How did you learn how to use a computer?

March 23, 2008 1:52pm CST
Kids learn how to use a computer at school, but most adults left school before computer skills were taught. When I got my first computer I knew how to use a keyboard, as I had previously used electric typewriters and word processors. But no-one ever showed me how to use a computer, I had to find out for myself. Once you know how to use the internet you can learn everything else online can't you? Did you have to learn how to use a computer?
20 people like this
81 responses
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
23 Mar 08
I don't really remember for sure...I think my uncle had a computer and let uds play games on it...if it wasn't that, I think we had them in 4th or 5th grade and we did math stuff on them...I pretty much grew up with them for the past 15 years...though I didn't really learn how to use it for its full potential until the past few years...
3 people like this
23 Mar 08
playing games would be a good introduction
2 people like this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
23 Mar 08
When I was in school, I was just ahead of the computers being schools, but my dad is an accountant and uses computers in his work. Whenever he got a new one for work he would bring the old one home and let us play with it. He is the one who had me sign up for email, showed me how to navigate the internet, and let me chat in chat rooms. I took a keyboarding course in high school and I think another computer class (don't remember). Then I took classes on Word, Access, Powerpoint and Excel in college. But most of what I know is from trial and error. I can also use a PC or a Mac. And I have one of each at home for my personal use.
3 people like this
23 Mar 08
You were lucky to have a Dad who let you play on his old computer
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
26 Mar 08
pretty much the same as you... in highschool there was an option of computer math which only the very brightest of students took - two of them went on to be doctors of computer sciences. my father gave me my first computer - it was an old tandy in DOS format. IT got me used to some things but really the language that had to be remembered for it was not easy for me. I slowly learned my way around the computer by trial and error and the help of friends giving little tid bits here and there. I do not know much really, but I know what I need to do what I use it for - if I have any questions the answers are never too far away thanks to online communities and internet searches.
2 people like this
26 Mar 08
I agree you can always find answers on the internet.
1 person likes this
@mflower2053 (3223)
• United States
27 Mar 08
I figured out alot of it on my own. I took a class when I was in middle school but we just did written work I'm not sure if the computers even worked b/c they were never on so I didn't learn anything from school. If there is something I don't understand I usually look it up on the internet and figure it out from there.
2 people like this
27 Mar 08
I don't see the point of having computers in school if they did not let you use them! I expect things have changed now.
1 person likes this
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
25 Mar 08
Hi there... At first I use to play around on my cousin computer, I was very young, then when I got to school, we were always given a period of computers, which we we learnt the basics and played games, such as Carmen San Diago... As I got older, I went and studied computing, levels 1-4, then took a programming course as well. I can now go for a diploma then a bachelor degree...
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
26 Mar 08
Hey there... Thanks for the positive comment. Have a great day...
25 Mar 08
I hope you will go on and get your degree, and I wish you success.
2 people like this
@Nushka (75)
• Argentina
24 Mar 08
I've got my first PC when I was 14. It ran in DOS and didn't have a hard drive. So I've seen the operative systems grow and develop (or deform). However I learned the first steps at school using LOGO and DBASE. Yes, I am that old.
2 people like this
24 Mar 08
I don't even know what LOGO and DBASE are!
1 person likes this
@Nushka (75)
• Argentina
24 Mar 08
LOGO, COBOL, PASCAL, BASIC... Don't these ring any bells?
1 person likes this
@artguy (1474)
• United States
26 Mar 08
A friend of mine who went to school to learn computer got me started. I learned some from him and went on to teach myself how to build websites using HTML, building computers and a whole lot of other things to do with computers.
2 people like this
26 Mar 08
I taught myself HTML and how to create websites too. I'm sure you have found a whole lot of things to do.
1 person likes this
@IddiKlu (176)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Bought my first 'hobby' computer kit March 1977. When IBM came out with their PC, I had a much better computer than they came out with. I had to assemble (solder!) all the parts to my motherboard myself. Then I bought some books and taught myself to program in Basic. I was very happy to find some 4KB (4,096 bytes!) memory boards for 'only' $85.00 each. Quite a change now, as I just bought 8GB of RAM for $141.00 ;-) for my next computer, parts arriving in the next 3 days...
2 people like this
24 Mar 08
You must have seen a lot of changes in computers over the past 30 years!
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
28 Mar 08
I started learning typing and that makes me able to type on a keyboard. As to how to use a computer, I learn it in office when the department I work goes computerised.
2 people like this
@jeanniemay (1798)
• Philippines
25 Mar 08
I learned it from school too. My mom learned it from me. She was quite hard up when I taught her. No computers in there younger times. I literally emailed here and she replies. And I response back. We did it for like few days to get her to learn how to email and chat using the messenger too. You know what's funny? I was just one floor below where they stay. Haha. We are on the same building and that's how I taught her so I can know if she learned the instructions I gave her. I even asked her to show me how the screen look like so she has to attached some pictures to it. It was fun doing it and bonding with my mom through it.
2 people like this
26 Mar 08
How funny, you sending emails to your mother one floor below! But it was a good way for her to learn how to do it.
1 person likes this
@argie713 (1809)
• Philippines
23 Mar 08
My father bought me a computer when I was 10 years old. That was way back 1993-1994. It ran on Windows 3.1. My hard disk was only 540 MB. I wasn't learning some skills back then, I was just playing games. I learned some basics when I had to do some projects that require typing.
2 people like this
23 Mar 08
At least you got experience of using it at 10 years old
2 people like this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Jump in your way back machine. The year is 1996. I have a roomate. He is very intelligent. And he is into computers.He works for a company working on the INTRA-net. One day, I am not busy, just sitiing around, doing nothing. I hear him in his room typing away on a key board. I go to his room and say "whatcha doing?" And the rest is history. He decided to show me. The first computer I learned on was a MAC. Took me a little longer for the PC. By the way, the roomate is now my husband, and he is forever showing me new programs, and how to use them. I have my own teaching source and tech support.
24 Mar 08
That's one way to do it - marry a nice intelligent computer literate man!
1 person likes this
• India
24 Mar 08
I learned to use computer by myself. It is best learning this way. you can relax and you don't have to worry about anything going wrong because its your own computer. if a computer gets damaged by your hands in a study center, they will not treat you like a student and forgive you. they will blame you and they will demand a heavy fine. when you feel free, you will explore computer and learn more. self help, best help.
2 people like this
24 Mar 08
I think I agree with you, and I never did any damage in my attempts.
1 person likes this
@mrpippo (756)
• United States
23 Mar 08
my 2 daughters taught me what i know about pc's ,i was always a paper and pencil person .
2 people like this
23 Mar 08
nice you could learn from your daughters
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Mar 08
My son had tried for a long time for me to agree to have a computer in the house. He finally convinced me and I had to learn how to use it. I knew how to type already so that wasn't a problem. But I had to learn the computer from the bottom up as far as how to connect with the internet. That was five or six years ago and now I can not imagine not having a computer around.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Mar 08
Absolutely pleased. I don't know what I would do now if I ended up losing my computer. I know I would survive but it would be hard for me. I don't know why I fought him for the length of time I fought him. But I am glad that he won out. It has brought me many hours of enjoyment.
25 Mar 08
So you are pleased with your son for convincing you to get a computer!
1 person likes this
@uautkarsh (414)
• India
15 Jun 08
I first operated computers when i was 5 years old, Like you i also figured out how to work on it all by myself! You are correct that now we can learn how to operate it better by referring online!
1 person likes this
• India
15 Jun 08
thanks a lot
15 Jun 08
I think you were clever to use a computer when you were only 5
@rw1234 (59)
• Australia
24 Mar 08
i just sat on the computer and started playing around and then soon i started to get addicted and now i can't get enough of the computer like many people my age. *cough* MySpace.
2 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
25 Mar 08
We started taking computer classes when i was in grade six on some macs. I guess they'd be really old now. Grade two we had some of those OLD OLD macs that use the 5 1/4 inch floppy disks that we got to play number munchers and other learning games that were available at the time.
2 people like this
@jeseravi (337)
24 Mar 08
lol, I just turned it on and played solitair at first, but within a week I was able to type stuff up slowly. In 2 months, I could do pretty much everything XD.
2 people like this
• Indonesia
15 Jun 08
I learnt computer myself, first I've tried to install a game when I was in kindergarten, then I sorta got an "enlightment" and began exploring computer deeply by teaching my older cousin. And I got deeper teaching by books.
1 person likes this
15 Jun 08
It is good to start young and learn more as you get older. Well done.
• Indonesia
15 Jun 08
Thx a lot.