Where to do a MS Office training course in London?
Discussion
...the wife, who's not very PC literate, wants to do a pretty comprehensive MS Office course (especially Word, Excel, Powerpoint) - doesn't mind full-time or part-time, or over how many weeks.
She wants to attend a college/ training centre rather than do a course online. Any recommendations? We don't mind spending money (as long as it's a good course), but preferably not a fortune!
Thanks!
She wants to attend a college/ training centre rather than do a course online. Any recommendations? We don't mind spending money (as long as it's a good course), but preferably not a fortune!
Thanks!
We use these guys, www.keytraining.co.uk/pages/AllDeskcourses.asp?id=38 but I have never been on office training so its hard for me to comment on whether is any good.
I appreciate this isn't the answer you wanted, but I'm firmly of the belief that the best way to learn Word, Excel and PPoint is to just use it. The concepts behind the three programs are quite simple (compared to say Photoshop), and you need to learn the tasks that you (she) are going to use, not the things a teacher wants to tell you.
I learnt from absolute scratch way back on Mac OS6, by working on projects and having the book beside me to look up anything (and also by pressing every button until I had an idea what it did. However, I also had an attitude that went "I know it must be able to do this, so where is it?". By the time I went on a course, I knew more than the instructor.
So as an alternative, perhaps you might consider:
- Work through each programme one at a time (start with Word). In 20 minutes you can explain the basic principles of what it is suppsed to do.
- Set her a project (e.g. writing a letter). Proof it, and let her explain how she did it. Correct any errors (e.g. tabs, carriage returns, page breaks), and suggest improvements. Ask her to make tweaks (e.g. indent bullet points).
- Lead her through basics: saving & printing, formatting (tip: turn on the "reverse P" button to show tabs & carriage returns), views, bullets & numbers, spellcheck, insert symbols, tables, etc. Then gradually work up to more complex features, such as styles, formats & settings, headers & footers, graphics.
- Take a look at the thick books (e.g. Missing Manual, Bible) at a decent, large bookstore. Always useful as a look-up guide.
- Give ad hioc lessons as the issue arises, e.g. really working tabs by using the various types and the header ruler, printing envelopes and labels, turning functions on and off (changing the toolbar, restricting the AutoFormat and AutoCorrect actions), creating and using templates, and so on.
- Instil the same inquisitiveness that I had - It can do it, you just need to work out the best way.
The books are worth considering anyway, unlike a teacher, they are always there.
I learnt from absolute scratch way back on Mac OS6, by working on projects and having the book beside me to look up anything (and also by pressing every button until I had an idea what it did. However, I also had an attitude that went "I know it must be able to do this, so where is it?". By the time I went on a course, I knew more than the instructor.
So as an alternative, perhaps you might consider:
- Work through each programme one at a time (start with Word). In 20 minutes you can explain the basic principles of what it is suppsed to do.
- Set her a project (e.g. writing a letter). Proof it, and let her explain how she did it. Correct any errors (e.g. tabs, carriage returns, page breaks), and suggest improvements. Ask her to make tweaks (e.g. indent bullet points).
- Lead her through basics: saving & printing, formatting (tip: turn on the "reverse P" button to show tabs & carriage returns), views, bullets & numbers, spellcheck, insert symbols, tables, etc. Then gradually work up to more complex features, such as styles, formats & settings, headers & footers, graphics.
- Take a look at the thick books (e.g. Missing Manual, Bible) at a decent, large bookstore. Always useful as a look-up guide.
- Give ad hioc lessons as the issue arises, e.g. really working tabs by using the various types and the header ruler, printing envelopes and labels, turning functions on and off (changing the toolbar, restricting the AutoFormat and AutoCorrect actions), creating and using templates, and so on.
- Instil the same inquisitiveness that I had - It can do it, you just need to work out the best way.
The books are worth considering anyway, unlike a teacher, they are always there.
Thanks for the responses!
It's true that the best way to learn a package is just to get stuck in and use it. I've a feeling that anything she'll learn on a course will be forgotten in a couple of weeks if not put into practice on a regular basis.
Food for thought! Maybe I'll just get her to do an 'haute cuisine' cookery course instead, so she can make me yummy grub!
It's true that the best way to learn a package is just to get stuck in and use it. I've a feeling that anything she'll learn on a course will be forgotten in a couple of weeks if not put into practice on a regular basis.
Food for thought! Maybe I'll just get her to do an 'haute cuisine' cookery course instead, so she can make me yummy grub!
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