So, what makes me think I can help?

As a Skills for Life practitioner since 1996 I have taught literacy, numeracy, ESOL, Application of Number and Key Skills IT as well as presentation skills. In my previous careers I was used to using the computer as tool for work and research. So, coming in to Skills for Life, I was naturally keen to explore the use of computers for learning, long before the word e-learning was well known in education. As a result I was asked to create and deliver residential courses for the Basic Skills Agency on the use of ICT for Basic Skills, and later helped develop and deliver training courses for volunteers working in local Cybercentres.  I also have experience of teaching basic ICT to adults, including OCR CLAIT and ECDL, and have worked in a  range of contexts including a hostel, a hospital, schools and community centres as well as main site FE provision.
From January 2003 I was a BECTA National Learning Network ILT mentor for basic and key skills, delivering training in the use of e-learning to tutors in over 70 colleges until the programme ended in July 2005. The focus of this training was on using the interactive NLN materials, but much else was covered, including the use of a range of hardware and software and creation of interactive materials in Microsoft Office and quiz software such as Hot Potatoes.

As a freelance trainer and consultant I have worked on the NIACE e-Guides programme and the BECTA Laptops for Teachers project and for a range of other bodies. Projects include the design and delivery of training and the production and evaluation of learning resources. I was also a substantial contributor to the Institute of Education publication "Using laptop computers to develop basic skills", published in 2004.

Before defecting to the education sector I had 9 years in international banking: treasury management and systems analysis. I have also worked as a freelance translator from French and Italian since 1988. So if this experience overlaps with your business needs, contact me to talk.

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