Even though one may get the impression that modern students have been born with smartphones in their hands, which is only partially true, learning computer skills is a totally different matter. The trick is that the majority of learners use a pre-defined set of functions to browse the web or deal with video games, yet the presence of good computer skills also requires additional knowledge regarding how things work and how something can be fixed. Just think about those times when we ask our tech friends to get our PC back to life. Of course, there are things when it is much better (and safer) to do so, yet knowing how to fix those software problems when you need to submit an assignment can be helpful!
Of course, most people these days have basic computer skills, yet it is not always the case for older learners or people coming from remote areas where the use of computers is not so common. This fact must be remembered as well as the necessity of additional skills that come forward when college research must be performed and assignments must be formatted and written according to provided guidelines. If you are a college student, you may relate to that as there is always something to learn!
It is one of the most important computer skills that a student must develop, which includes both technical knowledge and being able to locate information fast. Additionally, one should be able to tell whether a certain source is reliable. It includes checking for similar sources via Google or checking for the author’s credibility at places like Google Scholar or Jstor. You must be able to take screenshots accurately and use tools to alter or modify images by using basic graphic software.
It’s one of those computer skills that always prove efficient even if you have years of experience. It will help you during your studies and internship year. Likewise, it helps when you need to organize a party online or send holiday pictures to your family. Learn how to keep your folders sorted and accurate by naming each file relevantly. It will save you hours when you need to locate an important assignment or a bank payment report. If you cannot find your draft and need to get things done fast, consider checking TopWritersReview to keep things safe. We all have been there, so it is good to know that there are good solutions for such cases!
Regardless of whether you are using McAffee or Avira for your security purposes, the most important is to keep your firewall on and your antivirus software constantly updated. If you are not sure about how these things work, you may either join one of the free online courses or talk to your technical specialist at college who will guide you towards free or commercial solutions that may come at a discount for you or be free of charge.
It doesn’t matter if you are only using Google Docs, Microsoft Office Suite 365, or AutoCAD for some engineering purposes. Take your time to learn what you use for learning tasks. The purpose here is to become a power user and learn how to make complex tasks easier. Ask fellow students, read manuals, voice concerns to your academic advisor, and see what alternative student software may be available to perform certain tasks. Sometimes using something simple like Evernote can help you stay aware of all the alerts and keep your data safe!
Don’t forget about keeping your laptop cool during hot months and make sure that it gets enough ventilation when in use. The same relates to checking for battery life at least twice per month if you notice a decrease in battery performance. It helps to avoid getting shut down when you are in the middle of an online exam or need to finish that urgent task. Learning these simple self-maintenance tricks will help you to prolong your computer’s life.
It is only in the movies that we see hackers who won’t share their knowledge and get any task done in a minute. In reality, things are not the same and you can always learn a thing or two as you approach someone who has sufficient technical knowledge. Just ask them to provide you with some guidance or an explanation regarding browser security or things like keeping your files sorted accurately. While you won’t learn how to fix most hardware issues that happen to your laptop or desktop machine, you can make use of some tricks that your friend may show. Remember that you can share what you learn with others by paying it forward as you make all these complex subjects clear to others.
Alternatively, you can join the computer literacy or basic digital education courses at places like Khan Academy or Coursera. These are mostly offered free of charge or do not cost much, which makes it a great way to learn computer skills with a flexible schedule. Do not be shy to try these things out as you will always learn things you may not have known before and will get a friendly reminder about staying safe online!
