Case studies

Top tutor David wins national Award!

A Brighton man has won a national UK online centres Award for his hard work and dedication as a tutor and E-learning co-ordinator.  

David Morgan, 36, has worked at the Friends Centre  for six years, and was picked from hundreds of nominees for one of just five Awards for the Best UK online centre Staff in the country.  

Judges were impressed by David’s tireless commitment to and enthusiasm for his work, constantly going above and beyond the call of duty to make technology work for the centre, for individual visitors, community groups and community workers based at the Friends Centre.  

“It’s not really a nine to five sort of a job,” admits David.  “I couldn’t really see myself doing that anyway.  What I do is more than just a job to me, and I love it because there’s just so much variety – it’s certainly never dull!  

“Every single day is completely different, and you just don’t know what you’re going to be doing next.  One day I’m at the Tarner Children’s Centre with a group of teenage mums creating photo-calendars with pictures of their babies, the next I’m teaching a Family Support Worker about using an interactive white board, or working with someone on an ESOL course (English for Speakers of Other Languages) to find information on the internet in their first language.  

“Working at the Friends Centre gives me the freedom to be flexible and creative in what I do.  For so many people that come through the door, it isn’t enough to just stick them on a course.  You’ve got to be able to find out what they’re interested in, what they want to do and why, and establish a long term relationship.  It’s really the only way to make sure you’re making a real and lasting difference – embedding technology and learning into their lives.  

“If it’s just a conveyor belt of learners coming in, doing the same five week course and going out again, you’re not changing anything for them.  If they’re not learning relevant things they’re actually going to use, they just won’t retain the information - and they certainly won’t come back.  At the Friends Centre I can help people learn what they want to learn to do what they want to do, and that’s not only exceptionally rewarding but really interesting too.  

"The main thing I think you’ve got to have as a tutor is plenty of patience.  People learn and understand new things at different rates, and you’ve got to give them time to get to grips with concepts and find their own solutions.  The only other advice I could give is never to underestimate people!  It’s amazing what people can do – and what gets thrown at you from left field!  Fortunately I love being asked difficult questions because it means I’m always learning too, and that’s really important.  It isn’t about standing up telling people what to do, it’s about giving them the skills and confidence to find it out or work it out for themselves.  It gives them a great sense of achievement, and it keeps me on my toes!”

Juliet Merrifield manages the Friends Centre, and nominated David for the Award.  She adds:  “David is skilled at working with individuals and groups to identify what IT support they need, and to encourage them to learn independently.  He is always upbeat and encouraging, and will always start from where the learner is, building on their interests.  Whether he’s working with an older person who has never seen a mouse before, or young men on probation, he gives learners his full attention and makes them feel they are important and valued.  What’s more, he’ll go to any lengths to help them achieve whatever personal or professional goal they’ve set.”  

As well as supporting visitors, taking technology out to community groups and helping staff from other community agencies, David also manages and maintains the centre’s IT systems.  

Juliet continues:  “David started out at the centre as an ESOL support worker, became a tutor, and is now a valuable member of our leadership team forging community relationships and managing and planning our e-learning network and materials.  His enthusiasm for technology is contagious, and that’s what makes him not only a great tutor but a great trainer for other staff, and a fantastic colleague.  There is no doubt that over the last six years he has transformed our UK online centre, through a mix of demonstration, teaching and passion.  I can’t think of anybody who deserves an Award more, and I’m really proud he’s been picked as a UK online centres Awards Winner, and will get just some of the thanks and the recognition he deserves.”

David concludes:  “Personally, I’m still a bit surprised to have won an Award.  I just do what I have to do to get things done – like everyone else!  To be honest I haven’t really had time to process the whole thing.  It’s really lovely to be appreciated, though, and if I win the overall Award at the Ceremony, I’ll be even more pleased!  

“Because I look after all the IT at the centre I’ve essentially got loads of computers already, so I’m thinking the laptop would go to my teen parents group.  It’d be really useful to have something portable they could use to look up things during their normal classes without having to wait for me and their IT session.  Plus a £1,000 grant for the centre would never go amiss!  I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed like everyone else.  

“One of the best things about winning the Award is that it’ll hopefully give me a chance to get a bit of publicity for the centre.  Access to computers and the internet can open up a whole new world of opportunity, and I truly believe people have a right to learn how to take advantage of it.  I’d recommend anyone in the community to come along to the centre and see for themselves what they could do with technology – and what technology could do for them.”