Submitted by Steven Watson, Forest County Digital Navigator
Learning new things can be daunting at times, especially when it comes to technology. There’s so many bells & whistles tacked on to every new device it’s hard to know what it’s all for! Where do you even begin? It all starts with overcoming any initial fears or concerns, have a specific goal in mind, getting curious and having fun, and knowing where you can go for help!
Don’t be afraid!
Technology can be very intimidating. We took sand, metal, and glass, powered it with lightning, and taught it to do math. It seems preposterous and on top of that the hardware is expensive and delicate, Even if you manage to keep the device itself safe there can easily be a slight dread about pushing the wrong buttons or worrying about how to troubleshoot when it’s not working as intended.
If this anxiety wasn’t bad enough you also have to worry about. . . . Other people.
Not only do you have to worry about your expensive device being stolen, you also need to worry about people you’ve never seen or met stealing your data on the internet. How can anyone hope to cope with this amount of stress? If it’s this difficult, why even bother at all?
Because the benefits far outweigh the risks, and while those risks are scary they’re easily handled!
A simple case and screen protector can protect your phone or laptop. A few basic troubleshooting skills like powering the device off and on can resolve most issues. Good password management, using secured sights, and knowing the warning signs for scams and fraud can keep you safe online. In return you can gain an unfathomable amount of information, endless hours of entertainment, a wealth of tools to achieve any number of tasks, and ways to connect with family, friends, and different communities across the globe!
Have a goal!
Overcoming your fears by learning how to manage risks is a great first step, but where do we go from here? It’s not enough to simply say, “I want to learn to use my phone better”. It helps to have a specific goal in mind. Especially when computers and smartphones have so much functionality! It also helps if you tie that goal to an outcome. If you say “I want to learn how to use eBay so I can clean out my garage” you’ve got both a goal and an expected reward to help motivate you!
Get curious!
An ounce of curiosity is worth a bucket of knowledge. When you pick up a device and start thinking “what does this do” it can lead to some amazing discoveries. Being playful allows you to try something, see what it does, and then learn from it! If it works, that moment of satisfaction will help you remember how to do it again. If it doesn’t, you’ll remember having trouble and it will make eventually figuring it out that much more memorable. Just remember to keep doing it to build that repetition into your memory!
Never forget to ask for help!
Sometimes you just need a little help to get started! Sometimes you have a clear goal in mind but you don’t know how to get there. Maybe there’s some information you need but you don’t know which site to use. It’s important to ask a friend, a relative, or your local Digital Navigator! As we improve digital skills in our community we can help each other to learn and grow!
If you do need assistance or want to learn more contact:
Steve Watson – Forest County Digital Navigator
715-478-7793 Office
715-784-1415 Mobile
