Vale Training - Digital Skills

Dates and information of upcoming digital training courses and classes.

Please note, to be eligible for the courses, participants must either be a resident of the rural Vale or work for a third sector organisation benefitting the rural Vale.

Do you want to attend a course but can’t make the date listed?

Please contact us and let us know the course/s you are interested in and your contact details. If there is sufficient demand we will re-run courses later in the year.

create@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Digital Skills Training Brochure_ENGLISH-0001

We have a whole host of fantastic digital training courses taking place over the next few months delivered by ProMo Cymru, designed to keep those living in the rural Vale or third sector organisations working in the Vale up to speed with the ever changing pace of digital technology and its use in everyday life.

From blogging, website design and the cloud, through to mobile filming and vlogging, Google Ads and Analytics, e-commerce or setting yourself up on LinkedIn – we want to help you develop the skills you need to take advantage of digital opportunities.

Courses are either bitesize (3 hours) Extended (6.5 hours) with the exception of our ‘build your own website’ course, which is 3 x 3 hour sessions. At heavily subsidised rates, we don’t expect places to last long - book early to avoid disappointment!

Book a Course

Download our course brochure

(or scroll down for course details)

Becoming a Blogger

Heritage Centre, Llantwit Major Town Hall

Monday 13 May, 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Summary
Summary
Ever dreamed of becoming a writer online? Whether writing reviews of local restaurants, penning match reports for your favourite sports team or simply keeping a diary of feelings and musings, we’ll show you how to do it!
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will: Have created their own blogging website (using either Wordpress or Blogger) Have written their first blog Understand what makes good blog writing Know how to embed media, such as images, videos and social media posts, into their posts
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals, residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts
Level
Intermediate - Participants will be confident using most websites and Microsoft Word. Most importantly, participants will have a passion for writing and an idea for their blog.
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize)
Equipment
Laptops or tablets

Be Engaging Online

Williams Room, The Old School, Sully

Wednesday 22 May, 6.30pm - 9.30pm

The Gathering Place, St Athan

Tuesday 04 June, 9.30am - 4.00pm

Summary
Summary
If you're already using social media to engage with the public but would like to know how to create more engaging content, improve your reach, and discover some new ideas and free tools, this session is for you!
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Be able to build upon their existing social media skills to use social media more effectively Be able to create interesting and engaging content to meet their audience’s needs Be able to use free online tools to create innovative and dynamic content Understand the different approaches to engaging on different platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals and organisations
Level
For professionals who already use social media at a beginner or intermediate level.
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize) and 6.5 hour session (Extended)
Equipment
Laptops/tablets/personal devices

Young Person Trends

Old Hall, Cowbridge

Thursday 23 May, 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Summary
Summary
Fortnite, Minecraft, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube... What are these sites and what makes them so compelling for young people? Gain a better understanding of what young people are doing online and how to protect them. Hear from a digital native and self-confessed online gaming addict!
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Know about the main online platforms and communities and how they function Better understand the relationship between the physical and digital worlds of young people Understand some of the reasons why these sites are so appealing and can be addictive Know about online trends, what’s hot and what’s not? Understand what you can do to help young people to keep themselves safe and be responsible on line
Aimed at
Aimed at parents, family members and anyone who is interested in developing their understanding of the modern internet.
Level
No experience or prior knowledge needed.
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize)
Equipment
Not essential, but recommended to bring personal devices.

Introduction to free online graphic design tools

Cowbridge Comprehensive School

Wednesday 29 May, 9.30am - 12.30pm

Summary
Summary
Make professional looking promotional materials and graphic design elements using online tools.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Be able to make simple promotional materials (such as poster, banner, business card or infographics) using free online tools Learn about colours, composition, fonts Know how to create branded materials Have designed their own promotional materials Develop visual literacy skills Development of IT skills
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals, residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts.
Level
Beginner
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize)
Equipment
Laptops

Build your own website

Cowbridge Comprehensive School

03, 10 and 17 June, 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Summary
Summary
Discover how you can create your own blog or personal website, using WordPress - the platform used by over 60 million websites
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Be able to create a website, from a template, using Wordpress Know how to edit page text, media and theme colours Have a working knowledge of WordPress, including how to write blog posts and create new pages Know how to use Wordpress Plugins to enhance your website Understand what makes engaging online content Have built their own personal or organisational website
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals, residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts
Level
Intermediate - No coding or web development knowledge required. Knowledge or experience of using WordPress advantageous, but not essential.
Duration
3 x 3 hour sessions
Equipment
Laptops

Creating high quality content with your mobile phone

The Old School, Sully

Thursday 06 June, 9.30am - 4.30pm

Summary
Summary
Transform your mobile phone into a portable studio. Learn how to film visually strong footage and tell stories. Be able to showcase your images and videos on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Have developed their visual literacy Understand basic composition and lighting rules Know about basic equipment and free software available (e.g. online editing software and apps) Have produced their own story using a mobile device Have exported and saved the final video on their devices, ready to be shared Know how to create their own Instagram Story
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals, residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts
Level
Beginner
Duration
6.5 hour session (Extended)
Equipment
Smart mobile phones or tables with ability to install new apps and enough storage space.

Mobile filming and vlogging

The Gathering Place, St Athan

Thursday 13 June, 9.30am - 4.00pm

Summary
Summary
Produce mobile multi-media stories with confidence. Learn about what makes good content and how to present stories in exciting ways.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Develop their visual literacy and storytelling skills Know how to better engage with their audience: recognise trends, encourage debate and raise the profile of the key issues Learn how to express opinions and values online Discover the world of self-filming: from video diaries to mobile journalism Learn how to enhance their stories through the use of portable equipment Know how to broadcast an event live using video streaming apps like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Periscope
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals, residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts.
Level
Intermediate – Previous knowledge required. It’s necessary to attend the Creating high quality content using mobile phones class previously or have a basic knowledge of creating videos.
Duration
6.5 hour session (Extended).
Equipment
Smart mobile phones or tables with ability to install new apps and enough storage space/ or video camera.

Backing up on the Cloud

Heritage Centre, Llantwit Major Town Hall

Wednesday 19 June, 9.30am - 12.30pm

Summary
Summary
Discover the benefits to securely saving your files and photos in the cloud, and how you can access these amazing tools completely free of charge
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will: Be able to backup and access their phone’s photos online using Google Photos Be able to backup and access their files using Google Drive Know how to use Google’s free online version of Word, PowerPoint and Excel - never lose another file again!
Aimed at
Aimed at residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts
Level
Beginner - Participants should have access to a smartphone/laptop/computer, but that’s pretty much it!
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize)
Equipment
Personal devices

Getting your organisation into the Cloud

Heritage Centre, Llantwit Major Town Hall

Wednesday 19 June, 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Summary
Summary
Discover the numerous benefits of bringing your organisation into the Cloud. From real-time, collaborative working on documents and spreadsheets to accessing your work files from any internet connected device, from anywhere in the world! There’s never been a better time to get your organisation online.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will: Understand what The Cloud is, and how it can be used to help their organisation Discover the benefits of online working, including instant auto-saves, version backups, real-time collaboration and worldwide access Know how to access their files and folders from any location, with any compatible device (laptop, computer, tablet or smartphone) *Individuals, small organisations and charities can usually get onto the cloud completely free of charge, via Google or Microsoft 365. However, some organisations may need to take out a subscription to one of these services.
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals and organisations
Level
Beginner - Participants should be confident using Microsoft Office programmes, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and accessing emails
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize)
Equipment
Personal devices

Google Analytics

The Gathering Place, St Athan

Tuesday 25 June, 9.30am - 12.30pm

Summary
Summary
Understanding how your communication tools are performing is key to informing ongoing developments. We will equip you with this information to help you track and evaluate your outputs.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will: Be able create free Google Analytics account for their website Understand how to navigate Google Analytics Know where to find information about their website visitors, such as their age, location and what devices they used Understand how users found your website, and how to reach new audiences Discover how users interacted with your site, such as which pages they visited, how long they spent on each page and how to improve pages which may cause people to leave the site
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals and organisations
Level
Intermediate - Participants should already have a personal or organisational website and be comfortable navigating websites
Duration
3 hour session
Equipment
Laptops

Google Adwords

The Gathering Place, St Athan

Tuesday 25 June, 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Summary
Summary
Maximising your potential reach and being seen by the right people online has never been so important. With Google’s advertising platform, you can create clearly defined custom audiences to pinpoint the people you want to hear your message and drive website clicks.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will: Understand what Google AdWords is, how it works and how it can help drive website traffic for your organisation Understand how to navigate the site to learn about users’ behaviour and maximise your cost-per-click Know how to create search campaigns Know how to create display campaigns Know how to create video campaigns Know how to find reporting data and how to monitor your ads performance
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals and organisations
Level
Intermediate - Participants should already have a personal or organisational website and be comfortable navigating websites
Duration
3 hour session
Equipment
Laptops

Making the most of your mobile

The Old School, Sully

Thursday 27 June, 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Summary
Summary
Did you know, your smartphone is more powerful all of NASA’s computers in 1969? Make sure you’re getting the most out of your mobile - from streaming to saving, to banking - discover how your phone can help you everyday. Plus, get your smartphone questions answered.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Know how to access streaming services, such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, YouTube and Netflix Know where to find money saving vouchers and other freebies Be able to use messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram Messages and Facebook Messenger Understand e-commerce sites, such eBay, Amazon and Gumtree Have free access to over 35 million songs, Podcasts and radio shows Understand how to automatically backup and access photos and files in the cloud Be aware of the benefits of internet banking Have some top tips for staying safe online *In this course, we encourage participants to bring their own questions and tell us what they’d like to learn. As such, the learning outcomes for this course are flexible, and can change from group-to-group.
Aimed at
Aimed at residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts.
Level
Beginner - Participants should have access to a smartphone.
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize)
Equipment
Mobile phone and/or tablet.

E-commerce

The Old School, Sully

Tuesday 02 July, 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Summary
Summary
Explore the functions and compare the most popular e-commerce platforms. Learn about how others are using them to sell their products and develop successful businesses.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Understand how to use eBay, Amazon, Gumtree, Pinterest and Facebook to sell products and set up online shops. Understand what e-commerce platform is best for their needs. Discover how people are using these sites to generate income.
Aimed at
Aimed at residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts.
Level
Beginner
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize)
Equipment
Tablets/personal devices.

Comparing the market - how the internet can help you save money

The Gathering Place, St Athan

08 July, 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Summary
Summary
In this session, we show you 12 tips to save you money in the next 12 months! Discover a host of websites and resources that can help you get the best deals on everything from flights and insurance, to meals out and being paid to shop! While you may have heard of, or even used, some of these online tools, we’re confident even the most tech-savvy will learn something new.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Know where/how to find the best deals on flights, car insurance and even internet suppliers Learn the difference between real and fake reviews Lear how to use TripAdvisor Know how to find the best price on almost any item for sale online Understand how to use ‘cashback’ sites, which pay you to shop Know the best websites and apps to find vouchers for discounted meals and days out Learn how you can become a mystery shopper, or even get freebies as an internet reviewer Plus many more tips and hints for how to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money
Aimed at
Aimed at residents, hobbyists and enthusiasts.
Level
Beginner - Participants should own a smartphone/laptop/computer and feel comfortable accessing and using different websites.
Duration
3 hour session (Bitesize)
Equipment
Laptop and/or Personal devices.

Wenvoe Community Centre

Thursday 11 July, 9.30am - 12.30pm

Summary
Summary
If you’re looking to build your professional profile online, then LinkedIn is the place for you. LinkedIn is the largest professional social network in the world and can be used to create new connections, apply for jobs and generally enhance your digital CV.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will: Have an understanding around how the network works and how it can be used to enhance your professional profile Have created their own LinkedIn account with up-to-date information around employment history, professional profile and skills Started to build a network of colleagues and professionals who can give ‘endorsements’ to their skills and achievements Know where to look for job adverts and how to apply quickly and easily for the right posts
Aimed at
Aimed at professionals
Level
For professionals who already use social media at a beginner level.
Duration
3 hour session
Equipment
Laptops/tablets/personal devices

More information and booking