How do i teach using computer to my grandmother?

[siddesh]

My 70 year old grandmother wants to learn computer and internet but is having difficulty grasping things. I tried few times but there's no progress. Please suggest.

[terambulan]

1. Switch on.
2. Explain mouse & curser activity
3. Klik on Internet icon
4. Open email a/c
5. Introduce/register Ab site......we'll take her further.

Tell her, I said "not to let the wrinkleys down" else will iron her out!

[daniela31]

have a look in w h smiths. there is a book, floppy backed a4 size, called 'pc's for idiots'. seriously...my 73 year old Dad had it. It explains the basics, then the rest is just practise and playing really, as long as she has you to phone if she gets stuck on anything.

[Ethel]

Start her off with the Solitaire game - that is something she will be very familiar with and will get her used to using the mouse.

Show her how to read her favourite paper on line - she may appreciate being able to make the font bigger (hold CTRL and wiggle that wheel).

If she enjoys Strictly Come Dancing open that site for her too. Make bookmarks of sites she will find interesting.

Email next, sort out the email for her and download Skype. Teach her the joys of free phone calls and instant messaging to you. :)

That book is an excellent idea.

[daniela31]

My Dad started off on the games, and even progressed to playing the game against the computer....but he used to use his newspaper to cover up his keyboard, so the computer couldn't see his next move.
I have a photo somewhere.....we thought it was hilarious.
:-)

[ACtheTROLL]

start with a couple of eggs (what IS that saying about???)

break things into steps - start by telling her NOT to think about what she's doing - just to do it (thinking comes later)

get her to do the same thing a few times - then you can explain when she's not thinking about the mechanics

I got my ma (78!) using her spiffy DVD HDD recorder like a pro - she has no idea what to do if it doesn't do what she's expecting - but she's game.

for explorer - always use the same page to explain
(the BBC site is complex - but very well laid out)
wherever you go - make certain she's interested in the results - the world of warcraft probably won't do it for her ;0

let her choose where to go next
no point showing word until she has a letter to write

Ethel's idea is good ... just moving the mouse is difficult to grasp for oldies

daniella - that's a classic ....
awwww wrinkleys ... it's almost as if they can understand what you're saying

[B00]

you don't.

For the sake of your sanity, you box the PC up and take it back to where you got it from.

My father in law (mid 70's) decided, God knows why, that he should be getting into this technology lark and went out and bought a laptop. Now he's on the phone almost every day for hours at a time asking how to do this, that and the other- it's a nightmare.

Both me and my husband have sat him down and gone through the basics and he's even joined a computer club- but he's just not grasping it and somehow blames one of us when the computer won't do what he wan't it to.

[SlackAlice]

A family friend of 80yrs young decided about 2yrs ago, that she needed an email address!!
So I helped her to choose a pc, and set it up with internet access and email.

I found it best just to sit beside her and let her do the actual typing, with me just doing the prompting and guidance. She was more frightened of breaking the pc more than anything else.

At first I would get weekly calls for assistance, but rarely get them now. She has an address book as long as your arm and is in constant touch with her friends and family using email.

She also uses the pc to arrange meetings for there local Choir group and maintains the members list using a spreadsheet. And yes, she still sings!!

Her latest want is a digital camera because she's an excellent photographer!!

I bought her the Windows Vista for Dummies book to help her out and its much thumbmarked.

Only hope I can be like that when I reach that age :)

[fo3nix]

I would do a few things:

1) Don't store any important information on the machine.
2) Tell her that she can't wreck anything, so she should just try stuff and investigate.

And importantly, don't tell her how to do anything.

Instead, ask her what she wants to do. Then show her how. Perhaps have a little notebook to write the instructions down.

[spotit3]

I take voluntary classes in our local library for 'silver surfers' who hare just starting out. They get four free two hour lessons-with a tea break in the middle. I actually start with Word as it makes it easier when they go to send e-mails. We then set up the e-mails and learn to surf the net, AB, BBC, eBay(which is usually the most popular!) etc. Our oldest pupil was 86 and they were all doing fine after the four lessons, only received a few queries by email and now a lot of them are on my Messenger list. They definitely learn fast as it really interests them. Solitaire is definitely best for mouse practice.

[zinnie]

Hi 'siddesh'.......as probably the only person posting an answer who is older than you grandmother can I give you an opinion.
1. First you need to find out WHY she wants to learn, then you will have some idea how to approach it.
2.In the short term any real interest or enjoyment she will get will come from the internet. Forget about using games/programs.
3. Teach her to....switch on/off.......practice using the mouse (get her a cordless mouse,it is ten times easier to use)........teach her to use google....help her to find some sites that interest her, the put them in 'favorites'......make sure one of the sites is ...silverhairs.com....
4.Make sure she has broadband...and you set-up a firewall,antivirus and spyware software that scan automatically when she switches-on, so she doesn't have to do anything.
5. Show her how to 'reboot'
6. Let her play!!
7. When she is happy and comfortable with all of that then think about programs on the PC.

[fiesata]

Just let her use it and she'll get hooked - my old mom's 78 and does her shopping online as she can't get out and wonders at the amazing things he can find online - she even traced ancestors.It has sharpened her mind no end

She definitely didn't want a PC but now try taking it away from her!!