Certificate in Computer Skills

Adam Manukau enjoyed the well-structured course so much that he put in lots of extra work. Picture / Fotopress

The course

The Farm Smart programme is designed to improve the rural community's access to tertiary education and development.

It is an educational partnership between the FarmSafe consortium, led by Agriculture Industry Training Organisation, and a network of regional technology institutes and polytechnics, led by Wintec. It is supported by dairy company Fonterra.

AgITO chief executive Kevin Bryant says a key aspect of the programme is the way it reflects the farmers perspective.

The online learning concept was tested in a pilot programme and Farm Smart is now taking enrolments for its first programme - the Certificate in Computer Skills.

"We have worked on the programmes to ensure content and delivery are exactly how the agricultural community needs them," Bryant says. "Many farmers want to be able to use technology to enhance their business but don't want to be continually taken off farm. Farm Smart has been developed to deliver relevant information to farmers, in a learning style that suits them."

Although designed for the rural community, the free course can be undertaken by any New Zealand resident aged 16 years or over.

The certificate offers nine different modules tailored to suit levels of ability ranging from the absolute beginner to the highly computer literate. From computer basics - which shows students how to set up their computer - the course covers using the internet and email, how to manage word documents and spreadsheets, then on to the more complicated database management and website creation.

After an initial registration workshop held in their region, students complete programmes online in their own time and location.

Students can complete as many or as few modules as they wish and those who complete all nine modules receive a Certificate in Computer Skills, Level 2.

Each module involves about 40 hours of self-paced learning. Students have up to three years to pass all nine modules but most are expected to take much less. To complete each module students must score 100 per cent in an open-book assessment. They are allowed three attempts to pass - the first two automatically, but the third only with the tutor approval. Students can also sit the assessments for the associated NZQA unit standards at the end of each module.

Wintec special projects manager Barry Ogilvie says Farm Smart is close to getting the content completed for its next course, which will be offered in the same format. It will be on human resources (HR).

Employment is a major issue on farms, many of which are larger than the more common family farms of the past, which employed only family members.

The HR course will be tested among farmers before being offered online.

"We're building a backroom business base," Ogilvie says. "It's a new learning mode ... we want farmers to feel comfortable about learning this way before we get more complex."

Future courses are planned for on business accounting, financial tools and pasture and stock management.

Student's view

Adam Manukau, 27
Production manager
Panmure

I work for the Fonterra company Top Hat Convenience Foods and we were offered free computer training.

I know a bit about computers because I use them daily in my work for budgeting, reporting, stock control - that sort of thing. I'm self-taught, so I use what I need - but I don't know what's going on behind it. Now I understand computers more, and computer language.

The first class - where you're introduced to the course, register and get your log-on - was done at Wintec in Newmarket. After that I did everything online at home. I have dial-up internet access. They recommend broadband, but dial-up was fine.

I started in February with basic computing and I'm on the last module now. I spent about four hours a week on it. There's no time limit - you can take three years if you want - but I raced through it because I want to help my staff use computers. The course is being offered right down to floor level. They're all saying their kids understand computers, but they don't. I found the course excellent. I looked at doing something like this a couple of years ago but I got into production instead.

I'd recommend the first module for first-time computer users. It's good for people learning about a computer. You get more detail on different programmes as you work through the modules. The one I liked best was understanding websites. You get to know the jargon and what's going on behind. It definitely gives you a taste for learning but I'm not sure what I'll do next.

The qualification

Certificate in Computer Skills

Farm Smart

Phone: 0508 Farm Smart (0508 327 676)