high school. The high school wants me to come up with a lesson plan to show the school for what I will be teaching in the course, which I expected. Does anyone have an idea for a good teaching aid or books to use? I have a few a begginer books I was going to take parts from but any suggestions are welcomed.

By: Vicente Black

Vicente Black — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:01:27 +0000

You must have not only experience in your field, but also an inclination to teaching. When I explain something and a person doesn’t get it, that’s always driving me mad.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:04:51 +0000

I agree that patients and communication skills are extremely important when dealing with seniors–not to mention the fact they already feel “pretty dumb” when it comes to technology. I have been teaching seniors for over 15 years and have developed a “senior friendly” curriculum for computer usage. Classes are offered in 8- week semesters, focused on a variety of topics, from games to email… If anyone else is into the same concept I’d love to collaborate…

Idif

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:30:53 +0000

Quite honestly, I don’t have the patience to teach people computer skills. I’ve been working on them since 1978 and just don’t have the patience for it. I like working on computers because I’m good at it and it’s my primary source of income, but if given the chance (like winning the lottery or if I somehow had enough cash), I’d never touch another computer again (except for my own.)

By: Nathan H

Nathan H — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:51:45 +0000

As a former UK Army Instructor i have had great tuition in explaining this from a basic level or giving an “Idiots guide/explanatgion” as we call it.

My advice is this:

If your serious about giving lessons, plan ahead and write some down, such as step by step on how to access the internet, include screen shots, the elderly or non pc friendly folk love this.

My mistake on doing this, i sent a copy to a customer and i had arrows pointing to a screen shot of my desk top with instuctions shuch as left click on the start button and the arrow pointing to it, he said it didnt work…..then i realised he was clicking on my screen shot instead of his desktop.

Lesson i learnt, print it out and hand it to them.

Hope this helps someone..

By: Tiddl

Tiddl — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:09:30 +0000

I have trouble when i try and teach my spanish speaking clients. Im fluent in spanish but when trying to name a part or explain how one thing works with the other i have trouble translating.

By: toughbook computer

toughbook computer — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:48:29 +0000

Great advice, teaching really requires a different skill set than just being a good technician. I agree, you need to have the participant do the dirty work and make notes that they will understand.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:17:56 +0000

Good article and I agree with your points.

My fiance’s grandparents just got their first computer and were asking me a couple questions. I make an effort to not talk above people when it comes to tech stuff, but there was no way I could “dumb it down” so they would understand. It’s been quite some time since I talked to someone at such a low level of computer skills. Kind of frustrating because you want to help and no matter what you say, you cannot help them understand.

By: catester

catester — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:53:19 +0000

While it is important to have good communications skills and patience with clients, it’s just as important to realize that not every client wants to learn.

I have a good reputation with people who need tutoring and with people who just need to know what the sequence of tasks is to achieve a particular outcome, and the word of mouth on that helps me get new clients.

However, I have plenty of other clients who just want me to come in, fix the thing or clean the thing or install the thing or whatever, while they go in the other room and make a sandwich or play with the dog. And I have a good reputation there, too.

So the most important part of this is to ask the client if they want to know what you’re doing and learn how to do it before you launch into an explanation of left-click and right-click. Plenty of folks are happy just to buy in your services, and if you are efficient and polite, they’ll buy in your services next time, too.

By: Sevdog

Sevdog — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:00:37 +0000

I was thinking about trying to create a niche market in training seniors. Working with my mom is the reason that I continue to deliberate even attempting this. She recently bought her first computer and did not even know what “right click” or “double click” meant. And she always had to ask “WHY?”. A lot of times patience is going to be a more important quality than your technical knowledge. You really have to get your beginner training materials down to the most extreme basics in a lot of cases. I find this is especially true for older people who never had a computer before. They seem to have a lot more questions and require a lot more patience because they may lack a lot of the basic knowledge that you would assume most would have. If you are patient I think you can do really well in your business, will have an extremely happy client, and you will get great word of mouth.