Whilst the majority of LCC students have at least some basic knowledge of, and familiarity with IT systems and networked resources on enrolling, there are number of the cohort (especially on access courses) who appear to have very little experience of using computers. Sometimes we’ve found that new users may not have had previous experience of attaching files to emails, using word processing software, or saving documents.
Students may also have unrealistic expectations that library staff should help set up internet banking accounts, book train and plane tickets, or provide instruction for professional software that the student has tried to use for the first time 20 minutes before a deadline.
Whilst we do cover basic UAL IT access issues such as account logins, changing passwords and printing as part of our LCC library student inductions, the LCC Learning Zone team can usually only provide reactive on the fly help to individual students queries relating to their coursework.
We endeavour to make students aware of the FAQs on the IT help pages, the UAL subscription to the excellent Lynda.com online tutorials and the weekly tech drop in sessions run by the LCC Digital Space.
However, there doesn’t seem to be a set of formal benchmarked criteria to measure whether students have the necessary skills and proficiency to navigate UAL networked systems and services at enrolment, or a structured proactive IT training programme if they don’t.
Paul Rogers
LCC Learning Zone Assistant
