IT Training Skills Course 

2 December 2006   -   3 December 2006
St Anne's College, Oxford

You enter the room, smile, and walk confidently up to the tutor’s PC. Your course participants return the smile, and wait in eager expectation at their PCs as you quickly arrange your materials on your desk. And so starts another IT training session, a session that is a delight to be part of. One where the participants leave satisfied with their new skills and understanding, and you leave satisfied but stimulated with a few new ideas to try next time…

Well, that can be the case – but all too often Information Services and other H.E. support staff are ill-equipped to take on this kind of IT training role through lack of staff development. Hence this residential short course: a highly participative event led by experienced university IT tutors, and developed on the basis of their experience underpinned by educational theory.

The course will help you to...

• understand the teaching/learning process;
• build your skills in delivering IT training;
• build your confidence as a tutor in the IT training situation;
• exchange experiences with colleagues working in the sector.

The course will also provide you with...

• an opportunity to practice your skills in a supported environment;
• ideas to try in your own institution;
• documentation and links to other resources;
• a network of colleagues from the sector with whom you can exchange ideas in the future.

Course outline

• The role of the IT trainer
• How people learn
• Course design and delivery
• Core training skills
• Presenting your course
• Evaluating your training events

The course will combine tutor input and a variety of set tasks with whole group and small group discussion. It will culminate in each participant running a 10 minute IT training session on a topic of their choice (full details and a list of available software will be included with joining instructions). Participants will be expected to prepare some materials in advance, but additional preparation time will be allocated at the start of the third day.

Course tutors

• Dr David Atkins has been involved in the preparation and delivery of IT training for over 10 years and now heads up the IT Training Group in Cardiff University. He has been an active participant and presenter of UCISA events for many years and is now a member of the Staff Development Group overseeing courses and workshops arranged by that group.

• Jenny Arnott of Edinburgh University has worked in IT training for some 15 years as a writer, course developer and tutor. She developed a 'Presentation Skills Course' for IT staff within the university as part of her responsibility for course quality and tutor support. She has organised and assisted on UCISA-SDG courses and continues her interest in course development and tutor support.