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Getting Up
to Speed with Technology
By
Annie Yu
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If
you would like to brush up your computing knowledge, why not sign
up for the staff computer courses offered by the Computing Services
Centre (CSC)? Simply flip through the staff course directory booklet
for this Semester and choose from a list of extremely popular
courses like Flash, Dreamweaver, Director, Freehand, Excel 2000,
PowerPoint 2000, Adobe Photoshop, FrontPage 2000 and much more.
Once you have decided which course(s) to attend, all you need
to do is fill in the Application Form provided in the booklet
and send it to the CSC before the deadline.
As always, some popular courses are
organised twice in one semester (except for Summer Semester).
Moreover, parallel classes will be arranged for the most popular
courses. So far, parallel classes had been taught on the same
day for topics like “FrontPage 2000”, “Introduction
to Html”, “Macromedia Flash” and “Dreamweaver”.
As all staff courses are now free of charge, the number of applicants
will bound to increase. Inevitably, a few applicants would be
rejected due to the limited number of seats per course. Sad to
say, recent reports showed that the attendance rate for the courses
is not always 100 per cent. If the absentees can release their
seats by notifying the CSC ahead of time, then those rejected
applicants will be able to fill up the vacancies. If you are normally
busy on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you will be glad to hear that
starting Semester B, all courses will be offered on Wednesdays
and Fridays instead.
Judging from past experiences, it
is found that out-sourcing to external trainers is highly cost
effective. During the last 2 years, we have had Computer Power
Training Services and Interim Technology to act as our trainers
for the staff computer courses. This academic year, we have selected
another top training firm, Welkin Computer Training, as the primary
trainer for most courses. In situations where Welkin Training
is not readily available, System Pro will serve as the backup
trainer. With this kind of arrangement, we are able to provide
the flexibility that is required.
To plan the courses better, we need
to know your thoughts and needs. Around May and June each year,
a staff course survey is placed on the Web and every staff in
the University is invited to express his/her views about the on-going
computer courses offered by the CSC. By contributing your ideas
and views, we will be able to plan ahead of time according to
your suggestions and preferences.
