I provide tailored one to one or group training at your own location and at a pace that suits you.

By tutoring you in your own home, you will get the full benefit of the training by learning on your own computer system and with your own software in a relaxed and familiar environment.

You can call me for an informal chat about your needs, or I can come to you to give you a free assessment. There is no obligation for you to pay for my services if you decide not to go ahead with the training. If you do decide to use my services, you do not have to pay anything until you start your first lesson.

The training I provide is tailored to meet the needs of each individual customer. I have listed below some of the things that I can help you with, but if you require training on anything that is not listed, you can still contact me and I will advise you if I can help.

Terms

Minimum tutoring session is normally one hour. Sessions can be extended in half hour increments.

I charge from £20.00 per hour (subject to travelling). The minimum charge for each session is £20.00 up to the first hour then £10.00 for each additional half hour. A discount is available for bulk payment of lessons.

Standard charges are for one on one training. Please ask for group rates.

Full payment is to be made in cash at the time of the training. I'm sorry but I cannot accept cheques.

If you have any special requirements or wish to discuss a change to the above terms, I will be happy to discuss these with you.

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Microsoft Windows

Getting started
Learn the basics of the Windows environment, navigate around the different menus and find out how to change basic windows settings.

Installing software
Install software with confidence and learn how to uninstall it correctly. Look at system restore which can be used if things go wrong with your new applications.

Using the keyboard and mouse
To a lot of people, using a keyboard and mouse is easy, but to a beginner it can be a different story. I can help to improve your skills with these devices and show you the right way to use them.

Double click, single click, hold and drag, scroll, shortcuts, copy and paste. All these functions can be mastered with a little practise

File management
Learn about the different ways of storing files such as photos, letters, spreadsheets and other valuable data.
You can find out about what you should back up in case your hard drive fails, how to name your files, file extensions and what they mean, different ways of exploring your drives and folders, deleting files and restoring them with the recycle bin.

Zip files
A zip file is a compressed folder that is used to store a file or files in a small amount of space on your hard drive. Find out what to do when you have a zip file or other type of compressed data.

Using the internet

The internet has become very popular in recent years now that most homes in the UK have access to it.
A lot of people who buy computers these days do so because they want to use the internet at home to keep in touch with relatives and friends around the world. They may also enjoy the convenience of shopping and banking online.

Broadband/Dial-up
I can help you to set up your internet connection. Once you have subscribed to a service and got all your equipment, I can check that it is working and that you can get online without any difficulty.

Wireless Internet

A lot of homes now have wireless internet. I can help you set up a wireless connection (if you have the right equipment) and show you the different security types.

Sending and receiving email
Email is a popular way of keeping in touch with relatives, friends and businesses. Learn how to use your email software, write emails, respond to and forward emails. Discover some of the many options that you can use when using email such as checking your spelling, adding a signature, sending attachments, creating rules and organising your contacts.

Get som advice on dealing with SPAM mail, how to recognise it, what to do with it when you get it and tips on how to avoid getting spam.

Online Security
Keeping safe online is a hot topic and causes a lot of worry for some people however, it shouldn't spoil your enjoyment of using the internet. Learn how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of hackers and fraudsters. Set up anti-virus software, a firewall and scan for spyware.

Discover different ways of browsing the internet and use some of the browsing tools that help you keep safe. Find out what to look for on the safest sites and what sort of websites you should avoid.

Using search engines
The most common way of finding information on the internet is by using a search engine. Pick up some tips on how to search by using keywords and phrases and how to narrow down your searches with more advanced options. I will also show you how to Bookmark your favorite websites so that you can find them again quickly and easily.

Online Banking and shopping
Many people are afraid of doing their shopping and banking online because of fraud. I can help you to become more confident when shopping and show you what to look for before making a purchase. You can also learn how to use sites such as ebay and Amazon.

I can advise you how to bank with the minimum of risk and show you simple ways to keep your details safe.

More stuff
I can also help with more online stuff such as news feeds, blogs, joining forums or becoming a member of a website such as facebook or Twitter.

Connecting devices to your computer

Digital cameras

wning a digital camera gives you many more options then using a film camera. You can still have your photographs developed at the photo processing shop but you can also copy them directly to your computer.

Learn how to transfer your photographs from your camera to your pc. Find out what you need to know to edit your images, resize them, attach them to emails or add them to a website.

Memory sticks

Memory sticks come in many different shapes and sizes but they all perform the same function, which is to store files to carry with you.

Connect your memory device to any pc and safely remove it. Get some sound advice on how to keep your files safe.

External drives

An external hard drive is a convenient way of giving you extra storage space for your computer. I can give you advice to help you decide if you need more storage.

Printers

If you need help setting up and using your printer/scanner, I can show you how. I can also show you how to print using different settings and if you have a scanner, I can help you to use.

Websites can be used for many purposes. Most are business sites but there are a growing number of personal sites being added to the internet every day. Create a site for your family, a special occasion, your hobby, a group or organisation or your favourite TV programme. Whatever you want to do with it, the list is endless.

Registering a domain name
Before you build a website, you need a domain name so that people can find it. There are some free domains out there but these don't suit everyone. Learn how to search for your ideal name, find out the difference between .com, .co.uk and all the the other types of domains. Find out how much domain names cost and don't get caught out by the terms and conditions of some registrars.

Building a simple website
Once you have registered your domain name, you can publish your website. Creating a web page can be as easy as using a word processing package such as word or, for the more adventurous out there, you can hand code the whole thing using HTML code.

I am available evenings and weekends and based in SE3. Lessons in your own home or a place of your choosing. Please contact me for more information.

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