5 basic computer skills every university student should have

Computer skills are becoming the most important skills in our world today and this is simply because technology is fast advancing and most things are now done with computers. sure, it makes things easy.

While there are many computer skills to learn, there are some computer skills that every university student should have. Getting familiar with and using computers in academic works makes things easier and helps students become more successful.

Here are the 5 basic computer skills every university student should have.

Typing skills 
You will always have one thing or the other to type in school, this may include assignments, reports, projects, sending mails and more, and all this will be easier, efficient, and faster with good typing skills.

Understanding the home keys, keyboard shortcuts and correct keystrokes will greatly improve your speed and accuracy in the long run. Typing your own works will equally save you good amount of money as typing at public places are very costly especially when your work is of large volume.

To learn typing skills it advisable to install word processing applications and other application you may be using frequently and practice it always until you perfect.

Online Skills
Knowing how to use the internet is a great skill for university students, Learning how to send mails, Making the most of search engines, online reference materials and databases can help reduce the time it takes you to find the articles and research papers to support your projects.

Learning how to use Google efficiently helps you get better search results. For instance, narrowing down your search phrases will give you more specific results.

Software basics:
Basic software suites such as the Microsoft office which includes MS word, MS excel, MS project, MS access, power point and other software like corel draw, Photoshop are very important to every university student.

Ms word helps you with your typing works, Excel helps with mathematical works and with the good use of its spread sheet much could be achieved. Photoshop and corel are basics you can use to work on graphics. When working on things involving management or databases, Ms project and Ms excel will be a good basic software to use. PowerPoint can be used to create presentations.

To learn how to use any software, you should install it and practice till you perfect.

Privacy and Security
Being security conscious when using your computer both offline and online is something to be taken serious.

Consciously practice privacy on the computer and Internet at all times. Recognizing what information you are making public is important, whether online or on a shared desktop.

When utilizing social media, remember to thoroughly review all privacy policies. Steer clear of websites that share private information such as your address or telephone number.

Additionally, choose unique passwords and periodically change them. Also learn how to protect your browsers from password theft.

Following through on regular online privacy and security now will not only protect you and your computer, it will aid you in forming a positive, lifelong habit.

Social networking skills
Learning how to use social networking websites such Facebook, twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn, is something every university student should do, as it is becoming a great way of meeting people, staying ahead of news and even marketing your skills.

Efficient use of social networks is a good and must skill for university students today.