Scotch College

Internet Training

Young people and those in the workforce are using the Internet in their daily lives, while often those who are no longer in employment lack the professional opportunities for training in new technologies.

In view of this, a new initiative from the Library and Information Centre has recently seen Old Collegians and friends taking part in 'Internet Searching for Beginners' sessions in the Senior School Library.

A pilot program ran in March and further programs will be offered each term.

Learning how to navigate around the World Wide Web. From left: Bruce Crawford, Kris Paterson (instructor) and Astra Crawford.

The aim of the course is to assist Old Collegians become confident Internet users. Participants are taught:

• Internet navigation tools
• The difference between search engines and directories
• How to read an Internet address
• How to use effective search terms

After the above strategies have been understood, time is available for personal interest searching.

Each participant works on a personal computer, receives a training manual and a certificate of completion along with lots of personal assistance. The four-hour course takes place over two nights, with a staff ratio of one trainer to four learners.

A keen group of Old Collegians has emerged from the pilot course, with a renewed sense of purpose and an understanding of the possibilities available, when using the huge range of information sources on the Internet.