1. Information Technology
Training Needs Analysis
1 September 2003
This short questionnaire has been designed to determine the training needs of Queen Mary
staff in the use of IT. We need you to answer some questions about your use of computers.
The information gathered will be used by Computing Services to ensure that all staff are
offered the training required to provide a basis for the development of confidence and
competence in the use of computers (as part of the college Human Resources Strategy and the
Information and Communications Technology Strategy). The information will also help to
build a case for all staff to have access to a computer and to the World Wide Web.
You have been chosen at random to be sent the questionnaire. It is entirely confidential and it
will not be possible to identify you from your reply. Your responses are very important to us;
we can only offer the right training if we know what people need.
The questionnaire should not take too long to complete. Once you have done so, please return
it using the enclosed, pre-addressed reply envelope by Friday 3rd October.
Thank you very much for your time. Please do not hesitate to contact one of us if you have
any queries concerning this matter.
Kind regards
Emma Bicknell David Lexton
Staff Development Advisor Training Officer
020 7882 3022 Computing Services
e.bicknell@qmul.ac.uk d.lexton@qmul.ac.uk
2. Section 1 – Computers at Work
1. How often do you use a computer at work? (please tick one)
Never Daily Occasionally Other (please specify)
2. At work, do you: Please tick as many as apply
Have exclusive use of a computer?
Share a computer with others?
Have access to computers in the College’s PC Labs?
Have a College email account?
Have no access to a computer?
3. If you use a computer at work, what are your most common activities, other than email and web
browsing? Please rank a maximum of three, from 1 for most common to 3 for least common.
Word Processing Producing Spreadsheets Producing Presentations
Desktop Publishing Website Development Statistical Analysis
Database Creation Other (please specify)_________________________________
Section 2 – Learning Needs
This section is to gather information on your present skills in using computers and what you need to
learn about.
4. Please tick in column A each of the following you know how to do. For those that you do not know
how to do, please tick in column B those it would be useful for you to learn.
A B
General Computer Use Know how Need to know
Set the computer’s date and time
Set a screen saver on the computer
Create a Windows startup disk
Use computer software
Switch between application windows
Create a new folder
Rename a file/folder
Copy a file/folder
Search for a file
Back-up files and folders
Print a file or document
Word Processing Know how Need to know
Format text
Use paragraph formatting
Use spell checking
Create bulleted or numbered lists
Insert headers and footers
Insert page numbers
Preview pages before printing
Insert a table
Create a mail merge
Insert graphics
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3. Spreadsheets Know how Need to know
Enter data
Use functions
Create charts
Format cells
Presentations Know how Need to know
Create a new presentation
Use slide masters
Insert text and graphics
Databases Know how Need to know
Create a table
Design and run queries
Design a form
Create a report
Internet Know how Need to know
Send email
Read email
Send an attachment with an email
Organise mail folders
Create address books
Browse the web
Bookmark web pages
Use search engines (e.g. google)
Web site maintenance Know how Need to know
Set up a web site
Create a web page from scratch
Insert links
Insert graphics
Create tables
Upload pages to the web server
Site testing and cleanup
Statistics and statistical software Know how Need to know
Enter data
Perform frequency distributions
Generate graphs and charts
Generate descriptive statistics
Label variables
Save output files
5. Which of the following would you most like to learn about? (maximum of 3)
More advanced aspects of word processing
More advanced aspects of spreadsheets
More advanced aspects of databases
Illustration software (eg CorelDraw)
Image manipulation software (eg Photoshop)
Other (please specify) ________________________________
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4. Section 3 – About You
6. Which category best describes your job function (please tick):
Academic Academic Related
Clerical and Related Maintenance
Manual/Ancillary MLSO/MLA
Nurse Research
Security Technician
Other (please specify) ____________________________________________
7. In which sector of the college do you work?
Arts Central Services and Administration
Engineering and Mathematical Science Law and Social Sciences
Natural Sciences School of Medicine and Dentistry
8. Where are you located?
Charterhouse Square Mile End
West Smithfield Whitechapel
Other (please specify) _________________________________
9. Is your post (tick all that apply)
Permanent Fixed term Temporary
Full time Part time Teaching assistant
10. Do you think there are any obstacles to your learning about using computers? If so, please select
a maximum of three from the following list:
Lack of time
Current course times prevent my attending A more suitable time would be __________
Current courses are not relevant to my work
I am not aware of courses currently offered
Lack of suitable computer equipment
Lack of support from supervisor/manager/HOD
Other (please specify)_______________________
11. Which methods of learning do you like most? Please rank from 1 for most to 6 for least liked.
Face-to-face training sessions delivered by a tutor
One-to-one training from a department colleague
Support and advice via telephone and/or email
Paper workbooks to work through alone, with access to tutor if needed
Electronic workbooks to work through alone, with access to tutor if needed
Drop-in workshops to get help on specific topics
Other (please specify) ________________________________________________
12. What sort of accreditation of your computing skills would you be interested in?
European Computer Driving Licence None
A certificate of attendance at courses Other (please specify) __________________
13. Please give details of any other IT training that would help you to do your job. Please add any
other comments you wish to make. Continue on the next page if necessary.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire
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