I know it's human nature to remain as we are. Have you ever had a back ache, or really needed to see a dentist, but instead you put it off and suffered for weeks before finally going to the doctor? After the pain is gone, it's such a relief you wonder why you waited so long to get treated...

Using a computer is the same way. You can continue through life without ever getting beyond your current level, or you find someone who can answer your questions and help you understand.

Understanding how your computer was designed to be used means making an investment in yourself. An investment in learning. It means finding a guide, and challenging yourself to achieving a new level.

It means resisting the urge to work by yourself, alone, but instead being confident enough to ask for help.

It means resisting pride that says, "I've been using computers for X number of years and I don't need anyone to help me..."

I wrote this article for every computer user, regardless of how much or little experience you may have. I know it's possible for you to understand your computer even better, and these are the steps that will take you there.

Back to School

First and foremost, as a computer user, you need to understand you're facing a learning challenge unlike any other you may encounter as an adult. Unless you've had a career change, or gone back to college, you're probably not accustomed to being a student again.

So give yourself permission to learn, make mistakes, ask questions, experiment, and muddle through. It is time for the teacher to become a student again. It's time to go back to school.

When it comes to school, kids have a definite advantage: school is a major part of their lives. They're exposed to learning new things on a daily basis. They're taught by professionals, including yourself.

Why do you suppose it is that kids seem to know so much about computers? Ever notice how they're really not intimated by them? That's because they've been taught to use them in school.

They've received repeated, professional, hands on instruction. When they have a question, they raise their hand, and the teacher gives them an answer.

The human mind learns by asking and answering questions.

Adults who are not in school are not accustomed to learning. Adults can plug in their computers and use them for years without ever taking a single class or opening a manual. Most adults have no one to turn to when they have questions, or they're too embarrasses to ask for help.

Adults are afraid to make mistakes in front of their peers. Too many times I've heard clients say, "This is a stupid question..." to which I respond, "The only stupid question is the one you don't ask." There is nothing to be embarrassed about, but the mind set of adults is "I should know this...." Their ability to learn is inhibited by fear, anxiety and embarrassment and PRIDE.

Adults put a tremendous amount of unnecessary pressure on themselves. By not finding a teacher and being able to ask questions, they've disabled the learning process.

By becoming prideful, defensive or embarrassed, they've switched from rational thinking to emotional thinking.

By attempting to perform tasks they do not have enough experience to complete, they invite failure and frustration. Nothing could be more detrimental than trying to learn a new task just before a deadline. Or trying to print a report without understanding the steps required along the way.

These are the ways adults can hinder their ability to understand a computer, or learn a foreign language. It's time to move on. It's time to give yourself the tools, but more importantly, the permission to learn.

 

This is your Brain

Let's look at the learning process from an entirely rational point of view. Imagine your brain as a matrix of 100 billion neurons. Each of these neurons is connected to ten thousand other neurons. Within this matrix are stored memories, smells, emotions, thoughts, etc. etc.

If you smell a rose, the sensors in your nose send signals to your brain, and the neural network (yes, that's it's real name, not some Star Trek lingo) begins to search for similar smells, and eventually it finds a match and it tells you, "That's a rose."

Since there are so many neurons (100 billion) and each one is connected to ten thousand other neurons, when you stimulate one, the others around it are stimulated too. So you may smell a rose, but be reminded of something entirely different, like your wedding, or a favorite song, or your high school sweetheart.

This is your neural network at work, something scientists have only begun to ponder. (Interestingly enough, it's the evolution of the microprocessor which has given scientists insight into how the brain might function, and computers are used to create models of neural networks to test their theories.)

Have you ever tried to think of a person's name, or a song, but can't quite remember? It's on "the tip of your tongue," so you "rack your brain" and suddenly you remember. Or it's 3 a.m. and the person's name just pops into your head. This is hundreds of thousands of neurons searching and interacting until they find the answer.

Or do you know someone who has had a stroke, or part of their brain has been damaged? Recovery is possible because neurons are capable of working en masse and rearranging and altering their communication pathways. So you can have a few hundred thousand neurons working simultaneously in your brain, trying to solve a problem.

This is how your brain works, day in, day out. And neurons that are repeatedly activated create distinct pathways and networks throughout the brain. As a matter of fact, the more stimulus a series of neurons receives, the larger the pathways and network grows. We call this "knowledge" or "skill." When the stimulus stops, the network becomes smaller.

Let me say the most important part again:

The more stimulus a series of neurons receives, the larger the pathways and network grows. We call this "knowledge" or "skill."

This is the way we learn. For some people, the neural network regarding computers isn't developed at all. Or even worse, it's not filled with knowledge, but fear and doubt. Do you find yourself constantly frustrated using your computer? Do you wonder if your data will be there tomorrow? Does the computer frequently "lose" your files?

These are all signs of a neural network in need of some TLC. We call this "computer phobia." Fortunately, this undesirable neural association can be changed.

Just because your neural network contains little helpful information about computers, this doesn't mean you can't learn. It just means you have not yet acquired the information, and the neural connections to that information have not yet been formed.

In other words, you can learn to use a computer by feeding your brain information, repeatedly, and allowing your neural network to develop. But in order to do this, you must be taught. In order to be taught you must have a teacher and you'll be in the unfortunate position of having to use your brain on a conscious level.

It is infinitely more taxing to work on the conscious level; it's unnatural and awkward. Adults get embarrassed because they 'feel dumb.' The subconscious is bliss by comparison, but only after repeated exposure does the subconscious begin to take over.

Think about that. Once the neural network is firmly established, it begins to run subconsciously. You use your computer without thinking about it.

Who you gonna call

Using this new found knowledge about how the brain works, how do you get started? The same way you learned to read, ride a bike, or drive a car. You received instruction from someone that already knew how to read, ride or drive.

You received repeated, ongoing instruction. You raised your hand and asked questions. You got hands on time behind the wheel. You purposely and consistently developed the skill until you were able to use it unconsciously.

So first and foremost you need to find a computer mentor. Be it a friend, computer expert, consultant for hire, sixteen year old kid, someone, anyone who knows their stuff and can sit down in front of the computer with you.

Once you have this person, start with the basics. Invite this person to your office or home and spend an uninterrupted hour (no more!) in front of the computer, once or twice a week.

Remember, it's repeated, hands on exposure that results in effective learning.

Be sure to limit interruptions so you aren't starting, then stopping your network building process.

Don't try to cram everything into marathon sessions, that's not how your brain learns. An hour is ideal, anything more and your retention begins to decline.

And don't get stuck with someone that's really smart, but talks way too fast , hogs the keyboard, and intimidates you with his technobabble! You need a teacher, a mentor, a guide.

So it may take a bit of trial and error to find the computer expert that's right for you. Above all else, find someone you're comfortable working with. This is new territory; find the right interpreter. Often times this is not the most knowledgeable person, but the most patient person. Someone who can listen to your questions and explain things clearly with descriptions and analogies that make sense to you.

A good teacher will be creative enough to explain troublesome concepts in more than one way. That is an excellent way to assimilate information and form multiple neural pathways.

Remember, first you must acquire the information through repeated exposure, then the neural connections must form. You may have to experiment and ponder and question, but this is how those pathways are formed. Don't expect to get anything right the first time, that's not realistic. Remember, your brain may take a variety of routes to reach the same conclusion. Let it.

Another sign of a good instructor is how much time you get at the keyboard.

The trainer that spends the entire lesson talking too fast and not giving you hands-on time at the keyboard is not doing you any favors. The only way for you to learn is to do it yourself. That means sitting at the keyboard with the instructor at your side, giving hints when necessary, or remaining silent while you go through the necessary (and sometimes painful) mental gyrations that lead to building your own neural network. Shortcut this process, and you're not learning.

As you progress, a good instructor will also show you how to use the manuals and web sites related to the software you are learning, so you can begin to find answers for yourself. There is a tremendous wealth of reference material, and frequently what really matters is not knowing the answer off the top of your head, but where to find it.

Most importantly, find someone you can call and ask questions of without embarrassment when you're truly stumped. This is vital to the learning process. Frustration is bad!

From time to time, you'll come across something you just don't know, something you haven't experienced before. Check your reference materials. Let your brain search its existing information for a while, but don't let embarrassment, frustration, fear, or anxiety creep in! Once they do, learning stops or becomes extremely difficult.

Instead, call your computer guru before despair sets in. You'll learn something new. You'll find yourself more relaxed, knowing that you have a mentor dedicated to helping you.

In time, your brain will begin to learn how to troubleshoot computer problems. You'll find you need to call less and less as you spend more time with the computer and your brain expands its matrix of computer knowledge.

Finally, let me give you three vital warnings:

If you're nervous, stressed out or frustrated, consider that static on your neural network. You can't listen to a song on the radio if the static is too loud.

 

#2 Becoming defensive or embarrassed HALTS your progress!

Allowing emotion or ego into any learning process shifts it from network building to emotional reaction. It's an entirely different process that's now occurring in your brain.

If you've ever said, "This is a stupid question," or "I've been using a computer for X years, I think I know what I'm doing..." you've just shifted out of gear into an entirely different process in the brain and completely shut off your ability to receive new information.

You must shift out of this emotional thought process before being able to accept new information and add it to your neural network, or learn.

 

#3 Don't go it alone!

Would you attempt to learn to play the guitar without hiring an instructor, reading a book or watching a video?

What if you were traveling to Japan and wanted to speak the language? Would you attempt to do this without a teacher or taking lessons? Of course not.

So don't sit in front of your computer by yourself. Find a mentor. Find the right person for you. Be patient with yourself. Ask lots of questions.

 

Go to it

Now that you understand the learning process, the pressure is off. Simply let it happen. Consider your neural network. It won't be built in a day.