Site Map
By putting all of your content into nested categories you can give users and search engines access to everything using a menu.
Christmas Closure 2011
OMTI will close for Christmas at 5pm on Thursday 22nd December 2011.
We will re-open on 9th January 2012 with normal opening hours.
OMTI staff and management wish to thank all members and users for their help and support throughout the year, and we hope to see you again in 2012.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
News
New Course Programme for January to March 2012
OMTI's new course programme is out now. Containing 20 tutor-led courses for you to choose from. Everything from Complete Beginners to Word Processing to Social Networking to Video Editing.
Most of our courses are free so there's no excuse not to come and have a go. Only our qualifications carry an accreditation fee. Some courses have a £20 deposit which is returned if you complete 80% of the course and all the necessary paperwork.
For a full list of all our courses times and dates, go to our course list section.
For a description of each of our courses then go to our non-accredited section, or accredited section.
Book OMTI Courses Online Yourself
Up until now you have had to call OMTI to book onto a course, but from now on you can book any of our courses yourself by going online atbookwhen.com/omti.
This site allows you to see how many place are available for each course with a short description. You can then book you place onto the chosen course. You will need an email address and a telephone number to book. The is also a space for adding any addition information.
An email will be sent to the given email address which contains a link to confirm your booking.
If you do not want to book a course yourself then you can still give OMTI's friendly staff a call on 01226 215829 and we can book your place.
Find Us on Facebook
OMTI now has its own facebook page where we release the latest news and post events. You can also make comments and leave posts yourself. These can be anything related to OMTI or ICT in general. The posts will be moderated by OMTI administrators.
Visit www.facebook.com/oaksmillennium and "like" us.
Funding Cuts
Like the rest of the UK, OMTI has had a severe cut in its funding. We have lost over 70% of our funding for the next finiancal year 2011/12. This has mean that we have had to take some very difficult decisions with staff and what provision we can put on for the coming year.
Unfortuntaley, OMTI is having to make some staff redundant. This means that we will have to reduced the number of tutor-led courses that can be provided. Despite losing over 70% of our funding we have still managed to retain two thrids of the tutor-led courses meaning we will be delivering 16 instead of 25. View the courses we are offering please view the course programme here or download our newsletter.
In addition to a reduction in tutor-led courses we have also had to reduce the number of hours the drop-in workshop is open. Drop-in access is now going to be available from 1pm to 5pm Monday to Friday, with a late night on Tuesday evening until 8pm. The late night will be for adults only. See Opening Times for full details.
New Qualifications
OMTI has now given students the option of taking many of our courses as a qualification. You don't have to take them as qualifications if you don;t want to but you now have the option to do so. If you don't want the qualification then you will go through the learning but not take the exam at the end of the course. Theses courses will remain either free or require a returnable deposit.
If you do want a qualification the come back for an extra week and sit an exam. The exam wil lcarry and accreditation fee which is generall £30 for Level 1 courses and £60 for Level 2 courses.
Courses that can now be taken as a qualification are
Check out the course programme for details of the courses
New Courses
Introduction to Computers has been renamed to IT for Complete Beginners. It is the same course but we feel the title is more discriptive of who the course is aimed at.
Microsoft Office - Beginners is new to this programme. It covers the Microsoft Office products of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The course lasts 8 weeks and gives a good grounding in each subject. This course is a good foundation to proceed onto the ECDL
ECDL for Kendray Residents
Unfortunately the funding for Kendray residents to take the ECDL for free has ended as of 01/09/2010.
OMTI can still offer Kendray residents the ECDL for the excellent price of just £60 for all 7 modules, including tuition, exams, resits, and certification. See the accredited courses for more details on ECDL or our courses section for when our ECDL courses start.
New Microsoft Courses
Please note that the Microsoft Qualifications will end in December 2010 when the programme finishes
The programme was a great sucess with a large number of people signing up to complete once of the qualifications. Microsoft Essentials, Microsoft Business Worker and Microsoft Technical Specialist were all available free of charge to anyone in the Barnsley area.
Anyone with an exam voucher from the program has now got until June 2011 to use it. After that it will expire.
Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum Course
From April 2010 onwards OMTI will be delivering the Microsoft Digital Literacy Cirriculum. This is a 10 week course covering all the basics of using a computer and Microsoft Office application.It is at the beginners level, so it can suit anyone. It covers the following topics Computer Basics, The Internet and World Wide Web, Productivity Programmes (office), Computer Security and Privacy, and Digital Lifestyles (Media such a photography & Video).
The course is certificated but there is no charge for the course or the certification. It is an excellent for-runner to taking an ECDL as it covers simular topics but in less depth. The course lasts for 10 weeks and each class is 3 hours in length.
Windows 7
Computer operating systems seem to change every 5 minutes these days. You just learn one and then another arrives. With this new course OMTI hopes to help you on your way to learning about Microsofts new Windows 7 operating system. Its has got all the plaudits but how does it work? whats new? Come to this course and find out.
The course is free and lasts and has been newly updated for the new course programme. It has new content and is now 4 weeks long.
ECDL Qualification Updated
The British Computer Society (BCS) oversee the ECDL in the UK. On 01/09/09 they updated the syllabus to version 5. This reflects new challenges in ICT and brings it right up to date with current technology and qualification framework.
Module 1 has changed from Basic concepts of IT to IT security. This module is much smaller than the old one, however, most of the basics stuff such as acronyms, hardware and software have been added to module 2.
Module 2 is now called Using the Computer and Magaging Files. This replaced the old Managing Files & Folders module. Its quite simular to the old module 2 but with the added basics from module 1.
Modules 3 through 7 remain the same but are updated for todays technology.
Unit-E (module 8) has been discontinued as this information is now included withing the other modules. So one mess module and exam to complete.
Other changes include module 1 exam is now a written multi-choice exam and not and online exam as there is no need for any external exam marking in the new qualifications framework.
BCS IT User Level 1 is still there and is called ECDL Essentials and is awarded on completion of modules 1,2 and 7.
BCS IT User Level 2 is still the present as well and is also called ECDL Extra. It is awarded on Completion of modules 3,4,5, and 6.
Although there are 2 awards there is now only one certificate presented by the BCS which is given as all 7 modules are completed.
We have 2 ECDL courses starting 20th January 2011 and 2nd February 2011. Self-paced ECDL courses can be started anytime to suit the student.
ECDL Advanced Qualification Updated
As with the standard ECDL, the BCS has updated the ECDL advanced to bring it up to date with new technologies. Syllabus 2.0 replaces syllabus 1.5. Each of the modules is fairly simular to the old one with just a few changes.
Each modules still comes with its own certificate but they are replacing the name, ECDL advanced, with BCS IT User Level 3. This is to fit in with qualification frameworks. You need to complete all 4 advanced modules to acheive BCS IT User Level 3 certification.
Checkout the BCS IT User Level 3 website for full details and syllabus.
Photoshop Elements Extended
OMTI has updated its Photoshop Elements software to the latest version, which is version 9. As a result of the extra features within the new version we are once again extending the course. It is now 7 weeks in length. This course starts off where the digital photography course ends with regard editing. If you are interested in taking this course then please consult the course programme
New Computer Equipment
Along with our refurbishment we are also replacing most of our computer equipment. We have bought 23 new computers which have the new Core i7 processors, 6GB RAM, and 20 or 22 inch monitors.
To go with our new computers we have replaced a great deal of our software with the latest packages. We now have Microsoft office 2010, 2007 to go with office 2003, Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, Adobe Premiere Elements 9, Pinnacle Studio 12, and Adobe Photoshop CS4.
Upgraded Broadband Connection
OMTI has upgraded its broadband connection to the highest speed possible at present, 20Mb/s. Downloads are now super quick. Don't forget you can use the connection free of charge in our drop-in room, along with our new computers and software.
Funding
OMTI has received funding from Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Barnsley Council through Area Based Grant. This will keep OMTI open and teaching until at March 2011. OMTI management would like to thank them both for supporting us..
We will be able to continue and even enhance our current provision for ICT tuition and access. Better still much of it will remain free of charge.
New Word Processing Accreditation
OMTI is proud to announce that we are offering a new accreditation from July 2008. The course is a stand-alone accreditation for Word Processing at Level 1 which is accredited by the British Computer Society. The course covers the basics of word processing using Microsoft Word. It covers things like opening word and documents, entering text, formatting text, tables, inserting pictures and objects, printing and much more. There is a short exam at the end to get the accreditation.
The course lasts for 8 weeks and costs £25 which includes all lessons, exams and certification fees. Its a great starter course which also gives you and accredition and could lead onto a full ECDL.
Click here for course content of all non-accredited courses
Accredited courses include Excel BCS Level 1, Word Processing BCS Level 1, ECDL, ECDL Advanced, and E-Type
Click here for course content of all accredited courses
For a full list of all new courses, and time Click here
Digital Photography Course Extended
Following requests from previous students of the digital photogrpahy course the tutor has extended it from 5 weeks to 6 weeks. This will give more time for practicing the editnig side of the course.
£20 Deposit on Leisure Courses
Due to changes in funding and income, OMTI has now introduced a £20 refundable deposit on our leisure courses. If you complete the course and paperwork then they will still be FREE!!
To fulfil the critera for a refund you will need to complete a minimum of 80% of the course and complete all relevant paperwork which is done within the lessons. If you fail to fulfil those critera then you will lose your deposit.
The courses effected by the deposit are Introduction to digital Photography, Video Editing, Preperation for ECDL, Photoshop Elements, and Web Design.
All other courses will remain free as normal.
Latest Newsletter
Download the latest OMTI newsletter here
New Qualifications Launched by BCS
The British Computer Society has just launched the E-Type Qualifiaction
OMTI is your local delivery and testing cente.
E-Type is a level 2, touch-typing qualification with 3 possible awards. They are Bronze, Silver and Gold. The course is designed to increase your speed, efficiency and accuracy on computer keyboards.
You learn at your own pace from learning materials provided by the BCS, but you have to come into OMTI to study and take the tests. You don't need appointments to study, just come in when you have some spare time. It would be best to book the test so you can have a quiet environment.
To achieve a Bronze award you need to achieve 98% accuracy and 20 words per minute
To achieve a silver award you need to achieve 98% accuracy and 40 words per minute
To achieve a Gold award you need to achieve 98% accuracy and 60 words per minute
What does the test involve?
The e-type tests consist of a 5-minute examination that tests the speed and accuracy of your typing.
There is also an optional 5-minute warm-up test which will clearly indicate whether or not you are ready to take the test for real.
The tests are marked electronically, and therefore you will be presented with your result on-screen immediately after you have completed the test.
For full details of the E-Type qualification go the the BCS website at
Opening Times
|
OMTI is open every week day from 1.00pm until 5pm with late nights on Tuesday's until 8pm for adults only. We close for the Christmas holiday period, bank holidays and some staff holidays. We open all other children’s holidays and even put on extra provision for them. Every morning OMTI now delivers tutor-led courses and closes the drop-in workshop which now opens at 1pm. OMTI staff will be present every morning except for Wednesday morning. |
 |
Drop-in Opening Times from 4th April 2011 onwards
| Day | Open | Close | Evening |
| Monday | 1.00pm | 5.00pm | Closed |
| Tuesday | 1.00pm | 8.00pm | Adult drop-in only |
| Wednesday | 1.00pm | 5.00pm | Closed |
| Thursday | 1.00pm | 5.00pm | Closed |
| Friday | 1.00pm | 5.00pm | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed | ||
| Sunday | |||
Note: Children are not allowed into the centre before 3pm unless they are on school holiday!