Taking place in the WIFOL Building, which is located between the Pondfill and Longwall roads, are low cost classes to advance computer skills for young, old, novice and intermediate users. Even rank beginners are welcome to join the weekly classes taught by Theophilus Thompson and his volunteer teaching staff. Laptops are also provided. For intermediate students, the emphasis is on business applications, but they also teach graphic arts.
Currently, the youngest student is just five years old and the oldest is 60+. New students can join at any time and everyone works at their own pace as basic assistance is given to those who need it. Some folk may even need help learning how to turn the computer on! But don’t worry, these are patient teachers who won’t embarrass you or let others in the room tease you; they work to get you past those intimidating nerves and right into the feeling of success and understanding.
Most students who attend the classes are interested in exploring what can be done with Microsoft Office, Word Processor, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. Some hope to become better typists, faster at the keyboard or to develop more words-per-minute with fewer errors. These skills are so helpful when seeking an office job or a promotion. Even those who already use these programs may still find shortcuts or other features of the programs that they don’t know about. There is always more to learn and more ways to improve.
Beginners start by placing two hands on the keyboard and finding the letters. The teachers provide the student a laptop and the same one is used in every class that student attends. Students also get a book that takes them through learning the basics of typing and special keys such as the tab key and the shift key. They follow printed individual lessons from their own text. Later, they learn how to insert images and shapes, like circles or stars, into the work, and to modify the size of the font or change the colour of the letters or shapes.
“We let the children get creative,” said Thompson, who is the developer of the program. “We have the children build things with the shapes they have seen. So they are learning graphic arts.”
The children’s class is held every Saturday afternoon from 1:00 to 3:30pm. At this time, the front of the WIFOL building may look closed up, but the door on the Longwall side of the building by the parking area on the side is open. Inside, the youngsters are concentrating hard on learning, and earning their certificates, so there is no time for nonsense or daydreaming.
The adult classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00pm. Recently, the last of the 2016 Adult Class graduated. It was an evening of celebration, photos and diplomas. The graduates are now trained to be Office and or Administrative Assistants. They learned how to use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, as well as PowerPoint and Excel. “All have now acquired advance applicable work skills,” said Thompson.
In addition to this ongoing course schedule, CIFSEF will run a Computer summer camp for youths. The cost is $275 plus $30 registration fee. The camp will operate from 8:00am to 5:30pm for five weeks. If you are interested in upgrading your own computer knowledge and work skills, sign up for CIFSEF training right away! Send them an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (721) 526-8727.
