Learning Basic Computer Skills and its benefits

Learning Basic Computer Skills and its benefits

Whether the open job position is for an office administrator, receptionist, sales representative, relationship manager, or even a security administrator; all have one thing in common: the requirement to be fluent in basic computer use with preference being given to individuals who have a shorter learning curve associated with technology adoption. A common misperception unfamiliar people have with regards to computers, is that learning basic computer skills would be time consuming and not worth the while, but many people pick it up quickly as these courses last about a week with successful training. The list below discusses the tasks included in the training, as well as their benefits.

Microsoft Office:

Microsoft Office programs are the most widely used applications by students and employees alike, because of their easy to use interface as well as high functionality. The process for learning basic computer skills is incomplete without being fluent at using MS Office products for daily use.

Typing Speed:

Most people at the office have to submit reports about various things, for example a performance appraisal of their subordinates, or a project evaluation or perhaps a sales report detailing why the product was not received as well as it was expected. All these tasks require the use of keyboard at a fast pace in order to be time efficient and make maximum use of office hours.

File Sharing:

File sharing could mean sharing of a file either over one network, for example the intranet that is particular to one organization versus sharing a file over the internet; two points on different networks altogether. There are several ways to do this: by email or by chat messengers that now include file sharing options. Over one network however, there may be several ways to do this, as all computers might be connected together, and any computer on the network would be able to access files on another connected PC. Learning basic computer skills involves file sharing as well, because at the office there is hardly ever a time that the report that was produced was for personal uses only.

Internet Browsing:

Internet browsing does not entail just the use of World Wide Web for information. Most courses also teach the concepts around how search engines work, so that students learning basic computer skills can exploit the information to improve their searches and yield more productive results.

Troubleshooting:

Learning how to troubleshoot is a very important aspect from a user’s point of view, for computers are machines and tend to hang from time to time. It is not practical to ask for assistance every time a computer fails to respond, and since this is a fairly common observation, users should know how to solve this on their own. Network troubleshooting is also taught, although a completely computerized process in newer models, many courses still include troubleshooting of Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN) as these are the networks usually used by offices and organizations.

Benefits:

The benefits of learning basic computer skills are unlimited since they open a wide range of opportunities. Almost all job advertisements post computer skills as mandatory, hence making individuals more competitive. Using the internet to access valuable information increases knowledge and improves self-worth. Also, there are many jobs available online for those people who have excellent computer skills but are unable to work outside of home due to a variety of reasons.