Residential Multimedia Course

This course is run at Willersley Castle in Derbyshire is designed to equip those who will make the purchasing decisions, create slides and then operate Multimedia equpiment.

The programme is full but not overloaded so that you have time to enjoy being in this beautiful spot.

The course is led by Mike himself and conducted in a light hearted, fun and accessible manner. This means that you do not need to be a 'computer expert' in order to take part.

Mike has been running these courses around the country for 6 years now and is a very experienced IT tutor. He has been running IT training courses for some 30 years.

Methodist Ministers can use all or part of their CDIM allowance to pay for the course.

The Programme

Day 1

From 2:00pm Arrivals
3:00-6:00 Purchasing and Installing a Projector. This gives essential information about purchasing and installing an LCD Projector.
6:00-8:00 Dinner Break
8:00-9:00 Questions and Answers.A conversation around the pros and cons of using multimedia data projection. Concludes with a sort act of worship

Day 2

9:30-12:30 PowerPoint Training Course.Any church running multi-media will need people proficient in using PowerPoint. This course goes through the basics of producing and running a presentation. It is a very ‘hands on’ session.
12:30-3:00 Lunch Break
3:00-6:00 PowerPoint Training Course. The practical session. The aim is to produce a presentation for an act of worship.
6:00-8:00 Dinner Break
8:00-9:00 Using Projection well.Learning PowerPoint is only half the battle. To use projection well you need help and advice about what will work well and what won’t. Concludes with a sort act of worship

Day 3

9:30-12:30 Using music and video in multi-media. This workshop explores how to take music from CDs and video from tape or DVDs and build them into PowerPoint presentations.
12:30-3:00 Lunch Break
3:00-6:00 Using music and video in multi-media. The practical session. Continuing to work towards producing an act of worship.
6:00-8:00 Dinner Break
8:00-9:00 Multimedia resources. An exploration of a host of resources on CDROMs, DVDs and available free of charge from the internet.

Day 4

9:30-11:30 Using Song Management Software. A look at the different packages around that display the words of songs and manage a projector.
11:30-12:30 Questions and Answers. A final opportunity to ask questions.
12:30 Lunch and then depart.

Hardware. The trust can provide one laptop for each participant on the course plus the hardware and software to scan videos, CDs and DVDs.

You are welcome to bring and use your own, but please do check the specification:

  • Windows XP or Vista operating System.
  • PowerPoint version 2002 or 2003 (you can use 2007, but it is different)
  • The machine will need a DVD drive
  • Windows Media Player 11 (Update to Media Player 11)
  • A free program called Audacity (Download Audacity)
  • The free trial version of a program called imTOO (Download imTOO)
Venue. Willersley Castle is set in the beautiful Derwent Valley in Derbyshire just south of Matlock Bath. The house was built by Sir Richard Arkwright who established many of the mills in this area. The house stands in 60 acres of grounds and there are many stunning walks available without even leaving the castle. Available to guests is a 15m indoor swimming pool and numerous other facilities. Just a short walk are Arkwright's mills, both museums and one an retail outlet centre, the Cromford canal, the high peak railway and the facilities of Matlock Bath.

Booking Details. The course costs £250 (£280 for courses in 2009) including full board at Willersley. A deposit of £40 is payable at booking. The deposit can be paid using a debit/credit card at time of booking. The balance becomes due a month before the course.

The course is limited to 7 people as this gives Mike plenty of time to assist each course member, but it means that you should not delay your booking.

In the event of cancellation the trust will attempt to refund your deposit or balance, but this very much depends on the goodwill of Willersley Castle

Click here for booking form.

Comments from previous courses:

Thanks for a great course - very practical and inspiring

I do feel more confident about trying more ambitious things for worship.

Many thanks for a most useful and enjoyable training session