Frequently asked questions
Teaching/pedagogy
Why ecourses?
Accessible
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These high-quality e-courses are available on subscription so when you have subscribed, you can access the material online quickly and easily.
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Tutors have easy access to a bank of online material that matches the curriculum.
Interactive
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Each individual is in control of their own learning so they can engage with the content and work at their own pace.
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Interactive activities encourage learners to reinforce their knowledge and develop their skills in Literacy and Numeracy, as well as enhancing their IT skills.
See for yourself and try out Sure Skills with your learners
Contact your local Sure Skills consultant or phone 01865 888160 to set up your FREE 30-day evaluation.
Is Sure Skills suitable for students doing Key Skills qualifications?
Yes.
Sure Skills won't provide learners with everything they need to succeed, but it will help them to acquire the underpinning literacy and numeracy knowledge so that they can put their skills into practice within their 'vocational' subject. The same national tests are used for Skills for Life qualifications and the tested element of Key Skills at Level 1 and 2.
Trials and evaluating
I want to trial Sure Skills before I buy? Can I do this?
Yes. We offer 30-day free evaluation of Sure Skills. Please
contact your local Sure Skills consultant to arrange this, or phone 01865 888160.
Subscriptions and pricing
How much will Sure Skills cost my establishment?
Sure Skills is available to buy on subscription. The cost of your subscription depends on the size of your college/institution, the number of levels of the Literacy and Numeracy e-courses you wish to purchase, and for how long. Your college/institution will be eligible for a discount when you subscribe to multiple levels over longer periods of time.
Following a presentation of Sure Skills, our consultants will discuss your requirements with you, and find the best price for your college.
Find your local Sure Skills consultant.
Do subscriptions have to run from September to September?
No. Online Annual Subscriptions begin when you want them to. Your subscription will then run for a year from your own start-date. We will send you a reminder before your subscription is due to expire, so you won't be caught out.
I want to buy a subscription for 3 years. When do I have to pay?
You will be invoiced for all three years at the start of your subscription period. So, if you buy in October 2006, you pay the total 3-year subscription then and your subscription will run until October 2009. We will send you a reminder before your subscription is about to expire.
Technical questions
What is the minimum hardware specification required to run Sure Skills?
Sure Skills is a media rich online resource, complete with audio, video, animations and an in-built management system. Your machines will need to meet the following specification to run the content:
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Processor: 900mhz Intel Pentium III
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OS: Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP,
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Memory: 256Mb
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Screen Resolution: 1024x768
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Colour Depth: 16 bit (high colour) or above
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Audio: sound Card (soundblaster equivalent)
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Graphics: Flash 7 and later, DirectX 9 compatible integrated video chip with 128Mb Ram, 64Mb DirectX 9 compatible standalone graphics card preferred
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Browsers: Windows 98SE and higher - IE6, Firefox 1.0.6
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Broadband Connection: 2 Mbps internet connection