During the course of my last job as an IT Trainer / Techie Support in the NHS , I came across 3 main groups of computer users… not including other techies…that’s a whole subject in itself 
The 1st group are “The Trainees / Students” – A rich fertile ground ready to be planted with skills, knowledge and ready for me to find their interest or hobby with which we can aim their computer skills towards.
The 2nd are “The Users” – These are the people who routinely use computers during the course of their work. They noodle along quite happily in their roles and require the usual techie support. It’s interesting to see these “users” develop and build upon their existing computer skills without them realising it.
When they do require your tech support, their queries get more challenging as they themselves become more proficient and it’s always a great touch to remind them that you’ve noticed how their computer skills have developed over time.
They may not realise it, but you as a techie support trainer will.
Then you have the 3rd group… yes… the 3rd group… these people are who I call the “Eternal Newbies”.
You can spot an Eternal Newbie from miles off by their body language as they sit in front of “The Computer”.
You’ll never see an Eternal Newbie slouching nonchalantly back in their chair surfing the web, with a telephone receiver clamped between their shoulder and ear, eating pizza slices while idly flipping through a magazine and supping from a can of coke… all at the same time.
You can also tell an Eternal Newbie from what they say…
“I hate computers….”
“Computers don’t get on with me…” (!)
“I’m not very technical so I don’t like using computers…”
“We have a computer at home but we don’t use it much…”
The best give-away that someone is an Eternal Newbie is by the fact that they’ve been in their role for years and years… and years… and years… have used a computer most of that time… and still wonder where they saved their last file to…
Eternal Newbies are often afflicted with the “Flashing Zero” syndrome… where various electronic items in their homes flash zero… as they haven’t been set or programmed to the correct setting…
If you recognise yourself as an Eternal Newbie, then fear not… help is at hand.
It’s my goal to free everyone from the Eternal Newbie trap…
Stick with this post and see if you can pick up some tips…
So, here are my “Top 10 Tips For Eternal Newbies” which could save you a lifetime of angst from that pile of plastic, metal and sand that sits on your desk in front of you…
… and will help you a lot with your confidence in using “the computer”…
Right… let’s get started…
Tip 1: Don’t Expect To Learn It All…
… you never will… trust me… never… ever… and neither will I… and neither will anyone else.
You see, when you say to me that you don’t “do” computers, you need to realise that it’s the program that you’re really… er… “doing”…
There are thousands and thousands of programs out there and nobody is ever going to know about all of them let alone learn them…
So when you wonder if you’re ever going to learn it all… the answer is “no”… However, it would be in your interest to learn what is relevant and useful for the work that you’re doing.
That takes us nicely on to…
Tip 2: Learn Something New Regularly.
If you’re using a word processor every day, then try to learn something new about it regularly… maybe a new key combination, a new shortcut… something… anything…
Keep a small pocket notebook handy where you can jot down new things that you learn.
Tip 3: You Don’t Have To Be Technical To Use A Computer.
Just how technical do you have to be to use a DVD player? Or a food processor? Or to drive your car to work? Or to record a video?
I don’t have to be a mechanic to drive my car… I have no idea what happens when I turn the key to start her up… as far as I’m concerned it’s magic… but I still manage to drive… and even drive different combinations of routes each time…
Tip 4: Don’t Be Intimidated.
You know the manager who plonks down that pile of printed papers in front of you with figures, graphs and charts from an Excel spreadsheet together with a floppy disk… and wants this and that done..? You know the one…
Well, he may be bit of a computer whiz and may know more than you, but there was a time when he was starting out too.
Like I say, don’t be intimidated…
Tip 5: Relax.
This is so important. Yes, relax.
If difficult to learn something when you’re anxious and stressed out.
For goodness sakes it’s only a computer…
It’s not a tsunami, it’s not an earthquake, it’s not famine… it’s just a calculator processor thing…
Think of it as a tool…
… a bit like a food processor in a kitchen.
You can use a food processor to make an omelette, or a twelve-course cordon bleu meal…
Seriously, do relax, as sitting at a desk, stressed out can have a detrimental effect on your shoulders, neck, back, spine… it just ain’t good for you.
Tip 6: File / Directory Structure.
I would advise you to learn about the file / directory structure. Yep I know it sounds as interesting as watching black paint dry in the dark, but you’ll save yourself hours of heartache.
Trust me…
You know all those countless times you’ve wondered where you saved your file to?
Well, by learning a little about file / folder structure and management you’ll really learn a very useful part of using a computer… and believe me, when you do, your confidence will increase proportionally.
If you can, ask a techie or a trainer to sit down with you for about an hour or so to explain about folder / file management, or even invest in a short course where you learn the fundamentals.
Learn how to sort your files… that way you won’t just save everything into one heap of a folder… I know someone who likes to make a new folder every month for their documents… or pehaps you’d prefer an Excel folder for your spreadsheets… a Word folder for all your Word documents… whatever…
If there’s one main thing I always encourage newbies, especially “Eternal Newbies” to learn, then it’s got to be folder / directory structure and moving / copying files from folders to folders.
Tip 7: Learn These 3 Commands:
If you really can’t face learning about file / directory structure, the do me a favour and learn the following 3 commands:
1: “Save”…
2: “Save As”…
&
3: “Undo”
That’s a start… and a good start.
Tip 8: A Computer is Just A Tool.
It can’t think… it can’t even daydream… it can’t form an opinion… it has no feelings… and it certainly isn’t out to “get you”.
It’s simply a food processor for information…
Make it your friend…
In fact it’s better than some “friends”…
… it has an “Off” button
Tip 9: Be Honest About What You Don’t Know… And About What You Do.
Don’t say you know how to do something or understand something when you don’t.
If your Techie Support person asks you whether you understand what they showed you… you say that you do… and the next time you have the same problem… and again you say that you understand what you did wrong… the same thing… again… and again…
Get the picture?
There’s nothing wrong with not understanding something… in fact it’s a great help when you tell the Techie Support person when you don’t understand something… as then they know what you don’t know and… hey… get this… they can help you.
Soon, without you knowing how and why, you’ll strangely find yourself, maybe not necessarily understanding, but remembering and learning how to do things….
While we’re on about “Honesty…” go on… be honest… when was the last time you carried out an RTFM? That’s “Read The Flippin’ Manual”… or RTHF – “Read The Help File”?
Reason it’s called the “flippin’ manual? That’s because when a techie needs to refer to it, it usually means that they’re in deep technical doo doo when they need it.
Okay, granted, I totally agree that some help manuals or help files can leave a lot to be desired when it comes to them being actually helpful… but they’re worth a go…
When you click on something, make sure you know what you’re clicking on… actually read it… or at least… see it…
All Techie Support people will know of Eternal Newbies who say, “I don’t know what I clicked on…”
The Techie will most probably ask, “Why did you click on it..?”
To which the reply is usually… “I don’t know…”
If you’re not used to taking a couple of seconds and read and see what it is that you’re clicking on…then get into the habit now.
Just taking an extra couple of seconds to read what’s on the screen could save you a lot of time later…
Tip 10: Change Your Attitude.
There’s nothing awe-inspiring or magical about computers these days.
They’re everywhere whether we like it or not.
Like I keep saying over and over again… it’s just a tool… whether you want to make your own programs… or design aircrafts… or compose music… or just surf the web… or play Spider Solitaire… or whatever… it’s just a tool.
If you can play a game or click on a command in a program, then you can “use” a computer.
If you’re going to go around saying things like, “I’m hopeless when it comes to computers… Computers have it in for me… Computers don’t get on with me… “, and so on… guess what? You’re right.
However, if you make the effort to start to get to grips with “that computer” and start learning bit by bit… not only will your confidence grow, but so will your skills.
Think about it…
If you’re really committed to your job and here’s a piece of equipment that can help you, wouldn’t it make sense to learn a little about it?
We’re back to where we started… learning.
Nobody will learn it for you, but your Techie Support person or your IT Trainer can help you to learn… learn and remember…
Go on… break those chains that hold you back as an Eternal Newbie…
… get rid of that anxiety about “the computer” that you really find uncomfortable…
Don’t let that fear of “the computer” make your job more difficult than it should be…
… Build your skills and knowledge base with regards to getting to grips with “that computer” and see how your confidence will grow…
… others have done it…
… and so can you…
Trust me.
And you know that computer you have at home? The one you don’t use much?
Well, it’s just waiting for you to fire it up and show it what you can do.
Enjoy!
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