Divine Word University administration staff upgraded their computing skills to assist students better at the Madang campus recently.

The 21 staff participated in the “End User Computing and Basics” on Moodle - a centrally supported learning management system used at DWU as a learning platform to deliver course content in blended and fully online modes.

Moodle Administrator and Staff Training Facilitator of DWU, Ms Kimberly Kobal said the training targeted administration staff whose line of duty involves providing support for students.

She said participants had some prior computer experiences and were looking to enhance their skills.

“They know the technology before them.

“They know how to login to the Internet and they know how to use the computer.

Ms Kobal said the training enhances the computer usage and Internet savvy the staff already possess.

“I have just introduced them to some options that they have not known before,” said Ms Kobal.

She said one example was of using formulas on Excel Spreadsheet instead of calculators.

Ms Kobal said participants have said through an evaluation after the training that using formulas has increased their response rate to student queries.

Ms Irene Wrakuale, Executive Officer to Dean of the Faculty of Education was one of the participant. Ms Wrakuale said that the training “is an eye opener” for her to assist students regarding queries on Moodle.

She said that in the past, she was not able to assist better because she did not know much about how to use Moodle.

Miss Salote Kaumu, Office Manageress for the Flexible Learning Centre said that the training has enabled her to assist Flexible Learning students better regarding Moodle queries.

Director for Learning and Teaching (CfLT) in DWU, Associate Professor Iwona Kolodziejczyk PhD was excited to witness participants receive certificates after the training that ran from 7th of May to11th of May as it was the first time since the establishment of the center to issue certificates to a training completed.

A similar training was carried out for staff at the Rabaul campus of DWU.

Meanwhile participants have been urged look out for intermediate and advance levels of the trainings to be offered by the Center for Learning and Teaching in the near future.

DWU Center for Learning and Teaching was established early this year to assist the university in enhancing standards of excellence in learning and teaching while “harnessing the power of ICT for knowledge creation”.

Since its establishment, CfLT has been offering in-house training for academic staff and students to enhance their skills. Report by RHONDA CLEMENT