Helping people learn new IT skills has been the focus of my career for many years. I work part-time as an ICT school teacher and have taught primary, college and retirement-aged students. Having worked extensively in community education as well as one-to-one, I really enjoy teaching adults who are taking up computing later in life.

Where I cover: East Kent: Birchington, Margate, Cliftonville, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, and all Thanet villages.

To contact Jim, click here.

Availability: Most evenings, daytime Tuesday or Wednesday (all week during school holidays) and weekends.

What I teach:

• Absolute beginners: starting from scratch, turning-on, mouse operation, key words and phrases, safeguards and shortcuts
• Internet and Email applications including all main browsers, Boolean searching, e-commerce and eBay, Skype, online dating and other popular peripheral applications
• Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Front Page) or Open Office equivalents
• Digital Photography, beginners level to semi-pro including camera techniques, image transfer, Photoshop and/or free equivalent software, advanced techniques, filters, layers and effects, HDR photography, stitching, image restoration etc.
• Digital art, drawing, vector graphics etc. using Paint, PowerPoint, Fireworks or similar
• Desktop Publishing using Publisher or similar
• Digital recording using Audacity
• Web design; all aspects including site design (Front Page, Dreamweaver, Serif WebPlus or Nvu, name registration, FTP and basic search-engine optimization
• Presentation techniques including aspects of public speaking
• Animation using PowerPoint, Fireworks, Pivot or basic Flash
• Video transfer and editing including camera techniques, file transfer, Movie Maker or equivalent software
• Basic game design using PowerPoint or Scratch
• Help with purchasing and setting-up new systems, laptops and accessories.

About me:

I’ve always lived by the sea and love this part of the world (Thanet) with its fantastic coastline. Having worked in community education and private tuition for many years I’ve loads of experience teaching absolute beginners as well as more experienced learners. My students tell me that I’m patient, friendly and knowledgeable and I try to help people find the logic in what they are doing, not just remember a list of commands.

When I’m not working, my hobbies are photography, cycling and land-yachting, a sport in which I am a National Instructor. I have taught digital photography for my local college and I sell a few pictures through local galleries.

We live in an exciting age with information and entertainment at our fingertips on demand … if you know how to access it. I am happy to discuss your individual or group requirements and then work with you to plan your future enjoyment of exciting technologies.

 Where I cover: Sittingbourne, Sheppey, Faversham and as far as Headcorn, Whitstable, and Herne Bay.

To contact Jack, click here.

 Availability: Mondays and Fridays between 9.00 and 18.00.

 What I teach:

•  The basics of computing for complete beginners and improvers.
  • Starting up the computer
  • Saving work
  • Managing files.
  • Printing
• For beginners and the more confident.
  • Word processing
  • The internet and e-mailing. 
  • Spreadsheets, desktop publishing, presentations and databases.
  • Using Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, and Office 2003 and 2007.
• I specialise in Accountancy software.
  • Sage accounting packages.

 About Me:

I have been using computers for the past 25 years and have had to constantly up-date my skills to keep pace with changes in IT and the needs of learners.

I re-trained as an accountant and began teaching at evening classes 22 years ago, first of all accountancy and then computerised accounts.

10 years ago I started to teach as a full-time occupation and at first I worked in the community taking out lap-tops to schools, village halls and even a pub teaching word processing and computer basics.

I then worked as a co-ordinator in outreach, where I taught, recruited learners and designed programs and timetables to suit learners. 

I am currently a tutor in Further Education, where I teach a wide range of learners from adults to teenagers IT, English and Maths.

For more information see my website: http://www.jcohendututor.co.uk/

Qualifications:

• Certificate in Education (Cert Ed)
• Member Association of Accounting Technicians (FMAAT)
• ECDL
• Clait Plus
• Level 4 Literacy and Numeracy for Subject Specialists

Partners/Alliances:

Treasurer for a charity in Faversham that helps the aged and infirmed to better manage their lives, by doing gardening, decorating, small plumbing and electrical work.

Where I cover: I live in Rochester and can cover all of the Medway Towns (Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham).

To contact Paul, click here.

I am happy to travel to Maidstone, Gravesend, Sittingbourne, Faversham and the surrounding areas. Other areas of Kent or East Sussex can be covered on a case by case basis.

Availability: I am available during the day and evenings.

What I teach:

• Basic Computer skills
• Microsoft XP and Vista
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc.)
• Accessing the internet using web browsers
• How to set-up and use email
• Getting yourself connected to the internet
• How to create your own website

About me:

I started work in 1979 as a systems engineer for IBM. In those days 256K of RAM and 30 Mb of disk was a top-end computer! When I left IBM I worked for a number of organisations as a trainer and/or IT Consultant. For the last 16 years I have been self-employed. Initially I worked as a freelance IT Consultant in a number of industries including Telecommunications, Electricity Generation and Distribution and Finance/Banking. More recently I have owned and managed care homes for the Elderly.

I am married and live in Rochester with my wife, 3 children and a couple of dogs.

Where I cover: Bromley, Oxted and surrounding areas

To contact Jim, click here.

Availability: During the weekday. Evenings and weekends by arrangement.

What I teach:

• Microsoft products. Word, Excel, etc
• Personal Computer Knowledge
• Installing software
• Advice on Computer setup and maintenance.
• Internet & Email

About me:

I spent many years in the IT business, it wasn’t called IT when I started, in large corporate companies. I used PCs at work as an office tool and it grew on me.

Since leaving the corporate stage I started to help small to medium sized companies develop their IT functions and train their staff. During that period I also joined a company called Wrinklies Direct. This was an employment agency specifically for the elderly.  Whilst there I was helping people to understand PCs and to write their CVs on them, email their CVs to prospective employers and look for jobs on the Internet. Sharing my knowledge with people and small companies who appreciated my help has been very satisfying for me and the students. I heard about Hairnet, Digital Unite (DU) as it is called now, and it seemed I was thinking along the same lines. I joined DU and I began tutoring people, especially the elderly, about PCs, what they could do on them and what they wanted to do with them.

Where I cover: My local area, covers Southeast London and Northwest Kent and I also visit the Isle of Wight.

This includes Beckenham, Bromley, Chislehurst, Eynsford, Hayes, Orpington, Otford, Sevenoaks, Shoreham, Sidcup, Swanley, Westerham and West Wickham.

By special arrangement, I also teach anywhere on the Isle of Wight.  This includes Bembridge, Cowes, Freshwater, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Yarmouth.

To contact Tim, click here.

What I teach:

• Computer Basics.
• Email & Internet.
• Online Shopping.
• Skype (Internet Telephony).
• Remote Assistance.
• Photo Editing – Basic & Advanced.
• Creating Websites – Basic & Advanced.
• Home Network Setup Including WiFi.
• Basic Security, Backup & Recovery.
• Microsoft Office (or similar office products).

I will also help you resolve any issues that you may have with your Internet Service Provider.

Availability:

Daytime, evening and weekends for my local area.
By special arrangement for the Isle of Wight.

About me

I live in Bromley, Kent but my family comes from the Isle of Wight where I still spend some time.

My career in computers started in 1977, working on large IBM systems mainly as a freelance programmer and tester.  During that time I worked for a number of well known companies including Esso, Sainsbury’s and London Electricity and had the opportunity of working overseas in Saudi Arabia, Australia and The Netherlands.

I left the large corporations behind in 1999 and started teaching myself web skills.  The first web site I built was for the Vectis Astronomical Society.

From this small step into the world of the Internet, I now work from home providing office IT support and web development services to small local businesses.  I also work with my local photographic shop where I offer an image recovery service to customers who have accidentally erased or lost pictures from their digital cameras.

Why did I join Digital Unite?

I enjoy helping people to get the most out of their computers, to pursue their hobbies and interests and make their lives easier in all kinds of ways.  Working with someone on a one-to-one basis and helping them solve problems is very rewarding.

Special interests

• Building web galleries of holiday photos,
• Restoring old family photos using Photoshop,
• Web development.

Where I cover: From Crowborough and Cranbrook south to the coast at Eastbourne across to Rye.

Other places – Lamberhurst, Heathfield, Hurst Green, Hailsham, Battle, Hastings and Bexhill.

To contact John, click here.

Availability: Mainly evenings and weekends but very flexible. There’s no harm in asking

What I teach:

• Buying a PC or Mac
• Getting started for beginners
• Connecting to the internet, email, surfing, Skype
• Word processing, spreadsheets
• Digital photography, graphics editing
• Desk top publishing (DTP)

About me:

After whizzing around the world disguised as a hydrographic surveyor in my younger days I finally came back to England in the late 80′s. Partly due to my wanderings my wife and two sons are a mixed bunch having been born in Burma, Brunei and the USA respectively.

I had become more and more involved with computers during this time abroad and decided this was the career for me and have therefore worked in IT ever since, initially for a software house and, since January 2000, as a self employed IT consultant working on web site design and maintenance.

I live in a picture postcard village in East Sussex and soon became known as the ‘guy who can sort it out’ whenever people got into trouble with their PCs. I quickly found myself helping people around the local area, covering anything from buying or upgrading a PC to building their own websites.

I found the Digital Unite philosophy complimented my own desire to help other people get the benefits and enjoyment that so many individuals get from their understanding of computers. Their emphasis on the ‘Silver Surfer’ also fits in neatly with the work I had already been doing which has involved me with many ‘mature’ learners, some well into their 80′s! Seeing their enthusiasm and growing confidence has been a massive plus factor for me. I am a great believer in  one-to-one training where I can dedicate my full attention to someone.