ComputerTutors

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Who is this site for?

ComputerTutors, as the name suggests, is primarily for tutors of IT subjects, and mainly in post-16 education circles although there are several representatives of secondary schools who are also members. The vast majority of present tutors are responsible for the delivery of the CLAIT suite of qualifications, ECDL and MOS.

Although the groups are intended for UK-based tutors there is no restriction preventing tutors from other countries from joining. All discussion takes place in English.

ComputerTutors is not designed for students of the programmes described above, and regrettably applications from individuals studying for these qualifications will be declined.

What does it cost?

Nothing at all. The Yahoo groups which form the backbone of the site are funded by advertising, and the ComputerTutors.org.uk and ComputerTutorsResources.org.uk sites are funded by members' donations. Donating is entirely without obligation but is actively encouraged as it pays for promotional materials and advertising to increase the groups' memberships. Find out more here.

What groups are there in the ComputerTutors community?

This is a full list of all of the Yahoo discussion groups on the community:


How do I join one or more of the groups?

Please follow these steps:

  1. Read through the postings of the group you're considering joining to see if it really would be of benefit to you. Past postings can be read on the homepage of each group; to visit a group use the links above.


  2. If you decide that it would be beneficial to you and you meet the criteria outlined in Who is this site for above, click on the Join This Group link on the group homepage.
    • If you are not already a member of Yahoo Groups, you will be led through the process of registering. This is a one-off registration; you will use the same Yahoo ID and password to join as many other groups as you wish.


    • If you are a member of Yahoo groups you will be asked to provide your ID and password (unless you are already logged in).


  3. Crucially, you must complete the field explaining why you want to join. What you say is up to you, but you must demonstrate that your interest in the group is legitimate. Ideally include your centre name and OCR/ECDL examination centre number. This information is not stored, it is only used to assess your application to join a group, and is never used outside of ComputerTutors.


  4. You will receive notification by email whether your application has been successful or not within 48 hours. If your application is unsuccessful and you feel you should be granted access, please contact a moderator.

 

What about the resource sharing area?

One of the most valuable aspects of joining ComputerTutors is our online bank of downloadable resources at www.computertutorsresources.org.uk. Members are encouraged to make use of the materials there and to upload their own for others to use - this sharing ethos is what keeps the resources bank fresh, up-to-date and relevant to current syllabi content.

You need to prove in an off-line way that you are a practising IT tutor at a registered examination centre before you can join the resources bank. There are two reasons for this:

  • Although the resources are copyrighted to their individual authors, each author uploads their materials on the understanding that it may be used, free of charge, by recognised centres. The offline registration process ensures that only tutors in recognised centres access the materials.


  • Some of the materials relate to live (ie. current) assessment material and it is therefore imperative that such materials do not find their way into the hands of students studying for the qualification in question.

We have tried to strike a balance in making the application process as simple as possible for time-stretched tutors, whilst ensuring that it is watertight to satisfy examination boards that we are preventing any possible misuse of examination materials.

To receive a username and password to access the resource-sharing bank, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Download the template letter to your computer:
  2. Print the letter on your college or centre letterhead. If you wish to complete the form first in Word and then print it on to the letterhead, that is fine.


  3. Complete the form in full. Please ensure your email address and Yahoo ID are legible. The main reason for problems in setting up new accounts is illegible email addresses/Yahoo ID's.

  4. Ask a colleague to read the declaration and endorse your application. Ideally this person should be a senior manager, but we recognise there are circumstances where this is not possible (for example, outreach centres with only two or three tutors). In these cases, the endorsement of a colleague will be sufficient, providing they can be contacted using the telephone number you provide to verify the information you have given. Please note this telephone number must be a landline beginning 01 or 02. Mobiles or non-geographical numbers are not acceptable.


  5. Post or fax your form using the details on the letter.


  6. Faxes and letters are added on a batch basis. You should receive notice by email within 48 hours of sending your fax (please allow extra time if you post your letter), but if you do not hear anything, please see below.

I have applied to join the resource sharing area but have not received a username

If more than 2 working days (or 4 working days if you posted your application) have passed since you sent in your application to join the resource sharing area, please contact a moderator telling us your name, your centre name, whether you posted or faxed your letter, and roughly when you sent it. Without this information we cannot trace your application. Thank you.