Not So Savvy

TEXT BY: ALISHA HONEYCUTT ART BY: PRISCILLA MEDINA

Older students often face challenges when having to use modern technology. Here are some helpful tips.

Whether you hear the terms – Log In, Insta- Gram-me, FaceTime me or Snap me. If you aren’t familiar with these worldwide social media terms, then “Welcome to the Land of the Lost”. As a Non- Traditional Student, this is how I felt when asked to connect to these media entities for any given class and or now workplace communications.

Getting to class on time and participating in the class is one thing, but now that we are on a global lock down and facing a “Stay Home Order”, our classroom attendance and performance relies on our ability to “Log In”. Now, for some of us who feel like we’re the internet and Technically challenged students, connecting to the Internet and participating in classroom assignments is a whole new world of added frustration and stress.

Facing the challenges of the world of the Internet reminds me of the old hit Saturday Morning Cartoon called the JETSONS; Whelp, that’s exactly who we’ve turned into!

I remember scenes where the company boss Mr. Spacley was on something like “ZOOM” – using a TV like Monitor to call on his employee George Jetson, and then he screams out a new assignment order through the TV screen. Or “Jane his Wife‘’ (George’s Wife) pushes buttons on a box like device in the kitchen and out comes this fully made meal – (The Microwave). Well, here it is 58 years later and their predictions of a Land of the digital and electronic controlled environment is finally here. Don’t get me wrong, I’m learning to love the world of Online and Remote learning, as it has many benefits- such as, working at home ( in your PJ’s), researching anything through Google, connecting with classmates through Zoom, and much more. For the IT challenged student, the biggest barrier may be just logging on with the right password. I honestly cannot remember how many times I had to change my password or write down where to click to sort of navigate my way around the program.

Another challenge may be when a student struggles to submit an assignment to the correct link – and ON Time- or respond back to a discussion group appropriately. This can produce extra stress and fear. In fact there are several barriers that the IT Challenged Student may face.

The lack of knowledge of how to log in How to navigate around the various links Submitting assignments via upload /download Retrieving assignments or instructions

So, how does an IT Challenged Student navigate her way in this new Land of the Internet?

Here are some tips that may help you prepare for joining the “IT Remote Classroom”.

Relax- Log in with confidence Have a support system – someone who is accessible and can assist Have a notepad to take notes. Have the school IT contact number or schedule of availability. Citrus College IT Technical support # 626-914-8666 Print out the class syllabus EARLY – know your due dates ahead of time Practice good Time Management. (Organize a timeline). Prepare assignment goals at least a week ahead of time. Work on assignments as soon as you have downtime- (before due dates) Consider starting some of the harder assignments first / or prepare to organize a plan for them - PRIORITIZE Have your Instructors office and contact number saved or nearby. Don’t be afraid to keep asking for help or clarity of “HOW TO”. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

By using some of these tools, the IT Challenged Student can broaden their skills and their ability to maintain progress in the world of Remote Learning. It’s a great feeling when you begin to sharpen your skills and keep up with the lesson plan and your colleagues. It’s like you leave the world of the “Jetson’s and acquire new super learning capabilities like another more recent Digital Cartoon character called “Jenny” - on My Life as a Teenage Robot! And….. Just like Jenny, you’ll be proud to say “So, Welcome to my Life”. L