Computing courses

Computing for Free courses (Assessed)

Computing for Free is a self-paced learning programme for anyone who wants to gain formal computer skills for employment, or learn the basics of computing and Microsoft software. The timetables for these Computing for Free courses are designed to be flexible enough to fit around life's other commitments. Class times are scheduled two-hourly - you can choose the sessions that suit you, and change them weekly depending on your other commitments.

Explore the list of programmes and courses below. People with little knowledge, skills or experience in the computing area will be encouraged to gain the National Certificate in Computing Level 2 before undertaking the Level 3 qualification.

Programmes

Computing for Free courses (Non-assessed)

Completing a non-assessed course will give you the confidence that you need to transfer to the National Certificate in Computing Level 2. We will assess your skills for free and credit them towards the equivalent National Certificate course.

Computing Basics

Code: CFCB110
Duration: 40 hours

This Computing Basics course introduces you to your computer, starting with: turning it on and off correctly; using a mouse and keyboard; main Windows features; software and hardware; create, save and print files; file management; keyboarding; create, send, receive and print emails: as well as send and receive attachments via email.

Word for Beginners

Code: CFWP110
Duration: 40 hours

Develop your skills using the word processing application package Microsoft Word 2010. Enter, edit and format text to produce professional-looking Word documents; preview and print word processing files.

Excel for Beginners

Code: CFSP110
Duration: 40 hours

Develop your skills using the spreadsheet application package Microsoft Excel 2010. Produce simple spreadsheet files by learning to enter, edit, format, calculate and produce charts from your data.

Keyboarding for Beginners

Code: CFKY110
Duration: 24 hours

Learn how to use the keyboard correctly and develop your touch-typing technique. Alpha-numeric, symbols, and special characters.

PowerPoint for Beginners

Code: CFPP110
Duration: 20 hours

Develop your skills in PowerPoint to plan, design, create and deliver a presentation.

Publisher for Beginners

Code: CFDK110
Duration: 40 hours

Develop your skills using Microsoft Publisher 2010 to produce published documents such as flyers, leaflets, newsletters, posters, muneus and advertisements for business and home use. This course covers such elements as layout and design, clipart, fonts, borders, WordArt and editing techniques.

Access for Beginners

Code: CFDB110
Duration: 30 hours

Develop your skills using Microsoft Access 2010. Understand the basic concepts of database design with a simple flat file database. Cover commands such as establishing database fields, creating, formatting and editing records, search for and selecting specific records, sorting records and printing out results.

Access Enhanced

Code: CFDB310
Duration: 34 hours

Enhance your knowledge and build your skills in Microsoft Access 2010. Learn; forms, reports, advanced queries, import data from an external source, create user instructions. We recommend you have completed Access for Beginners or have the equivalent knowledge.

Word Enhanced

Code: CFWP310
Duration: 48 hours

Enhance your knowledge and build your skills in Microsoft Word. Learn; mail merge; templates, headers and footers, boxes and borders, sorting and tables. we recommend you have completed Word for Beginners or have the equivalent knowledge.

Excel Enhanced

Code: CFSP310
Duration: 32 hours

Enhance your knowledge and build your skills in Excel. Learn functions such as absolute cell referencing, IF statements, PMT statements, charts, data integrity and macros. We recommend you have completed Excel for Beginners or have the equivalent knowledge.

Web Design for Beginners

Code: CFWB110
Duration: 40 hours

This course provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to create and enhance the presentation of a single web page, create text for a homepage and add links to a web page using Microsoft Expression Web.