joyce H

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When I said that I could type, that was fine, then I admitted that I could use a computer, all though everything I knew was self taught, and that was where it all started to go wrong.  Go to I.T. they said, the guy there will put you on to our system and soon have you up and running.  Did they mean running for the door I wonder?  Off I went, thinking that I would be given a simple log in code and a basic 'how to do exercise' and be leaving an hour later armed with easy to follow instructions, to back up all that I was about to learn.  WRONG.  After a firm handshake and name exchange, the I.T. guy proceeded to fly through the tuition, reaching over my shoulder to move the mouse to the correct icon, instead of letting me do it myself.  His favourite line, was "all you have to do is this, this and this...".  I honestly did not know what to watch.  His hand flying over the keyboard, the screen to follow the movement of the curser, or try to jot everything down in my small pocket size notebook. 

Calm suddenly settled over me, when I remembered that I would have the reams of paper to cherish and pour over at my leisure at the end of this lesson.  I dared to daydream that I could perhaps break them down into small compact notes, and that this time next week, I would not even need to look at them, as it would be second nature to me.  Reality knocked me for six when I realised that my time was up.  Boy, that hour went quickly I thought, but wait, only 15 minutes had passed.  Another shake of the hand, assurance that he was just at the end of the telephone if I needed any more help, although he was sure that I wouldn't, and I found myself being politely shown the door.  Well of course I wouldn't need to call him, because I had my back up sheets didn't I.  Wait a minute, where are they?  "Any paperwork for me", I asked hopefully.  Apparently not.  'Don't panic you have your own notes' I reassured myself. Wrong again.  In my haste to get everything down, I had scrawled half sentences, in such a hap-hazzard way, a 2 year old would have done a better job.  Then again a 2 year old would probably have understood every thing that had just been shown to me. 

Pride has stopped me from ringing I.T.  Trial and error has helped me to complete my tasks on the computer, but only after 3 or 4 attempts at finding the right programme.  The lesson that I have learned from this, is that when ever I am in the position of teaching some one, no matter what the subject, I am going to make sure that they know what they are doing and have notes to follow at their own pace for afterwards.  So take note, all of you experts out there.  While it may seem so simple to you, remember there is something you don't know and you too could find yourself in similar circumstances.  (With a bit of luck!)