4 November 2013

Hi Everyone

Great news!!  If you have your internet connection via SNAP, you can get unlimited YOU TUBE usage  provided you go directly to the You Tube site to access the videos rather than clicking on any links you come across.  This will save you using up your GB allowance on videos leaving more GB for other uses!!

Cheers Denise

9 October 2013

Greetings

 

Three Computers in Homes computers are now housed at Buller REAP on Palmerston Street, Westport.  Thank you to Buller REAP for making the space available.  The computers have been connected to the internet via wifi and are now fully functional.

 

Rejuvenations have continued and are mostly up to date.  Computers have been checked over and on line surveys have been completed as those people who have had their computers for a year take over the responsibility for their machines now that the machine's warranty period is over.

There have been a few calls from people who have had minor issues with their computers.  It is great to help with these issues and it is always enjoyable to meet up again.

Kiwi Skills
Kiwi Skills is an on line computer training programme.  There is an Assessment Tool available with it to assess where the gaps in learning are, before deciding what training to undertake.  Recently the Kiwi Skills Assessment Tool was offered free for those who applied before the end of September.  I visited as many organisations as possible around Westport to let them know of this opportunity.  I hope I reached anyone who would find this to be of use to their organisation. 

I hope you and your families are enjoying your computers.  Don't forget to get in touch if you are keen to continue with your computer training and wish to start the Stepping Up programme.

Cheers
Denise

20 August 2013

 

We had an amazing evening recently to celebrate the learning and success of our 'Computers in Homes' and 'Stepping Up' graduates. It was lovely to see the support from Graduates families, with their children, parents and partners attending.  Also thanks for the support of local school principals and the Westport Mayor.  It was a great opportunity to reconnect with training group members and swap stories on how the computer learning was progressing at home (and the glitches of course!!).



Computers in Homes Graduates - Westport and Ngakawau

Graduates of Stepping Up - Westport and Ngakawau

Thank you to those who used their computer skills to share with us the stories of their learning and the benefits for their families. The presentations were just great, in all their variety!!  They were very much enjoyed.  Good luck with your continued use and learning with computers!


Cat and her son receiving a prize for her story.

Changes to Westport office

So, it is farewell to the Westport 'Computers in Homes' office as we close the doors for the last time - a big empty space now, but it served us well!  I am still about and am now based on a limited time basis at Buller REAP offices on Palmerston Street.  I can be contacted via the listed contacts or via Buller REAP on 789 7659.



Office in action!

The last farewell

As the need for the 'Computers in Homes' programme in the Buller region appeared to have been met, funding has been redirected to other areas of the West Coast where greater need is apparent.  We would still like to hear from anyone in the area who doesn't have a computer in their home and requires computer training, because if there is evidence there is still a need, we would try to gain funding for another course in this region.  

In the meantime, I am working collaboratively with Buller REAP to offer basic computing training from their offices.  We appreciate Buller REAP housing us for continuing contact with you all and for Rejuvenation - one year computer WOF checks.  So if you have any issues I am still here to support and also to receive any enrolments.  We can organise an appointment time to meet.  Look forward to catching up in the near future.  Cheers Denise

29 July 2013

Congratulations to our three most recent Computers in Homes training groups who have now successfully completed their courses!!!!  Two based at the Westport suite and one based at Ngakawau at the Northern Buller Community Resource Centre.  (Sorry I didn't catch you all on camera!!)  I hope you have great fun using your computers at home.



Working their way through the Online Survey.

Sorting out those User Accounts!

















 

Computers are heading home!

We have our Graduation Ceremony tomorrow night, and I am looking forward to seeing you all and hearing how the computers have been behaving for you.   It will be a great celebration of all your learning and success and a great time to reconnect.  See you there!!

Denise










26 June 2013

We are just over half way 'til Christmas.  Scary stuff!!! 

We have two new Computer in Homes groups started in Westport.  The first group started on the 10th June and are already whizzing through the programme and growing in confidence session by session.  Their computers have been ordered and we are now organising SNAP internet connections for those who need it.

 

 

The second group started this week.  Their sessions are Mondays from 1-3pm and Thursdays from 9-11am.  We were having a real struggle to find a timeslot that worked for everyone, but we settled on these times as our best choice. There are a couple of places left on this course so if you contact me in the very near future it shouldn't be too late to come on board.  A great chance to learn some new skills!


Computer Club

There have been requests for regular computer time get togethers from people who have completed Computers in Homes and Stepping Up courses.  They wanted an opportunity to practice the skills they had learnt, to have a tutor available for support if it was required and to help with any issues they were having on their computers at home, and to reconnect with the group they went through their courses with. 
So, finally today we had our first "Computer Club" session.  It was held between 1.30 and 3.30pm for any past Computers in Homes or Stepping Up people.  We will trial this for the two weeks and see how it works for everyone.   Any past trainees are welcome to join us.  See you next Wednesday!!

15 May 2013

Our Westport 'Computers in Homes' group is moving rapidly through the different topics.  They are learning quickly and supporting each other as they go.  We have discovered some fast touch typists as we have worked on Word Processing.  Lots of lovely clip art has been added to folder covers and poems.

 

 

 Here they are, all with great concentration!!

 

 

The new computers have been ordered, and will arrive in time for the end of course.  It will be exciting to take the new reconditioned computers home.

 

Ngakawau centre has two new participants.  Welcome to them both.  Still room for a couple more if you are interested.

 

Cheers

Denise 

8 May 2013

 Putting it all together, checking it works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Success!  Everything is working as it should!

 

Another group of amazing people have completed our Computers in Homes programme in Ngakawau.  Many of them have decided to continue on to the Stepping Up programme.  At present we have two Stepping Up classes happening at the Northern Buller Community Resource Centre each Tuesday – one in the afternoon and one in the evening.  There is also a Computers in Homes course in the afternoon from 3.30pm.   There are still spaces for this one – so contact us if you are interested.

Assembling the new computers














Yay!!! New computers in action!

Our Westport Computers in Homes group completed the programme in March and the Stepping Up group, after working very hard on  a lot of topics, finished at the beginning of May.  Well done to both groups for extending your skills!!  It was a pleasure working with you.

In Westport we have a full class for Computers in Homes just started, meeting twice a week.  It’s a cosy and busy atmosphere in our Westport office with all the computers on the go.  We have been exploring the internet and are now about to tackle creating gmail accounts and getting connected with family and friends. I hope to start another Computers in Homes course in Westport soon…. And also a Stepping Up course.  So if you are ready to update your skills contact me.  It will be great to have you on board!                 

Cheers Denise



14 February 2013

 

We are full into courses in Westport and Ngakawau now and this time we are trialling an evening course at our Ngakawau venue.  Everyone is making a concerted effort to make it to the sessions - often after finishing long days at work or working around other commitments!  It's great to meet a new group of wonderful people.

As you can see it is full on concentration!

 

Our Westport course is being held on Monday and Wednesday between 12.30 and 2.30pm and Ngakawau's course runs on a Tuesday from 1 until 3pm. 

 

We also have Stepping Up courses started.  Westport's course is on Monday and Wednesday from 9.00 until 11.30am and Ngakawau's course is on Tuesday from 7 until 9.30pm.

 

All our pod computers have been updated since the last course in 2012 with increased graphic capacity. Yay!! This is great and now allows us to use Microsoft Movie Maker. We will have fun with this programme!!

 

We will have a course starting in Reefton at the beginning of Term 2.  It will be exciting to have Computers in Homes available in Reefton.

 

The next courses will be in April/May.  It won't be long before we are beginning to organise those - so if you would like to be involved in learning new skills and feeling more comfortable behind the keyboard, let us know.

 

Cheers Denise