Computer Based Introductory IT Skills Training
                             Durham Univ
                           Audrey McCartan
      
     The Computer Literacy Programme at the University of Durham
     has developed in the last few years from a number of
     initiatives in the university. It is now university policy
     that every student should be computer literate, defined as
     the ability to use a computer as a multi purpose tool,
     appropriately and effectively. This is operationally defined
     as having satisfactorily attended a number of modules from a
     programme of courses in basic computer applications. Funding
     from the IT Training Initiative will be used to build on
     courses already completed and will produce computer based
     and some related conventional learning materials of wide
     applicability in the university community nationally.



     The funding of 50,000 provides for two posts, each of one
     year's duration, and running in parallel, to develop a
     comprehensive set of paper based and computer based training
     materials for five commonly used computer applications; word
     processing, databases, spreadsheets, graphics and desk top
     publishing. For one post use of a proprietary authoring
     package would result in computer based materials for about
     ninety minutes teaching to support existing paper based
     documentation for courses in word processing, the use of
     databases and the use of spreadsheets which are already
     being delivered. The other post would use similar methods to
     develop new courses, incorporating both paper based and
     computer based materials, in the use of graphics and desk
     top publishing. Some time will be spent on writing the
     necessary accompanying teaching notes on how to teach
     courses using the materials. Evaluation has been a feature
     of the Computer Literacy Programme from the outset and this
     would be extended to the development of the new materials.
    _______________________________________________________________________
   |                                                                       |
   |   In general the copyright for material on the NISS Bulletin Board    |
   |   is held by the CHEST & NISS Centre (University of Bath) or by the   |
   |   authors.                                                            |
   |                                                                       |
   |   Copying or reproduction of the material is permitted provided that  |
   |                                                                       |
   |       (a) the source is acknowledged                                  |
   |   and (b) the material is not used for commercial gain.               |
   |                                                                       |
   |   However, material must not be made available outside the academic   |
   |   community without prior consent.                                    |
   |_______________________________________________________________________|