AMHERST – Not sure how to delete items from your recycling bin? Or are you just in need of some brushing up on your computer skills? The Four Fathers Memorial Library held the first in a series of computers and technology course for anyone who needs a little encouragement to fall in love with their computer Saturday afternoon.
“The six week program is going to be about how to understand your hardware and operating system, Windows,” said Daryl Atkinson, the community access programs student computer trainer with the library. “We’re going to learn how to create folders, how to delete folders, how to use the programs and all that.”
The course is set up primarily for beginners just wanting to learn the basics of how to use their computer. The program will have a week focused on different topics. Atkinson said there will be sessions on how to use the Internet and email, teaching those who have signed how to search using Google and create and delete emails and how to use digital cameras, linking them up with your computer and how to take photos off your camera, just to name a few.
“A lot of people are afraid (to use a computer) because they don’t know the basics,” said Atkinson. “Once you teach the basics, then they are able to explore for themselves. It’s really teaching them to not be afraid to click on something, wiggle your mouse and mash your keyboard, you’re not going to hurt your computer.”
No one at the course is expected to learn everything at the drop of a hat, of course. Atkinson said he is equipped with plenty of patience to help encourage anyone and everyone.
“It all takes time,” he said.
Around a dozen people were ready to learn for Saturday’s session, some even arriving with their own laptops. Atkinson said he was pleased with the turnout and has had great response from the community for the program as well as the eReader seminar.
After a quick PowerPoint presentation on all the different functions of the keys on the keyboard and how to create documents and delete them, Atkinson took his students out to the library computers to have them try and do it for themselves.
Shirley Michels was eager to learn how to use the computer her husband bought her for Christmas.
“The course is just getting started to I’m hoping to find out a little bit and be happy with it,” she said. “The presentation was helpful but I’m more of a hands-on kind of person, so I’m excited for this (hands-on) part.”
Similar courses are being offered throughout the county.
Anyone interested in signing up for the course can contact the library at 667-2549. There are also other computer courses available, including one-on-one sessions.
jturner@amherstdaily.com
