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Q: Are there any beginner classes to become more familiar with the equipment? I took some several years ago but having a homecare health situation, I have not been able to maintain what I learned. I have inquired at Circuit City and others and they don't know of any at this time.
M.J. Bothwell
A: Your question addresses three things that are close to my heart. They are computers, education, and computer education. We are fortunate to dwell in the digital desert where there is a plethora of options when it comes to computer training.
With so many educational options, it is truly a buyers market. With that said, you have an opportunity to maximize your learning experience. Knowing what you want out of the course and what to realistically expect can do this. If you use your computer primarily for business or home computing, then you should ask questions in class that reflect how you intend to use your computer. I consider this as part of getting your moneys’ worth out of a course. Even if it is a free course. Nevertheless, there are other expectations that you should harbor also.
The first thing that you should expect is a class that is balanced between information and hands on training. The information that I am referring to covers the history of computers, the components of computers, and the various types of software and their uses. It is in the hands on portion of a course that you begin to gain the proficiency that you desire. The marriage of the two elements of a course will provide you with a not only the practical knowledge of how to manipulate a computer, but it will also allow you to be an informed computer user. The value in this is that you should be able to understand how computers work and what you need to make a computer perform the functions that you wish. This does not however mean that you should expect to be a computer expert by the end of a course. This is something that is only accomplished by experience, time, and frequent use.
As I stated earlier, we have numerous computer education offerings available to us here. They range in price from free and inexpensive to the pricey. I feel that it is only fair to inform you that I may not be 100% unbiased on this topic. I feel that the best balance of quality and price for computer training in Tucson can be found at the Northeast Learning Center of Pima Community College. The University of Arizona’s Continuing Education and Academic Outreach department also offers beginner level training on various topics. You can also contact Tucson Public Libraries, the YMCA or the CompUSA on North Stone Ave. They all have been known to offer computer training courses from time to time. Personal computer tutors are also an option if you feel that you are between beginner and intermediate.
www.pima.edu
www.ceao.arizona.edu
www.dratraining.com