The aim of this set of notes is to provide some 'in-depth' guidance for those wanting to upgrade their skills by learning about computers and the tasks that can be carried out with them. The notes may be of value of those who for whatever reason, need training in order to re-enter the workforce.

Our aim is to teach the efficient use of computers, with a particular focus on the use of computers in the modern business environment.

If your are contemplating using our services, we would like you to help us by using these notes to determine what software training you need prior to visiting our training room.

(Design Cad Pty Ltd, University of Adelaide Commerce and Research Precinct, 24 Stirling Street, Thebarton, South Australia).

Overview

If you want to succeed in almost any job or profession in the 21st century, you will require some degree of computer proficiency. Facility with computers will increasingly be required in the workplace - it won't be an optional skill.

What can you use a computer for?

Among many other things, you might use your computer to:

• produce professional looking letters, free from embarrassing spelling errors;

• automatically generate form letters from a list of clients;

• fax a purchase order to a company who sells a particular product;

• write reports. Those reports might need to be quite detailed and contain tables of contents and a cross checked index;

• manage lists in a spreadsheet - for example, keeping records of stock held in a warehouse;

• calculating selling prices of goods with sufficient margins such that your company makes a profit;

• keep accurate financial records by using a spreadsheet with (say) financial applications. Examples might be calculating the effect of increasing mortgage repayments, tracking expenditure on a particular project, etc.;

• produce a brochure or a catalogue for your company;

• correspond with clients locally and overseas by electronic mail (email);

• prepare and delivering a presentation to a group of people (e.g. a sales pitch),

• build a web site so that your company can sell its products on the Internet;

• use special purpose accounting software (MYOB, QuickBooks, Attache etc.);

• use industry specific software (quotes for crash repair industry, manage patients in a doctor's office);

• book travel plans, saving money in the process;

• carry out banking at any time of the day and reducing the fees that your bank charges the company etc.

Each of these tasks requires you to use a different software tool. It is our job to teach you how to use each tool. Think of a computer simply as a toolbox.

We hope that with our help, you can see that computers can offer new, worthwhile and perhaps even exciting experiences.

Survey software applications

Let's survey some computer applications.

The table below contains links to a wide range of material. The list is in in rough order of the tools in most common usage; word processing is placed first and some of the more esoteric topics towards the end. In each category, we have provided links to some small movies which explain how the software tool works. These can be played on your computer by clicking on the link.

The purpose of the list below and the movies embedded in the page, is to show you that you have on your desk, a very powerful tool - a modern computer with a considerable collection of very powerful software, but there is every chance that you are unaware of its power.

[While very effort is made to ensure that these files are free from viruses, please use your own tools to check the files before running them. Some of the files are quite large and will take time to download; only do this if you have broadband access. Design Cad does take responsibility for the effects of running the files.]

Determining your training needs

From the above, you can see that there is a huge range of uses for a computer. Your first step in determining a suitable training program for your needs should be to make sure that you understand what it is that you want to achieve i.e. you need to define your aims at the outset. 

It is worth writing this down. You might write something like this:

"I have been out of the workforce for some time. When working previously, I worked as a storeman in different organizations, most in the handling of fresh fruit and vegetables. These positions all involved the use of manual (paper) systems for record keeping - computerization had not yet entered this industry.

I would like to return to the industry. My contact with friends who have stayed in the industry, tell me that they have to use email to contact suppliers, fax orders from a computer to clients, enter daily prices for fresh fruit into a spreadsheet and use a special stock control computer program written for the industry. We will call this application FreshVeg."

Develop a personalized training program

Based on the requirements set out above, you would choose the following courses in the order set out below:

An Introduction to Business Computing (this gives an overview of computing);

An Introduction to Excel (gain confidence with spreadsheet software);

An Introduction to Outlook (learn to handle email & the internet);

Desktop Publishing.

Find someone to teach the use of the special stock control program FreshVeg. (Only after you have taken the other courses).

You now have confidence to start applying for jobs. You may of course have to update other skills - is your forklift driving licence current?

Can you see that it is worth aligning your training program with the type of job that you require?

Click here for answers to questions students often ask.

Contact: info@designcad.com.au   T/F +61 8 8354 2400  M 0418 414 932 Design Cad Pty Ltd (ABN 38 007 890 146)  ©1997- 2006. http://www.designcad.com.au