Instructors and training

All Visual Steps books are designed as self-study guides. They are also well suited for use in a group or a classroom setting. For this purpose, we offer free teacher's manuals containing information about how to prepare for a course (including didactic teaching methods) and testing materials. You can download these manuals (PDF documents) here.

• Teachers' Manual, PDF 100 kB
  Google for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 236 9
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF 103 kB
  Picasa for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 246 8
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF 120 kB
  Windows 7 for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 126 3
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF 123 kB
  Internet and E-mail for SENIORS with Windows 7, ISBN 978 90 5905 116 4
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF 142 kB
  More Windows Vista for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 055 6
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF 170 kB
  Internet and E-mail for SENIORS with Windows Vista, ISBN 978 90 5905 284 0
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF 258 kB
  Windows Vista for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 274 1
  
  Teachers' Manual, PDF 355 kB, starting with the sixth printing
  Windows Vista for SENIORS, ISBN: 978 90 5905 274 1
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF 263 kB
  Windows XP for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 044 0
  
  Teachers' Manual, 296 kB, starting with the ninth printing
  Windows XP for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 044 0
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF - 123 kB
  More Windows XP for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 114 0
• Teachers' Manual, PDF - 269 kB
  Internet and E-mail for SENIORS with Windows XP, ISBN 978 90 5905 054 9
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF 1,15 MB
  Digital Photo Editing for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 064 8
  
• Teachers' Manual, PDF - 257 kB
  Microsoft Word 2003 for SENIORS, ISBN 978 90 5905 184 3

[ top ]How do I use PDF files?

The teachers' manuals on this website are published in the PDF format. You can open, view, print or download these files with the program called Adobe Reader. PDF (Portable Document Format) is a universal file format that preserves the fonts, images, graphics, and layout of any source document, regardless of the application and platform used to create it.

Most computers already have this software installed, but if yours does not, you can download Adobe Reader for free from the Adobe website.

More information about Adobe Reader ».

Click the "Get Adobe Reader" button below to download the free Adobe Reader:

[ top ]Request Review Copy for Instructors

We are happy to send out copies of the Visual Steps books to those who wish to review a text for possible class adoption. To qualify you need to be an educator in an academic institution or an instructor at a learning resource center or other educational facility. You may request up to two books per course for inspection purposes.
Request a review copy »

[ top ]Newsletter for Instructors

Sign up here for our free Visual Steps Newsletter for Instructors.
Our newsletter will keep you up to date regarding new product releases, new guides for class preparation and other handy teaching aids. Just fill in your e-mail address in the box below and click "Subscribe". You can also use this same box to remove your e-mail address from the mailing list if desired.

[ top ]Sample Newsletter

• Newsletter, December 9, 2009
  Visual Steps has just released two books regarding Windows 7 for beginners. These books can be used by people who are "absolute beginners", in other words who have never worked on a computer before. They are also well suited for use in a group or a classroom setting. Read more »

Each newsletter e-mail contains a one-click link, allowing you to unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time.

Note:
After you enter your e-mail address, a window will appear to confirm your subscription request. A confirmation e-mail is then sent to the e-mail address you have submitted. You will need to activate your subscription within seven days, by clicking the link in that e-mail. Addresses that have not been confirmed will be automatically deleted from the list. This double confirmation procedure eliminates the chance of abuse where somebody submits somebody else's email address without their knowledge or against their will.

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Please be sure that we will not use your e-mail address for any purpose except to send you information regarding new Visual Steps books, suggested guidelines and other instructional materials. We will not share your e-mail address with any third-party.

[ top ]What Instructors have to say

“Thank you! I am a senior computer instructor. I have been teaching seniors for over 10 years. I needed to catch up with the new operating system, Windows 7. I went to the library and found 3 books: Microsoft windows 7 simplified, Windows 7 for seniors, and your Windows 7 for seniors.
You can't compare the other two instruction books to yours; they were too complicated for seniors. However, your manual was superior, the other two failed the test. They were much to difficult for seniors. Need to look at your other manuals.”
- Sharon, Boston, MA

“I was given the XP Book for Seniors. I have never seen such a detailed book that isn't written too far above our heads (techie talk). I teach beginning computers at a local community center and show my book to each student and recommend they get it. Thanks for all your hard work.”
- Shirley Arp

“Hello,
I work with a team of volunteer computer instructors at the Seniors Association in Kingston, Canada. Our courses cover basic home computing and digital photography. Most of our students are older people who didn't have a chance to learn about computers when they were younger. (Well... let's be honest, none of us oldies did!) They come to our classroom motivated to learn, but sometimes anxious as well, fearing it will be too difficult. Often they've been buffaloed by the children in their families, whose easy familiarity with consumer electronics is unimaginable to them.
For years we've been looking for supportive textbooks that match this style of teaching. When Addo Stuur's books were published in Canada last year (2005), we felt we had found what we needed. We now use Windows XP for Seniors in our beginning courses, mainly as a source of homework assignments. We cover each topic in class, hands-on. Then, when the students get home, Addo takes them through the same topic, step by step, with a picture of the screen after each step. He avoids mentioning extraneous facts not necessary to the reader's immediate success. He also recognizes that everyone will forget things as they progress, so the books contain reminders of where to go to re-read things that might have slipped from memory. As well, each chapter tells you what to do if anything doesn't work as you expect.
There are other pictorial teach-yourself books that look PRETTIER than this one. They're printed in colour and therefore they cost more. But for beginners who are seniors, I can confidently give a confident recommendation for "Windows XP for Seniors.”
- B. Martin, computer and photography instructor in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

“I have been asked to teach a class for the non-computer folks at my retirement community. I purchased this book for each member of the class, and plan to use each chapter for a specific class session. It has very straightforward explanations of the basic computer operations and Windows XP, fully illustrated. I think it will be perfect to help me guide some seniors to computer literacy.”
- Harmon

“The whole series of Addo Stuur books for Seniors is excellent because it goes the extra mile to reinforce each learning episode. The Visual Steps method allows a cross referencing which helps Seniors immensely to have backup. Tie in the screen shots with emphasis on the step at hand and large type and you have a first-class book. I have taught adults and now seniors for 18 years and I have most of the books out there including books for seniors--there is no doubt these are the best. I have been ordering them for my students and recommending them to my computer clubs and every senior I talk to who is technophobic and wants to learn!! I have purchased them all to use as a teaching tool and anxiously await the new one on Word in April of this year.”
- M. Romain, Teacher

“Dear Addo,
I am a teacher and have been watching for decent instructions for seniors. For lack of books with screen captures and lucid instructions in larger print, I have been creating my own instruction pages. This has taken hours and hours as you well know. You can imagine how excited I was to finally find your books Addo. They do exactly what I have tried to do and even go several steps beyond with your Index on How Do I Do That Again? Then to follow it up with a website for testing and practice is excellent. So I have purchased the first two books from Amazon and I plan to purchase the third on More…and the fourth on the Photo program. My students are not ready for the photo program yet, but when they get ready, we will use your book. Meanwhile I am mentioning it to them and telling them how excited I am about the possibility of using the books in class. We do not have computers for hands on, but if I go over the class procedures and then they take the book home and try it themselves it will greatly improve how much they get out of it. When they return to class then I can check with them on what problems they had and reinforce the proper techniques. We do have a projector so it is a little better than a standard class of talking and no demonstration. Thank You for these great books.”

“I'm teaching a class at the local UMaine Senior college. This book is BY FAR the best text for introducing seniors to the computer. The authors have thought thru the issues of elder learning and provided workable solutions for most of the problems many seniors have in learning tech subjects. The "Dummies" series book for seniors has much more info, but my seniors are overwhelmed by too much info. Stuur's book has the right amount. It may be a little too basic for people who have a good collection of basic skills already, but this comes with the territory. Some in my class have NEVER sat in front of a computer before. If we skip the absolute basics they'll be left behind (again!) The book is a great tool for the classroom. And when the students get home they have all the info in front of them again. Great for those that have short term memory problems.”
- By J. P. Erdman (New England)

“This is a great book! I teach PC/Digital Camera classes in an adult ed setting and see this as a breakthrough volume. I'm working at convincing management to incorporate this as a required text/course. A key is that it INCLUDES a powerful editing software program. In classes, we use the SW that is resident on the lab PC's, so students are sent home to practice with either an unrelated product, or they are off to the store to face the dozens of choices for purchase at up to $100.
Too bad the cover and title cater to seniors. This book is valuable for anyone interested in the subject of digital imagery, not just Geezers. Hopefully however, that cover will interest more seniors who should buy this book and plod, yes plod, through it because learning something new ain't always easy, at any age.
This book and the included Arcsoft program will guide users through very basic and simple editing functions like cropping and brightening their treasured images--alone worth the purchase price. But, what's surprising to me is the fact that some of the most advanced aspects of editing are covered, like cloning and the use of layers which are true pro-level features. Purchasing a "latest" comparable entry level program like "Photoshop Elements", or "Paint Shop Pro" at around $90, plus an explanatory step-by-step book at about $30, would be overkill when this all-in-one solution is available for under $20! Perseverance is required for anyone learning something new and potentially complex, but this book should be considered by anyone of any age group.”

Let us know what you think.
You can send us your review about the Visual Steps books. Send us your comments by e-mail to: info@visualsteps.com
Thank you!

[ top ]Computer Certificate for Seniors

In addition, Visual Steps offers online quizzes for seniors. A special certifcate is available to all individuals who can successfully answer the questions about the computer or computer related program.

The online quizzes are available at the website listed below:

• www.ccforseniors.com