Overcoming user fear first step in computer training

by Maria G. Hoover

SBJ Contributing Writer

As the presence of computers in the workplace increases, workers are finding themselves in need of technological training and education, according to instructors from area computer training facilities.

Paul Lines is the program coordinator of technology for Southwest Missouri State University's Center for Continuing and Professional Education, which includes The Computer Institute.

Lines said The Computer Institute works with a number of industries here in town, including Springfield Remanufacturing and Aaron's Automotive, and has a Partners in Technology and Training program designed to meet the computer training needs of area businesses.

"Businesses are training their floor people to use computers because they have found that more and more people in the shop or on the floor need to know how to use computers instead of relying on someone else to get the information," Lines said.

Susan Hicks, co-owner of The Computer Training Center in Springfield, said the growing use of computers in the workplace is inevitable.

"To me, it's kind of like running downhill with a boulder after you you might be able to dodge it and never have to get into working with computers, but I doubt it," Hicks said.

"Computers have really infiltrated every area restaurants, golf resorts ... in every area, computers touch it, because they give you the ability to pull out data in the form of information," she added.

Lines agreed. "Most of what all industries work with is information whether they're building a car or they're an accountant they have to have correct information in front of them, and what computers do exceptionally well is handle information," he said.

Hicks said The Computer Training Center specializes in corporate and small business training, offering a wide variety of courses on software packages, including Microsoft Office, Corel and Quickbooks, as well as courses on Internet and Web page design.

She said that, unfortunately, there are companies that aren't aware people need to be properly trained on new computers and technology, and that lack of training support can sometimes make people nervous.

"Training makes such a big difference, because it's going to make adults more confident and more capable of solving problems on the computer. If they can figure out the workings behind it, it's going to make them more productive," Hicks said.

Sherry Haney, president of Pin Oak Computer Assistance and Training Inc., said a large number of Pin Oak's clients are trying to keep up with changes in the workplace.

"What we see a lot of, when people come in, is that they've seen the world around them progress and their job is getting harder because they don't have the computer skills they need," Haney said.

She added that the biggest obstacles Pin Oak instructors typically face are intimidation and fear.

"Many years ago, when a lot of people started using computers, they were told 'don't do this, don't touch that' or their computers would break but that was the old type of computer," Haney said.

"Once they get over that fear, and we teach them not to be afraid of clicking and using the mouse, then we can go on," she added.

Haney said Pin Oak offers classes at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels, but in order to put people more at ease with the computer, instructors often start with the basics, such as familiarizing students with the parts of the computer and teaching them to maneuver the mouse.

She said students are usually less intimidated once they learn how to correct their mistakes.

"We show them how, if the computer locks up, they can get out of it, either with the 'undo' button or control-alt-delete, and show them that if they do do something wrong, the computer will let them know when they realize that, we can just see their faces relax," Haney said.

Lines said a lot of people who take courses at The Computer Institute are afraid not only that they'll break the computer, but also that they'll lose important data.

"One thing we do in class is to delete files, just so we can show (students) how to bring them back after they've been deleted," he said.

He added that when The Computer Institute is asked to teach workers from a specific company, someone visits the company and does a needs assessment to determine what the employees need to know.

Lines said although many companies will let employees take time off to take computer instruction courses, and in some cases pay for the courses after technological changes have been made, more companies need to consider training earlier in the process.

"When budgets are put together to computerize an office, training is often left out completely, when in fact training should be 30 percent of the budget you can't give someone a tool and not teach them to use it," Lines said.