By Contessa Hardman
BYU computer labs are making it easy for students to become computer whizzes by offering them free half-hour tutoring on any of their computer software.
The mini classes are offered in the computer labs around campus and are taught by lab assistants who are the most advanced in their training and skill, said Natalie Gardner, director of the Open Access Lab''s training program.
The 30 minutes provides students with a one-on-one lesson on the type of computer software they are interested in. Tutoring is available in basic computer skills, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, FrontPage, Publisher and HTML.
The lab has had a lot of students approach and ask about the tutoring that lab assistants receive, Gardner said. They wanted to know if there was a way they could receive this training in computer software. However, lab training was only available to the lab assistant. So the lab created the tutorials so any student at BYU could receive comparable training in computer programs of their choice.
Students who are interested can e-mail the computer lab at computertutor.byu.edu and include what program they are interested in and a few times they are available during the week. Students will then receive a response containing the time they are scheduled and what campus lab they are to attend.
Certain workshops are only taught in certain labs, like Photoshop, which is only available through labs in the Spencer W. Kimball Tower or the HBLL Learning Resource Center.
However, students who find one lab more convenient to attend than another need not fear.
'We try and can usually work it out with a student''s needs and their schedule,' said Mark Sullivan, manager of the Information Technologies Open Access Labs.
Classes are also available through BYU in computer software training that go a little more in depth on the subjects.
Sullivan said the good thing about lab tutoring is that it is free and that students are able to choose from a variety of subjects that they are interested in learning more about.
'Also our one-on-one training allows us to cater to individual needs,' he said. 'It''s just more personal.'
The lab is trying to increase the tutoring demand and make sure they are helping all the students who are interested.
'We are trying to make it even more convenient for students by consistently adding more lab consultants,' Sullivan said. 'As that grows we will be able to serve more and more people.'