Teen Technology Tutors

You know a lot!

You can share your knowledge

You can make a difference!

Obstacles

Technophobia

•I will break the computer!

Technophobia

•I am too old to learn all this!

Computers/Internet

Make it sound easy:• Be a cheerleader!

• Convince them that they can learn computers - Give example of learning to ride a bike or drive a car. It just takes time and practice. One step at a time.

Physical Limitations

• Arthritis or Tremors • Vision - Cataracts or far-sighted• Hearing problems – don’t be afraid to be loud, if necessary.

• Arthritis– let them find a comfortable way to hold the mouse and how to right click and then left click on “open” from the menu.

• Tremors – the mouse pad can be used to keep mouse from moving, so that they can click on an icon.

• Vision:

Show your student how to use “control +” and “control-” to increase and decrease the font size on webpages.

Computers/Internet• Patience, step-by-step instructions, and repetition are needed.

Hands–on is key

don’t move the mouse for them!

Computers/Internet• Explain parts of the computer and keyboard (see handout). • Answer all their questions, but do not get too complex.

• Mousercise!

Computers/Internet• Internet - .com, .edu, .gov, .org

• email – how to set up account and how to use email

• Tell them about phishing – and that they should not click on a link from an email to log into their bank!

• email attachments

Computers/Internet• Don’t reformat their disks, install software etc. • It is ok if you can’t answer their question – just ask a librarian at the reference desk

• any problems – just ask us

Resources:

Carol Bean’s website:

http://beanworks.wordpress.com/category/seniors/