Learning how to use Word, Excel, etc

[wordsmithsforever]

We've been home educating for about 5 years and love it. DD(13) and DS(9) use the computer quite a lot - including Word and Powerpoint as well as a bit of programming (on the Khan Academy and Scratch).

I was just thinking that maybe it would be good to formalise their learning a bit regarding MS Office. I know in the schools around here they formally teach them how to make pamphlets in Powerpoint, write letters in Word, do spreadsheets in Excel, etc. My two have tended to pick up things as they need them - eg if they're making a party invitation or whatever, or DD (who is super organised!) did a spreadsheet for her packing for our last holiday etc

I was wondering what people on here have used for this sort of thing for their DC. I googled and found this office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/
which looks pretty good at first glance.

Do you think it's better to let them learn as they need stuff or has anyone used a more formal/another approach with any success?

Speaking from my own experience (ie not as a home eder) I find it easier to learn how to do things in excel and word as and when I need them. Though it does help to know what's possible.

You could try introducing them to (eg) simple excel formulae

Whenever I've learnt anything before I've needed it, I've forgotten it. I don't see the point, really. You need to learn something when you need it, use it for what you need, which consolidates it, and then either forget it if you don't need it again, or enjoy doing it so much you do it loads so you never forget it.

I'm an Executive Assistant and I'm entirely self taught. The best resource currently is the Microsoft website and using the Help function within the software.

The easiest way is to pick up bits as you go along. I've also seen other people produce work and then I either ask them how they did it or look it up.

Oh, definitely just work out together how to achieve whatever it is the child wants to achieve rather than learning Word in an abstract way. :)

I think at this stage it's probably fine to let them do stuff as and when :)

But if you did want to do something formal, the European Computer Driving Licence is well-known and seems fairly easy to access - I've seen several HEors talk about doing it.

Thanks for the responses. I'll check out the European Computer Driving Licence too, thanks.

This thread has made me remember a Pagemaker course I did years ago - after university and before I started working. I wanted to get a job in publishing and thought it would help. Looking back, maybe the course showed a bit of commitment from me but I ended up using totally different software (sgml-based) and the company I eventually worked for sent me on that training anyway so I can see the value of learning as you need it. Never did use that course and don't remember a thing about it. Not sure if the software is even used anymore as never came across it again!

On the other hand, you want them to be computer literate enough that they aren't afraid to try things or whatever. (Actually they and all their mates seem to have a far more intuitive understanding of the PC than I'll ever have. I think it's because I only sat down at a computer for the first time when I was about 21, in my first job.)