|
Our distance learning program is designed for busy people who
want to learn to use computer software at their own pace, on their
computer and at a time of their choosing.
Distance Learning reduces time spent away from
projects and eliminates travel costs with live instruction via
the Internet. Courses are led by experienced instructors in an
online classroom that provides you with personal interaction,
hands-on instruction, and collaboration with your colleagues all
from your home or office.
We have created
comprehensive eLearning web sites which utilizes your broadband
Internet connection to provide comprehensive training in a wide
variety of software tools. Here is the link to the sites:
http://www.softwaretutor.net and
http://www.landscapetutor.net. You can sample course modules by
clicking on any of the links under 'Sampling Softwaretutor.net'
or 'Sampling Landscapetutor.net'.
Details of the syllabus for a particular course can be found by clicking on the blue information
button alongside the right of the course name.
This sites features more than
40 online courses covering a wide range of business software.
Please note that they
do require broadband access because much of the instruction is
delivered in the form of short 'how to' movies which will play on your
computer screen and illustrate concepts.
Our courses feature
24/7 access, rapid
enrolment via PayPal (and credit card), multi media materials, online forums, multi choice
reviews, questionnaires, submission of assignments etc. Softwaretutor.net offers an
enhanced learning experience at an affordable price
($AUD250.00). Your enrolment will stay active for at
least 12 months.
 |
As part of our continuing drive to reduce our
carbon emissions by using digital delivery, we no longer offer printed workbooks with your
course. The course workbook can be accessed, searched and
printed from a PDF file provided as part of the course. |
Our courses encourage
learning by doing. We provide numerous 'how to movies'. These 2-
3 minute movies provide
comprehensive instruction and are simple to use as you
just click on a link in the web page (as above) and the
movie runs on your computer screen, clearly demonstrating
step by step, how to perform a particular task. Once you
have watched a movie, you are then encouraged
to complete the very same series of steps using
your own software using the instructions in web page (also
in the PDF file of the workbook) thus practicing and building the skills outlined
in the movie. You
do all this using your own computer and software in an
environment which is comfortable and familiar. Progress is
at a pace that suits your needs, not those of a course
tutor. There is certainly no need to compete with
others in a formal classroom setting!
Click on the link to play a
sample movie
which comes from our 'Introduction to Excel'
course.
Each
course is designed to take about 20-30 hours of direct
instruction from us, but this increases substantially if
you choose (as we believe you should) to complete the
various practice exercises and multi choice papers we set. The amount of practice
and revision will of course vary from student to student,
but movies explaining more difficult concepts can be
played over again to reinforce your learning.
Don't forget that as a
distance student, you
have an advantage over students in a conventional
class room settings as you can split
your learning over as many sessions as you like and repeat
things a soften as you like.
You
will need a
computer running Windows equipped with a sound
card and (external) speakers. Since you are capable of
viewing this page, and have (hopefully) played the movie
above, then a suitable browser is already installed in
your computer.
 Our software is tested
in Microsoft's Internet Explorer, but should work in other
browsers although not at present on Macintosh computers
unless you download and install a version of Microsoft's
Media Player for the Mac.
Access to the course on
www.softwaretutor.net,
or
http://www.landscapetutor.net allows participation in multi choice tests, discussion forums
and email support. You can self enrol with payment through
PayPal which takes all credit cards. We can also enrol you
separately if you contact
info@designcad.com.au and make alternative payment
arrangements.
Start your internet connection, start your
browser and simply visit
http://www.softwaretutor.net, or
http://www.landscapetutor.net, select your course and log on
with the user name and password that you nominated when
enrolling. If we have enrolled you, your user name is usually
your given name plus the first letter of your last name. You
password is usually your last name.
As we include
many tutorial movie demonstrations you need to satisfy
yourself that your equipment will play the movies to your
satisfaction.
Jus in case you have
not already done so, click
here
to download and test yet another short movie (this one is 1.5Mb
in size) from another of our
courses (From the course 'An Introduction to Photoshop').
Yes,
we provide Email support and web site support. You
are encouraged to send us examples of your work for
feedback.
Although not
compulsory, if required, we can offer rigorous assessment
based on assignment work. This is more important for
discipline specific software such as CAD software -
IntelliCAD and AutoCAD, and DTP software such as
InDesign than for more common Microsoft
Office software.
Courses currently available for
distance learning are listed at
http://www.softwaretutor.net and
http://www.landscapetutor.net. If a course is listed
there, it is available for CD-ROM based distance learning.
As mentioned, we offer a
variety of payment options - payment by direct deposit,
check, money order or via
 .
PayPal allows secure credit card purchase, even if you do not
have a PayPal account.
|
