5 Ways to Improve Your Computer Skills

I often get asked, “How did you learn so much about computers?”

My answer is, "I learned most of my knowledge and skills through online research."

That answer is often met with blank stares because it seems like such an impossible task. But this week, I’ll teach you 5 easy tips that anyone can follow to become more computer savvy!

Tip #1: Google it

The first and most important step in becoming computer savvy is to learn how to use Google to your advantage.  It’s important to learn how to correctly pose a question for search, and how to use Google to find your answer. 

After a few years of using Google to research different things about technology and computers, you begin to form a solid working knowledge without even trying.

What’s awesome about Google is that there are tons of different ways you can search for something. So no matter what you’re researching, knowing how to find what you're looking for is a pretty universal skill.

To learn how to get better at Google, check out my episode, How to Use Google Like a Pro. It includes some of my favorite ways to use Google, such as searching for something within a specific date range, from a particular site, or even finding an exact phrase.

If there’s something I don’t know about a computer, the first thing I do is check out the first few hits of a Google search to get some information. For example, when someone gets a specific virus or has a specific problem affecting their computer, a quick search will often show how to resolve it.

After a few years of using Google to research different things about technology and computers, you begin to form a solid working knowledge without even trying.

Tip #2: Just try it

Don’t be afraid to try something on a computer. After all, there is hardly ever an action you can perform on a computer that will permanently break it. That being said, make sure you have back-ups of anything important.

This especially goes for parents with children who show an affinity for computers. If they like to take things apart and put them back together, or they just like to tinker, find a used computer on Craigslist for cheap. This provides a great platform for kids to learn on.

If you don’t have a computer you want to experiment on for fear of breaking it, checkout my episode on creating a virtual computer, How to Use a Virtual Machine. Just a warning though, you will have...

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