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. | |_______________________________________________________________________|