How much training have you recieved in your current job on using Office?

[dhicks]

With more and more work being done online I would have throught training on the tools of Office

 

By "online" do you mean using some kind of web-based tool, or do you just mean "on a computer"? If the first then I can forsee MS Office getting less and less relevent.

 

What course would you recommend for pupils who wanted to obtain some kind of vocational certificate in MS Office skills? What is there around that can be fitted in to a school curriculum, maybe done in elective ICT classes?

 

--

David Hicks

[EduTech]

I personally have had ZERO Training in regards to using Office, I just picked things up as I went along for the versions that were out (XP/2003/2007/2010). I don't call myself an advanced user, but as Dos_Box said if I am asked to do something that I have not done before I'll just go away and learn how to. Just like most things to be honest.

 

 

James.

[GREED]

I personally have had ZERO Training in regards to using Office, I just picked things up as I went along for the versions that were out (XP/2003/2007/2010). I don't call myself an advanced user, but as Dos_Box said if I am asked to do something that I have not done before I'll just go away and learn how to. Just like most things to be honest.

 

 

James.

 

That is a common comment on this subject, for me personally if I am learning something that is EXACTLY what I do.

 

Please everyone don't get me wrong I am not saying that training is the way forward, I am very interested in the opinions and experience you guys are giving me back, for or against!

[GREED]

By "online" do you mean using some kind of web-based tool, or do you just mean "on a computer"? If the first then I can forsee MS Office getting less and less relevent.

 

What course would you recommend for pupils who wanted to obtain some kind of vocational certificate in MS Office skills? What is there around that can be fitted in to a school curriculum, maybe done in elective ICT classes?

 

--

David Hicks

 

David, I was referring to 'on a computer', thank for you helping clarifying that point!

 

In terms of fitting a course into a school curriculum, there are several options. If you want it to be recognised as part of, say, a GCSE or similar, Microsoft are offering a 'Digital Literacy' course for MS Academies that is accredited by OCR.

 

If looking for something that can sit alongside the curriculum as a stand along and 'optional' course, you can either go for something like a foundation learning course (14-19) which will come out with a qualification (Award, Certificate or Diploma at Level 1), or if you just want the training, there are multiple courses that can train/teach (with a certificate of completion, of course!).

 

I for example [NOTE to admins I am answering this question, not advertising! ) teach both adults and foundation learners in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, with all the tools at various levels (basic, intermediate, advanced).

[rad]

No training given when we went from 2003 to 2007, we had it installed on our Tech computers for 3 months before installing site wide. Most staff are happy with it and just picked things up straight away.

[GREED]

(I'm beginning to wonder if my last post was a little too "bull-ish"?) I think you are right in that there a lot of features in a modern office package that hardly get touched and would make life a lot easier if we knew how to get the best out of them.

 

Not at all, you made a good point!

 

I'm not sure what can be done about © - maybe that's where this training courses come in? - but if I was pointed in the direction of a quality course that addressed (a) then I can think of a number of members of our admin staff who'd seriously benefit from it.

 

To answer that, © comes out naturally from help with (a).

 

You should take a look at the ITQ qualification (OCR) as a starting point for your staff. It is (or was) government funded to a point, and a good number of training providers were offering this (we still are).

[GREED]

No training given when we went from 2003 to 2007, we had it installed on our Tech computers for 3 months before installing site wide. Most staff are happy with it and just picked things up straight away.

 

Well done to you! I did the same thing in the school I worked at previously, and the headaches that caused to staff!!! (and me!)

[EaglesNerd]

Never had any training but am much more at home with openoffice but getting others to change would be hard because they are use to it

[skell]

I have an ECDL! It was free to staff at my old job.

 

And err... that's it! I think someone's already said it, but we're expected to learn by osmosis.

[GREED]

I have an ECDL! It was free to staff at my old job.

 

And err... that's it! I think someone's already said it, but we're expected to learn by osmosis.

 

We IT bods have that amazing gift, don't we! Like a sponge!

[skell]

Seems so!

[GREED]

I'm feeling a change in avatar to SpongeBob SquarePants coming on...

[GREED]

I want to thank everyone for their replies to this, it is very useful to me to know the general feeling.

 

My next question would/should be: Do you wish your staff has more training (knowledge) in Office apps? Would they feel the benefit it would bring, and or would your school?

 

PS this is not a ploy for business, I am genuinely interested in you guys' feelings and opinions!