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0800 101 901 learndirect.co.uk

Hello
At learndirect, we want your experience with us to be as simple and enjoyable as possible. In this Starter Pack youll find all the information you need to learn with us including step by step instructions on how to get started.
Fill in this card and keep it somewhere safe, like your purse or wallet, in case you forget your username or need a hint about your password.
Your password belongs only to you, so please dont share it with anyone else, even your tutor. This will help to keep your information safe. When you enrol with us, your centre will set up an account for you with a temporary password. When you first log in, youll need to change your password to something youve chosen instead, so that youre the only one who knows it. It will need to be six characters long. If you ever forget your details or lose your card, dont worry. You can reset your password by going to www.learndirect.co.uk/login and clicking on Ive forgotten my password. Well then send you an email telling you how to reset your password to something new, or well ask you to answer a memorable question that youll have set up when you first enrolled with us. Youll then have six attempts to answer your questions correctly. If you suspect that someone else knows your password or answers to your memorable questions then please contact us. Your username: Something that will remind you about your password:
Note: Do not write your password on this card

Your tutor
Name

Your learndirect centre

Centre contact: Address:

Tel: Email: Opening hours: A typetalk service is available for learners who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired; this can be accessed via www.textrelay.org

Whats inside?
Well done on taking the first steps towards gaining a qualification with us. Youll be amazed at how improving your skills can really boost your job prospects, CV and confidence too! In this booklet, youll find everything you need to know to get started with your learning and more.

Your first steps Our learner promise Supporting you

4 4 5

Your learning Beginning your journey Setting up your computer Keeping on track

6 6 8 10

Your next steps More courses and qualifications Talk to us

12 12 15

Frequently asked questions

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Your first steps

Our learner promise

We created our learner promise so you know what to expect from us and what wed like you to do too. This will keep your learning experience as simple and easy as possible.
We promise to: Make sure youre enrolled onto the right courses and qualifications for you. Let you know if youre eligible for funding to cover the cost of your learning and tell you how much, if anything, you need to pay. Give you this Starter Pack so you have the right information about learning with us. Make sure you have access to a tutor and let you know how they can help you. Show you how to log in and start your learning. Give you details of who to contact if you have a problem, want to complain or have any questions. Keep in touch with you while youre learning to see how youre getting on. Treat you fairly, politely and with respect. Help you work out what your next steps are when youve finished your learning. Wed like you to: og in to your learning often and try to do L a few hours of learning each week. This is a good way to stay on top of everything and make sure you dont forget the things youve already learnt. eep your tutor updated on your progress K and let them know if you need any extra support. Complete your learning and do the necessary tests or assessments so you can achieve your qualification.

Supporting you
Whatever your goal, were here to help you. Whether youre learning from home, work or in one of our centres, youll get support when you need it.

Youll have your own tutor. Theyll be able to help you if youre struggling with your courses and need someone to talk you through it. Your first steps Learning with us isnt like school or college there are no classrooms or set times. By having one to one tutor support you wont ever feel like youre being left behind.
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By learning in one of our centres, youll always have face to face tutor support. If youre learning at home or work then your tutor will support you by phone or by email. You can still get face to face support by popping into your centre. We have an online community you can join at www.learndirect.co.uk/community You can use it to talk to other learners and learndirect staff whenever you have a question or fancy a chat. You can even make new friends with other learners there too. If youre having any technical difficulties or questions about learning with us, you can talk to your tutor or call free on 0800 101 901.

Ernest Hill:

All the learning is online so its really accessible, you can work at your own pace and the support that you receive from the tutors is fantastic if youre struggling theres always someone there to help you through it.

Your learning

Beginning your journey

Weve tried to make it as easy as possible for you to start working towards gaining your qualification.

Before you start your learning its a good idea to read: ur terms and conditions, which you can O find at www.learndirect.co.uk/terms ur privacy statement, which explains O how we collect, use and protect your personal data, which is located at www.learndirect.co.uk/ privacystatement/ This is so you know which of your details well be storing and how well be using them. Youll also find out about how you can use our website and our duty to let you know about the availability of the website and your learning.

Online learner induction You can find out more about your learning by using our online learner induction at www.learndirect.co.uk/learnerinduction This is an interactive tool which gives you information and guidance on: earning safely L ow youll be treated fairly H sing computers properly U he advice and support you can expect T from your learndirect centre At the end of your learner induction theres a quiz to help you remember what youve learnt. Youll be able to access the induction at any point during your learning from your My homepage if theres anything you want to revisit.

Claire Bissett:

As well as going to the learndirect centre, I was able to learn from home on the internet and I found this really easy to use. If you did have any problems, you could email a tutor which was great.

How to log in and start learning

Step 1 Logging in
Go to our website at www.learndirect.co.uk then click on Access your learning (located at the top right of the screen).

Step 2 Entering your username and password

Youll have been given your username and had a temporary password or created a new password when you first enrolled. Enter them and press Log in to access your learning. If youve forgotten your password, click Ive forgotten my password and then follow the on screen instructions to reset your password.

Step 3 Starting your learning

lick Start my learning, or Continue C my learning if youve already made some progress. f you want to see the topics your course I is broken down into or go to a specific topic, click View topics and assessments. n the following page, click on Continue O next to the course topic you want to start, or click Continue my learning. Your learning
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Step 4 Exiting your learning

To exit your learning, make sure you use the course exit button to save your latest work and progress, and close your course down. If you dont use the course exit button then your work wont be saved and youll lose your progress and have to do some parts of your course again.

Quick tip Lots of people find it easier to learn when they log in often and do their learning in small, bite-sized chunks. This is a great way to make sure youre never trying to take in too much information in one go and always stay on top of your learning.

Your learning

Setting up your computer

All you need to start learning with us is a computer and internet connection. This means you can learn from home, work, in one of our centres or wherever you have access to the internet.
If you decide to learn from somewhere outside one of our centres (for example, at home, work or in a library) then youll need to check that the computer you want to use will run our courses smoothly while youre learning. You can use the Test My PC tool on our website to make sure your computer will work with our courses. Just visit www.learndirect.co.uk/testmypc to try it out. We also recommend that you use anti-virus and firewall software on PCs connected to the internet. Our courses should work with most anti-virus and firewall software but you can call us if youre having any technical difficulties. Plugins and players Many of our courses need additional software, often referred to as plugins or players. This is software which allows your computer to read and display our courses. Theyre completely free to download. Just use our Test My PC tool at www.learndirect.co.uk/testmypc to see if youre missing any plugins or players.
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You can download any plugins or players that youre missing, by visiting www.learndirect.co.uk/players Setting your screen resolution The ideal screen resolution for our courses is 1024x768 pixels. Changing your screen to this resolution will make sure that screens within our courses appear correctly and are easy to read and use. You can normally change your screen resolution by going into the display settings of your computer. How to get to your display settings will be different for different operating systems (such as Windows XP or Windows 7). If youre having any trouble finding them, call us and well be happy to try and help.

Browsers A web browser is a piece of software on your computer that you use to view websites and run our courses on. A lot of people use browsers such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox, or Opera. After testing our courses, we know they work best on the following web browsers: Firefox version 3 Firefox version 4 Internet Explorer 7 Internet Explorer 8 Internet Explorer 9

For an up to date list of our supported web browsers visit www.learndirect.co.uk/webbrowsers If youre worried about running our courses in your browser then you can call us and well be happy to help you find and download the best browser for your learning. Pop-ups To run some of our courses youll need to make sure that any pop-up blocking software on your computer is set to allow pop-ups. You might need to change the pop-up settings in the browser youre using too. For more information on how to do this, visit www.learndirect.co.uk/popups

If you want to talk to us about any problems youre having with setting up your computer call 0800 101 901 or visit www.learndirect.co.uk/help/techspecs/

Your learning

Keeping on track
There are lots of different ways you can plan and keep track of your learning.

in touch with your tutor 1 Stayingin touch with your tutor means that theyll always know how youre getting Staying

along with your learning and you can talk to them about anything youre struggling with. You can talk to your tutor face to face in your centre, or by using the My messages section of your learner homepage and also by phone or email. Its helpful if you enter your email address in the My Details section of your learner homepage, so your tutor has another way to get in touch with you if they need to. If you havent got an email address you can usually get one free from Google Gmail, Microsoft Hotmail or your ISP. (An ISP is an Internet Service Provider, such as Virgin, Sky, BT or Talk Talk.) Visit the website of Google Gmail, Microsoft Hotmail or your ISP for more details.

2 Learning outcomes By ticking your Learning Outcomes

as you complete each part of the course, you can track your progress and keep your tutor up to date on how youre doing and any support you might need.

3 Making course notes Notes You have an online Course

area under My Learning for each of your courses. Many learners find it useful to make notes here as they complete their learning. This lets you look back on the things youve learnt so far. Quick tip You can find the answers to many common questions on our website at www.learndirect.co.uk/learnerhelp

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4 Assessmentscourses will contain some Each of your

activities referred to as assessments. These are exercises and assignments which show you and your tutor how youre doing.

The results of these assessments dont mean that youve passed or failed a course. However, it can help to highlight which areas youre doing really well in and which ones you might need more help with. Your tutor will explain how many assessments youll need to do for your courses. As well as your course assessments, youll need to pass an overall assessment at the end of your learning to gain your qualification. Youll only do your final assessment when you and your tutor think youre ready. Your tutor will tell you a bit more about what it involves and how its assessed too. The overall assessment is different for each qualification, so it could be an assignment, an online test or a work-based project.

achieved course target box 5 Thesoon as youve ticked all the As

Learning Outcomes for a course, your tutor will be able to confirm that youve finished. If you have agreed a course target with your tutor and you think youve achieved it, you can tell your tutor by ticking the achieved box.

6 The achieved personal learning goal box If youre working towards a qualification
(or personal learning goal), and youve finished all your courses, your tutor will need to confirm that youve finished. When you think youve achieved your personal learning goal, tick the achieved box to let your tutor know.

7 Next steps finished your learning, its still good to plan out what youre going to do Once youve

next. Your centre will have an IAG (information, advice and guidance) adviser wholl be happy to talk to you about your next steps. These next steps might focus on getting you a new job, or they might look at new skills you could learn. If you are keen to get a new job, you can visit our website to get loads of advice and tips when looking for a job at www.learndirect.co.uk/improve-your-job-prospects/ You can also find out about the different courses and qualifications we offer on the next page.
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Your next steps

More courses and qualifications

Once youve finished your learning, why stop there? We have a range of courses and qualifications that could further your skills and help boost your CV.
Maths qualifications Entry level, level 1 or level 2 Maths skills are important in everyday life, whether thats at work or home. The nationally recognised Certificate in Adult Numeracy focuses on subjects such as percentages, adding up and multiplication. Improving your basic maths skills could help with everyday tasks like managing your own money or working out costs for a customer at work. English qualifications Entry level, level 1 or level 2 Having the right English skills could help you write a CV that really stands out or understand the terms and conditions for a new credit card. The nationally recognised Certificate in Adult Literacy covers subjects such as reading, writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar. IT qualifications Entry level, level 1 or level 2 The Digital Literacy Certificate is great for entry level learners who are totally new to computers. You will learn how to use your computer and the internet safely and effectively and get an introduction to popular software packages. The ECDL or ITQ are nationally recognised IT qualifications and are offered at level 1 or level 2. Theyre a great way to show employers that you have the skills they need. They cover the following subjects and start with the basics at level 1, progressing onto more intermediate topics at level 2: Computer basics Using the internet and email opular software packages like P Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint, Access and Outlook Computer and internet security
Shazia Afzal:

Improving IT productivity

At learndirect the tutors were really supportive and I could fit my learning around my family commitments. Gaining a qualification has boosted my confidence and even helped me get a job.

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Job Seeking and Employability courses and qualifications Entry level and level 1 These courses and qualifications help you gain the essential skills you need to find and get a job. Youll get a solid base for employment and further learning, and a qualification too. Well help you: Prepare for finding a job Understand all about keeping a job Find out where to look for a job Feel confident in interviews Understand what employers are looking for Life Skills courses and qualifications Entry level If youve not learnt for a while, our life skills courses will help you gain the essential living skills you need to get on in life and at work. The courses will help you to organise your home and family, or understand the world of work. You could learn about: Managing your time and money Cooking and making healthy choices arenting and engaging with your local P community xpectations at work and how to plan E your career Gaining a life skills qualification will help you get a solid base for work, independent living and further learning.

Business and job specific skills If youre in work, you might be able to take a vocational or work-based qualification with us in the following subject areas: Business Improvement Techniques level 2 Customer Service level 2 and 3 Health and Social Care level 2 and 3 Team Leading level 2 Business and Administration level 2 and 3 Management level 3 More some of our centres also offer other work-based qualifications in subjects such as childcare. Talk to your centre to find out more. Courses to buy online We have a range of short online courses (eCourses) in subject areas such as business and IT that you can buy from our website and start straight away. Theyre a great way to fill in any gaps in your skills and all the support you need is built into the course. Prices start from as little as 11.99 (+VAT), just visit our eCourses website on www.learndirect.co.uk/ ecourses to find out more.

For more information on the different courses and qualifications we offer, just talk to the staff at your centre or visit www.learndirect.co.uk

Your next steps

Falk Hanisch:

Since Im from Germany and English is my second language, I found the English qualification incredibly useful and it will definitely help me to progress into teaching. learndirect has given me a real confidence boost and a new outlook on life. It has opened up so many doors for me to career routes that I thought impossible.

Your next steps

Talk to us
We want to know what you enjoy about learning with us and if you think theres a way we could make improvements.

Whether you want to tell us what you like, make a suggestion, ask a question, or make a complaint, there are lots of different ways you can get in touch with us. We aim to respond to all feedback within five working days. Talk Just pop into your centre and you can talk to our friendly staff. Our website If you visit www.learndirect.co.uk/contact/ you can fill in one of our contact forms. Theyre quick and easy and you dont have to pay for postage. Our community Feel free to let us know what you think by posting in our community at www.learndirect.co.uk/community Call You can call one of our friendly advisers free on 0800 101 901 where well be happy to try and help answer any questions or concerns you may have. Survey Please take part in our online survey to let us know what you think about us. Its completely anonymous and youll find it on the yellow post-it note on your learning homepage.

Facebook and Twitter Talk to us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/learndirect or Twitter: www.twitter.com/learndirect Write Or if youd prefer why not send us a good old-fashioned letter? Just post your mail to: FREEPOST learndirect

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Frequently asked questions

How long will it take me to gain a qualification? Most of our qualifications take on average three months to complete. Some may take a little longer, and others can be completed in a little less depending on how fast you learn. Well agree a timeline with you before you get started. What if I need help while Im learning? By enrolling at one of our centres, youll get face to face support from our friendly staff. You can still learn from home, work, or anywhere you have an internet connection and if you dont have the time to pop into one of our centres while youre learning, you can still talk to your tutor over the phone or by email. Youll also be able to join our online community at www.learndirect.co.uk/ community The community is there for support and advice, or just to make new friends and have a chat. If you choose to buy one of our eCourses then all the support you need is built into the course itself, making them perfect if you just want to develop your skills or learn new ones over a short period of time without having to work towards a qualification.

What else do learndirect do? Weve got a learndirect Facebook page. If youd like to quickly brush up on your skills by playing our English and maths games, chat to us about your learning, or find out about any future events we have planned, just go to www.facebook.com/learndirect and click the Like button. If youre struggling with money, you can find lots of useful tips and advice on our website. We teamed up with financial expert Jasmine Birtles and national charity Citizens Advice to create a guide for anyone with money worries. Visit www.learndirect.co.uk/money to find out more. Ive forgotten my password, what do I do? From the login page, click Ive forgotten my password and then follow the on screen instructions to reset your password. What should I do if my course crashes? You can talk to the staff at your centre for help or call us on 0800 101 901 whenever you need any technical help. Our advisers will be able to help you get everything running properly again.

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What happens if I close my course down without pressing the course exit button? If you exit your learning without pressing the course exit button then youll lose all the progress you made with your learning in that session. This means you may have to do some parts of your course again. What if I want to make a complaint about my centre, tutor or course? If you have any problems with your course, centre or tutor we advise that you speak to the manager at your learndirect centre first of all. They will work together with you to help resolve any problems you are experiencing. If you are unhappy following discussions with your learndirect centre manager, then you can ring our helpline on 0800 101 901 for further help. What if I want to change centres? If you want to move to another centre we advise that you speak to the manager at your learndirect centre.

What can I expect when I take my test/assessment? To get your qualification youll need to take and pass a short test or assessment. Dont worry, this isnt as scary as it might sound. Your test will be taken in a centre on a computer and youll only take it when you tutor thinks youre ready. For some qualifications you might be assessed instead. This means that an assessor will observe you working and ensure that youre at the right standard before you can gain your qualification. Either way, your tutor will be able to talk to you more about what to expect and make sure that youre completely prepared beforehand. What if Im struggling to stay motivated? If youre struggling to stay motivated our Nothing Can Stop You book might help. Its been written to give you all the tips and advice you need to support you through your journey as you learn with us and achieve your goals. Ask your centre manager for a copy*.

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FAQs

*Limited stocks subject to availability.

Recommend a friend
Do you know someone whod like to learn new skills? Maybe they want to get a qualification to help them get a job, boost their CV or improve their confidence? If so, you can tear off a card on the opposite page and hand it to them. You might find it really useful to be able to learn together and support each other while you learn!

Jacqueline Cave:

Ive already encouraged my friends to sign up to learndirect because it has been so beneficial to me gaining a maths qualification. Learning with learndirect has given me a real boost in confidence. Now that Ive got the ball rolling, Im going to sign up to do my level 1 and 2 English as well.

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0800 101 901 learndirect.co.uk