Mastering_a_Skill

I believe that one of the skills that all people should have is how to use a computer. In today’s world, there is an abundance of information available at your fingertips. Everything from checking on social security benefits for seniors, to getting health and diet information from websites like the one that the Mayo Clinic has made available, to checking on how much the properties in your neighborhood have sold for, to managing your banking and investments online. All you need is a computer and the skills to use it. It surprises me how many people either do not know the basic concepts behind a computer, or have absolutely no idea what you can accomplish with one. I know some people that use a computer but constantly struggle to do what I consider the very basic uses of one; email, web browsing, or simply writing a letter. In my opinion, I believe everyone could benefit from taking beginner computer classes. We have some friends that come over and have me look something up for them on the computer as they watch, and are amazed by what I consider VERY basic things. As an example, a neighbor asked me if I could get her phone number placed on the National Do Not Call registry, to block her phone number from unwanted telemarketer calls. When she came over, I fired up my laptop, went to Google and typed in “do not call”, pulled up the website, and had her registered, all within five minutes. She was stunned. There are almost unlimited uses and tasks that can be accomplished with a computer, from organizing a to-do list, keeping in touch with friends or family, using a word-processor to write a letter or a newsletter for a club or organization, to shopping, among other things. Another example; just last week our 16 year old washing machine quit working, and after I discovered the problem, I searched on-line for parts to repair it. After I reviewed the cost of the parts for the repair, and took the age of the washer into consideration, my wife and I determined that it was not worth fixing, so we proceeded to shop for another washer entirely on-line. We searched for washing machines in our price range, reviewed them, studied repair histories of each brand, and looked at Energy Star ratings. After finding the one we wanted, at the best price we could find, we purchased it on-line, and had it delivered, all without leaving our house, or spending a dime on gas! So many more things can be accomplished with a computer. Ten years ago, who would have thought that it was possible to send pictures or videos to friends or family anywhere in the world' Digital photography and the computer have made that possible. For example, my mother lives in Florida, and my wife, daughter, and I live in Ohio. I am able to send pictures and video of my daughter to my mother, so she can watch her grow along with us. These are just some of the examples of things that you can accomplish with a computer. In today’s world, we are all more connected because of social networking sites such as Facebook and Flickr, and children in elementary schools around the world are learning with and learning to use computers. As much as there is available on the internet and on your computer, there are also many things to be aware of and to avoid. Spyware, malware, and viruses are all very real threats that need to be addressed, and the techniques used to avoid them are another skill that needs to be taught as well. Not to mention all the pitfalls and problems that children can encounter online as well. I believe there are many people that could benefit from the examples listed above if they were able or willing to receive the proper training. There are many ways that people could get the needed training, but they need to apply themselves and spend the time needed for the proper instruction. Some of the available resources include training offered at local libraries, training specifically targeted to seniors, classes available at community colleges for everything from Microsoft Excel and Word to more advanced courses, and even training offered to employees by many employers. I believe that with the examples above, there are numerous reasons to have the skills and means to be able to use a computer and its programs, as well as the internet to accomplish many different tasks. All that is needed are the proper, teachable skills, and of course availability to a computer!