5/5/08 Taming Technology Tip - Help!

Hello Everyone,

In a class years ago, I was teaching computer applications. My goal in the class was to teach students how to use Help. I would give them projects and then let them fumble their way through completing the project by using Help screens and the Internet. At first they would be confused, but as they learned to use the tools at hand, they gained confidence on learning any software packages. I've even had e-mails from them later on thanking me for torturing them with this method. I know this tip may sound like something trivial, but I get asked questions all of the time that could easily be solved with the advice below.

My method of learning software:

• First, learn what is possible. There are lots of ways to accomplish this task. From past experience, you know a lot of things. You might also want to look at an article or book on the software. The first important thing is to know what you can do and then to figure out how.
• The second thing is to get to know your Help screen. At the top of every software package is a Help item. If not, hitting F1 will usually bring up a help screen. On the help screen are the terms Content and Index. Content has help topics located in groups that can be helpful when you are browsing a software package. Index is the screen I use most often when trying to complete a project. With index, you can type what you are trying to do in the index box and several options will appear. You can scan the options and see if what you are wanting to do is there. If it is not, try rewording what you are looking to find. Knowing exactly what you are wanting to do and what it is called is very helpful at this point.
• Lastly, use the power of the Internet. Almost anything you can dream up has something written about it on the Internet. You may have to try different searches before finding it, but somewhere out there is a web page or blog with the information you need. To tell you the truth, this is how I solve the majority of the problems I face on a daily basis.

In summary, find out what is possible to do with a particular piece of software and then practice looking for help either online or on the software package and you'll become amazed when people start looking to you for answers as the computer guru.

Until next time,
Mike Wetsel