Want to learn to use your home computer, but scared by the prospect? 
I can make the journey a joy for you!

Well here's your chance for personalized at home instruction on using your computer. My name is Shirley Dawson. I'm a retired FDA worker and I love my computer, digital photography, graphics programs and the Internet.  I spent much of my 33 year FDA career as an office support or IT specialist, working on its computer networks, building websites and training workers on office and graphic applications.

After my retirement, I opened both website design and photography businesses which were successful.  My latest career involves digital painting and fine art photography working out of my home.  I use my Canon camera, Dell computer and Wacom digital tablet as my creation tools, along with specialized natural media painting software.  I own and operate the "A Guide to White Hall Website" and my own art site (www.shirleydawson.com) along with an online Etsy.com art shop.

I was raised in White Hall and I am a White Hall High School graduate and have a degree in Organizational Management from John Brown University.  I am a true believer in "life time" learning.  All during my adult life I made a point to  take college and specialized training in whatever arena I was working in at the time; and in my retirement I have studied photography and both traditional and digital painting.  I am an avid reader and love to learn new things and take real joy in acquiring additional knowledge. I am happily married with two daughters and 3 granddaughters.

Yes I do love my computer and spend many hours each day working with my software, graphics and painting programs and working on the internet.  So I can say that my comfort level in using this tool is very, very high. 

However, I do have many friends who look at their computers, electronic mail, and the Internet with fear - feeling very uncomfortable using these as tools.  So I realized that I may have something to offer my friends and community in sharing my knowledge of application/graphic software and using the Internet.

I can come to your home and teach you one-on-one how to use your computer and applications, just like a regular school tutor, or you can come to my home and learn on my equipment.

Some things you might be interested in learning are:

  • Using Microsoft Office 2007 Applications
    • Word 2007 (word processing)
    • Excel 2007 (spreadsheets)
    • Outlook 2007 (email)
    • PowerPoint 2007 (presentations and slideshows)
  • Internet and email basics
    • Google Mail
    • Google Calendar
    • Yahoo Mail
    • How to "surf the Net" and find things on the Internet
    • How to Set up an E-Bay or Etsy shop
    • Write & Send Email to your Friends & Family
    • How to send photos and word documents as attachments.
  • Digital photography/graphics - Using your point and shoot camera, downloading images to your computer, enhancing and resizing your images.
    • Basics of Photoshop CS4
    • Basics of Corel Painter 11
    • Basics of Adobe Elements

What is the cost?

My fee is $25/hour for personalized instruction from a friendly and patient teacher  (before you retain me as a tutor, we will discuss specifics of what you want me to teach you; so you learn just what you need to know to be able to feel comfortable with your home computer or software application). Or if you prefer to come to my home in the heart of White Hall and learn on my equipment, the fee is $20/hour.  My working hours are Monday-Friday from 10am - 4pm.

You may contact me via phone at 870-692-6938 or via email at sdawson@classicnet.net.