Software Trainers (Software Trainer)

Member Name: karenroach

Product:	Software Trainer
Date:	03/06/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You get to meet loads of great people

Disadvantages: long hours Low pay

A few years ago, I was sitting in Cornwall minding my own business knowing nothing about Computers. I realised that computers were fast taking over the world. Now my idea wasn't really world domination, but I would rather dominate computers than have them dominate me. So not being one to do things by halves, I decided to do a Degree in Computer science.

That was a very rude awakening as I was getting on a bit and no one really teaches at University, you just have to learn. Once I had survived the whole experience with a lot of help from my friends, I realised that there were loads of other people out there who, like me needed to learn about computers and IT, but, once you know about these things it is very hard to teach someone who doesn't. It's no use saying click the File menu to someone who doesn't know how to use a mouse!

As part of my placement year at University I started teaching Adults how to use a PC. I took a C&G 7307 teaching qualification. This course taught me how to design courses and lessons. It also taught me how to teach Adults so that they could actually take in what they were learning according to their own individual learning style.

I am upgrading my teaching qualification to a Masters In Education. I have been teaching IT now for about seven years. I have taught Elderly people who did not know how to turn on a computer and Visually impaired people who use special software called a screen reader (Jaws). I have taught from Entry Level to Advanced Level Microsoft Office skills. I have taught Web design and Animation. Just about every type of IT. I've loved every minute of it.

Now I am starting out on something new, I'm training young people who need a boost in life. Hopefully, newly gained IT skills will help them.

There are some drawbacks of course. One of them is the Qualification Maze. Whatever qualification you have, there is always something else that the employer wants! Some of them no-one ever heard of. There's SAP and there's TAP and there's MCSE, MCDST, MCSA, ITIL and PRINCE2 and there's ...the list is endless. I'd like to see them turn their noses up at my Masters when I've got it!

If you are passionate about helping people get the best out of their computer, and you don't mind the travel, the long hours, the relatively poor pay, go for it. Decide on a qualification route that suits you and stick to it.

Summary: I love it