How to teach grandchildren to use the computer

Yes, but not only how to teach grandchildren to use the computer, even grandfathers and grandmothers need to be taught how to use the computer.

From experience, the very first thing anyone learning how to use the computer is to first learn how to associate movement of the computer mouse with movement of the cursor on the computer screen, to learn how to move the cursor (computer mouse) to the target to select an item by clicking on the mouse button on the selected item on the computer screen.

So simple? From my experience, not so straight forward. Let me relate a tale about what my niece told me about teaching his father how to use the computer. When asked to move the cursor and click the mouse button on something on the screen, his father took the whole mouse to "click" directly on the computer screen itself!!! Another one, but not so hilarious.

I had offered those participating in the SS3 PJ community aerobic exercise computer lessons when my offer to post notices of change of time or instructor on my Guide to Malaysia blog was met with "they are computer illiterates. One lady came to my house to learn when I could not get the SS3 Resident Association's computer room for the lessons. The problem of this lady was the same, don't know how to use the mouse. All these are by no means isolated cases. They are very widespread.

In the case of my eldest grandson Lewis Chew (he is only 2 plus), he keep using his finger to poke at the computer screen at things on the screen he want selected (which he should select by clicking with the mouse). I have posted an online circuit building educational game in this blog for them, but again the essential requirement is first to be able to use the computer mouse properly.

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I originally wanted to ask my nephew, a computer game programmer to write me a program for a computer game that aims to teach anyone, grandchildren, grandfathers, etc., how to use the computer, but by accident discovered an alternative way. How?

I did a search for Curious George videos at Youtube and below is a screen shot of the (Youtube SERP (Search Engine Results Page) for Curious George)



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I let him select the video he wants to watch and initially guided his hand (holding the mouse) to the selection and also initially helped him click. Obviously, initially it was difficult for him. However, I am happy to report that today (actually yesterday) he has finally succeeded, not once, not twice, but many times, to move the computer mouse (and of course the screen cursor) onto his selected video and clicked on them to start playing the selected videos. Although the clicking was not with the index finger but with his thumb, it is still him successfully selecting his own video to play. Not bad eh? for a 2 year old kid?

Of course to avoid boredom, there has to be variety, so instead of Curious George all the time, I get him to go to the Thomas the tank engine SERP, and even help him type his own search terms like (self requested) small car or dump truck, etc.

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It would still be good to have a computer game specifically to teach computer newbies how to use the computer mouse though.

Now the next step, to get him to play the complete the electric circuit to light a bulb game and hopefully soon (this probably will take a much longer time), even International chess game?

Related post: Teaching Lewis the computer keyboard