Novices taught to tell a mouse from a monitor

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

PC manufacturer Gateway says it will plug a gap in the computer training market with a series of courses aimed at novice users.

"While there are plenty of courses aimed at fine-tuning the skills of already competent users, people with minimal or no computing experience are not well catered for," said Gateway national retail manager Andrew Olsen.

Gateway will initially be offering three three-hour-long instructor-led courses covering the basics of computing and the internet, but it plans to introduce further courses on popular applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

The courses, "Getting started using Windows," "Organising and customising your computer using Windows," and "Surfing the web and using e-mail," normally cost $149 each but the company is offering them at an introductory price of $99 if they are booked before August.

The first sessions will be held at evenings and weekends at Gateway's Auckland store but the company will also offer training at its Wellington and Christchurch outlets this year.

Trainer Jill Reid said a large part of her job was putting students at their ease.

"A lot of people are intimidated by computers. People think it's going to be difficult, so you've automatically put up a barrier before you start."

Ms Reid said a new user's knowledge of computing could be very sketchy - for example, she had heard of new users waving the mouse around in the air or pressing it flat against the screen.

Eighty-three-year-old Mt Eden-based PC user Olive Stoddart, who attended a launch session held last week, said the course had aroused her curiosity.

"I can see great potential for little old ladies like me. Wherever I go I see others who are so competent and I don't want to be left behind."

Ms Stoddart said the training staff were approachable and had helped to reduce her nervousness. "They are willing to answer silly questions. I had to find out what the 'P' in PC stood for."

Young mother Kirsty Paton, who also attended the launch session, said there were very few courses at such the basic level.

"No one ever teaches you how you move the mouse and how this co-ordinates with the movement of the cursor, for example."

Ms Paton said she had managed to pick up the basics of using e-mail by following advice from friends, but she wanted to learn more about the internet to keep up with her children.

"Everything they do and watch seems to have a 'www' in front of it and my 3 1/2-year-old son tells me when I've got mail."

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