Computer Tutoring

It can be difficult to imagine life before the internet, now we use it for so many things including work, shopping and chatting with friends on the other side of the world. However some people are excluded from this world, frightened to even touch a computer.

For elderly people who find getting out and about difficult, the web enables them to shop from home. They can keep in touch with family living overseas.

So if you want to encourage someone you know to discover the benefits of the internet, Fiona Pearson, Reading Development Librarian at the London Borough of Richmond Libraries, offers these tips for teachers and students to get "silver surfers" started.

• The main thing you have to have is patience - this applies to both teacher and student - you can't learn everything in a day.
• Reassure students who may be frightened - because people who have used computers all their lives just don't understand how you can be absolutely terrified of the computer because you're so worried that you're going to break it.
• Start by looking at a search engine such as Google, a general website, and a specific website.
• To get going teachers can ask students their favourite author, where they like to go on holiday and what they are interested in.
• The computer will tell you what to do - move your mouse over the top right hand corner for example and X comes up with Close.
• Instead of the 'return' key on the keyboard you can use the key marked 'enter' to enter the system. This is easier to remember, because the return key doesn't mean anything because it doesn't say what it does.
• On the keyboard you can use the arrow keys (up and down) instead of clicking and dragging. If you cannot use a mouse this is how to move things up and down.
• If you have done anything wrong on the screen for example highlighting then just click on a clear part of the screen and it should take it out.
• For a student, have confidence you are learning a new and enjoyable skill.

Web Links

Silver Surfers Day: www.silversurfersday.org

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