Computer skills refer to the ability to use the software and hardware of a computer. Being “computer functional” is usually what is meant by one with computer skills; computer literacy is only really evident in advanced computer skills.

A private IT tutor can provide tailor made tuition for your needs. Perhaps you are new to computers and need a few lessons in basic computer skills that would include some of the following:

• Knowing how to switch on the computer
• Being able to use a mouse to interact with elements on the screen.
• Being able to use the computer keyboard
• Being able to shut down the computer after use.

If you already have basic computer skills you may find the need to learn how software programs work. Intermediate skills would include:

• Functional knowledge of word processing
• How to use e-mail
• How to use Spreadsheets
• How to use Databases
• How to use the Internet
• Installing software
• Installing an operating system
• Navigating a computer’s file system

If you are studying IT at an advanced level, below are just a few skills you may learn:

• Programming
• Use of a computer for scientific researching
• Fixing software conflicts
• Repairing computer hardware.
• Designing complex computer networks and information databases.

If you are a silver surfer just wanting to know how to operate and/or maintain your PC in order to keep in touch with family and friends, check your bank accounts or play online games, our IT tutors can help you from the comfort of your own home.

If on the contrary you need help setting up a website for your business or you are pursing a career within the IT industry, we also have experienced tutors that are specialised in many different fields of the computing world.

There maybe many different reasons for choosing this option. Perhaps you prefer the more mixed social atmosphere of a state school? Did you feel the local state school was just as good? Or have you been hit by the recession and decided you need to find a more affordable way to educate your family?

We believe there are more and more families selecting the state school plus private tutor route, so we would be interested to hear your reasons for taking this decision. If you have a secret desire to be famous and would also like to be featured in the newspapers, please let us know as we often receive enquiries from journalists.

Today, many of our Music teachers were sent a request with the following message:

How are you today?I got your contact email while searching for music teacher on the internet.I have a daughter(Evelyn) who is interested studying music.Evelyn doesn’t have any previous in the music but she is ready to learn.She’s a 15 year old girl with a very sharp brain. she’s coming down there to your location for the lessons.We base in Toronto but I just got a new job appointment in Edinburgh,UK and i want Evelyn to come over there to attend the lessons before she will finally come to Edinburgh,UK to stay with me.If you have agreed to accept Evelyn as your student,please get back to me with the following information… *Your studio policy with regard to fees, and make-up lessons

*Total fees for two months lessons(two hours lessons in a week)

*Your teaching location and phone number.

I want the lessons to start by April 25th.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

The above is known as a Check-Counterfeit Cashier´s check scam. You can google this term for more information.

Please contact us if you think that you have received a request that could be a scam, our admin team are on alert too!

So, if you’ve always secretly sought fame, the criteria she’s looking for are:

Aged 28-44

Earning £60,000 or more

Happy to be interviewed, photographed and give their salary as a figure

If you are interested please contact us initially with a few details (age, name, salary, location, and whether you have been to university) and the all important photo. We’ll then send it all on.

This is a great PR opportunity for a female tutor seeking to build wider exposure.

PS – Sorry guys, when FHM chooses to run a similar feature we’ll be straight on the blog to let you know!

Graphic designers get the chance to work on many different types of products, from websites to books, magazines to adverts, TV guides to corporate brochures. There’s a lot of strategic work to be done as well for those graphic designers charged with designing a new brand (known as a ‘visual identity’).

Many graphic designers work on a freelance basis, which is great news if you’re looking for a career that you can mesh with other commitments, or if you want to be your own boss. If you like to be part of a company, however, you might find yourself working in an advertising or marketing agency or even in-house for a large multinational organisation.

If you want to get started in graphic design, then you’ll need to make sure that your IT skills are first class and up to date. The most commonly used packages are Quark Xpress, FreeHand, Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D Studio Max, Acrobat, Director, Dreamweaver and Flash.

First Tutors can recommend excellent tutors across the UK who can train you in those packages. Simply search the site to find one near you.

Information architecture is a key skill in the world of I.T. Simply put, Information architecture is the process of categorising information into a coherent structure, normally one that the most people can understand quickly, if not intuitively. Accordingly, information architects are the people responsible for this categorisation.

Information architects help to organise I.T. platforms and their information into structures that make them usable, informative and helpful. These I.T. platforms include websites, databases and content management systems (internal web page building packages used by organisations all over the world).

Information architecture is a relatively new field but an increasingly important one. After all, we rely on websites and the other technology around us to tell us what we need to know in a way that’s logical, quick and understandable. Having specialised information architects to take ownership of this process means that websites and the like should become even easier to navigate in the future.

There is no set path to becoming an information architect at the moment, with both computing and editorial experts progressing into the role. It’s clear that an in-depth understanding of the web, its structures and its technologies is required. If you’d like to become an information architect, then why not enlist one of the specialist trainers from First Tutors: I.T.?

Websites exist for every purpose, whether it’s shopping online, catching up with the latest celebrity gossip on entertainment news websites or playing games – you can even play live games against other web users on some sites. Why not create your own website for people to enjoy?

Building your own website can be a fun challenge that will exercise your I.T. skills as well as your creative skills – and it could even make you some money! First of all, you’ve got to decide what you want it to do, and that will influence how you build it.

For example, you might decide that you want to join the internet’s growing community of bloggers. This is an appealing option if there’s something you’re particularly passionate about and you want to make your opinions on the matter heard. Or perhaps you want to build your own online shop or information site.

If you’re not sure where to start, then First Tutors: I.T. can help. We have a host of friendly and knowledgeable I.T. tutors who can give you the skills you need to create your own website, from learning basic HTML through to building fully functional online shops.

That’s easy enough for anyone who has been working consistently for years, or for the likes of today’s graduates, who have grown up knowing how to surf the web, click a mouse and order anything from their dinner to furniture online.

However, for those wishing to get back into employment after a long period away from work, it can be a different story. Perhaps you’ve taken a long career break to raise children. You may even have worked in an industry where IT skills were not an issue, say in a shop or manufacturing plant, and you find the prospect of using an application like Microsoft Office quite daunting.

The fact is that if you want to restart your career, you need to have IT skills that are up to date as you’ll be expected to use a computer from day one. The good news is that there are a number of IT trainers on hand via First Tutors who can teach you how to use everything from Word to PowerPoint to the Internet. Soon, you’ll be applying for jobs online and ready to make a fresh start in the workplace.

The subject is often referred to as ICT, especially at GCSE and A-level.

There are lots of good free resources on the net to help computer studies students. Here is First Tutors‘ pick of the bunch.

1.    The staff of St Columba’s High School, in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, have put together a number of revision guides in PDF format for computer studies students of levels from standard grade (like GCSE) upwards.

http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools/secondary/stpeterapostle/stcolumbas/revision/computing/

2.    Another school comes to the rescue with some good revision resources for GCSE students. These revision guides come courtesy of Didcot Girls’ School in Oxford.

http://www.didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk/depts/it/gcse/notes/main/index.htm

3.    Revise ICT really is a one-stop shop for computer studies, with pupils aged five upwards catered for with a host of quizzes, revision aids and links to computing stories in the news. A must-visit.

http://www.reviseict.co.uk/

4.    Dinesh Bakshi.com also brings together a wealth of quizzes, revision notes, revision worksheets and more for students of ICT at GCSE and A-level. Resources are split into eight logical sections, making it easy for students to focus on and improve any weak areas.

http://www.dineshbakshi.com/igcse-gcse-ict.html

5.    First Tutors has several useful books and practice papers that IT tutors can use in their lessons.

http://www.firsttutors.com/uk/resources.php

We’ve got fantastic news! The co-founders of First Tutors have just been nationally recognised in the Dedipower Digital Awards 2010 in association with The Sunday Telegraph and e-skills.

The award is worth over £50k and aims to promote young British entrepreneurs and digital excellence – with the internet at its core.

If we win that will mean some fantastic new products and services for parents and tutors, so fingers crossed!

Thanks to all of our customers and friends who’ve supported us in taking First Tutors this far. Without your support we would never have been shortlisted.

Anita and Paul.