[WiLT] Get To Grips - Courses for Visual Impaired People from BCAB - at home

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Get To Grips - Courses for Visual Impaired People from BCAB

Get To Grips With...
  a.. Windows XP, for beginners to learn about tasks such as file
management, how to use Windows, Windows basics and more
  - 3rd to 5th November
  b.. Outlook Express, everything you wanted to know about the popular
email client
  - 10th to 12th November
  c.. The Internet, how to use the Internet with speech
  - 1st to 3rd December
  d.. Word, how to use Microsoft Word with speech
  - 8th to 10th December
Get To Grips Courses

In 2005, with the aid of a grant from Orange, We developed an exciting
new way for visually impaired people to gain basic computing skills
while using either the Jaws for Windows or Hal screen readers.

We decided to concentrate on perhaps four of the most useful aspects
of being able to use a computer:

  a.. How to use the important bits of the Windows XP Operating
System;
  b.. How to use Outlook Express to send and receive meessages and use
the program effectively;
  c.. Being able to use the Internet to search for information or shop
online;
  d.. To use Word to produce, format and print letters, documents etc.
Easy to use course notes

We have produced detailed step-by-step notes for each of these courses
which guide users through how they can carry out basic tasks when
using the computer, EG. How to send an email message, create a list in
a Word document, navigate round the hard disk or carry out a search on
the Internet. As well as explaining what keystrokes have to be carried
out to do something the notes indicate how the screen reader will
respond to what is happening.

Each course is broken down into a series of lessons and each of these
into smaller topics. This means it is possible to quickly find out how
to carry out a particular task.

The course notes are provided on a CD-ROM which will start up
automatically when inserted into the CD drive of a computer. Whichever
screen reader is being used will then start to read out a Welcome
screen. This explains how to use the materials on the CD, including an
easy way to copy the notes to the hard disk, and then provides a
'Table of Contents' for the course. By moving up or down the table of
contents it is possible to select which lesson is required and then
jump directly to that lesson. An innovative way to learn.

While it is possible to use the notes on their own to Get To Grips
with...' Windows XP, Outlook Express, the Internet or Word we have put
together an inexpensive way of providing tutorials for each of these
courses.

Friendly tutorials

Over a weekend we arrange a series of five telephone tutorial sessions
where small groups can work with at least one tutor to ensure that as
far as possible people will be able to achieve their aims in taking
one of these courses. The tutorials are run as conference calls; they
are just like any other telephone call except there will be a small
group who can all talk to each other.

The first call, on the Friday evening, is a get to know you' session
so that everybody can find out who is on the course. It is also the
point where the tutors can find out what each student wants to achieve
over the weekend. We hope that students will have a relaxing and
enjoyable weekend; the objective is to achieve the students aims not
necessarily completing every exercise in the course notes!

As well as the formal sessions we provide an 0845 telephone number so
the tutors can be contacted over the weekend. This means that any
problems can be resolved straight away without having to wait for the
next formal tutorial session.

An important note about screen reader versions

It is important to realise that the step-by-step notes in these
courses are specific to particular versions of the screen readers
used. It is likely that the actual steps to accomplish tasks and the
responses from the screen reader will differ between versions.

While it is possible that versions of screen readers earlier than
those for which the notes were prepared may be able to accomplish the
same tasks this is not guaranteed. Please check the version of the
screen reader, etc. before purchasing a course and if you are in any
doubt please contact secretary at bcab.org.uk to discuss the matter.

The current courses were prepared using Jaws for Windows version 6 and
HAL version 4.5.

How much do the courses cost?

You can either purchase the course notes on their own or attend' one
of our telephone-tutorial weekends.

  a.. Course notes only
  - Individual course notes £20
  - All 4 courses on a single CD £75
  b.. Tutorial Courses
  - Individual course £30
  - All 4 courses £100
Registering for a course

If you'd like to book a place on one or more of the courses, please
send an email to training at bcab.org.uk and indicate which course you
require and for what screen reader. let us know whether you simply
want course notes or you want to attend one of our tutorials.

Please provide an address where we can send the CD and if you are
attending one of the telephone tutorial courses please provide a
telephone contact number.

Posted on microsyster's blog at
http://www.microsyster.org.uk/blog/archives/2006/10/entry_142.html