computer requirements for BGS ATPL course

[Mintflavour]

Soon I will be starting the ATPL distance course at BGS. At the moment I dont have a computer.
How essential is having a computer to do the course.
I currently use the works PC on the shade to do my ppruning

Please help

Mint

[GonvilleBromhead]

Mint, for what it's worth I'm midway BGS mod 2, and to be honest, although I do have a home pc and the CD is excellent when I've looked at it, I can honestly say that I hardly used it in mod 1 preferring just solid bookwork and got decent first time passes.

I guess that's just my preferred learning style. It is a good CD, with some useful animations to put some things in clearer perspective but I would say that their conventional study material is of such a good standard anyway that I would question whether it was imperative to fork out for a pc just for that use.

But I do hasten to add what suits one, doesn't suit all, others may swear by it.

[FlyingForFun]

I agree, it's not essential at all.

There's nothing on the computer which isn't in the notes, except for a few animations, and the answers to the progress test questions (which are all in the notes anyway - you just have to hunt around for them).

I find the computer a very useful tool - particularly for testing myself before sending progress tests off to Noush. But you can certainly do the course without a PC, without any real penalty.

FFF
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[cbkr2000]

I also agree. The CD displays the printed notes on the screen which in the end, you have to hand anyway. One benefit of the CD is that the tests are included and I found it less 'tempting' to cheat and look at the answers if the books are away on the shelves. ( Yes I know I'm only cheating myself but ..we're all human!!)

Also the diagrams on the CD, especially the moving ones, are very good especially for gyros which I couldn't get my head round in the books. One look at the computer and all was clear. For the second module I didn't look at the CD at all ( apart from the tests).

Hope this helps

P.S. the CD needs to be installed on a computer and once installed I don't think it can be reinstalld on a second computer. Something to bear in mind when using it.

[laurie]

Agree with all above - personally, I have hardly had the computer based program running at all, except for a few times just browsing through them to see what the software is like.

The animations are handy though, and bear in mind cbkr2000's warning about installation of the notes - WILL ONLY INSTALL ONCE on a computer (although Bristols excellent Technical Support would most likely sort you out if you got into any bother).

Regards,

Laurie.

[Father Mulcahy]

Agree with all said before, however the CD can useful for the multi-choice questions - it randomises the questions and order.