Training Tips from around the Web

• Summary of Tips for Success by MidHudson Library System


• Be enthusiastic about teaching patrons.


• Since patrons often don't know what they need to learn, ask people what they want to do with the computer. Use that information to figure out what they need to learn.


• Focus on improving the user's capabilities in doing what they want.


• Address their fear of making mistakes or breaking the computer.


• "You learn by making mistakes."


• "You will not break it." You can say this when the training computers have software, e.g., Deep Freeze or Centurion Guard, that "locks down" the computer's settings and configuration.


• Make a list of the most frequently asked questions you recieve over time and develop a 5 minute section for class.


• Configure the training computers in the same way such as having the same icons arranged in the same pattern on all your computers.


• Ideal length of class time is 60 to 90 minutes.


• Teaching older citizens


• Twelve teaching tips for teaching technology to senior citizens" at tinyurl.com/55u3sk (Wayback)


• "Top ten tips for teaching seniors how to use a computer" at tinyurl.com/6fdpma


• "Tips for teaching older adults to use computers" at tinyurl.com/6e5x5t


• Chris Rippel's training observations and tips.


• Patience is the most important quality of a computer teacher. It is more important than smarts or knowledge.


• Classes should focus on doing a task with the computer, not how to use a piece of software. Example: "How to write a letter and create a flier with Microsoft Word" rather than "How to use Word."


• Teachers only have to know how to do what they are teaching. They do not have to know everything else. Students graciously accept, "I don't know the answer to that question."


• When teaching novice computer users, two-thirds to three-quarters your teaching is telling them how to do something. The rest is showing them how to recover from their unintentional mistakes such as accidentally holding down (or pressing caps lock) instead of when typing a capital letter. Remember patience.


• Ask a student to run the computer projected on the screen. This allows the teacher to focus on the students rather than running a computer. And one more student gets access to a computer. Anyone can fantasize numerous problems with this situation, but it has worked for me over hundreds of classes for over 10 years.