How to become computer literate in as little time as possible?
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M$13 Answers
Learning from my mistakes, I've created a short breakdown of computer basics, research, and coding. I hope they help you avoid my own folly.
BASICS
- Windows
- Mac
- Virus Protection: I use the free versions of Avira AntiVir and Spybot - Search and Destroy. Combined, they have withstood a seige of trojans.
- Hardware: Strangely, I don't have any basic hardware bookmarks. However, when a problem arises, a quick Google search (even just typing in a brief description) will bring up the information you need for troubleshooting. Cross-reference the solution on multiple sites to verify it. Most people (not me) don't touch hardware without knowing anything about it, so just let someone else fix it. =)
RESEARCH
- Northwestern University has a good outline for using the internet as a research tool. Because it is an academic site, its links are credible references. It also provides a basic guide on determining source quality.
- Google is the most popular search engine right now. It's interface is simple and very user-friendly. Google also has a couple of search tutorials that explain the nuances of search terms.
- Pandia.com has tutorials on more advanced search techniques.
- A research tip: Even if you don't need a particular website at the time, bookmark it if it looks like a reliable source. Keep them organized in specific categories so that if a question or thought pops up, you can pull up one of your bookmarks instead of doing an extensive search.
CODING
- W3schools has excellent tutorials for X/HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, etc.
- Tutorialistic has nice, quick tutorials primarily for X/HTML, CSS, and PHP. It also has some useful CSS templates to get your started.
- W3C's validators are handy for checking markup and css errors, as well as broken links.
- SAMS Teach Yourself PHP in 24 Hours and The CSS Anthology (Sitepoint) are good introductions to PHP and CSS
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M$
Windows-based PCs usually come with a tutorial, but if they don't, you can go to the Windows/MS Website and there are excellent help and tutorials that walk you through anything you want to do with pretty easy to understand instructions.
New computer users often find Macs easier to learn on and then can move to Windows machines. While I agree, Macs are often easier to begin on as a new user, it's harder to find a lot of information online to get tutorials.
If there's specific tasks you want to learn, try searching for Video Tutorials ______ where the blank is filled in with the task you want to perform. YouTube and other video sharing sites have tons of computer tutorials where you can actually see the tasks performed on a computer and then you can repeat those tasks.
In the end, the very best way to learn how to use a computer quickly is to just hook it up and start using it.
As for using HTML code, my all-time favorite website for that is EZHTML. As the name implies, it's EZ (easy) and it has HTML tutorials. The link is included in the resources. It's a beginner's guide to HTML, but you can learn some basic stuff as well as more advanced coding, and it really IS easy!
Hope this helps!
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M$
A couple of key things is for one I was just saying in another post. Do not become overwhelmed it will only hurt you, instead stay positive and try to focus on key elements of using and navigating through the computer/internet..
I think some great things to learn and i know my father is having the same tough time is you must know your search engines.
Google.com - This will help you find tutorials on pretty much anything you want to know about your computer.
Yahoo.com - Same goes for yahoo.
The 2 biggest search engines around. These will also help you find all things on the internet, shopping, restraunts, movie times, etc...
There is also some great social networking websites were you might be interested in finding and staying in touch with some past friends or relatives.. If they have been using the internet they already should know about these and be on there.
Facebook.com
MySpace.com
And finally
One of my favorite sites, Youtube.com
I think I have just named the top 5 websites in the world to you, from there it is all gravy. Remember dont get overwhelmed stay positive.
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M$
You not only learn how to do what you need or want but also what you might need in the future.
The Web offers a ton of ways to better your skills.
One fun thing to do is just enter www. and then what ever pops into your head if you don't want to Google.
Be Creative
Life
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M$
I have used the Common Craft In Plain English video series to guide lots of folks through internet and social media basics. Browse the Technology videos. They are short, sweet and straightforward.
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M$
Like others and myself have said, using the computer is the best way to learn it. GE (general education classes) are also a great way to start relearning, or advancing your knowledge. All community colleges have them and they are pretty cheap (you don't get College credit or any degree).
http://www.quackit.com/html/codes/ is a nice little copy/paste place to get codes to put on myspace (like scrolling bars and what not).
If you need any specific help feel free to contact me in a message or through my email Rishiku@live.com, I have no problem helping the best I can (free of course)
The thing between my ears....
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M$
by Nancy D. Courtney. It is a textbook so it is a little bit expensive $44.00 on Amazon, but worth if you need a quick start. Don't be put off by the subtitle referring to librarian, it will still be a help to you.
Then narrow it down to what you want to learn..
For example:
Do you need to know better ways to use your browser?
Try http://kb.mozillazine.org/Knowledge_Base (for Firefox)
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Internet_Explorer (for IE)
Do you want to learn XHTML and CSS?
http://www.w3schools.com/Xhtml/
http://www.csszengarden.com/
Links listed here
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M$
For coding..,What sorta coding are you trying to do? I'm going to guess HTML because you mentioned links.
For learning html coding I suggest you go to this site
http://www.w3schools.com/
I used w3; as well as a web design 1 and 2 class; for my learning of HTML.It also has java and flash coding on there.
If you are wanting to be a web designer and you dont want to write all your coding you could get adobe dreamweaver. Its a fantastic program and it writes most of the code for you because it is a WYSIWYG;what you see is what you get; program
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M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Myself
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M$
Many colleges offer online courses also. Look for Intro to the Internet, or in the Library and Information Science courses. It depends what you need to do really.
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M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I also find that this is a generational thing. Its just a fact that today's generation has grown up computer literate.
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