Computer literacy is still a huge problem
- Thread starter mrochester
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Thanks, I can finish early now
It's the same people who ask again and again, how do I print this? how do I save/copy/attach a file?
When I offer some training they are always too busy. Now when they ask for help I just say I'm too busy.
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Because people are still learning. Get that into your head and you will be fine.
How long will they be learning for?!
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"Son what's my email address?"
"Son what's my password?"
"Son you set it up for me I thought you would have remembered"
"Son how do I get into my emails?"
"Son what do you mean what OS am I running?"
"Son what's an operating system"
"Son I told you the operating system I'm using is word"
"Son can you sort my insurance, Car Tax, internet purchases anything else I need from the internet I'm worried ill do something wrong and the pirates will get my details"
<insert face palm here>
These used to be a list of statements I would hear my dad say now at first it was my fault I used to show him how to do things, set him up an email address and got him to write it down etc so he couldn't forget. The whole time during the "training" he would be nodding etc and making out he was listening then 1 week later repeat any of the above statements. The issue is like we all had to do when we started was learn. Doing things for others your just enabling them to not have to learn. Fine if your paying for a service you don't care about but given the modern world most people would agree these skills should be something everyone can do to a very basic level.
I'm sure this is a pain a lot of us have to experience *hugs collective OCUK family*
"Son what's my password?"
"Son you set it up for me I thought you would have remembered"
"Son how do I get into my emails?"
"Son what do you mean what OS am I running?"
"Son what's an operating system"
"Son I told you the operating system I'm using is word"
"Son can you sort my insurance, Car Tax, internet purchases anything else I need from the internet I'm worried ill do something wrong and the pirates will get my details"
<insert face palm here>
These used to be a list of statements I would hear my dad say now at first it was my fault I used to show him how to do things, set him up an email address and got him to write it down etc so he couldn't forget. The whole time during the "training" he would be nodding etc and making out he was listening then 1 week later repeat any of the above statements. The issue is like we all had to do when we started was learn. Doing things for others your just enabling them to not have to learn. Fine if your paying for a service you don't care about but given the modern world most people would agree these skills should be something everyone can do to a very basic level.
I'm sure this is a pain a lot of us have to experience *hugs collective OCUK family*
The worst is when you get a user tell you 'I'm not very good with technology' when their job is computer based!! Like how the hell did you land that job if you don't know what I mean by 'close that window' or 'take a screenshot for me'.
Seriously Windows at this basic level has been more less the same for nearly 30 years.
Is this the same people even on this very forum and many other forums that were freaking out when Windows 8 launched with no start button. The discussions went on for a few years.
They all know how to put a X in a box that says "Leave" though....
Soldato
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Haha yes, on one hand, its great for working and looks good on a cv, but on the other hand:
"help me <insert name here> please, my formula isn't working, come here please"
I have worked in IT support and I know the feeling. My parents are also similar, I am expected to remember every account and password!
When they ask me simple things and I get frustrated, they turn round and say "as not the man who had to be taught how to use a spoon"
When they ask me simple things and I get frustrated, they turn round and say "as not the man who had to be taught how to use a spoon"
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We've just had an upgrade (yay no more XP) but boy its come at a price. Whole office is like this:
Where's my printer gone?
How do I log into this?
Where's my shortcuts?
What's this 'Skype' button in Outlook?
What's this license agreement?
Why is Excel asking what file extension to use?
My answer to everything is Ctrl + Alt + any cursor key.
Where are the cursor keys?
Where's my printer gone?
How do I log into this?
Where's my shortcuts?
What's this 'Skype' button in Outlook?
What's this license agreement?
Why is Excel asking what file extension to use?
My answer to everything is Ctrl + Alt + any cursor key.
Where are the cursor keys?
In instances like this, I'm not sure a course would help.
I can't use excel but after jumping into it, figuring out the appropriate actions, what icons do what etc, I'd learn and do everything I need to achieve much quicker with every attempt - After 2-3-4 times using it, I'd be a master...Well, perhaps not a master but you know what I mean...
I don't think this has anything to do with computer literacy as I bet she's been using one on a daily basis for many years. I wouldn't even say it's down to a lack of interest as I can't stand spreadsheets for example but I'd learn to use one efficiently.
Truth is, I don't know what these folks are lacking but I'm sure everyone on these boards experience them on a daily basis
In instances like this, I'm not sure a course would help.
I can't use excel but after jumping into it, figuring out the appropriate actions, what icons do what etc, I'd learn and do everything I need to achieve much quicker with every attempt - After 2-3-4 times using it, I'd be a master...Well, perhaps not a master but you know what I mean...
I don't think this has anything to do with computer literacy as I bet she's been using one on a daily basis for many years. I wouldn't even say it's down to a lack of interest as I can't stand spreadsheets for example but I'd learn to use one efficiently.
Truth is, I don't know what these folks are lacking but I'm sure everyone on these boards experience them on a daily basis
Its the fear of failing imo.
When you start messing around with excel, and well, anything computer related, you get things wrong more often than you get them right. For most people, this is a major cause of anxiety. So often you'll see people say things like "Oh no! Why has that done that?!" Looking visibly distraught. Then you go over and point out its a simple warning message because you forgot a semi-colon or some other trivial thing.
If they weren't so scared of error, they would try things out for themselves a lot more and become much more literate. Being in a work environment compounds this problem more.
I am not really older generation (63 only
) butMy first x86 computer in 1990 (age 38)
My first self build in 1993.
Frequent hardware upgrades in the intervening 23 years.
Wordperfect, Lotus 123 ................................Office 2016.
So cut the generalisations, I am more computer literate than 50% of younguns IMO.
I am not really older generation (63 only
My first x86 computer in 1990 (age 38)
My first self build in 1993.
Mmm, 1993. Lovely summer that year and Last Action Hero was in cinemas.
That's a very good point. If I got anxious over the things I broke on a daily basis, I'd be in an early grave
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I dislike the notion a lot of places have that knowing how to use the software that is in constant usage in the working environment is somehow a fault.
Whilst simaltaneously complaining about not knowing how to use other software that is also in constant usage.
If only there was some method of educating people in a workplace how to use the it systems they are forced to live with on a daily basis
Whilst simaltaneously complaining about not knowing how to use other software that is also in constant usage.
If only there was some method of educating people in a workplace how to use the it systems they are forced to live with on a daily basis
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I have worked in IT support and I know the feeling. My parents are also similar, I am expected to remember every account and password!
When they ask me simple things and I get frustrated, they turn round and say "as not the man who had to be taught how to use a spoon"
Haha yes, this! I can't get frustrated at teaching my parents these things, they were wiping my bum for me and taught me how to talk..
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Got 6 colleagues. 4 of them are pretty IT literate, 1 is ok and 1 is useless.
The one who's ok does have weird email etiquette though. I'll drop her an email saying "please do this and this". She'll do it no probs, but instead of hitting reply and writing "done", she'll print my email message, write the word "done" using a pen and pop it on my desk. Wtf?
The one who is useless has to phone up IT to reset her password on a weekly basis because she can't remember it. Then for some of her other logins, she writes her passwords on a sheet of paper and leaves it in an unlocked drawer. Like in the OP, she doesn't know what a browser is or tabs etc. She's basically a drain on the rest of the department. Very counter-productive yet she's been with us for over 30 years. She's one of those people who still go inside a bank branch to pay her bills.
My granny on the other hand, who turns 87 next week is pretty good/ok. Will do day-to-day stuff no probs like online banking, shopping, Facebook, MS Office, follow craft/cooking blogs on both laptop + tablet. The only thing that stops her really is technical issues, but she does make attempts to resolve it herself before she phones up family members.
The one who's ok does have weird email etiquette though. I'll drop her an email saying "please do this and this". She'll do it no probs, but instead of hitting reply and writing "done", she'll print my email message, write the word "done" using a pen and pop it on my desk. Wtf?
The one who is useless has to phone up IT to reset her password on a weekly basis because she can't remember it. Then for some of her other logins, she writes her passwords on a sheet of paper and leaves it in an unlocked drawer. Like in the OP, she doesn't know what a browser is or tabs etc. She's basically a drain on the rest of the department. Very counter-productive yet she's been with us for over 30 years. She's one of those people who still go inside a bank branch to pay her bills.
My granny on the other hand, who turns 87 next week is pretty good/ok. Will do day-to-day stuff no probs like online banking, shopping, Facebook, MS Office, follow craft/cooking blogs on both laptop + tablet. The only thing that stops her really is technical issues, but she does make attempts to resolve it herself before she phones up family members.