Computer Resources for Older People?

Your_Mom asks: "My mother has recently become involved in computing. She has familiarized herself with many of the basics like: going to certain web sites, typing out simple Word documents, and so forth. However, she has recently expressed interest in learning more. Where can I find resources for older computer users, teaching simple things like word processing, spreadsheets, searching the web, etc.?"

Comments

Lots of possibilities...

[rusty0101]

There is the idiot's and dummies guides.

Have her tune into TechTV for the Call for Help show.

Get her the "professor" CD self study guides.

Have her use what knowledge she has about writing documents in Word (write, notepad, whatever) to generate a list of the things she has questions about, that you then turn around into a Wiki to explain those concepts. Show her how to edit and add more questions to the Wiki, and see where things go from there.

Check with the community education people in your area to see if they have courses that would interest her.

If you have gone through all of that, and still have nothing that works, spend some time, sitting with her and asking her what she is doing. Also ask her if there is something she would like to do, but doesn't know how to do that.

Different people learn in different ways, at different speeds, and with different intentions. If she is already getting as much out of the computer as she is interested in, be comfortable with that, and let her do her thing.

-Rusty