IT Trainer

Kerry Gleeson

What does an IT Trainer do?

The main role of an IT Trainer is to establish, develop and provide staff focus and proactive IT training in a range of formats, including face to face training sessions, online courses and comprehensive self-help documentation all this to assist in raising the IT literacy across campus.

What do you work in and what is your specialty?

I am not sure I have a specialty, I consider myself a jack of all trades.  Delivering training on core systems within the university can and does change regularly keeping me on my toes but I guess using the Microsoft applications is an area I am highly skilled as I am working towards my Microsoft Trainer Certification.

How did you become interested in this area and when did you first start?

Initially I was working within Secondary School system in Queensland as a teaching assistance in the IT curriculum area.  During this period, I was working with student’s who’s IT literacy level were low so this focus lead me to developing a program for students that were most at risk of not completing (failing) the IT curriculum requirements.  Strangely enough this program led to me developing advanced IT courses for regional office staff.  I moved into the Tertiary education sector as the executive assistant to the Manager Service Delivery but quickly moved into a Trainer role in which I am still in just at another university.

What study path have you taken to get here?

Having left school many years ago and not really being a “good student” I did not think I would end up going back to study yet alone getting a university degree.  Developing the different courses I realised that I want to know more about training and the people I was training.  I have since complete more courses based around mlearning and eLearning as training requirements change.

What do you like most about your job?

Working in academia means each day is different, different courses to develop, different staff members to meet, change is new and exciting.

Do you have any particular career highlights?

Apart for graduating with a University degree a career highlight would have to be, being approached by a professor to develop a training course for PhD students on how to format and present their thesis.  From this basic course development it has grown and I have presented this subject at conferences, held webinars on and regularly run face to face training courses all from just a request for training.

What advice would you give to someone interested in working in this area?

Believe in yourself and definitely go for it! Do want you want to do!