Being able to use computers, from a smartphone to a desktop, is essential to studying and later to being employable.

If you have never done it, don’t worry, everyone has to learn at some point and it’s actually really easy. The companies behind the programs want you to use them, so they make them user friendly. And once you know how to access them, YouTube and Google will become your best friends.

A search for “how to use a computer”, for example, will bring up dozens of short videos and clear explanations, which make learning easy and fun.

A few pointers:
– Spend time with the computer. The only way to learn is by doing – and making mistakes!
– Be patient with yourself. All beginnings are hard.
– Don’t be scared. You always have an UNDO button, or a simple DELETE or BACKSPACE. Ask someone for help if you get stuck.
– The most useful programs are WORD, EXCEL and POWERPOINT. Start with WORD, which is where you can write text. Ask someone to show you how to open a new document and use that to get to know the keyboard. (Excel is generally for numbers and sums, and powerpoint is for presentations.)
– Next, find and open the web browser, probably Google Chrome, or Firefox. Search for “how to use WORD”, or as we said above, “how to use a computer”. That way you will kill two birds with one stone: you will get to know the search function while learning to use computer programs.
– Just keep working at it. The computer can in time become the most helpful tool you’ve ever had.