Teaching Senior Citizens How to Use Computers

Teaching Senior Citizens How to Use ComputersTeaching your loved ones how to use the computer is a great idea but you may be surprised to know that teaching them to use the computer for basic tasks can actually cause them to become even less independent. If your elderly loved one has a medical condition or needs assistance due to an injury, a tutor will be more beneficial than the old fashioned method of teaching the computer.Learning to use the computer for computer usage can help seniors cope with daily chores such as making phone calls or sending and receiving e-mails. Many of these tasks can be performed using a mouse or keyboard if the condition prevents them from using a standard keyboard. Others can be done using a touch screen or some other type of assistive device if they are incapable of using a keyboard.However, there are many tasks that cannot be performed using the mouse or keyboard and tutors are often the best medium to teach computer usage for seniors. Most tutors off er the option of individual tuition or group classes where individuals can enroll in a one on one tutoring session or a group session. Group tutoring sessions allow seniors to work together as a group to complete the lesson and have the instructor there to monitor the progress made during the lesson.Another way to teach your loved one how to use the computer is to have them learn basic functions first. The use of a mouse to click and drag files or a text box to type in commands is not required for the vast majority of tasks. For example, do not expect your senior citizen to write or type emails or send mail using a mouse.An excellent way to teach them to use the computer for basic tasks is to teach them the basic commands of the control pad or terminal program. Ask them to follow simple instructions that instruct them to press different buttons on the control pad to navigate through various functions. Then, explain to them that in order to take advantage of all the functions availab le to them, they must learn to use the terminal program or use a touch screen to interact with the computer.The best tutor will have a terminal program or a touch screen available to use. If they do not have access to a touch screen, the tutor can also provide step by step instructions in the video that accompanies the tutoring session. A tutorial that is not accompanied by a video that provides detailed instructions will have a limited benefit and may even cause a student to become frustrated with the tutor and their lessons.In addition to using a video to explain to them how to use the terminal program or touch screen to perform a task, the tutor should also provide a copy of the video and DVD to the senior citizen so that they can view it at their leisure during breaks or other free time. This will help the senior citizen to practice when he or she has free time and will also help them see how their tutor interacts with them as they make mistakes during the tutorial.By teaching s enior citizens how to use computers, they will be able to live independently and enjoy the benefits that they would have had to spend years learning if they had not been able to use a computer. While the tutoring sessions themselves can be difficult for some people, it is important to ensure that the tutoring sessions are interactive and that the senior citizen feels comfortable with their tutor. By using this type of tutorial, seniors will be able to find independence and improve their overall quality of life.