How It Works

I like to teach by example. I will show you how to perform a task a couple of times, then when you are ready, you try it yourself. I will give you whatever prompts and help you need until you can accomplish the task yourself without any assistance. Take whatever notes you need for future reference.

The important thing is that you set the agenda and I work at your pace whatever that may be.

Training may become an indirect consequence of any work I do at your place. Whatever I do, you are quite welcome to look over my shoulder at whatever I'm doing and to ask questions and take notes.

A typical residential job might consist of .....
Virus, spyware and junk software removal. Updating the OS and browser. Installing new anti-virus / Spyware / Firewall. Optimising the system and defragmenting. Reorganising all your data locations. Installing a backup device and system.
This could take 4-6 hours. Many customers are happy to leave me to it, while others prefer to observe and take notes .... it's up to you!

I Design and You Maintain

• I take all the hard work out of building and maintaining your personal or business website. I'll design and upload your website to the internet in full consultation with you. I can do this work at my place or at yours with you looking on. I will then show you how to edit and add pages and photos yourself. This uses the minimum amount of your time, but still leaves you with a finished website and all the knowledge you need to maintain your domain name, hosting and website.
  I am always available if you need to make major changes or you run into any problems.
• I set up a few Word templates with macros for you. These will allow you to prepare specific letters by simply filling in a few boxes. When you see how they increase your accuracy and productivity you will want more. I will show you how to make up your own using your existing templates as examples.
• The above methodology can also apply to your specialised Excel Spreadsheets or to a lesser extent your Databases.

Training for Beginners ... Learn how to ...

• Set up a new PC and install all supplied software
• Keep all security software up to date (Windows itself, Anti-Virus, Anti Spyware and firewall)
• Set up Microsoft Office Properly, by using templates and not using the the default MyDocuments file location
• Get started with MS Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel & Outlook)
• Basic safe internet browsing, banking, ebay etc.
• E-mail and anti-spam strategies
• Organise and categorise your internet bookmarks
• Properly organise all your data files for efficient location and backup (MP3s, Photos, Documents, Emails etc)

Intermediate Training ... Learn how to ...

• Get to grips with the advanced features of MS Office including basic Access Databases
• Learn how to organise an Email mailing list for your Club or Organisation using Outlook or Pegasus
• Learn how to print out letters for all members of your Club or Organisation using mail merge in word and a basic database.
• Prepare your own leaflets & newsletters using Word or Publisher
• Finding it hard to get to grips with your new accounts or CAD package? Let me study it for you and then pass on my knowledge.
• Program routers and basic networks
• Transfer your VHS to hard disk, Edit your new video and burn the edited movies to DVD
• Transfer your CDs to your MP3 Player
• Setup VOIP
• Use your GPS device in association with your computer

Build Websites that You can Maintain and Expand

• Learn how to build Frontpage websites based on templates. Add contact forms with no coding. Easily add pages and navigation buttons with no coding. (Frontpage is ideal for first time web designers)
• Learn how to build Dreamweaver websites based on pure CSS using templates or from scratch. Add contact forms with PHP. (Dreamweaver is aimed at more experienced computer users)
• Add Kagi, Paypal or Actinic shopping carts to your Frontpage or Dreamweaver websites that you can easily amend yourself
• You can also use the "I design You Maintain" method on the Combined Services tab of this page

Note: This website was built with Dreamweaver & Fireworks CS4 with PVII extensions

Graphic Design Training

• Create your own leaflets, brochures and newsletters
• CorelDraw Training in depth. Desktop Publishing.
  Designing complicated forms for printing is a specialty
• Basic Adobe Photoshop CS3/4 techniques for editing your photos or creating graphic from scratch
• Editing graphics for the the web in Adobe Fireworks CS3/4

EXCEL Training ... Learn how to ...

See Excel Planning in the Specialised Services section for more

• Keep basic accounts for your club or society
• Set up a basic income and expenditure spreadsheet
• Set up a household budget with multiple what-ifs based on interest rates, wages, mortgage packages etc.

HARDWARE ... Learn how to ...

• Add printers, cameras, scanners etc.
• Add internal extra memory, hard disks and fans
• Add graphic & video capture cards
• Transfer data between computers