Barrie Smith – Shrewsbury
Posted in All Tutors, Shropshire
I worked for over 30 years as a freelance IT consultant mainly to the leading energy companies. Much of that work had been encouraging and training users to embrace new technology via training courses and one-to-one support at the desktop. All this experience has given me a wealth of knowledge and teaching skills which I now to use to great effect in providing computer and internet training to my age group in my home county of Shropshire.
I understand the need for patience when learning new skills especially when the topic can at first seem a daunting prospect. How to use a computer can be broken down into small chunks which can be practised and perfected in the peace and quiet of home, without worrying about the opinion of other students in the traditional classroom method of teaching.
I am an Accredited Digital Champion and a tutor-assessor for the Digital Unite Academy.
Where I cover: Mid and South Shropshire and the Mid-Wales border towns including Telford, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Newport, Bridgenorth, Church Stretton, Craven Arms and Welshpool.
To contact Barrie, click here.
Availability: Monday to Friday by prior appointment
What I teach:
- Using your computer with confidence
- Basic skills – mouse, keyboard, file management etc
- Office applications – Microsoft Office or Works
- Discovering the internet – What’s on offer that’s useful to you?
- Surfing and research – for hobbies and interests – search engines
- Finance and shopping – banking, buying on the internet, eBay etc
- Social use – emailing, Skype, groups, Facebook etc
- Benefits and advice – government sites, AgeUK, CAB etc
- Community activity – ‘having your say’, ‘making your voice heard’
- Personal websites, blogs etc
- Keeping safe on the internet
About me:
I’ve been around computers for a long time! My first ‘proper’ job on leaving university was as a computer programmer using paper tape and punched cards as input – very frustrating but revolutionary at the time. The main frame computers then were huge; the disc drives enormous and all hidden in a big mysterious room guarded jealously by the computer staff. Slide rules were still in use! Then along came “personal” computers such as the Spectrum and that was the jump that brought computers into the home. Since that time computer use at home has grown exponentially to the extent that it’s difficult to keep up with all the advances and jargon.
I haven’t even mentioned the World Wide Web yet! That is probably the most significant leap in technology this century. I cannot imagine my life and business operating effectively without it. Whilst I have recently retired from my life as a computer consultant, I cannot just forget all that knowledge and enthusiasm I still have for computer and the internet. I believe that it is vital that everyone should learn how to use the basic technology to simplify their life and broaden their horizons. I wish to use my expertise and teaching skills to benefit people of my own age group
August 6th, 2010 bobholmes | Comments Off