Overview The eight 1/2 day Support Manager course is uniquely created to provide training on the fundamentals of management relative to the support environment, and to enhance the inherent skills and knowledge of the support manager. This course focuses specifically on the most common management elements that occur in the technical support centre including, managing customer satisfaction, operations and team performance management and facilitating a team while managing a dynamic service product. This course offers support managers the opportunity to develop and refine their technology support leadership skills enabling them to effectively manage the challenges of the most complex support centres. Who Should Attend The Support Manager course is for managers who have at least six months management experience and have received some basic management training. Requirements The course begins with a review and quiz on a set of pre-class reading materials. These materials are sent to each participant two weeks prior to the class start date. Participants are strongly encouraged to register at least two weeks in advance to allow time to complete these pre-class assignments. Each participant is required to bring the pre-class reading materials as well as a notebook computer with a USB port and with Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint installed. These will be used as tools during the course. All other materials and tools will be provided. Homework is assigned for most evenings of the course. Please plan for study time outside of class. Some of the training objectives… Manage dynamics of change within the support centre Enhance leadership skills Effective staff utilisation Increase support centre morale and retention
What is Person Centred Planning? How is it different to any other kind of meeting or planning? On this day all will become clear… Give your team the opportunity to pause and reflect on what matters most to them about the work they do. The act of listening to each other creates relationship and strengthens trust and inclusion within the team – in creating a shared vision, groups of people build a sense of commitment together. They develop images of ‘the future we want to create together’, along with the values that will be important in getting there and the goals they want to see achieved along the way. Unfortunately, many people still think ’vision’ is the top leader’s job. In schools, the ‘vision task’ usually falls to the Headteacher and/or the governors or it comes in a glossy document from the local authority or the DfES. But visions based on authority are not sustainable. Making inclusive action plans using full participation and graphic facilitation Drawing on the planning tools MAPS and PATH (Pearpoint, Forest and O’Brien 1997) and other facilitation sources we use both process and graphic facilitation to enable the group to build their picture of what they would love to see happening within their organisation/community in the future and we encourage this to be a positive naming, not just a list of the things they want to avoid. Jack Pearpoint, Marsha Forest and John O’Brien developed these innovative approaches in North America and they are being used successfully in many parts of the UK. The planning can focus on an individual, group or organisation and provides a powerful problem solving opportunity, which is flexible and robust enough for many occasions. Tell the story, find the dream, touch the nightmare, and explore who you are, what are the gifts and strengths of the person or group, what are the needs of those present and what is the action plan for the future? Learning objectives Participants understand Person Centred Planning and its values and applications Participants have skills and confidence to facilitate PATH/MAP processes Participants learn graphic as well as process facilitation skills Strengthens practitioners inclusive practice Provides additional tools for those involved in inclusive work in schools and the community Further develop problem solving and planning skills Course Content The course answers the questions: Need to find new ways to bring Pathway Planning alive? Bored with annual reviews, transition plans and review meetings? Want to find a way of making meetings and planning feel more real and engaging? Need an approach, which engages a young person respectfully together with his or her family and friends? Want the ultimate visual record of the process of a meeting, which will help everyone, keep track? Want to problem solve and plan for the future of a small or large group, service or organisation up to the size of an LA? Inclusive Solutions offer an introductory day to person centred planning or a 3 – 10 session course which is practical as well as values based. Participants will receive direct individualised coaching and training. We will cover: The person being at the centre Family members and friends being full partners Planning reflecting the person’s capacities, what is important to the person and specifying the support they require to make a full contribution to their community Planning building a shared commitment to action that will uphold the person’s rights Planning leading to continual listening, learning and action and helping the person get what they want out of life. Essential Lifestyle Planning, PATH MAPS Personal Futures Planning.
Person Centred Planning (PCP) is a powerful tool for visioning, future planning and team building. It gets everyone on the same page and creates a progressive, constructive atmosphere so it is especially useful for people who are feeling ‘stuck’ or in a really desperate situation. The PCP processes we teach are called “PATH” and “MAPs”, and are both used for different situations. “To facilitate a group, family, team or organisation in thinking together around a given challenge or issue. Here is an opportunity to experience for real the person centred, futures planning tool – MAP/PATH” (Pearpoint, Forest, O’Brien. 1989). PCP can focus on an individual, with family and friends in the room supporting them, or focus on a group who want to set goals, and realise their potential as a team. PCP focuses on hopes and dreams, so is a very positive approach to planning, and utilises graphic facilitation, making it a very friendly way of working that is accessible to everyone. This unique, hands on PCP training course explores the difference between ‘person-centred thinking’ and ‘service-centred thinking’. Traditionally, we have not always listened deeply enough to the needs of those we are planning for. Often ‘medical model’ thinking dominates our planning for those with the most complex needs. Typically we plan ‘about’ rather than ‘with’ children and adults. We examine this ‘service centred’ approach that most professionals are used to, and question its limitations. This values based approach to inclusion will give participants the ‘theory’ behind why thinking and working in a person centred way is so important, and challenges people to strive for more for the people we are planning around. In addition to the knowledge and theory, this course empowers participants to facilitate their own Person Centred Plans using the PATH or MAPs process and provides the skills to do this effectively. Learning objectives Strengthen understanding of how to think in a person centred way Knowledge of the steps of PATH / MAPs process Ability to facilitate PATH/MAPs process Ability to graphically facilitate a PCP meeting Develop problem solving and planning skills Inclusive Solutions offer: We could provide training for a team of staff, or we could facilitate a PATH or MAP around a disabled person. We can also offer bespoke training packages, please enquire for more details. 1 day “Introduction to PCP” with up to 100 attendees focusing on ‘Person Centred Thinking’ – includes live demonstration of PATH or MAPs Process (for a member of the group / with a student and their family/friends). 2 day “PCP Skills training” – More skills focused, lots of practice. Includes Graphics academy, Process academy and Coaching (Best with under 30 attendees). 2 day “Introduction to PCP with Skills training” – includes live demonstration of PATH or MAPs process, Graphics academy, Process academy and Coaching (Best with under 30 attendees). Half day PATH or MAP for a disabled person, led by two experienced Inclusive Solutions facilitators. Full day PATH or MAP for a team, organisation or group such as a full school staff led by two experienced Inclusive Solutions facilitators. Typical Structure of 2-Day “Introduction to PCP with Skills” Training This course is most useful when delivered over 2 days so we have time to cover the ‘skills’ behind facilitating a PATH or a MAP. Here is an example of what usually happens. If you need us to, we can tailor any of our courses to suit your specific needs. Day 1 AM What makes a good welcome?Service centred thinking and working – what does it involve, how does it make people feel?Reflections on current practices – what is useful and what is harmful?Introduction to underpinning values of person centred thinking and working In depth exploration of the fundamentals of inclusion – encouraging identity, focusing on gifts and capacities Sharing success stories, and personal insight from experienced psychologistsShowcasing a number of practical PCP process in actionIntroduction to the “5 service accomplishments”, or “5 ordinary needs” PM Full PATH process demonstration, led by 2 experienced facilitators – one process facilitator and one graphic facilitatorVolunteers will make notes on what they see the facilitators doing and feedback at the end of the dayFeedback, Q&A Day 2 AM Graphics Academy – we will ease you into the world of graphic facilitation and show you how simple it really is – includes live coaching and graphics tutorial, then participants will practice on each other by facilitating the first 1 or 2 sections of the PATH Process Academy – we will give you some pointers about holding the group, and facilitating in an inclusive way, this is another chance to practice your new graphics skills PM The group is divided up, and volunteers are selected to facilitate PATH meetings The group then run the PATH’s simultaneously with an experienced coaches in the room to guide and to be available for questionsWe reconvene to feedback about the process and digest all we have learntBrief Q&A session and then final reflections
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Historical Association webinar series: Direct history teaching Presenters: Mike Hill and Jacob Olivey In this sixth and final session, Jacob and Mike will explain how history teachers can teach words and phrases very directly to their pupils. They will suggest that 'drill and thrill' – rather than laminated word mats – can make the language of history more accessible and enjoyable for pupils. To use your corporate recording offer on this webinar please fill in this form: https://forms.office.com/e/Qr1PfgRHSS We are able to offer the webinars in this series at a subsidised cost as the presenters' time has been partially funded by their school, Ark Soane Academy. We are open to developing partnerships across schools and trusts. If you are interested in discussing this further, please contact Mel Jones at melanie.jones@history.org.uk
COBOL training course description A hands on training course providing an introduction to COBOL. What will you learn Write COBOL programs Debug COBOL programs Examine existing code and determine its function. COBOL training course details Who will benefit: Programmers working with COBOL. Prerequisites: None although experience in another high level language would be useful. A 10 day version of this course would be more applicable for those new to programming. Duration 5 days COBOL training course contents Introduction to COBOL Compilation, linkage editor. Compile errors, compiler options. Divisions, syntax and format, COBOL character set, program structure. COBOL statement structure COBOL words, format of statements. Divisions Identification entries, Environment entries, Data division: FD, record descriptions, hierarchy and level numbers, description-string entry. File and Working-Storage Sections Literals, figurative constants, redefines clause, data representation, Usage clause, synchronization, sign clause. Procedure Division File status codes; Open, Read, Write, Close, Stop, Goback; Accept, display; Move, Justified, data name qualification, reference modification. Perform statement Out-of-line, With test ... Until, ... Times, in-line statement; Go to statement. Program design Design techniques, design considerations, procedure names, program structure. Printing Printed output, Write, advancing option, editing characters; Initialize. Condition testing Conditional statements: IF, class, sign and relation conditions, condition-name conditionals, Set, compound conditions, logical operators. Evaluate, Continue. Arithmetic Rounded option, On Size Error option, Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, Compute. Non-sequential files File access modes, Select. Indexed and relative files. Open, Close, creating / reading sequential access files, Write, Read, Invalid key clause, reading, writing / updating Random access files, Rewrite, Delete, Start. Declarative routines Clauses. Subroutines Call, Using clause - calling program/called program, Linkage Section, returning control. Table handling Subscripted tables: One/two/three dimensional tables, Perform, variable length tables. Indexed tables: Set, using an index; Search. Copy code: Copy, Suppress, Replacing. Data Manipulation Inspect, String, Unstring. COBOL/370 LE/370 and Intrinsic Functions.
Satellite communications training course description This course starts by recaping some of the essential satellite knowledge required and proceeds to explore the deeper aspects of satellite communications, including hardware, communications and error control coding. What will you learn Explain how satellite communications work. Explain how RF works Explain the architecture of satellite systems. Use spectrum analysers. Satellite communications training course details Who will benefit: Anyone working with satellite systems. Prerequisites: None. Duration 3 days Satellite communications training course contents Basic Principles of Satellite Communications GEO, MEO and LEO satellites. Launching and orbits. Frequency bands and polarisation. Satellite footprints. Multibeam coverage. Power spectra. Link budgets. Modulation and coding. Access technologies. Earth station components. Space segment components. Satellite system services. Satellite operators. Radio frequency propagation Electromagnetic waves principles and generation. Reception of the EM wave. Space wave, sky wave and surface wave theory. The isotropic radiator. Types of antennae and their basic properties. Polar diagrams. International frequency allocation. Spectrum management and utilisation. Radio wave propagation. Line of sight propagation. Propagation for satellite comms. Free space path loss. Path attenuation. Noise and Interference. Power and its measurement. Satellite antennae and other hardware Power flux density. Effective aperture. Horn antennae. Parabolic reflector. Offset feed. Cassegrain and Gregorian antennae. Antenna feed systems - Horn, TMC, OMJ and polarizer. Antenna steering and mount systems. Array antennae. LNA, LNB, LNC. Microwave tubes - TWT and Klystron. Polarizers. Earth and Space Segments and the link Earth station antennae. Transponders. Antennae sub systems. Power supplies. Link budgets. System noise. System losses. Interference. Satellite switching. Ground Communications Equipment Baseband signals. Analogue and Digital systems. Overview of modulation - AM, FM, PM. Digital Modulation. Frequency conversion -up and down conversion. Filters, mixers, local oscillators, IF amplifiers and group delay equalisers. Access methods - single and multiple access systems. Data networks. Television transmission - analogue and digital. Digital signal compression. MPEG processing. Satellite Navigation Longitude, latitude, altitude, GPS, How GPS works, timing, alternatives to GPS. Mobile satellite services Voice and Phones, BGAN, TV, GPS to program aerial, VSAT. Error Control Coding The need for coding. Linear block codes. Cyclic codes. Convolution codes. Interleaving and concatenated codes. Coding gain. Turbo codes. Test and measurement Theory and practice of Spectrum Analysers.
Penetration testing training course description An advanced technical hands on course focusing on hacking and counter hacking. The course revolves around a series of exercises based on "hacking" into a network (pen testing the network) and then defending against the hacks. What will you learn Perform penetration tests. Explain the technical workings of various penetration tests. Produce reports on results of penetration tests. Defend against hackers. Penetration testing training course details Who will benefit: Technical support staff, auditors and security professionals. Staff who are responsible for network infrastructure integrity. Prerequisites: IP Security IP VPNs Duration 5 days Penetration testing training course contents Introduction Hacking concepts, phases, types of attacks, 'White hacking', What is penetration testing? Why use pen testing, black box vs. white box testing, equipment and tools, security lifecycles, counter hacking, pen testing reports, methodologies, legal issues. Physical security and social engineering Testing access controls, perimeter reviews, location reviews, alarm response testing. Request testing, guided suggestions, trust testing. Social engineering concepts, techniques, counter measures, Identity theft, Impersonation on social media, Footprints through social engineering Reconnaissance (discovery) Footprinting methodologies, concepts, threats and countermeasures, WHOIS footprinting, Gaining contacts and addresses, DNS queries, NIC queries, ICMP ping sweeping, system and server trails from the target network, information leaks, competitive intelligence. Scanning pen testing. Gaining access Getting past passwords, password grinding, spoofed tokens, replays, remaining anonymous. Scanning (enumeration) Gaining OS info, platform info, open port info, application info. Routes used, proxies, firewalking, Port scanning, stealth port scanning, vulnerability scanning, FIN scanning, Xmas tree scanning, Null scanning, spoofed scanning, Scanning beyond IDS. Enumeration concepts, counter measures and enumeration pen testing. Hacking Hacking webservers, web applications, Wireless networks and mobile platforms. Concepts, threats, methodology, hacking tools and countermeasures. Trojan, Backdoors, Sniffers, Viruses and Worms Detection, concepts, countermeasures, Pen testing Trojans, backdoors, sniffers and viruses. MAC attacks, DHCP attacks, ARP poisoning, DNS poisoning Anti-Trojan software, Malware analysis Sniffing tools. Exploiting (testing) vulnerabilities Buffer overflows,, simple exploits, brute force methods, UNIX based, Windows based, specific application vulnerabilities. DoS/DDoS Concepts, techniques, attack tools, Botnet, countermeasures, protection tools, DoS attack pen testing. SQL Injection Types and testing, Blind SQL Injection, Injection tools, evasion and countermeasures. Securing networks 'Hurdles', firewalls, DMZ, stopping port scans, IDS, Honeypots, Router testing, firewall testing, IDS testing, Buffer Overflow. Cryptography PKI, Encryption algorithms, tools, Email and Disk Encryption. Information security Document grinding, privacy.
Microsoft Lync training course description This course teaches IT staff how to plan, design, deploy, configure, and administer a Microsoft Lync Server solution. The course emphasizes Lync Server Enterprise Unified Communications features focussing particularly on coexisting with and migrating from legacy communication services. The labs in this course create a solution that includes IM and Presence, Conferencing, and Persistent Chat. This course helps prepare for Exam 70-336. What will you learn Describe the Lync Server architecture. Install and deploy Lync Server. Use Lync Server management interfaces. Deploy and manage clients. Manage and administer dial-in conferencing. Design audio and video for web conferencing. Plan for instant message and presence Federation. Deploy and configure persistent chat in Lync. Configure archiving and monitoring services. Troubleshoot Lync Server. Describe the required daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance tasks. Use SIP commands and analyze SIP logs. Configure high availability features in Lync. Design load balancing in Lync Server. Backup and restore Lync Server data. Microsoft Lync training course details Who will benefit: Technical staff working with Microsoft Lync. Prerequisites: Supporting Windows 2008 or 2012. Duration 5 days Microsoft Lync training course contents Microsoft Lync Server architecture Lync Server architecture, Lync core capabilities, Lync design process, assessing infrastructure requirements and updating the design, planning for all Microsoft solutions framework phases. Designing a Lync Server topology Infrastructure requirements for Lync Server, using the planning tool, using topology builder, server infrastructure, documentation. Hands on Environment preparation and Lync Server pools. Users and rights in Microsoft Lync Server Managing Lync Server, role based access control. Hands on Using the management shell, configuring role-based access control. Client/device deployment and management Deploy and manage clients, prepare for device deployment, IP phones. Hands on Clients. Conferencing in Lync Server Introduction to conferencing in Lync Server, designing for audio\video and web conferencing, dial-in conferencing in Lync Server, managing and administering conferencing. Hands on Conferencing in Microsoft Lync. Designing and deploying external access Conferencing and external capabilities of Lync Server, planning for IM and presence federation, designing edge services. Hands on Deploying Edge Server and Configuring Remote Access, Validating the Edge Server. Deploying Lync Server persistent chat Overview of persistent chat architecture in Lync Server, designing persistent chat, deploying and persistent chat. Hands on persistent chat server. Monitoring and archiving The archiving service, the monitoring service, configuring archiving and monitoring. Hands on Archiving and monitoring in Lync Server. Administration and maintenance of Lync Lync Server troubleshooting tools, Lync Server operational tasks, Lync Server troubleshooting techniques. Hands on Lync administration tools, centralized logging service, analysing Lync Server logs and traces. High Availability in Lync Server High availability in Lync Server, configuring high availability in Lync Server, planning for load balancing, designing load balancing. Hands on Configuring database mirroring, experiencing a scheduled SQL Server outage, experiencing an unscheduled SQL Server outage. Disaster recovery in Lync Server Disaster recovery in Lync Server, tools for backing up and restoring Lync Server, critical Lync Server data to back up and restore, critical data to export and import, designing branch site resiliency. Hands on Configure pool pairing, experiencing a pool failure or outage. Planning a migration to Lync Server Coexistence and migration, migration steps, planning for clients and devices. Designing a client migration and device migration strategy. Hands on Creating a migration plan, documenting the migration phases.