Learn how to use the Internet for your studies or your work. Did you know about the Internet Social Worker a free, interactive tutorial which will help improve your internet skills?

This is an excellent resource which allows you to tour the best of the web for Social Work, discover how to search the Internet effectively, judge which websites are worth using and read stories to inspire you.

The Intute: Virtual Training Suite is a national Internet service provided by the Intute (formerly the RDN) and funded by JISC (an agency of The Higher and Further Education Funding Councils of England, Scotland and Wales).

The service offers over 60 free, online tutorials teaching Internet skills for different subjects, and is free to access via the Web.

It is run by the Institute for Learning and Research Technology at the University of Bristol (UK), though the content has been written by a distributed team of tutors, lecturers and librarians from across the country.

Who is it for?

The tutorials have been designed for different audiences. Some are designed for students and staff in universities or colleges, some are for adult and community learners so they differ slightly, but they are all free for anyone to use.

You can use them to “teach yourself” by working through them in your own time. They are also designed to be a flexible eLearning resource that can be easily adopted by tutors, lecturers and librarains in a wide range of courses. Worth a visit especially if you are just finding your way around the internet. Access it here

The site also provides a useful Glossary of computing terminology and words used in the tutorials.

blog -Blogs are Web logs kept by individuals, groups or organisations to record thoughts, ideas, work notes or outcomes on the Web chronologically. Readers can comment on blog posts and post discussion comments.

Tags: elearning, internet social worker, learning about the internet, websites

With lessons in everything from personal computing, home entertainment to digital photography and video there is something for everyone with the bonus of a certificate of completion. The courses available change month by month and you have a specified time to complete each course.

If you are inspired to update your technology skills and knowledge the current courses on offer include:

• Advanced Microsoft® Excel 2007, Part I: Analyzing Data

  Graphic Design for Non-Designers

  Road Trip Planning: Gear, Gadgets, and Navigation

  Green Living

  Record Your Life with Digital Scrapbooking

  Digital Camcorder Guide: Choosing the Right Camcorder

Find out more by visiting the website: http://backstage101.learningcenter.sony.us

Tags: be inspired, computers, free online learning, learning community, sony 101

ALISON* is the world’s leading free online learning resource for basic and essential workplace skills. ALISON provides high-quality, engaging, interactive multimedia courseware for certification and standards-based learning. All courses on ALISON are accessible free to individual learners.

Among its popular offerings are courses to support study for the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) and E-Citizen, two leading international standards of ICT literacy, Financial Literacy, Health & Safety and Touch Typing.

An excellent resource, especially for the first time computer user, the courses are well designed and truly interactive with feedback, quizzes and practice sessions.

The range of courses currently available include: the e-Citizen IT user certification is offered by the British Computer Society in partnership with the ECDL Foundation worldwide; Microsoft Word which introduces the fundamental principles of using Word 2003, Microsoft Access to help learn to use and create a database using Access 2003, to an intermediate level; The Microsoft PowerPoint course provides the user with the ability to produce their own PowerPoint 2003 presentations. 

Psychometric Tests offered in partnership with the Cut-e Group, the international experts in psychometric test development, can help you to understand your personal strengths for employment with respect to personality and competency. New courses are being added rapidly. 

The creators of ALISON, which is a not-for-profit social enterprise, believe that this model of education can save governments and educational institutions billions of dollars every year if it is adopted worldwide. Across the world, billions of people do not have access to high-quality skills-based interactive learning. The reason for this is usually distance and cost. The Internet changes this dynamic and ALISON provides a unique educational opportunity.

Visit the ALISON website http://www.alison.com/ , sign up to study online, record the hours for your PRTL and let us know how you are getting on. 

*ALISON stands for “Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online”.

Tags: alison, certified, ecdl, free on line learning, interactive, learn how to use microsoft programmes, multi media, new technology

How much time do you spend in front of your computer? To avoid back and neck pain and repetitive strain injury, make sure that your desktop computer is set up for optimum comfort andf safety. Download a diagram of how to set up your work station at: http://www.rsi.org.uk/pdf/correct_work_station.pdf.

Tags: repetitive strain injury, rsia

With over 1.6 billion registered email addresses in the world and increasing use of the internet, there are plenty of opportunities to study on line in your own time and at your own pace. An increasing number of organisations provide eLearning opportunities which range from updating your knowledge of the law through to preparing for the European Computer Driving Licence. 

The Social Care Institue for Excellence (SCIE) offer a number of invaluable and free resources on line which provide innovative solutions to ensuring that your knowledge and skills remain up to date. A note to SCIE – please provide a certificate to download after completing the programme which can be included in the Post Registration Training and Learning folder.

“Law is often seen as alien to social work values, a tool of oppression and control. However, it is possible to see law as a source of empowerment, if a way can be found through the maze where legal rules, organisational contexts and professional practice meet.” Learning, teaching and assessment of law in social work education

Suzy Braye and Michael Preston-Shoot, October 2006 Online at SCIE’s website

The Law and Social Work

This is a very interactive programme using audio and video, which brings alive key aspects of the law applied to social work practice. Ten modules which explore accountability and intervention, courtroom skills and experts by experience using case studies, quizzes and self assessment tools. This resource was developed for student social workers but is equally relevant to qualified social workers, especially if you are supervising a student on placement. I particularly enjoyed the win a million gameshow! http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/elearning/law/index.asp

An introduction to the mental health of older people

This interactive programme aims to raise awareness of key issues, research, messages, policies and approaches relating to the mental health of older people and, in so doing, positively impact on practice. Ten modules cover everything from attitudes and images to ageing through to understanding dementia. Informative and thought provoking and an invaluable resource. http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/elearning/mentalhealth/index.asp

NEW Poverty, parenting and social exclusionThese new e-learning resources are intended to help people working in social care to understand the link between poverty, parenting and social exclusion. The nine training resources include quizzes, videos and case studies of families affected by poverty. http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/elearning/poverty/index.asp

 How are these resources helping your practice? What further e-Learning resources would you like SCIE to develop? Let us know your thoughts.

Tags: dementia care, law, poverty and exclusion, scie, social care institute for excellence, social workers