As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff, how to solve problems. Each Tuesday, I’ll share one of those with you. They’re always brief and always focused. Enjoy!
Q: Sometimes, I just can’t remember how to accomplish a task. Often, I know it’s simple. Maybe I’ve done it before–or even learned it before–and it’s lost in my brain. What do I do?
A: One of the best gifts I have for students and colleagues alike is how to solve this sort of problem. Before you call your IT guy, or the tech teacher, or dig through those emails where someone sent you the directions, here’s what you do:
Google it.
Type the question into Google and push send. 80% of the problems I have, I can answer that way. How to create an Outlook Distribution List? How to get Excel to categorize scores? How to add a border to Word? Google it. Chances are, someone has asked that question and someone else answered it in a clear, concise manner.
Once you get used to this approach to problem solving, you’ll become annoyed when others don’t use it. You have lots of company in that sentiment. There’s a website–LMGTFY.com–devoted to Googling answers for people who should be able to do it themselves. the acronym LMGTFY stands for ‘Let Me Google That For You’.
To get the complete list of 169 Tech Tips, click here.
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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
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