Craigslisting with seniors

re: Craigslisting with seniors

srandolph — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:19:24 GMT

My dad got his first computer last year, so I know what you mean! :) I suggest watching the Vista Tutorial vidoes with him. I setup the initial accounts and policies on my dad's machine with him watching, just so he would be exposed to where things are at.

My experience is that seniors want the bare bones "exactly, how do I do that" instructions. The challenge with this, however, is that they way you do things is often situationally tailored. Like checking email...I can't teach everyone how to check email because they all use different email clients.

The book you found looks pretty good if your dad isn't offended by the "seniors" part of the title. :)

Microsoft has a nice set of Windows Guides: www.visualsteps.com/.../index.php

They also have a bunch of Vista videos and demos that might be good to watch together: www.microsoft.com/.../videos-and-demos.aspx

re: Craigslisting with seniors

Terri Morton — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:54:16 GMT

I found this book, which also has an instructor's guide. I think this is what I am going to use. www.visualsteps.com/.../index.php

re: Craigslisting with seniors

Terri Morton — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:50:35 GMT

My dad (who is 70+) is going to buy his very first computer (likely a Windows Vista desktop of some sort). While my mom has been using one for years, she knows just enough to get by and would not be a good teacher for him. So it will likely fall to me to teach him the essentials.

Do you have any recommendations on learning materials? A guide for the bare essentials that an elderly novice should know? My fear is that I will overwhelm him. I work with 2nd and 3rd graders in the computer lab at the local school, and they are like sponges and are easily taught. But the thought of teaching my dad is really daunting to me.

I've found a few articles that are helpful, but just wondered if your experience has brought light to anything specific you'd recommend.