Adult Computer Literacy: Transitioning Skills

by Linley B. Marcum

There was a time when the ability to type, file and alphabetize was all one needed to know to survive as an employee in an office setting. The quickly-changing climates of business and technology, however, have made the typewriter and paper filing systems a prehistoric dinosaur from the past.

However, someone who possesses only these skills need not believe that they, too, are a relic from the business world’s past; it is a simple matter to transfer skills used in the business world of yesterday to the business world of today. An adult developing the skills to use technology that utilizes an office’s new on and off-line computer capabilities can lead to a bigger paycheck, a more productive employee and a more fulfilling and streamlined life both inside and outside of the office.

Achieving the goals of becoming “tech-savvy” and computer literate is not out of reach for any age group. Whether you have been in the same position for thirty years or are beginning a new job, computer literacy is often a necessary skill to develop not only for job acquisition, but also for employee marketability and job security. For the fresh-faced new hire, this often isn’t a problem, as modern collegiate programs often require computer operation courses as a part of all courses of study. For the employee who has been on the job for a decade or more, computer literacy can be a daunting prospect. Often the responsibility for learning to operate a computer at the minimal level for job performance falls to the employer; learning to put the computer to its most efficient use, however, is usually the responsibility of the employee.

Educational programs for the seasoned employee are not hard to find. Perhaps the most cost-effective and self-paced-based learning comes from books, allowing the employee to learn the skills they desire at their own pace and on their own time. This type of computer literacy program works best when the employee has a personal interest in learning to operate a computer not only for their work, but for personal use as well. A second type of computer literacy program is also more personal-oriented; college courses in computer operation and utilization. While this option also relies on the employee’s personal interest in learning to use a computer, it is also beneficial to the employer, as well. The third type of computer literacy program can be considered a “mandatory” program; i.e., one that is funded by and required by the employer, and often held on the work site. This type may not be as effective as those methods undertaken by the employee personally, because the main reason for learning – the employee’s personal thirst for knowledge – has been removed.

Computer literacy is an important skill to have in the modern world of work. Skills such as typing and filing are easily transferred from “manual skills” to “computer skills” by the employee willing to make the transition and eager to become a more viable, efficient employee.