The Home PC User

1. The Home PC User

2. After an initial investigation we found that there was a gap in the market between the “PC Maintenance” type of course and the professional, accredited “PC Technician” type of course. Introduction

3. Social - This course is aimed a wide age range of users, probably will appeal to the “older” user. Class sizes would have to be limited for a few reasons: - Workshop size Available PCs Health and Safety – hard to manage larger groups safely STEEP

4. Technological – Very specific needs, computers (various), workshop, electricity STEEP

5. Economic – could be run as one of two ways, i.e. cost recovery and charge a fee or as part of a FE course and base assessment on ACCAC/OCNWalesmodules. There are grants available e.g. Harnessing Technology Grant STEEP

6. Ecology/Environment We have secured PCs that would be currently sent to landfill, ex college PCs Location, as mentioned earlier, it has to be a specialist location. By using the college facilities these needs are addressed with the added benefit that it already facilitates students and their needs, e.g. access, disabled access, car parking, canteen. College would offer security for the hardware, lockable cupboards etc. The current economic climate would drive people to spend less money on repairs/upgrades if they were taught how to do it themselves. STEEP

7. Political Bilingualism – the course materials can be written bilingually but, for the most part, English will have to be used as the hardware config screens and the OS are all in English. STEEP

8. Curriculum Model The model our curriculum closest resembles is the Process model. It is student based, i.e. the major percentage of this course is based on student activities. Based on practical skills development. Some of these can be identified by the students themselves and used as class topics. Although there will be assessment the main goal is to develop skills they can use at home. Stenhouse – “pursues understanding rather than grades”

9. Ideology The very nature of this course does lean towards the Progressivism Ideology. It is supporting the learners personal growth. They are learning the topic for their own gain, empowerment even. The Home PC User course is all about practical problem solving based on a topic they have an interest in. They would even be sharing their previous problems with their peers.

10. Appeal of the Home P.C. User course George Geddes of the University of Strathclyde has made the following observation regarding how adults respond to I.T. courses: 1. Adults are more likely to undertake short non-award vocational courses - aim is to gain skills rather than qualifications. 2. Adults increasingly turn to community training providers for vocational and personal Training. 3. Adults prefer learning in an informal learning environment, in small classes or groups. 4. Adults need slower paced, low intensity training and often prefer self-paced learning. 5. Adults take increasing responsibility for their training and learning and for sourcing learning which meets their needs, constraints and learning-style preferences. 6. Adults are often independent learners - self-directed and with a clear idea of their own purpose for undertaking training. 7. Adults value peer support, mentoring and tutoring. 8. Adults value and respond to supportive and responsive teachers, tutors and volunteers. 9. Adults want clear and explicit instructions, with print and web-based resources designed to accommodate age-affected sight and hearing. 10. Adults generally feel more comfortable learning with a similar aged cohort. These observations of the needs of adults attending I.T. courses fit perfectly with the way we have structured our course.

11. http://homepcuser.wikispaces.com/Miscellaneous Computing courses already present in Llanelli district. Research shows that although there are computing courses in the Llanelli area, there is nothing that offers our content.

12. 10 topics - 1 per week - 3 to 4 hours a week General familiarisation with PC layout. Strip PC, Identify components with internet use Install/upgrade memory, hard drives, expansion cards. Identify an Operating System specs, minimum and recommended and the install the Operating System. Identify processes/services, configure and manipulate both. Identify, configure and install commonly used peripherals Identify and fix common problems and errors Look at internet security - keep your PC safe Investigate the registry, backup the registry, edit the registry. Course Content