Well there have been some rumours floating around about us intending on offering Miromaa training in Newcastle soon, well they are true and we have just needed some time to get our self organised to let you all know some details.

So the details are:

1. Proposed dates - 8th, 9th and 10th March 2010 (2nd week in March)
2. Place - Our language centre in Newcastle
3. Numbers - ideally we would like up to 10 people to attend, with 12 at the most.

Pre-requisite:

1. You must have already obtained and installed Miromaa and have at least attempted to use Miromaa
2. If you haven't obtained Miromaa but wish to attend apply for Miromaa now
3. You must have a good understanding of Windows file management ie. Being able to save files and locate them easily on your computer.
4. Are confident in using a computer and products like Word, Publisher, Powerpoint etc, you may not be an expert but you at least are not afraid to have a go
5. We are not teaching you how to use a computer but how to take advantage of the power which exists with the technology and the basic skills you already have.

What to Bring:

1. Yourself of course
2. Your laptop in a sound working order with Miromaa installed - if you cant do this we have 10 laptops with Windows 7 and everything needed installed on them.
3. Your Miromaa DAT and multimedia files and folders on a USB memory stick if you have no laptop
4. Language evidence in some form, ie book, word list, dictionary, speaker, audio etc

This would be a self funded course, in other words you would have to fund yourself to attend, that would entail flying to Newcastle Airport and accommodating yourself in the city, there are some really nice places close to us, we also have the beaches and the harbour nearly at our doorstep (sort of, well you can see the water anyway).

We will provide catering during the days for morning tea, lunch and arvo tea.

We would look at Tuesday the 8th being a back to basic introduction and getting you back on track day, the Wednesday and Thursday would be more specific in helping you really get to grips with using technology for your language activity. We envisage that Tuesday would be optional, those who are comfortable with the basics of Miromaa would not need to attend this day.

Wednesday and Thursday would include group lead activities in using Miromaa, Lexique Pro and other software programs, we will have on hand the latest technology hardware including Zoom recorders, digital cameras and video equipment. We will also attend to your own personal situations and needs in a one on one basis if so required.

The goals of the training session would to be able to have you confident:

• in using Miromaa and all of its features
• digital archiving techniques
• best practise for gathering language evidence
• producing dictionaries and picture word lists using Lexique Pro
• producing multimedia cd's using Lexique pro
• producing html/Internet language pages with pictures, text and audio
• be sound in using Audacity as a sound editing and production program for making wave, mp3 and podcast files
• in using Microsoft products like photostory and moviemaker.
• Understand how technology can fit and play its part in your Language Maintenance activity for your people and your community.

Our staff will be on hand to assist you including Alex who has helped us with the linguistic understanding of our language, Oliver who is our Miromaa developer, Carissa our Graphic Designer/Artist and others.

You can help contribute to what is learnt at this training by letting us know what you want to do to.
If the above dates are not suitable and you would like to come at a different time that is great, we will organise as many of these as possible, until we can get them funded to cover your costs we will do everything we can to accommodate your needs.

Don't wait for us to set the dates, if you have a group of people and can come to Newcastle in April, May, June or any other time we are here for you, organise your own special training times and we will be here to help you, our languages need your help today not tomorrow.

If you are interested in attending please contact us ASAP.