Many complained that they lacked the confidence to attempt any work on the Macintoshes at all. To tackle this problem, a standard, practical introduction to basic computer skills was introduced, with students attending in groups of 10 or 12. These introductions were scheduled to last for 5 working days, and aimed to get all students to a common level at which they had confidence in their ability to use a machine. The problems With a student intake of highly disparate prior experience, increased class sizes and decreased contact teaching time, it became increasingly difficult to accommodate those with little or no knowledge alongside those with too much. The staffing requirement for resolving these differences is considerable, particularly if 'traditional' teaching and delivery methods are employed.
Student time is wasted either covering ground already known, or waiting for help.
In addition, sound basic skills, general knowledge and good 'computer manners' need to be established before students can develop their own creative abilities through computers. The medium for these exercises is not electronic but paper. The scheme had a number of implications for the timetable and teaching style of the department. For those used to scheduling specific activities for clearly defined groups of students, and expecting attendance at such sessions, introducing a flexible scheme such as the Skills Units required a shift in thinking and organisation. There were also practical problems in the light of the restricted equipment available in the Electronic Design Studio, and the availability of academic contact time.