Alderney Flexi Centre

Blind Student success in ECDL

Josie Wheeler has passed her European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) exam Module 1 - Concepts of Information Technology with a 97% pass. In addition, Josie passed Module 5 - Database Management last December with an 89% pass!

Josie, who has been blind for many years attends class twice a week to receive one to one tuition from Elaine Cathcart, Alderney Computing Flexi Centre Manager and Teacher. "She is an inspiration to many of my sighted student" says Elaine.

Elaine explained "Josie is highly motivated and the fact that she has a disability regarding memory recall does not deter her from trying to achieve top marks in every module".

Josie's sight started going when she was half way through her A Levels at the Girls High School in Colchester. She had already mastered the art of touch typing while at school, and this has helped her with her ICT computer studies.

Before Josie began working on computers she wrote letters using braille, but these had to be transcribed to be able to be read by anyone else.

Josie' laptop has a programme installed that offers speech called HAL software, as well as having raised dots on the "F" and "J" keys on the keyboard so that she is able to locate the other keys using her touch typing skills.

In short, with each keyboard stroke pressed, the laptop tells her what she is doing. This software has allowed Josie to pass Level 1 Computer Literacy and Information Technology (CLAiT) and progress to intermediate computer studies. "I am so proud of her achievements and dedication" said Elaine.

Josie began the course just after the summer of 2008 and has four modules to do in less than 2 years to complete the course and get her certificate.

As yet, going on line and working with the internet is not that easy and Josie is not that inclined to pursue at the moment, she is more interested in completing the course that she has started and hopes that once all these modules have been passed she will be able to obtain a job with her qualifications. Josie said that since she has begun using this new software it has given her a new lease of life, and feels that it has made her more independent.

Alderney Computing Flexi Centre





Blind Student success in ECDL Josie Wheeler has passed her European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) exam Module 1 - Concepts of Information Technology with a 97% pass. In addition, Josie passed Module 5 - Database Management last December with an 89% pass! Josie, who has been blind for many years attends class twice a week to receive one to one tuition from Elaine Cathcart, Alderney Computing Flexi Centre Manager and Teacher. "She is an inspiration to many of my sighted student" says Elaine. Elaine explained "Josie is highly motivated and the fact that she has a disability regarding memory recall does not deter her from trying to achieve top marks in every module". Josie's sight started going when she was half way through her A Levels at the Girls High School in Colchester. She had already mastered the art of touch typing while at school, and this has helped her with her ICT computer studies. Before Josie began working on computers she wrote letters using braille, but these had to be transcribed to be able to be read by anyone else. Josie' laptop has a programme installed that offers speech called HAL software, as well as having raised dots on the "F" and "J" keys on the keyboard so that she is able to locate the other keys using her touch typing skills. In short, with each keyboard stroke pressed, the laptop tells her what she is doing. This software has allowed Josie to pass Level 1 Computer Literacy and Information Technology (CLAiT) and progress to intermediate computer studies. "I am so proud of her achievements and dedication" said Elaine. Josie began the course just after the summer of 2008 and has four modules to do in less than 2 years to complete the course and get her certificate. As yet, going on line and working with the internet is not that easy and Josie is not that inclined to pursue at the moment, she is more interested in completing the course that she has started and hopes that once all these modules have been passed she will be able to obtain a job with her qualifications. Josie said that since she has begun using this new software it has given her a new lease of life, and feels that it has made her more independent.
Alderney Student Achieves Information Technology Qualification Willem Forster has recently gained the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Level 2 certificate. He is the first student to achieve level 2 ECDL in the Bailiwick in several years, whilst studying in Alderney Computing Flexi Centre, a satellite centre for Guernsey College of Further Education. Willem (pictured below) says he is thrilled at his achievements over the last 3 years. He started off on the beginner’s course Computer Literacy & Information Technology (CLAiT) level 1 and gained a Diploma as he completed 5 units. Willem said “I enjoyed learning Word Processing and File Management, Emails and Internet, Spreadsheets and Graphs, Database and Electronic Publication”. “After I completed the course I wanted to continue studying computers and signed up for ECDL”. “I never thought for a moment that I would be able to achieve level 2 ECDL”. He passed 7 modules in less than 2 years. Willem has now enrolled for CLAiT level 2 which is equivalent to a vocational Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level ICT. The course content is a lot higher than the last course but I will work hard to try and pass this course too says Willem. The Computing Flexi Centre is run by Elaine Cathcart who is a qualified teacher of computing and business studies but she also has an MSc in ICT. Everyone is welcome says Elaine. At the moment there are over 45 people studying at the centre, aged between 14 and 85. Students can start at a very basic level or if they have some knowledge of computing then I would consider placing them into the intermediate category. Some people enrol so they can undertake exams to receive a qualification but many people just come along to learn a particular topic such as surfing the internet or sending emails. Classes are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday and evening classes are also available. If you would like to learn about ICT please call Elaine on 07781416880.
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Address: The Flat, Ormer House La Valleé, Alderney.		Call 07781 416880 or click to e-mail Elaine for further information or enquiries

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