"Many people, friends or strangers,
offer or claim to be able to help a person
or business across a range of computer learning
and problems. Offers of troubleshooting, of
website services and so forth, abound. Regrettably
my experience with computers since 1988 has been
that as often as not the promises are not fulfilled.
Too often "helpers" and even "experts" have left
me with new problems. The dollar outlay generally
has little relation to the value of service. Friends
can solve a problem beautifully at no cost. An
expensive expert may deliver or not. Recently,
I found myself with a new suite of hardware, software,
and services, some new needs, and some nagging
irritations. Once again, as happens every few years,
I set about looking for help. I chose the yellow
pages because I've learned to be skeptical of friends'
recommendations.
Of a few responses, Peter Shears was one of
just two useable ones. Our initial telephone
conversation was promising. I hired his services
prepared to possibly be disappointed again. But
it turns out Peter is one of the best computer
guys I've ever encountered. He took time for
an in-depth orientation, to get to know me, my
strengths, my weaknesses, goals, and requirements.
He explained what he could and could not do.
He tailored the way he taught me according to
my absorption pattern. He monitors progress from
the customer's point of view. He is personable,
the kind of friendly, thoughtful, "real" person
you like to be around. It's easy to begin to
think of Peter as a friend as well as a teacher
and problem solver. And he follows up.
Based on my experience - and I'm a guy of 74
who owned his own directory publishing business
for 25 years and is now engaged in research as
an author - Peter is a good bet for anyone looking
to improve their computer and internet productivity,
and enjoy the process. As far as I'm concerned,
Peter is outstanding in his field. "
~ Barrie Zwicker, Toronto
Author, Towers of
Deception
Contact Information
Phone: (416) 249-2466
(that's 416-24-WAGON)
Messages are constantly retrieved between
clients throughout the day.
It's always best to speak by phone, but
in a pinch you can always email me. I will try and respond within 24 hours.
E-mail: pete@best4beginners.com
First,
whether you're visiting us today for yourself or for a loved one, let me thank you for considering my company for your needs. Based on
what our clients tell us, we have a difference that works and you won't be sorry you stopped by.
I actually started teaching adults for the first time back around 1996 giving group seminars to members of the general public at the Canada Employment Center.
Thereafter, I continued to work my way through a Computer Support Specialist Certification at Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology, and
continued on with 1-on-1 tutoring while working my way through a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from The University of Western Ontario, graduating
relatively late in life just in June 2006. Just to complete the picture, I am also a Lexis Nexis Certified Independant Consultant (CIC) on PCLaw, the software
that lawyers commonly use to run their practices. So we mean it when we say we're qualified to teach advanced levels. We also mean it when we say we like beginners best.
Perhaps like you, when I was a kid, computers and the internet as we know them were not yet invented. I didn't begin to learn them until I was in my early 30s. I also
experienced what it was like as an older fellow to go toe-to-toe at university with those much younger than I who grew up with computers. Watching them learn versus how
we older students learned pointed out that the traditional "here's where to click, memorize it" approach to skills learning just doesn't work for older folks.
It turns out it does indeed take us a little longer to learn things. We are not blank slates like when we were kids. We first filter everything
we learn to see if it fits with what we already know. This means we learn slower, but deeper and we are able to apply what we know better because we
first take the time to understand concepts.
After graduating, I decided to combine 2 years of Law School experience with my computer training and founded WagonTrain I. T. Solutions, a 1-stop, full-service
I. T. Department for small law firms and new practices and small to medium businesses. Around the same time, I noted a dire
need for top-drawer computer training for those who have been having some issues with obtaining Basic Computer Literacy. As a
"life long learning evangelist" I found this situation to be unacceptable. In the 21st century, computer literacy is as much a right
as numeracy and standard reading skills. The problem is that for many seniors and for the many who experience "technophobia" to varying
degrees, the frequently given reasons they have not yet acquired these basic, common skills are:
