Computer Training

In today’s modern world, computer training is considered to be of vital importance to almost everyone. Whether you are entering the workforce, are on a senior management team, or you are a recent retiree, computer skills are a must. Around the world over, it’s not just about basic word processing and balancing your check book anymore, either. The computer has invaded almost every facet of our modern lives, and thus it has become a necessity to be able to use and understand the computer.

Computer training can take place in a variety of methods, and can cover a variety of subjects. Let’s take a brief look at some of the options out there that are available to the novice, the average user, and even the self-proclaimed ‘expert’ computer user. Many long term computer users find that occasionally taking a computer training class of some sort helps them to stay on top of the ever-changing technology and software of the computer industry, not to mention the terminology used in day-to-day conversations about computers.

Traditionally, computer training has taken place in a classroom. In high schools across the country, many young people are being trained in computer use. In fact, it starts much earlier today in developed countries like the United Stated, Australia and the United Kingdom. Colleges also offer courses on computer use, and some of these are geared towards the adult who has never been on a computer before.

Correspondence courses are gaining in popularity. Distance learning offer the student the advantage of learning at their own pace within their own home. The only drawback is the lack of a hands on approach gained from a classroom environment. You can’t just raise your hand and have your query answered immediately.

A new method using today’s technology is online computer training courses. The Internet has given colleges the ability to offer online courses in practically any subject. From the comfort of their own homes, students are obtaining degrees by following online training courses.

One final method of computer training that is worth noting is that of software tutorials using video and/or software. This arena was unknown in the beginning of the quest for computer knowledge (as was the online training), largely because the computers of the past did not possess enough power to run such programs. However, today you can purchase specialized software or videos that will provide you training at your own pace, hands-on, without having to be online.

As you can see, there are a variety of methods available for computer training. If you are serious about keeping abreast of modern communications for either your job or your home life you need to find a suitable course. You may even teach yourself just by researching and looking at specific areas of interest. Just go with what works best for you.

Benefits of Computer Training

In order to succeed in today’s ever changing technological world, it is vital that you consider computer training. Whether you are in management, a new employee or getting ready to retire, you will benefit from the ability to know your way around a computer. Nowadays, we no longer use it just for writing a letter. It is very much a part of our everyday life and for many people it is becoming an important necessity.

Technology is a fast moving industry and is therefore, always changing. Whether you are a novice, an intermediate or a professional there are computer training options available to enable you to get the most from your computer.

Most people associate computer training with sitting in a classroom. Today most children are trained in the classroom as part of their school curriculum. Local colleges also run courses for students, as well as for adults and the over 50s.

Another method of computer training could involve a correspondence course. These type of courses have also had their heyday, in which they were very popular as well. Distance learning of this type allowed the student to learn at their own pace, and at their own location. While the attraction of distance learning is still a top request for those seeking to learn about computers, there are a couple of additional methods that lend themselves to a more hands-on approach.

A new method using today’s technology is online computer training courses. The Internet has given colleges the ability to offer online courses in practically any subject. From the comfort of their own homes, students are obtaining degrees by following online training courses.

Software tutorials are another method by which people can obtain computer training. Software tutorials are videos but can also be software that is designed to give general computer training on a variety of different topics. This is a relatively new computer training method since earlier computers did not possess the necessary capabilities to process such programs. However, as computers have advanced so have the methods for learning about them and today these programs can be purchased either online or purchased through retail stores all over the world. These programs allow you to learn at your own pace, hands-on and can be done without internet access.

Computer training is something that is a necessity for anyone. It is a requirement for jobs, keeping accounts, even paying bills and for someone who is serious about being able to communicate in this modern age it is necessary to have some computer training. There are a number of different ways that training can happen when it comes to computers so whether it is a classroom or a software program or an online course there is something for everyone’s learning preference. Computer training can also be conducted through just research and looking at specific areas of interest without the use of a specialized training program.

Getting Your Admin Staff Trained On InDesign

Graphic designers are increasingly adopting InDesign as their preferred page layout tool and are constantly singing its praises. I’ve personally been conducted numerous conversion courses for designers keen to make the switch from QuarkXPress to InDesign. However, as a trainer, I have noticed another trend: the widespread adoption of InDesign by corporations keen to have their own staff produce in-house documents which have hitherto been outsourced. Running training courses for this new type of user accounts for a significant amount of the InDesign training that I offer.

When attending a training course on InDesign, general users need more than an explanation of how to use the various tools and functions of the software. They need to learn about the page layout arena and how it differs from familiar programs like Microsoft Word. They need an overview of the typographical controls offered by InDesign, an explanation of how to specify colour for print and how to work with images.

InDesign offers a much greater degree of accuracy than programs like Microsoft Word. It allows users to precisely determine how and where elements will print on the page. Anyone attending an InDesign training course should learn about the tools that are used to achieve this accuracy. They should be shown how to use the grid, the baseline grid and ruler guides. They should feel confident about getting elements to print out precisely where and how they should.

The terminology which InDesign uses often looks back to the pre-electronic typographic age and is often a mystery to the general computer user. InDesign training should clarify these terms, perhaps by offering trainees some background facts and, wherever possible, by showing the similarity with parallel features in more familiar software. For example, we might compare what InDesign calls “leading” with what Microsoft Word calls line spacing in.

A typical mistake that many new InDesign users will make is to enlarge or reduce the size of images by extremely large factors. The trainer needs to point out to them that the safe zone for scaling up or down is only about 10% or so. Scaling beyond this limit can cause distortions to appear when the image is printed.

Colour terminology can also confuse the general InDesign user. The key facts that people will need to be taught here are, firstly, the difference between the RGB and CMYK colour spaces; secondly, how the colour print job gets separated into the four different plates and, thirdly, the difference between process and spot colours.

InDesign is meant to be used to create high quality output. Regardless of their background, new users must have it drummed into them how important it is to pre-flight documents, resolve errors and then package the job ready to be sent off to a printing company. They also need to learn how to produce a high- resolution PDF file.