What would you teach a novice computer user? [closed]

Question

My wife is starting to teach "computers" to people of three level, Complete beginners, Somewhat OK and OK. She is given a free hand - she can teach them anything that is useful.

What would you recommend for novice users? What are some must have tools, or knowledge?

Here's an example of some things we have so far:

• Google, search options.
• Office (lets face it - they need to know that).

These are a bit more advanced, but useful non the less:

• Wolfram alpha. (the first group liked that one - the ability to get instant graphs and solutions was impressive)
• Google Docs, Calendar.
• Bit Torrent. (possibly, if we find a legal file to download)
• Any modern browser (they have IE6, download and install Firefox or Chrome)

EDIT:
We mostly got answers about basic computing concepts - this is great, as we've missed some of them. However, I feel this isn't complete without some modern service - for example - several students expressed interests in Facebook. Being so popular, I think we should spend a few minutes on that subject. A few words on Wikipedia and Twitter are also in order - these are discussed in news, and people should know them.

What other skills, services and concepts would you teach a fresh user?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Subjects missing from your list:

• Security : Anti-virus, anti-intrusion, anti-spam, avoiding the use of IE, identifying phishing, general email handling rules (never click!), and also having a good bank insurance before surfing.
• Computer administration : Control Panel, Revo uninstaller etc.
• Network administration : Setting up a router, network shares etc.
• Forums on the Internet : How-to and etiquette

The first item, given how dangerous is the Internet today, should be of first priority.

Answer 2

Not to be afraid of computers - it's not easy to mess up the computer and you can usually undo anything you do.
How a computer works, in broad terms, like 'hard disk', 'folder', 'file', 'RAM', 'CPU', 'OS'.
Spreadsheets are not databases.
The implications of using a proprietary file format versus an open file format.

Also, print off and give this out:-

Time for a bit of a rant. Up to WinXP, the UI guidelines suggested that applications should have a menu bar with file, edit, view and help menus. And this was good. You could start up an application you'd never used before and start doing something useful. Now, in Vista, Office 2007 and beyond this seems to have been abandoned in favour of UI that looks shiny and cool but lack any kind of consistency. My wife recently started using Vista / Office 2007 (she was quite competent with XP / older versions of Office) but has been left constantly baffled by the new OS and frustrated by the responsiveness. It's so bad I've managed to get her to start using Ubuntu!

Answer 3

If these are really Complete Beginners They may not be at all familiar with how to interface with the computer. A brief introduction to the mouse and its buttons is probably a good idea. Also, a quick summary of the basic UI components in a windowing environment: the window, the taskbar, icons, right-click menus, etc. Of course, if the group seems somewhat experienced, this can be done quickly within 5 minutes.

I'd recommend some explanation of the file and folder concepts, as even experienced computer users sometimes have misconceptions about these, and it will immensely help beginners. A user should also be familiar with the prominent directories in the system (like Program Files or My Documents in Windows, for example), although this is not a must.

If these are people who have never used the internet, some words about what the internet is and what the web is could put a lot of questions to rest. Then, of course, explain the concepts of browser, site, search engine, and so on.

I could go on and on... This really depends on how experienced the group actually is. The larger the group, the less homogeneous it is, and the experience varies, so your wife should get the feel of it and adjust her speed accordingly.

Answer 4

Working with Cut/Copy-And-Paste and stressing the fact this works with text, files pictures, anything. Showing both main scenarios of handling files in explorer and fetching text from a web page and putting it into a work document.

Answer 5

Teach them how to use the tab key.

It sounds glib, but I'm not kidding. It's amazing to me the number of people I see all the time that I know have been using computers for eons grab their mouse to move between fields, like logging into Windows:

1. Grab mouse
2. Click in username field
3. Type username
4. Grab mouse
5. Click in password field
6. Type password
7. Grab mouse
8. Click on Login button

That's somewhat shortened, though, since there is usually a step between each "grab" and "click" that's something like "move mouse around in circles until their eye detects the mouse pointer". And clicking in the field often happens even when the field already has focus.

Answer 6

I'd tech them how to always show the file-extensions in Windows XP (extensions are by default not visible)

Answer 7

absolute basics?

• . differences between leftclick, rightclick, doubleclick (i tried to teach this my parents)
  • E-Mail (+ creating a Mailbox)
  • how to make screenshots (good if you have to troubleshoot later problems)
  • how to access the Internet
  • how to Identify (and Avoid) Spam / Phishing / Virus (and Usage of Antivirus-Software)
  • how to watch videos online, how to listen to Webradion (my Parents like that point)

Answer 8

How to use the internet responsibly.

It would (or perhaps not) surprise you how little people know how to use Google (and the rest of the internet) properly.I have often watched people try to download Adobe Acrobat, only to go to one of the spam-y sponsored links like www.AdobeAcrobatUltimatePlusFree.com and get infected with viruses.

Teach them how to search Google smartly. site: can be really handy, as well as the + and - operators. For more ideas, skim through Google hidden features or nice tips

Keyboard shortcuts.

Keyboard shortcuts are so much better and quicker. I suggest that everyone learn them early on so they 'stick' better.

• Cut/Copy/Paste
  • ctrl + c for copy
  • ctrl + x for cut
  • ctrl + v for paste
• ctrl + a selects all the text in the current text field (although it does not seem to be universal)
• alt + F4 quits the current application
• Windows + D shows the desktop

Answer 9

1- Let them try windows, mac and linux with a decent setup for each computer, Windows 7 with superusers recommanded softwares for the must-have windows applications (MSDNAA license will help if it's for a school), Mac os X with iLife suite and Adobe Premiere if you can and put in a decent linux distribution or live cd/dvd/usb, I would choose the Chakra live cd or best live dvd if you can, just be sure to don't use the wifi connection to let them use internet also a little ...

2- Let them use portables applications and games for Windows and Mac ...

3- Now learn them from scratch how to setup and secure Windows, Mac and Linux to let them choose which will be more suited for what they need ...

4- Now learn them how to use cross-platform applications cause that way they will learn to use almost any software on any operating system and add web applications in that ...

5- Don't help them too much to learn, let the group try a lot and help each member by themselves, don't push too much on stuff they don't seem to like ...

Note: That's what I should have liked to learn if I return to no computing knowledge at all ...

Answer 10

After teaching all the basics, get them to develop some sort of an aptitude for security.

So that when they get a scam by mail, they'd recognize it. And so that when a web page masquerades as a virus scanner for XP, they wouldn't fall for it. And so that they don't just download any file from the internet without knowing where it comes from, etc.

That task is probably the hardest of all, but I'd argue it's one of the most crucial skills that non-geeks/non-techies need to acquire to survive the web.

If your wife succeeds in teaching them that, then I'd like to read up on her experience in how she did it.

Answer 11

If i teach i will go with this learning style

1. Simple introduction of Computer Hardware and devices attached (so they dont forget to turn on and plugin everything before using it)
2. Introduction of GUI of windows (icons,menus)
3. How to use mouse (right click, left click) with menus
4. Then copy paste delete commands
5. Then file types, popular softwares (audio, video)
6. Viruses and Antiviruses Introduction
7. Browsers and Internet Basics (Search and Email)
8. Then using USB drives which is common these days

I hope this is the essential list for every beginner

Answer 12

The biggest thing I have found in trying to help new users is to point out patterns and try to get them to notice more on their own.

Examples:

• Keystrokes that are common across almost all applications.
• How the menu bar is structured consistently across applications.
• The location bar, and how tree structures work (applies to files and websites).

As for teaching how to use the web:

• The fore mentioned how to use Google or other search.
• Being aware of what information you are giving out and how private, or public, that information will be.

Answer 13

For OK Users: Using word processors correctly.
I am constantly astonished how badly many people use word processors. Using tabs, styles and frames correctly is really the most important thing you need to know for that new-fangled-typewriter-computer-thing.

Apart from that, googling and how-to-read-websites is really important.

Answer 14

After reading wfaulk's answer about tabbing, I'll add the fact that enter is so powerful. Looking for the larger or bolder box around an option will tell the user that enter will make that happen.

Answer 15

If the students are eventually going to be using their own computers (not just borrowing computers from a library, school, etc.), then teach them the importance of regular backups. Show them how to make, check, and restore backups of their system and/or data.

Demonstrate both local disk-to-disk backups and remote “online backups”. Having a local copy, even if it is a little it old can save a ton of time restoring your stuff from the “online” storage.

Answer 16

It is hard to give a good advice, especially if the goal is to teach a group, not a single person, because even total novices are very different. I will try to provide a couple of hints which are very abstract, but hopefully will be useful for everyone.

1. Document what you do. Even if you feel this is easy after doing it properly for the first time. You can't be sure you wouldn't forget it before you'll need it again.

2. Make backups of your personal documentation. Without this, 1. makes no sense. You don't want to lose your preciousss notes.

3. If you are trying to learn something new and you are failing - change the source of information. This often helps (Back in the days I failed to understand assembler by reading Peter Abel's book. I learned the basics from an e-zine, because the guy who was writing about assembler for newbies was a brilliant teacher and his style was more suitable for me.) If you are still failing - don't push it. Learn something else. There are chances that you will incidentally learn something that would help you later, when you'll take one more shot at the original subject.

4. Talk about what you learn with people who are at the same level as you. Learning together is fun! It is possible that someone who knows less than you just happens to know some particular thing which you don't. You will also learn a lot from people who know something better than you. But learning something from somebody who is at your level has a great advantage - it is painless, it is a joy!

Answer 17

If They are complete beginners you should teach them what the difference between minimizing and closing is (especially on Windows 7 with pinned programs). The lady across my street was just upgraded to Windows 7 after her computer broke (she didn't ask for it which she made sure I understood ;)) and she didn't understand what the different window operations were (Minimize, restore, maximize, close)

Also another basic thing is Explorer, with many programs you get a list of recently opened files, again the lady across my street wondered why the files were in 2 different places and why some were missing for the recently opened (in word) and why they were in a different order (recently modified vs alphabetical).

When showing her how to attach files to an email she expected the computer to know which folder the file she wanted to attach was in (she hadn't ever used Explorer or folders, just been using things like Word, and windows live photo gallery).

Another thing is the difference between a program and a window and how there can be many open windows of the same program (eg The inbox window and write a new mail windows of an email program)

One last thing, the difference between the google Search box on google.com and the address bar of the browser.

They are really really quite basic things, but even my mum and dad have at one point in the past not been sure about a few of the above.

Answer 18

How to use a Browser!!

• Create and use an e-mail account.
  • Manage attachments
  • Protect from spam/viruses.
• Use a search engine.
• RSS Feeds. News engines.
• Manage your financial needs.
• Entertainment (internet radio, videos)

Answer 19

Teach them how to set up a small website, or homepage.

They could use ready made BLOGS or TEMPLATES.

Or they could start from scratch, I easily learned HTML when I was only 9.

They could put pictures of a vacation or something up... and have a website competition.

www.zymic.com is a fairly decent host with FTP and PHP support!

Answer 20

You should probably look through The Unix and Internet Fundamentals HOWTO and use whatever is not UNIX-specific. It's very directed to the complete beginner, so you should be able to use a lot of it.

Answer 21

One of the first things people should learn is how to touch type.

Two-finger hunt-and-peck typing is one of the biggest barriers to learning the basics as it's frustrating and time consuming.

Learning to touch type doesn't take as long as people think, so it's worth doing.