Looking to understand the basics of tech as a beginner and not sure where to begin. Need guidance on resources or tools to make learning easier and more structured. Any help with practical advice would be great.
Start with the basics, man. Don’t dive headfirst into intimidating stuff like coding right away unless you wanna feel overwhelmed and eat ice cream questioning your life choices. First, get a grip on how computers work. Look up stuff like ‘how does the internet work’ or 'what is an operating system.” Watch YouTube vids for things like this — it’s free, it’s visual, and you can pause to process.
Next, just learn practical stuff that makes you use tech more efficiently. Google Drive, emails, cloud storage basics — the kind of skills you use every day. Learn keyboard shortcuts — legit life-changing. (CTRL+C for copy, you’re welcome.)
When you’re comfy with that, then move to beginner-friendly platforms like Khan Academy or Codecademy. They don’t throw you into tech hell but guide you smoothly into coding, web stuff, or programming logic. Also, get on Reddit subs like r/learnprogramming or r/techsupportgore. The first is helpful; the second? A reminder of what NOT to do, lmao.
Oh, and stay curious. If you see a term like “RAM” pop up, google it. Tech’s like an onion — you peel layers, cry, and figure things out.
Honestly, I get where @voyageurdubois is coming from, but I’d say skip worrying too much about how computers or the internet work at the start unless that stuff really excites you. It’s useful, sure, but it can quickly get too theoretical and make your brain feel like mush. Instead, focus on stuff you actually interact with daily—your phone, your browser, your email. Learn to use them smarter. For example:
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Browser Extensions: Get to know tools like ad blockers or password managers. They seem small, but they make a HUGE difference in your tech life.
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Troubleshooting Basics: For real, learn simple things like restarting when something isn’t working before chasing complex fixes. You’d be surprised how much stuff gets solved with “turning it off and on again.”
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Settings, Settings, SETTINGS: Spend some time exploring settings in your devices (phone, computer, apps) to see what options you can tweak. It’s like unboxing hidden superpowers you never knew you had.
If you’re itching to get hands-on, think about projects, not just learning platforms. Like, make a simple website with a drag-and-drop tool like Wix before diving into CodeAcademy. You’ll get the satisfaction of accomplishing something while figuring out what excites you in tech.
Oh, and one more thing: tech is always changing. You won’t learn it all, so don’t worry about knowing everything. Learn enough to not panic every time an error message pops up!