Ross Burgess, Purley
Posted in All Tutors, London, Surrey
I specialise in showing complete beginners how to use computers and the Internet. I can also help more advanced users improve their IT skills, whether it’s for their home and family, at work, or in their local community. My clients tell me I’m friendly, knowledgeable, and above all patient.
Where I cover: Croydon and surrounding areas of South London, including Purley (Surrey), Coulsdon, Thornton Heath, and South Norwood.
Availability
Most times of the day, occasional evenings.
What I teach
- Getting started with the personal computer
- Using Windows (XP or Vista)
- Understanding the Internet
- Keeping safe online
- Browsing the Web (Internet Explorer or Firefox)
- Setting up your e-mail account (Outlook, Hotmail, …)
- Sending and receiving e-mails and attachments
- Shopping via the Internet
- Using Microsoft Office (XP or 2007)
- Writing letters and documents with Word
- Producing posters and newsletters with Publisher
- Tracking your finances with Excel
- Editing and correcting photographs
- Social networking and Facebook
- Membership records for small organisations
About me
I worked for many years as an IT consultant, providing support to major public and private organisations in London and elsewhere. When a 17-year contract with the Ministry of Defence finally came to an end, I breathed a sigh of relief at not having to commute to London every day, but didn’t feel ready to retire altogether. With Digital Unite I can use my IT skills to help people left behind by modern technology. I enjoy helping people widen their horizons by understanding a bit more about computers and the Internet, and improving their confidence so that they can continue learning.
My professional life
I took a social sciences degree in the ordinary way many years ago, and much later a maths degree with the Open University. I’m a Chartered Engineer, and a Fellow of the British Computer Society. I worked full-time in the IT industry for 37 years, initially as a programmer, and subsequently systems analyst, project manager, trainer and consultant. I’ve written books and articles about IT subjects, mainly aimed at the ordinary user rather than the technical specialist, but if I’ve learnt anything about computers it’s that there’s always something new to learn.
There’s more about me on my personal web site at http://www.ross-burgess.co.uk.
Home computing
I’ve had a home computer since 1982 and I’m still amazed at how personal computers get cheaper and yet more powerful year by year. Since the arrival of digital cameras, high-quality colour printers, and modern software, you can produce results that would have been out of the ordinary person’s reach only a few years ago, and the Internet gives you instant access to vast amounts of information (admittedly not all of it totally reliable!) that would previously have taken days of research to uncover.
A few years ago I was asked to create a family tree in connection with a family reunion, and this got me into using the “Family Tree Maker” software. I manage my home finances with Excel and GnuCash. I also regularly contribute to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia: sometimes creating or improving articles about language, history, or anything I know a little about, sometimes just correcting other contributors’ erratic spelling and punctuation.
Family and community
I live in Purley with my civil partner, and we also have a cottage in North Wales. Adopted as a baby, I was reunited with my birth mother a few years ago (partly via Internet searches) and now see her fairly regularly.
In my spare time I act as secretary/newsletter editor for local social groups, using the various Microsoft Office products, and also manage several websites under the Foxearth IT Solutions banner – see http://www.foxearth.demon.co.uk.
Since 2007 I’ve become involved with Age Concern in Croydon. I work there as a volunteer IT tutor one day a week, and run the Silver Rainbow lunch club (http://www.silverrainbow.org.uk) for older gay and lesbian people.
March 2nd, 2009 bobholmes | No Comments »
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