Ian Thompson feels empowered with his new knowledge of computers.
Ian Thompson has given himself a Christmas present learning a new life skill.
He has been attending computer lessons at Parkes Library for over two years, and this is what he has gained from it.
Why did you want to do the computer training at the library? It was initially recommended by my rehabilitation provider to improve my chances of returning to work. I had wanted to learn about computers anyway so I went.
What have you learned? I didn’t know how to make capital letters when I first started! But I now know how to email, do word processing and research the internet. I have also been learning about cyber bullying.
How did you find the lessons? They’re informative but everyone learns at their own pace so there’s no pressure.
Will you be able to put your new knowledge to good use and how do you plan to use it? I feel confident to use it at home and to stay up to date with what the family are doing too.
Would you recommend it to other people? Yes. The library staff allow everyone to learn at their own pace, there’s no pressure to hit certain benchmarks. They are very patient and make the learning fun as well as informative.
What was the highlight of the training for you? Learning how to use the computer and surprising myself that I was able to learn more. Yes, there’s a lot to learn but you only need to learn what you want to know. Once you get the basics, it’s quite fascinating learning more and more.
The Parkes Library offers the lessons for free, but bookings are essential. Contact Library staff on 6861 2309 or pop in to talk to Dan who runs the computer classes.