MY COMPUTER SKILLS

From the last decade up to now we have seen a huge development of technology in the world and a massive demand of computer skills in order to fill the requirements to be a good professional or to get a job. Even people who do not have a degree or other studies are concerned about learning how to use a computer. In the past, the use of computers was not essential as it is since people noticed the requirements that a globalized world demands. Now having a computer has become more accessible and easier than it was in the past. The access to internet and other technological devices is more common and cheaper than it was some years ago. If we take a look of our reality in the past, the school programs were different; they have changed a lot; students did not have the use of computers as a subject. Now they do. Students are studying technology from kindergarten and in few years they are able to work in the computer.

Besides, there has been a huge increment of academies and institutions that serve courses for people who want to learn how to use the computer.  In fact, nowadays to have computer skills has become not only an extra option of studies, but also a need to survive.   I remember that when I started using computers, (it was about 7 years ago) I was afraid of damaging the computers I was going to touch and I know that many people still have the same fear. I had my first computer 4 years ago, and from that moment I started to be more curious about all the benefits a computer can offer. I remember that I used to click whatever I saw in the screen and now that I remember this is really funny for me because I used to say to myself “I am going to click this button and let’s see what happens” then, when I saw the results I used to start reading and trying to understand what I was looking at and why those things appeared.

 That was the method I used in order to learn and it worked. I know that I am not an expert in the usage of computers but at least, I try to learn every single thing that is available for me. I can say that I can use the basic programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Paint, etc. I know how to send e-mails, attach documents to e-mails, receive and save anything people send to me via e-mail. I know how to surf the net, look for important information and get it to my own computer. I know how social networks work and how to take advantage of them. I know some tricks to fix photos; I know how to install some programs, the useful benefits of USB, SD and all those types of devices, I have a little knowledge of the programs I should use to keep my computer clean, fast, and protected from viruses, etc. I must say that some of the things mentioned above have been taught to me by my friend Jonathan Urrutia Figeroa.  (So please, credits for him).

There is plenty of advantages of having computer skills, however as everything in life it also has some disadvantages. Let´s think about the advantages. First of all we now that having computer skills open many doors for job opportunities, and the more you know about it the better chances you get. For students, computer skills are just indispensable since we need them to do the homework. Computers allow us to keep close communication with the people we love but for any reason they are far away from us. Another advantage is that computers avoid the extreme use of paper, because we can keep any document we want without having a lot of paper in our house.The advantages could be that people learn to use computers just to waste their time, watch pornography, still important passwords, or simply for cyberbulying. I think that everybody learns according to his/her needs, tastes, interests, etc. What is important is that we take advantage of our computer skills to help our students and help ourselves when teaching.