find stuff on the net - How Do Some People Naturally “Get It”? (Page 2)

Article Library | How Do Some People Naturally “Get It”?

This article is taken from the similarly-named chapter in the e-book “Find Stuff On The Net”, available for purchase at http://www.findstuffonthenet.com

How Do Some People Already “Get It”? Page 2

Adults, on the other hand, can grow frustrated with computers because *they* have spent their time in school getting their education, but they were never taught how to use these machines. They don't spend the time learning computers, thus they don't have much experience with them (and, most importantly, they don't have experience dealing with computers when things go wrong). This inexperience can quickly grow to resentment and confusion.

Adults may think they are supposed to know everything, not kids, so why do kids pick up these things? Because, while adults have experience with many other facets of life, they don't have experience with computers. And yes, experience does mean a lot.

* Experimentation *

I'm not talking about substance experimentation. Kids experiment in a lot of different ways. They experiment to see how much they can get away with from their parents. They experiment by being around different people - forming a variety of peer groups. They experiment with clothing. Kids and teenagers are new to the world and like trying different things (especially if it makes their parents mad! ).

Adults experiment and try new things as well, but we are guided by knowledge, reason, and experience. We are more likely to use our previously gained knowledge to solve a problem and not "try something new". While adults are bounded by what we know to be correct, kids don't have the experience to make these judgments. Sometimes adults pigeonhole themselves into their idea of how the world works, while kids usually don't feel this constraint.

This spirit of experimentation directly translates into younger people generally picking up computers faster than their older counterparts. Kids don't seem to mind trying something new; thus, they gravitate towards computers as they open up a whole world of opportunities for experimentation. And, unlike adults who may get frustrated when computers fail to work properly, kids seem to shrug their shoulders and just get back to work as if nothing happened.

Try this experiment to see what I mean. Sit five children and five adults, all with little computer experience, next to their own machines. Sit and watch while the children play around by clicking on icons, menus, and buttons. They don't seem to care if they do something wrong because their minds are not cluttered with the pains of consequences of improper actions.

Meanwhile, the adults may carefully try one or two items. They'll look around for help. They'll probably talk to others and leave their computers, chitchatting about what happened at work the day before. They'll quickly grow frustrated and confused, especially if they do something that pops up an error or warning dialog. Kids, on the other hand, upon seeing the dialog would just close it and try something else.

* Result - More Computer Use = More Understanding *

I know these are generalizations, but what I have been saying is based on discussions with many people and by observing computer usage patterns. Adults are usually more worried with failing or causing damage by their computers. They are scared of the technology because they don't understand it and don't know why they don't understand it (they spent their time in school, you know!) Kids, on the other hand, don't mind that they don't understand computers at first, so they are more willing to spend time learning about the machines.

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Many adults think that kids just sit down in front of a computer their very first time and know everything. This is not the case. Kids can operate the computer and do a few things quickly because they are willing to try things at a faster rate than adults, not worrying about outcomes if they accidentally delete a file or trash a hard drive. And, since computers are more familiar to them, kids are more willing to spend lots of time playing with computers.

Kids are used to being around computers, as computers have existed throughout their entire lives. They are used to being told they must learn new things, placing kids in a "learning mode" that adults tend to forget after leaving school. And, by not having the experiences of life to bog them down, kids do not worry as much about experimentation and the consequences of their actions. Thus, this familiarity with machines, spirit of learning, and rebelliousness result in kids willing to spend lots of time with computers. Obviously, as they spend more time with machines, their skills increase, results in kids "getting it".

* How Can This Knowledge Help You Learn Computers? *

So, now that you have an idea (at least the author's idea!) on how kids understand machines quickly, how can you use this to help you FIND STUFF ON THE NET?

First, you have to realize that, no, you were not taught this stuff in school. Surprise - life teaches us many lessons that can't be explained in the classroom. Learning the computer and the Internet is just like learning how to write in cursive the first time. It's different, sometimes it makes absolutely no sense (Look at the cursive uppercase 'Q', for example), and it can be frustrating. You must look beyond the fact that you are an adult, experienced in the ways of life, and realize that it's OK to be new at this! It's perfectly fine! Everybody is a beginner sometime.

To learn how to FIND STUFF ON THE NET, you must retrain yourself and get into a "learning mode". By reading this article you have shown the desire to learn. Now, like any great endeavor, learning how to use the Internet will take time. You can’t magically pick all this stuff up in before lunch, in between meetings, before picking up your kids at school, or right before your favorite television show. Set aside some time, rid yourself of all distractions (I know, easier said than done!), and learn.

Last, but just as important, RELAX! Searching the Internet is not brain surgery. It's not rocket science. By just browsing a few web sites you won't send your credit card number to everyone in the world. More than likely you won't destroy your computer - if it happens to crash browsing web sites, and, sorry, it will, just restart your web browser and/or your computer and try again. If this happens, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT! COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE IS NOT FOOLPROOF AND MAY CONTAIN BUGS THAT MANIFEST THEMSELVES ALMOST RANDOMLY NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO!

(Sorry for the caps, but I'm tired of people saying it's their fault and feeling hopeless whenever their computers crash! I'm a programmer as well, so don't anyone complain when I say that computers and software have bugs! They don't work perfectly all the time! Just learn to accept these bugs for what they are and restart your computer when needed).

By just browsing a few web sites, especially by starting only at well-known sites, you should not cause any irreparable harm (yes, there is a VERY remote chance bad things could happen, almost as remote as bad things happening driving a car or just crossing the street – but I will discuss this and try to alleviate any remaining fears in the next chapter). Backup your data if it is important, but try to stay calm. Learn to become a little adventurous! In order to tame the Internet, you must be willing to explore its nooks and crannies. Get out there and surf, and with practice and a little patience, you too will soon learn how to find stuff on the net!

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This article is copyright 2002 Andrew Malek of Envision Programming and may not be reproduced. All company names and web sites are copyrights or trademarks of their respective organizations.