Comments on: Tips for Dealing With Inexperienced Computer Users

By: Giggles

Giggles — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:29:10 +0000

All of those things are so true!! Especially patients, in fact, everything else kind of falls under patients. At work I often find myself teaching other people to do what I do, and if i didn’t have patients, give them every little detail, or let them learn from their mistakes they would probably just get discouraged and give up.
And as far as great power giving you great responsibility, I love that quote! If people didn’t help eachother or share eachother’s knowledge, the world wouldn’t go round!

By: Mathew Gonzalez

Mathew Gonzalez — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:17:33 +0000

I appreciate your thoughts on patience. Most friends of mine who try to help me understand something move too quickly for me to grasp the concept they are showing me. I’m able to get around on my computer, but I sometimes wish I new more. It was a very well written article. Good luck.

By: Cory

Cory — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:13:49 +0000

this a very good article, I particularly like the teach them to fish part . Not only can that be used to teach people about computers but can also teach them about all other aspects of life.

By: frazier springfield

frazier springfield — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:13:12 +0000

these four steps on helping novice computer users are very helpful and if more computer technicians would know all of this it would be very helpful, im not a novice computer user but i will use these technics to help other people when and if they need help great work trimm
frazier

By: Miquelle Drake

Miquelle Drake — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:05:05 +0000

This article was very amusing. I liked how the author of the article used quotations to help explain what he was going to say. I’m one of those people that he is talking about helping. I just wish the people who help me when I’m having a problem would read this article (maybe I will reccomend it :] ). I really enjoyed the part about teaching them instead of just doing it for them. People never are willing to teach me, but rather they do things for me so I never really learn and then I have to keep asking. Michael, you do a good job of explaining how to help others and it can be used in other ways, not just tech stuff. Very refreshing : )

By: devon

devon — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:56:26 +0000

I think that this is a very educating article. in fact its very rue since i’ve had to be one of the computer dumbnut people. so in my perspective i think that this is very true and that this is very helpfull to those who are going to teach people how to use computers.

By: Tall Paul

Tall Paul — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:40:06 +0000

Excellent points made in article. Would be useful in real life. We would be well served to use these points everyday.

By: Michael"The Computer Guy"

Michael"The Computer Guy" — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:29:25 +0000

I certainly agree with the order of your tips. As a tech support professional I’ve often been told that I have the “patience of a saint” when dealing with novice computer users—and even when working with very experienced ones. They are already frustrated or they would not be asking for help so be sure you stay positive and that you are just oozing calm.

Details, too, are important because they need to learn the steps but remember they probably are not at your level of understanding and too many details will quickly overwhelm them. The KISS principle never fails.

By: Juergen

Juergen — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:00:58 +0000

I completely agree with the section on details, I’m a little computer savvy but when I need help I enjoy being walked through as if I was new to computers. I can also relate as a teacher, when my mom needs help I basically have to explain the whole screen to her, but I dint mind because she did the same in raising me.

By: Alex Tipton

Alex Tipton — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:44:50 +0000

Well spoken. This article could be read for more than just helping someone with computers. This is how people should help anyone in any situation. This was a great article Michael. Good luck to you in the future. I look forward to many more articles.

By: Kristina Terry

Kristina Terry — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:17:44 +0000

This is very true. Micheal you should write about things like this more often. You made a very good.

By: Whosthemama Shel

Whosthemama Shel — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:03:42 +0000

I think the tips were very good for someone getting into teaching anything to others. I would add a bit about how there’s a difference in info retention for those of us who don’t live on a computer 24/7. A teacher-geek probably has done certain things 100 times, whereas us novice-geeks have done it once or twice and sometimes are working against the continual loss of brain cells – you too shall be old someday! Thanks for the good read!

By: Alisha

Alisha — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:32:33 +0000

All of the topics were great..the more technology that comes out, the more difficult teaching it can be. I love technology and I sometimes get confused with what I am doing. I like this article, it was helpful and encourageing!! :)

By: Kay Frazier

Kay Frazier — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:27:17 +0000

Finally! Someone who actually acts like they could help me. It’s a breath of fresh air to find someone who actually wants to teach others instead of just grabbing the mouse and doing it for me. Thank you, Michael!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:11:06 +0000

As a teacher who works with older colleagues, I find that I am often the ‘technologically savvy’ one because my of my upbringing with technology. I definitely agree with the writer of this article because it’s important to take baby steps. It’s not their faults that they weren’t raised on computers like we were :) Plus, with my students, I have to keep my patience until they have the critical thinking skills to think on their own when it comes to problem solving.