Word Tricks Part 2 - Word Processing - Articles about Computing

The word processor is arguably the most important business application of all and for this reason most of the articles that will be in the series will be devoted to word processing. It is usually the first serious program which is taught.

The problem with the usual method of teaching word processing is as follows: In a typical classroom a teacher stands before the class and shows the students how wonderful he knows how to use the computer demonstrating how quickly and easily he can perform various functions. Very often he throws the information on a big screen using a projector, quickly runs through the possibilities.

He then gives students a little bit of time to practice in class and tells them to go practice it at home and they just have to make the most of it. The work is judged the quality of the students� work is judged is based upon whether the task can get done not whether it is done in the most efficient, pleasant or easy method. The instructor may have a knack for doing these functions or for carrying out these functions but this knack is not necessarily shared with the students.

I believe that it is important to make computer work pleasant and not to leave the pleasant and enjoyable tasks to the teacher and thereby making it an unpleasant and less enjoyable task for the other users for the students. I believe that if the students are aware that there are several ways to accomplish any task and they are taught different ways that it will be a better method of instruction.

Granted, this method means that fewer subject areas are taught. It means going through the various possibilities and actually letting the students learn how to do them hands on with the teacher after showing all of the possibilities. At the end of the semester or the year the list of accomplishments is small.

However, I feel that it is far more worthwhile to do it this way. The students walk away from each lesson with a feeling of accomplishment even though much less is accomplished than using the traditional method. In addition to this feeling of accomplishment they have a feeling of joy and they can share the excitement of the teacher in the way that they go about using the computer. As a result, they then have a desire themselves to go ahead and to learn new aspects of computerization on their own. In time they get a feeling for how the computer works.

The traditional method of just giving a series of rote commands and telling where to click on which menu in order to accomplish things while not using the brain cells in accomplishing this is futile.

I like to think of it as a task similar to driving. When you drive a car, you don't think about how to change gears or which pedal will make the car accelerate or you don't look at the manual to brake the car. Instead, you just have a way in which you learn to do it naturally, comfortably, smoothly, pleasantly, and most important without thinking. In this way you can concentrate on the cars around you or the pleasant music on your CD where�s the radio? And how do you concentrate on the traffic around you or the pedestrians if you�re concentrating on the pleasant music? rather than on the actual task of driving. Your feeling of comfort in doing this results in better driving habits and a smoother ride in which you will be more safe in your driving.

I would like to use this method of teaching to share it with others so that they also will have this kind of joy.

One thing that I like to do when I�m asked a specific question is to calmly and casually demonstrate before I actually teach. My demonstrations usually involve handling the task which the client has spent a large amount of time trying to accomplish unsuccessfully and may be frustrated in trying to do so. A few clicks of the mouse and the tasks are usually accomplished. I then turn to the client and I tell her, �You see? I didn�t work too hard to do that. Did I?� With great joy she says, �No, you didn�t.� I then am ready to show her how to accomplish it herself. Things makes her feel very good it gives a very positive feeling about it.

Care must be taken not to jeer the client or to show off when using this method. It is supposed to show the client that she too can accomplish the task easily. But it�s not supposed to show that you have been able to handle it or how well or successful you are at accomplishing that task.

There are occasions in which the instructor does not have the luxury of a series of sessions. This happens with distance learning or with quick courses in which the students are just supposed to be exposed to the basics of learning. Quite frankly, this is the antithesis of a good learning session. My solution is quite simple: I ask the reader to I make an arrangement so that I teach much less during this time. The amount the joy must remain and it will be destroyed if the lessons are handled in an incorrect manner. In order to solve this problem the lessons are taught less is accomplished that what was originally planned but the student has a good taste of the material and it he can then decide whether she is interested in coming back for more information or more lessons. This is a much healthier approach than giving a lot of information which will be forgotten all too readily because too much ground was tried to be covered because the instructor tried to cover too much ground in that session.

Basically, this method or technique should be used with just about any subject which is taught under any circumstances. And the goal should be to arouse the joy in the patient.

Click here for an article about how to teach in general.