Trying not to get left behind

[Debbiew1964]

Hello lovely mums. I don’t have kids so I haven’t been through the school curriculum since the early 1980s! Back then we didn't have computers and IT so I’ve never learned it properly. Can any of you recommend a text book (in all honesty, I probably need to start with primary school level) so I can teach myself. Thanks so much

How much do you know? If you've made this post you know the basics of the Internet at least? Google will bring up hundreds of pages that will contain far much more information than a single text book. And Youtube is good for tutorial videos on literally anything you could think of that you need help with.

Thanks for replying. I’m not totally useless -I’ve got great skills in the Microsoft Office suite of toys but I am of the facebook, linkedin generation. The topics I am trying to learn involve eg understanding more of the fundamentals eg basic languages, coding, the meaning of eg blockchain, quantum computing etc…I suspect (but don’t know) that these terms are fairly familiar to the youngsters of today…I don’t even know to what it refers!

@Debbiew1964

Thanks for replying. I’m not totally useless -I’ve got great skills in the Microsoft Office suite of toys but I am of the facebook, linkedin generation. The topics I am trying to learn involve eg understanding more of the fundamentals eg basic languages, coding, the meaning of eg blockchain, quantum computing etc…I suspect (but don’t know) that these terms are fairly familiar to the youngsters of today…I don’t even know to what it refers!

I don’t think the things you mention are fundamentals. What are you trying to achieve?

@Debbiew1964

Thanks for replying. I’m not totally useless -I’ve got great skills in the Microsoft Office suite of toys but I am of the facebook, linkedin generation. The topics I am trying to learn involve eg understanding more of the fundamentals eg basic languages, coding, the meaning of eg blockchain, quantum computing etc…I suspect (but don’t know) that these terms are fairly familiar to the youngsters of today…I don’t even know to what it refers!

I echo what @Aprilx said, these are not fundamentals. I don't think they will be covered in primary school-level text books either, at least not to a standard where you are proficient in using those things.

Are you trying to get into a job in tech because you've heard there's good money involved and want a fast route?

No - I’m newly retired and just want to educate myself. I - perhaps wrongly - assumed I’d better start from the beginning which is how I ended up on mumsnet, and not being a mum! 😀
I can have a look at YouTube as suggested …thanks.

Have a look on futurelearn or coursera for free on line courses

Sounds exciting OP, have a look at this book, it’s great for beginners:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1119363020/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_ZXNHRV04E0VD06QEYPEC?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Thank you 🙏

Try Khan Academy. It's completely free and brilliant. They have loads of computer science stuff. I taught myself a bit of JavaScript just for fun a few years ago.

Good for you! Tbh I'd probably start with an online search for some good websites rather than a book

I think the apple shop does classes.

@Debbiew1964

Thanks for replying. I’m not totally useless -I’ve got great skills in the Microsoft Office suite of toys but I am of the facebook, linkedin generation. The topics I am trying to learn involve eg understanding more of the fundamentals eg basic languages, coding, the meaning of eg blockchain, quantum computing etc…I suspect (but don’t know) that these terms are fairly familiar to the youngsters of today…I don’t even know to what it refers!

Blimey, I’ve been in IT for 25 years & those are BIG topics… Blockchain is about distribution digital transactions, Quantum computing is about physics and IT joining.. For languages, take a look at Python, and look at programming basis, loops, functions, parameters, once you get those can be applied to any language But trust me, the youngsters of today don’t use those things…, it’s all Snapchat and Instagram…

What Amazon are doing with the IoT is pretty interesting, or get a Raspberry Pi and play about with it

If you use linked in, maybe sign up to linked in learning (you need to pay). They have tonnes of short courses on databases / programming / data analysis / blockchain.

They do some coding in KS2. I think DD used python.

If you get a copy of the National Curriculum it will not only tell you what is taught and when but also how. Very useful

You are all wonderful….however, as an example, justanotheroldman, I have no idea what “distribution digital transactions” means (I mean, I know what the individual words mean, just not what the 3 mean together!) 😂

Just google blockchain ( other search engines are available), and read some stuff or watch some YouTube videos, but blockchain is pretty intense and boringly dull..
Check out crypto currency and Bitcoin mining…

Futurelearn and openlearn, free courses in practically everything, from beginners to post-grad level.

@Debbiew1964

You are all wonderful….however, as an example, justanotheroldman, I have no idea what “distribution digital transactions” means (I mean, I know what the individual words mean, just not what the 3 mean together!) 😂

Very very few people would know this! I think it's still quite specialist knowledge.

I believe schools cover basic coding for kids but not the rest?

I don’t know what the kids are learning in school either but… in the past I’ve found that ‘for dummies’ series of books to be really useful for breaking down complex topics.
If you haven’t heard of these books, just google whatever topic you’re interested in followed by ‘for dummies’, e.g coding for dummies.
They’re not childish so you might find them more relevant to you than primary school Textbooks.

You can browse the www.python.org website itself which has got a to z of python programming. Plenty of YouTube videos are available as well for basic learning.

My husband is super into this sort of stuff. He (and equally nerdy mates) swear by YouTube tutorials and Udemy courses. He's really good so must work!