Teaching a newbie how to use a computer

[RagnaroK]

Bah... got a predicament here. I need to teach my old man how to use a computer (he's has little to no experience), and I don't have time to actually sit next to him and teach him. Any programs or tutorials I can use to help? Thanks. 😎

 

[LeeJend]

"Teach him to use computer" is too vague.

What applications?
- Just Email, IM, surfing? Embarrasing but "Computers for Dummies" books take a good step by step approach." Replace computers with email, instant messaging, surfing,etc. Then set up his menus with minimal icons. Set up his favorites for him so he can go to places and build confidence (hobby, age group, etc.) and include a google toolbar in IE. Make him a Yahoo, netscape, etc homepage with all the things he would want to look at so he can just clcik. Financial news, movie show times, weatherunderground, sports.

- Office applications? Same "dummy" answer. Maybe a beginner class.

- Multimedia? I took (and now teach) some courses in this. Best in a hands on class.


What I'd really recommend is a night class on using computers and then one on applications. We offer several through our company's employee association. Have any options like that? If not make sure he knows the basics at least:
Left Click
Right Click
Double Click
Back Arrow
X box to close and start over.
Warn him about porn bombs (scared the **** out of my wife when she hit her first one).
Latter ease him into cut and paste

Now the hard part. Can he type at all? If not it gets ugly. Beginners like to hit all the wrong keys and get themselves lost real fast. I have no fix for this it took me years to get my wife past this hurdle and I still only have a 50-50 chance of talking her through a problem over the phone.

If you don't live at home show him how to accept remote control so you can show him things quickly if he gets stuck.

Oh yeah, and make sure you counsel him on the moral and legal issues involved in downloading from p2p networks. 😉

 

[the_tazinator]

Here is a simple one page document that I think is great for anyone just starting to use a computer. However it is more of a computer intoduction than a teaching aid.

 

[Sazar]

I always found solitaire to be an excellent tool in developing hand/eye coordination for a gui interface and getting them to use the mouse properly...

from there he can start using word processing apps that teach you how to type properly if need be or you can show him general apps and how to use em...

he/she needs to learn not to be afraid of the computer...

 

[Vetrius]

heh, i feel soooo sorry for you, not much i can tell you to help out other than get him to go on gaming sites where they can chat and play games, coordination and typing skills, its what i used on my mom, pogo.com.... Warning: They can get easily addicted if your not careful......

 

[muzikool]

There are plenty of online tutorials if you can just get him onto the Internet. Also, I suggest customizing his Windows profile (if he has his own) and make the Desktop very clean and simple. Make easy access to programs that he will use most often.

 

[Vetrius]

thats pretty much all the advice oyu can get without people being repettitive

 

[NetRyder]

he/she needs to learn not to be afraid of the computer...

I agree. One of the most important things...

 

[RagnaroK]

Thanks for the replies guys.

LeeJend: Well pretty basic computing (mouse and keyboard usage, powering up and down, etc.) and navigating and using Windows (opening, closing, running apps, etc.). I'd also prefer a "free" solution before I even consider signing him up for any classes.

Sazar: Solitaire huh? Might try that out. Will be chucking a word processor and maybe an old version of Encarta so he can play around.

Vetrius: Thanks for the sympathy... hopefully he can become computer-literate soon... 😛

Sazar/NetRyder: Afraid? Bah... he keeps annoying me. "Have you finished installing apps on my computer yet?", "When are you gonna teach me some basics.", "Can I use my computer now?"
Argghh... make it stop... 🙄

BTW, I remember when I got my first computer (ahh... the good old days) that it had a huge tutorial program that like stepped you through basic computing. I was wondering if anything like that still exists? Thanks again guys.

 

[muzikool]

What, my post didn't warrant a personal response? 😉

Try this out: http://northville.lib.mi.us/tech/tutor/welcome.htm
It's looks to be about as basic as you can get, and it's free! 🙂

 

[RagnaroK]

What, my post didn't warrant a personal response? 😉

Try this out: http://northville.lib.mi.us/tech/tutor/welcome.htm
It's looks to be about as basic as you can get, and it's free! 🙂

[muzikool's personal response]
Thank you muzikool for your kind and generous advice. I will begin to seek out some of these so-called "online tutorials" for my father. I hope I do succeed; also many thanks for the tutorial you already posted, as it will come in handy indeed. Thank you very very much muzikool.
[/muzikool's personal response]

😀

Good enough?... anyway, really thanks for that muzikool. It will help my dad alot.

 

[gonaads]

You could also try this ---> LINK <---

 

[muzikool]

[muzikool's personal response]
Thank you muzikool for your kind and generous advice. I will begin to seek out some of these so-called "online tutorials" for my father. I hope I do succeed; also many thanks for the tutorial you already posted, as it will come in handy indeed. Thank you very very much muzikool.
[/muzikool's personal response]

😀

Good enough?... anyway, really thanks for that muzikool. It will help my dad alot.

Hahaha, I hope it does help. I'll post more if I find some useful ones. 😎

 

[gonaads]

general computing for the beginner this is in a PDF file format.

link this is the same link but in HTML format.

But the PDF link (the first one) is illustrated and is much much better.

The converted link is kinda sucky.

 

[Henyman]

my dad is 50, + i basically let him use trial and error 😛 he knew how to use mouse + keyboard, then just played around, worked through help files + asked me for help when he got stuck. took him bout 6 months to use it all fully.

 

[Lee]

Buy him ''the idots guide to computers'', they sell it in WH Smith.

 

[Evil Marge]

I was taught by a 13 year old 😱 Nowadays though there's things he comes to me to ask about 😎

 

[Lee]

I was taught by a 13 year old 😱 Nowadays though there's things he comes to me to ask about 😎

Like what?

 

[Evil Marge]

Like, things 🙄 I dunno I can't remember what I did this morning never mind little questions I get asked once in a while 😛

 

[Lee]

I was thinking things like what Lee JNR used to ask me, daddy blah blah babies made, just being silly, that's all.