Computing


Computing





In response to the requests from our learners we are offering a more diverse programme this year which will suit all learners from the absolute beginner to those with some skills and those who want to maintain and enhance the skills they already have. All our computer and digital photography courses are very popular so book early to make sure you don’t miss out.

To find out more about our Computing or Digital Photography courses, please click on the 'Course Search' button on the main menu to the left of the screen.

Computing for Beginners Workshop provides a very brief introduction to the beginner computer user. You will be encouraged to switch on the computer, use the mouse and keyboard, key in and manipulate text and surf the Internet.

Computing for Beginners is a course designed for students with little or no knowledge of computing. If you have never used a mouse before or switched on a computer, this is the course for you. You will learn basic word processing skills, how to surf the internet and use email. This course continues to be very popular and this year we have a variety of times, days and venues certain to suit all learners.

A progression course or for those with basic computing skills, Computing for Improvers, is where you can increase your skills and knowledge. Here you will learn Word, the internet and email in more detail, but also, depending on student’s requests, can look at other Microsoft software such as spreadsheets and/or PowerPoint.

New this year, are the Computer Clubs. These give students with beginners computing knowledge an opportunity to consolidate the skills needed to begin to use computers in their daily life, explore some subjects in greater depth and to resolve any problems or questions they have.

Our popular Web Design courses use the software Dreamweaver MX. This year we have two types of course running in response to student requests. In some courses you will learn how to use HTML coding and to create a website using frames, an interactive form and email hyperlinks. In the other courses you will not be taught HTML coding.

Our popular Sage Beginners courses are offered again this year. If you need to computerise your books and have some bookkeeping knowledge then these are the courses for you. You will learn how to use the Nominal, Purchase and Sales Ledgers. New this year is our Sage for the Small Business courses which are for those who are setting up or running a Small Business.

A new departure for us this year is a short course in Excel where you will learn how to open a spreadsheet, use simple calculations in order to help you set up simple home accounts or for a small business.

Load and Edit Photos from Camera to Computer covers the basic skills needed to get photos from digital camera to computer and keep them in an organised and accessible way, edit and improve them with free software, make folders to store them in, organise folder storage, upload photos to an online printing site and make slideshows of photos.

IT for Creative Writers covers basic formatting of text, how to search the Internet and add photos as attachments to emails as well as how to file a document in a folder.


Digital Photography



Our popular Digital Photography Courses, like our Computing Courses, include something for the beginner and for those that are more experienced.

Saturday Courses - if you find attending week days difficult, why not enrol on our Weekend Workshops which run throughout selected weekends of the year. The Photography courses are designed to enable you to learn how to use some of the many features of the modern digital camera and generally improve your everyday photography skills. You can also learn how to manipulate your photographs using Photoshop Elements or Photoshop CS3.

If you need any help in choosing the most appropriate course for you, please telephone 01825 761820 and we will be happy to provide you with further details. Each course has an information sheet which gives further information. This will be sent to you automatically when you enrol. It is also available on request prior to enrolment and via the course search button on this website.


Digital Photography for Beginners (SLR Cameras) is a course aimed at those students who own a Digital SLR camera but have little or no knowledge of how to get the best from it. The course aims to improve confidence and skill and to help the student understand how to make these complex modern cameras work for them.

Digital Photography for Improvers (SLR Cameras) is a course which provides a continuation into the subject for those students who own a quality DSLR camera but who are unsure how to get the best from it creatively. You will explore some of the creative possibilities offered by these cameras and build on existing photographic knowledge.

New this year is the Digital Photography Advanced (SLR Cameras) which will enable you to continue to improve their skills in digital photography and the use of DSLR cameras, providing a continuation into the subject for those students who have already mastered a wide range of functions of a digital SLR camera including manual settings but would like to progress further and continue to practice their existing skills.



Our very popular Photoshop Elements for Beginners course will give students an opportunity to explore the basics of Adobe Photoshop Elements and is aimed at individuals wishing to develop a basic understanding of the post production of photography and imaging. It is for students who wish to be able to successfully use a variety of tools and techniques to manipulate their images for personal use.

Photoshop Elements for Improvers is a follow-on course in which you will build upon the knowledge you already have or have gained from the Introductory course. You will learn the more advanced techniques of image manipulation from converting an image to greyscale to the more complex mastery of using layers and colouring.


Also new this year are the Photoshop CS3 courses which will be delivered at three different levels – Beginners, Improvers and Advanced to suit all students. These courses are delivered as Workshops and as evening courses to give you a choice. On these courses you will learn how to master the basic concepts of digital manipulation and achieve a better understanding of digital imaging in general.

Another new course this year is the Video Editing for Beginners course which teaches you how to capture your own home movies or video footage onto the computer and edit it into a film which can be exported as a computer file or to a disc as a DVD.