Teaching Tips
Teaching technology to adults is a rewarding experience. Think of how much you use things like Facebook and text messaging to stay in touch with your friends. Or how you use the web to find information for your schoolwork. Or just to find the score of the big game.
Take some time to teach a parent, grandparent or other family member how to use technology, and they’ll be happy you did. Just keep in mind the following tips:
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Be Patient
New things like computers, the Internet and smartphones can be frustrating to learn for people who haven’t had any experience with them before. Remember when you were learning to ride a bike? You probably had training wheels, and someone to help you figure out how to keep your balance. Well, teaching technology to adults is the same thing. They might not get it at first, but if you are patient and keep trying, soon they’ll know everything they need to know to enjoy going online.
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Go Slow
Some of the things you’ll be teaching adults are complicated and difficult to understand at first. If they’re new to technology — computers, the internet, cell phones — they will need you to go slow. If you think they are getting confused, slow down and take your time.
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Stop After Each Step
Most of the lessons on this site show adults the step-by-step process to do something online. It’s your job to go through those steps alongside an adult and teach them what they need to know. After each step, stop for a second and ask them if they understand what you just taught, and if they’re ready to move on to the next step. If not, go back and do the step over again.
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Print the Lessons
Each one of the lessons on this site has a printable version that you can download and print out. If you leave that printout with the adults you are teaching, they can use it to remember the lesson.
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Have Fun!
Teaching is fun because you’re using what you know to help someone else. By going through these lessons with adults, you’ll be teaching them all kinds of things that will make their lives better. Have fun with it! Don’t forget to laugh. Technology is great when you know how to use it, and it’s your job to teach adults to use, and enjoy, technology.
Related Resources
Now that you’ve taught mom or grandpa the basics – here are a few more resources they may want to check out:
- Oats helps train and support older adults in using technology to improve their social engagement, health and well-being, financial security, and more.
- SeniorNet provides a place for older adults to share their wisdom and knowledge while gaining education and access to technology.
- Digital Connectors helps young people gain new knowledge and skills in technology to help them in school, jobs and life. As they develop these skills they then give back to their families, friends and communities by teaching others about digital literacy.
- Digital Basics offers easy to use, how-to instructions to help beginners, intermediate and advanced users develop digital literacy skills and use technology safely.
learn basice skill
i like to learn basic skills so my daughter dosent hve to show me all the time
I’ts hard but all I need to do is focus and prove to myself that I can do this Once again .you you for all your doing for a stranger.
my name Edwin Valentin & i am trying to learn computer basic
because i don`t know to much about it. I am 78 years old & i am behind the technology that i never learn.thanks to google
chrome i found hep,Know that i have the time to learn something i will make effort learn what ever i can.thank you
s s Edwin Valentin
i just want to learn basice.
Hi Ruby, are there skills in particular you’d like to learn? Let us know. We definitely appreciate your feedback and will be adding more content in the near future. Thanks! Alexis
Thank you so much for your nice articles. I really appreciate your good works. Keep it up. It will help a lot of people.
Thank you for your feedback Sampson, glad you found our site, be sure to share it will anyone you know who needs a little help with the web. Come back soon! Thanks, Alexis
I’m looking for a class or a tudor to teach me how to use my computer. I know some things, but I know it can do so much more. I just learned how to copy and paste if that tells you anything. I would like to know how to downlod pictures from my camera ect… I could go on forever.
I have purchased a new Lenova Laptop. I am in Kent, Wa. I will check out sites above but if anyone has a suggestions on a good place to go for learning (starting with the basics) on my new toy. Would prefer free but could consider payment for class.
Thank you
Karen
i want to learn basics, how to get page to write letters, and how to get images on the letter,where to clik if i need to send to my e-mail. please help,thanks millions.
how do u do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i just want to know how to make a emill
i need more than one g-mail to send an e-mail
How do I send photographs etc.by email
i want to learn how to make an account of facebook.
i want to have a email adress
i want to make a facebook please helpe
I know I need to be in the USA to contribute or send a video but please remember Africans too need such opportunities.Thanks.
I had just started to get into Facebook, and now it has changed. I like the old style much better, easy to leart and easy to do. Do you have any instructions on how to use the latest Facebook?
Wish that I had found this years ago!
This is really wonderful. I am working with senior patrons to develop computer skills. What a great help this is for those who cannot get to the library. Thank you so much.
This was interesting and neat
you was so helpful but can you help me get a computer disc.for beginners thank you
I need to learn some more basic computer skills, microsoft word, how to send professional e-mails, technology to store, retrieve and disseminate information, and data
thank you again,pls con’t to full fill my great ambition!
the tips not to compared,so simple.