I use my computer as a tool. I’m sure there are many things that it can do that I have no idea about. Today, I found one by having the courage to press a button. The fear surrounding pressing the wrong button and causing digital chaos keeps us, from getting the most out of our devices. It’s like poking a hole in a tin can to drain the contents instead of using a can opener: it gets the job done but not very well.
The Rescue Buttons
I learned about keyboard shortcuts from my students years ago when I accidentally deleted some text that I was typing for them. Pressing the Ctrl + Z returns the text on a PC and pressing Command + Z returns text on an Apple.
Of course, remembering the shortcuts is the biggest problem for me. I refer to a sticky note attached to my keyboard when I’m learning new shortcuts. Discovering, and then remembering, how to use emoji’s in my emails was a great joy 🙂😍
Explore Technology
Banishing the fear that I will press a wrong button encourages me to explore more about my computer. Learning how to split the screen during on-line teaching, so that I could see my lesson plans and my students at the same time, was a game-changer. It took time to watch the YouTube videos and practice the skill but it was worth it.
Expand Your Digital Literacy
Here’s my challenge to you to learn one new thing about your computer this week. I have a link below with some ideas and you can find lots of information on YouTube. I also discovered a company called Connected Canadians that offers free computer courses to seniors across Canada. They have courses on Zoom (click here) and in person. The opportunity to learn to play online games while chatting with others who are playing the same game sounds fantastic!** Gaming shouldn’t be something out of reach of folks who are older.
What was that button I pressed? F3. (Try it). Who knew my Apple could do that? I do. Now.😉
*https://www.onpartech.com/good-computer-tricks/
**https://www.connectedcanadians.ca/social-gaming (I am not associated with this company)
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