Step-by-Step Computer Instruction for Seniors
March 16, 2010 7:17 PM Subscribe
Is there a site or document that has step-by-step basic computer skills instruction, especially for seniors?
I'm going to be teaching a basic computer class for senior citizens soon, and I was wondering if there was any step-by-step classroom materials available online that they could follow along with--e.g. go to the Start button, find Microsoft Word, etc. Does anyone know of any such site or material (available free or for a small fee)?
I'm going to be teaching a basic computer class for senior citizens soon, and I was wondering if there was any step-by-step classroom materials available online that they could follow along with--e.g. go to the Start button, find Microsoft Word, etc. Does anyone know of any such site or material (available free or for a small fee)?
Best answer: Rumor has it that the solitaire game on early Windows was intended to act as a tutorial for mouse actions (click, drag and drop, etc.) In general learning goes easier when centered around fun and leisure rather than obligation, might be useful as a concept to keep in mind.
posted by oblio_one at 7:32 PM on March 16, 2010
posted by oblio_one at 7:32 PM on March 16, 2010
Best answer: www.seniornet.org has some good, beginning exercises.
The mouse moving exercises are particularly good, and we use this page in our volunteer Seniors Internet Tutorial class at my University.
The downside is that they are all older windows kind of tutorials, but the mouse exercises are particularly good for someone who has never, or rarely, used a computer before.
posted by billy_the_punk at 8:01 PM on March 16, 2010
The mouse moving exercises are particularly good, and we use this page in our volunteer Seniors Internet Tutorial class at my University.
The downside is that they are all older windows kind of tutorials, but the mouse exercises are particularly good for someone who has never, or rarely, used a computer before.
posted by billy_the_punk at 8:01 PM on March 16, 2010
Seconding oblio_one, when I volunteered teaching computer skills to seniors, we almost universally started those with absolutely zero computer experience on Solitaire.
posted by heyforfour at 8:19 PM on March 16, 2010
posted by heyforfour at 8:19 PM on March 16, 2010
Best answer: My absolute favorite starter website for people learning mouse skills is Mousercise. Just for mouse stuff, but useful, easy to follow, self-guided and people get a certificate at the end. Teaches a lot of little stuff like scroll bars and information about links as well. I do this sort of thing for a job [more ad hoc instruction than classes, but some classes too] Please feel free to contact me directly if you want to ask any specific questions.
posted by jessamyn at 9:07 PM on March 16, 2010
posted by jessamyn at 9:07 PM on March 16, 2010
Best answer: The BBC tutorials are pretty good, though they're really designed as a self-teaching resource:
Computer Tutor
Guide to the Internet
posted by susanvance at 9:26 AM on March 17, 2010
Computer Tutor
Guide to the Internet
posted by susanvance at 9:26 AM on March 17, 2010
Response by poster: Great resources, everyone! These will really come in handy. Thanks!
posted by mjklin at 6:09 PM on March 21, 2010
posted by mjklin at 6:09 PM on March 21, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Which operating system are you trying to teach? XP, Vista, Windows 7, Mac, Older operating system
And the best thing to teach seniors... how to use magnifier (obviously for any of them with poor vision)
posted by MechEng at 7:24 PM on March 16, 2010