Home Computer Training Welcome home! You're so excited to have your new computer system up and running. It is pretty exciting, isn't it? So what's next? For some of you, you're off to the races, ready to go to the ends of the Internet. For others, you may be staring at your new system like a calf staring at a new gate. This is why most home users of personal computers can benefit from home computer training. So what are some of the things a home computer user should get trained on? Let's take a look at a short list of things you need to know to be efficient on your home computer and keep it running in tip-top shape. Home computer training should always include how to do back-ups. It goes without saying that if something is important, you should have two copies of it. It's nice to have a hard copy (print-out) of a document or file, but it's also nice to have a back-up of the actual computer file. Just imagine what happens when the spreadsheet you've been using to balance your accounts suddenly get corrupted. If you don't have a electronic copy of the file, then you will be stuck with re-entering all of the information by hand. With home computer training you can get the skills to know how to best back up your files, which files to back up, and what utilities will best meet your needs. Another area that should be covered through home computer training is that of file system maintenance. Let's look at two areas that often get overlooked until the system slows down so much it is basically at a standstill. One is disk cleanup and the other is file fragmentation. Home computer training will help the new computer user learn how to recognize when a hard drive is becoming cluttered, and what to do about it. Often, third party software creates temporary files while you are using it, and then conveniently neglects to delete these files when you are done. In addition, trash can collect in your recycle bin as well. Combine these with temporary internet files and cookies and you can be bogged down pretty quickly. Home computer training will also help you understand what causes a file to get fragmented into dozens of pieces on your hard drive. While this doesn't destroy the file, it sure does slow down the computer's access time to it, which increases your wait time while using that software or opening that particular project. A final area that is often overlooked by the new computer user is that of Internet security and setting up of the firewall. A good home computer training class will cover how to set up your firewall, and how to optimize your Internet browser to ensure a good experience while online. All of these areas are important when operating a computer in this modern Internet age. So be sure and address these when you are signing up for home computer training. A good home computer training class will not only address these main issues, but go above and beyond in bringing you up to speed on modern computing. Software Probably the most simple, and the most cost effective method of computer software training is the most overlooked today. With almost each and every computer program that you purchase there are three types of documentation included in your purchase: the software manual, internal software help programs, and the online help program. Each of these is a mini - Computer Software Training. Computer software training is essential in this day and age for anyone who is using a computer for more than just basic functionality such as word processing. In fact, it is recommended even for such tasks, as often times there are new methods that can be used to improve efficiency during your use of such software. Unfortunately, without some sort of computer software training, a lot of times these types of 'shortcuts' to improved efficiency are never learned. So, let's take a few minutes to look at the various types of computer software training available to the computer user today. One method that is very popular today is the hands on method of computer software training. While this very popular, there are a couple of different avenues that this particular method can be approached. One method is to hire a tutor. While this is probably the most direct and successful method; it can also be the most expensive. Tutors for computer software training usually charge by the hour, although you will gain one-on-one training and attention from the tutor during your class time together. Another popular method is to take a community class that may be offered by some group in your area. Often computer clubs, civic groups, and local schools may offer introductory computer software training that will allow for hands-on learning. However, these are often followed up by attempting to sell you on another class, book, etc. Computer software training can also become hands-on when you have a video or other on-screen directions to guide you through the learning process. One such program that has become very popular over the last few years is the Video Professor. His program is seen all the time on late night TV infomercials and is now online as well. Offering introductory computer software training for free, he follows up with a variety of paid sales programs to get the most ‘bang’; out of his advertising buck. There is nothing wrong with this, just as long as you know what you are getting into. This is one of the most appealing methods of computer software training because you can do the training on your own terms and in your own time, on the exact software subject of your choice, software training course in and of itself. This will contain many shortcuts and efficiency aiding devices that are built into the software. Next, you should take the time to read through all of the topics build into the software help program. This will be one of the best sources of computer software training for that particular version of software. Last, but certainly not least, you will find the online support or help most effective in solving those few areas of troubled functioning you are having with the software. Perhaps there is a tough formatting issue that you are trying to solve. Oftentimes, availing yourself of the assistance of the online support forums can be the very best computer software training available. After all, it is from the people who actually wrote the software to begin with. You can't get any better computer software training advice than that! |
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