Supporting learning for the Voluntary & Community Sector and Social Enterprises

Computers, Computing, ICT, IT, Social Media

 

Social Media

 

 Social Media Briefing Sheet (ladder4learning June 2010)

Social by Social
A practical guide to using new technologies to deliver social impact  - download your copy here

webgraphicMashable
The Social Media Guide and News

webgraphic Guide to Twitter (Mashable)
Mashable have assembled The Twitter Guide Book, a complete collection of resources for mastering Twitter. Happy Tweeting

webgraphicGuide to Facebook (Mashable)
Mashable has created The Facebook Guide Book, a complete collection of resources to help you master Facebook

webgraphicHow to create a successful company blog (Mashable

webgraphicHow to create a facebook landing page (Mashable)

webgraphic NAVCAboodle
Welcome to navcaboodle, a place for third sector colleagues to network, discuss and share experiences.


webgraphicWhat is a Blog / Weblog? (Wikipedia - April 2007)
Definition and explanation about blogs / weblogs.

webgraphicWhat is a Podcast? (Wikipedia - April 2007)
Definition and explanation about Podcasts

webgraphicWhat is an RSS feed? (Wikipedia - April 2007)
Definition and explanation about RSS feeds

webgraphicWhat is a Wiki (Wikipedia - April 2007)
Definition and explanation about wikis.
A wiki is a website that can be edited/added to by anybody, without the need for any techical expertise. If you can use a PC for word-processing or sending e-mails, you are not likely to have many problems using a wiki. For a Plain English short video explaining wikis, click here. 


  

What's it all about?!


webgraphicJargon Busting IT/Computing Glossary (Knowledgebase - December 2007)
Definition and explanation to explain techno-jargon.
 

Online Software (free to use, without having to install anything)


webgraphicGoogle Docs enables you to create, save (online) and share (protected) documents, spreadsheets and presentations. It's free! There is no need to install any software onto your PC. Great for collaborative working.


webgraphiciGoogle enables you to create a personalised homepage. Why bother? You can have all your bookmarks (to favourite websites), headlines from sites you view frequently, calendar (even games!) etc. in one convenient place. It's free.


webgraphicDelicious - access your website favourites list from anywhere… (del.icio.us)
A free service that lets you keep your favourite (bookmarked) websites in a place where you can always find them (from any PC, anywhere). Group your favourites to find things quickly and save research time by seeing what other people have stored as their favourites.

 

Open Source Software (truly FREE software)

webgraphicOpen Source Software (LASA Knowledgebase)
Resources relating to Open Source Software, including articles about software available and pros and cons of using Open Source Software.

webgraphicOpenOffice - free Download site (OpenOffice)
OpenOffice is open source software (free) that is very similar to Microsoft Office and you can import Word/Excel documents. It can be used with Windows. You can download it here.

webgraphicReview of OpenOffice2 (vnunet.com)
A brief summary of OpenOffice and what it can do

webgraphicRemote Access to your PC from anywhere (free version) (LogMeIn - April 2007)

webgraphicSlickRun - instant access to any programme/website (Bayden Systems)
A free application (only 170Kb) that allows to to create 'MagicWords' so you can type a few letters to access any programme on your PC instantly. Saves loads of time!

 

webgraphicVideo conferencing software for your webcam (ooVoo)

ooVoo is FREE video calling. See up to six friends, family or colleagues at the same time – with video quality that’s like being face-to-face in the same room!

 

Safe Surfing

webgraphicGet Safe Online (Get Safe Online)
Expert advice for Everyone. Get Safe Online will help you protect yourself against internet threats. The site is sponsored by government and leading businesses working together to provide a free, public service.

webgraphic Click Clever, Click Safe (2010)
The internet opens up a wonderful world of entertainment, opportunity and knowledge. To help your children enjoy the internet safely, we have developed the Click Clever Click Safe Code. It’s been designed to act as an everyday reminder of simple good behaviours, to help you and your children avoid common risks online
 

Get Help 

webgraphicCharity Technology Trust provide fundraising solutions that help your charity raise more money and donated software from companies, such as Microsoft, that will help you save money on the latest technology.


webgraphicIT 4 Communities - IT professionals volunteer for Voluntary/Community Organisations (IT 4 Communities)
Find a 'Virtual Volunteer' to help with your organisation's IT needs.

 

Online Resources and Helpsheets

 

webgraphicICT Champions One stop shop for ICT support
Answers to frequently asked questions about Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and how it can help the third sector.

 

webgraphicKnowledgebase - online sources of practical help.(LASA Knowledgebase)
 A comprehensive, online source of practical help, information, and independent advice on ICT, for small and medium sized voluntary and community sector organisations.

 

Making the Most of your PC - working efficiently



How to save phrases (and save time!) in MS Word (AbilityNet)
Simple and clear step-by-step instructions on how to save phrases in MS Word (a real time saver!)

Using MS Word's Outline Feature as a Planning Tool (AbilityNet)
Simple and clear step-by-step instructions on how to plan a document using MS Word's Outline Feature

 

Other Useful Helpsheets


webgraphicIT For Charities (IT for Charities)
An IT resources guide including available software, product reviews etc.

webgraphicPhone calls over the Internet (London Advice Services Alliance (LASA))
A concise and user-friendly guide to making calls over the internet, what you need and how to do it.

webgraphicICT Induction Manual (London Advice Services Alliance (LASA))
Advice and guidance about what to include in an induction manual, what do new staff/volunteers need to know about your IT set up.

webgraphicCalculating your Technology Budget (London Advice Services Alliance (LASA))
What to include when devising your IT budget

webgraphicRemote Control - accessing a PC from another location (London Advice Services Alliance (LASA))
What do you need to access a PC from another location? How do you do it? This article will answer your questions

webgraphicOn-line Back-up Services (London Advice Services Alliance (LASA))
What is available, how does it work and what does it cost.

webgraphicOn-line Payment Processing (London Advice Services Alliance (LASA))
An overview of what is involved if you are considering setting up a system where clients pay for services on-line.

webgraphicIT Training Pack (RAISE - Regional Action & Involvement South East )
IT Training Pack - includes guides to getting started

webgraphicArabic Language Computing (Resource Centre, Brighton)
Information for community groups on using your computer to produce Arabic documents

 

ICT/Computers & Accessibility


 Web and ICT Accessibility briefing sheet (ladder4learning, 2009)

webgraphicAccessibility, ICT and you (NCVO)
Accessibility in this guide focuses on the use of assistive technologies and adjustments to hardware and software that make it easier for people with a range of abilities and disabilities to participate as staff, volunteers or clients.

webgraphicAccessibility Skillsheets (AbilityNet)
An extensive range of user-friendly fact sheets which provide step-by-step instructions on how to make the most of your PC. These resources are primarily aimed at computer users with disabilities. However, they are of great value for ANYONE wanting to make the most of their PC and work as efficiently as possible. A few examples are listed below but follow this link for the full list of Skillsheets.

webgraphicA guide to making your PC accessible (AbilityNet)
User friendly guide to making your PC accessible

webgraphicAccessibility Skillsheets (AbilityNet)
An extensive range of user-friendly fact sheets which provide step-by-step instructions on how to make the most of your PC.

webgraphicAccessibility Factsheets (AbilityNet)
An extensive range of user-friendly fact sheets about ICT (computer) accessibility

webgraphicMy web, my way - from the BBC (BBC)
User friendly guide to making your PC accessible
 

webgraphic Readability (NIACE)
How can you be confident that you are writing at a level that is appropriate for your audience? NIACE have been working with Professor Colin Harrison at Nottingham University to develop a new tool, which is now on the NIACE website that will help you to establish the "readability level" of any text instantly. There is also a downloadable leaflet which will help you to interpret the readability score given, and provide more information about how to present text so that it is easier to read.

 

Internet access points (getting on-line)

webgraphicFind your nearest on-line centre (UK Online)
UK online has internet able computers and friendly staff to help you. Find your nearest centre online or call UK Online free on 0800 77 1234 to find out the address and phone number of your nearest UK online centre

 

Computer Recycling (giving or receiving)

webgraphicDisposing of old computer equipment (London Advice Services Alliance (LASA))
Overview of things to think about when disposing of your old PC/s

webgraphicRecycle your computer (Oxfam Computer Recycling)
Website lists specifications they will accept

webgraphicFind your nearest PC recycling centre (Waste Online)
List of organisations recycling PCs and associated equipment in SE England

 

ICT Security


 

 LASA, ICT Security 
Practical guidance for the community and voluntary sector
Clearly ICT security is essential — not just in relation to data protection, but to protect all of your organisation's information. The 34-page Computanews guide to ICT security, published in October 2009, is essential reading for all organisations. It covers how to assess the risks and policies needed, how computer security is affected by people and by the environment in which it is used (including public access computers and homeworking), specific steps to secure assets (everything from passwords through to end point security and the end of the computer's life), and checklists for assessing and dealing with risks.