course descriptions

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Introduction To The PC

This is a Beginner Level Course designed for people who have never used a computer or have limited experience with a computer. This course familiarizes students with the computer and helps students overcome their fear and anxiety of this useful technology.

We work with Personal Computers, running Microsoft’s Windows XP Operating System. We also use Microsoft Office 2003.

To take this course you must only show up for class on time and come with an open mind, a desire to learn and and a willingness to have fun!

In this class, we will:

Look inside a computer and learn about different storage devices
Become expert as using a mouse (pointing, clicking, highlighting)
Understand what a “window” is and how to use it
Learn about our desktop and different ways to personalize it (that is why they are called Personal computers!)
Create files and folders
Open an email account and learn how to reply to a message, compose a new message and send a message
Search on the Internet using Search Engines (we will do a Scavenger Hunt!)
Learn Basic Word Processing, opening a file, saving a file, formatting text and editing text.

By the end of the class:

You will have an email account using a free web-based product
You will have a certificate of completion that you have designed yourself!
You will have the confidence to move to the next level

Practical Word-Processing using Microsoft Word

This is an Intermediate Level Course that will teach you word processing tools to use at home and in an office.

To take this course you must be able to use a mouse (point, right click, left click and highlight), must be familiar with opening, minimizing and restoring multiple windows, and must have basic knowledge of opening, saving and editing documents with some word processing software (such as Word, WordPerfect or Works).

We work with Personal Computers, running Microsoft’s Windows XP Operating System. We also use Microsoft Office 2003.

In this class, we will cover the following topics:

Editing, Revising, Spell/grammar check
Formatting fonts, alignment, paragraph and character spacing, and indenting
Design and drawing tools like autoshapes, clip art, borders and shading, wordart and text boxes.
Creating tables within Word Documents
Developing a list and merging the list with a document to personalize the document
Designing templates for letterheads, faxes, etc (home or office)
File and folder management.

To apply these skills we will be:

Editing a marked-up document and tracking the changes
Creating a marketing flyer (office)
Creating a birthday card with art and sound (home)
Developing a table to create a shopping list (home)
Developing a table for a project plan (office)
Sending party invitations to a list of guests (home) using mail merge
Sending a marketing letter to a list of customers (office) using mail merge
Creating folders to keep track of all our new documents!
Creating our own certificate of completion
Extracurricular: work on formatting a jazzy resume

Spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel

This course covers Beginner and Intermediate level topics for use at home or in an office.

To take this course you must be able to use a mouse (point, right click, left click) and you must be familiar with opening, minimizing and restoring multiple windows and must have knowledge of opening, saving and formatting text. Knowledge of Microsoft Word is very helpful as many of the menus and toolbars are the same.

We work with Personal Computers, running Microsoft’s Windows XP Operating System. We also use Microsoft Office 2003.

In this class, we will cover the following topics:

Setting up, naming and saving worksheets
Entering and formatting text and data
Creating and using formulae and functions
Using absolute and relative cell references
Setting up a table, sorting, filtering, autofill and formatting
Creating charts (bar, line and pie charts)
Creative formatting of charts – colors, etc.

To apply these skills we will be:

Creating a home budget, tracking, and charting expenses
Creating a department budget
Creating a employee database
Allocating overhead expenses to multiple company divisions
Temperature charts for Boston and San Francisco

Microsoft Outlook:Curriculum Overview

Classes 1 and 2 are for beginner students who have had no, or very limited, experience using Outlook

Classes 3 – 6 are designed for people who have been using Outlook to write, send and receive email but want to learn the other features.

Class 1:
- Hour 1: Explain the mail setup for class; Background on Email, Security, Spam, Bouncebacks and Etiquette, Exchange Server vs. POP mail, Size of storage on server
- Hour 2: Explaining folders, menu items, Fields, Sending and Receiving email, saving a draft, finding an email
Class 2:
- Hour 1:More Sending/Receiving email
- Hour 2: Replying, Replying to All, Forwarding
Class 3:
- Hour 1:
  - Review use of CTRL and SHIFT keys and right click
  - Set up Folder List or Outlook Bar
  - Creating an address/contact list
  - Creating new contact from same company
  - Editing contact info and lists (double click on contact to edit)
  - Delete by clicking on contact and then clicking on delete shortcut
  - Creating group distribution lists
  - Discussing use of folders, categories
  - Sorting/Searching/Customizing Contact Views
  - Toolbar View
  - Personal address vs global address
  - Different ways to print your contact list
- Hour 2 – Setting up Views for Sent Folder
  - Sorting your Boxes by clicking on Header – search alphabetically
  - Adjusting column widths
  - Composing a message
  - Select and forward a contact via email (Actions>Forward)
  - Shortcuts to find a name or list from global or contact list
  - Save As Draft – Draft Folder
  - Formatting Tools (set up toolbar) – only when composing a new message
  - Setting flags (do not overuse)
  - Creating a signature block (Inbox/Sent Folder, Tools, Options, Mail Format) Note: In XP, Tools, Option, Email Options)
  - Rules Wizard
Class 3:
- Hour 1:
  - Review use of CTRL and SHIFT keys and right click
  - Set up Folder List or Outlook Bar
  - Creating an address/contact list
  - Creating new contact from same company
  - Editing contact info and lists (double click on contact to edit)
  - Delete by clicking on contact and then clicking on delete shortcut
  - Creating group distribution lists
  - Discussing use of folders, categories
  - Sorting/Searching/Customizing Contact Views
  - Toolbar View
  - Personal address vs global address
  - Different ways to print your contact list
- Hour 2 – Setting up Views for Sent Folder
  - Sorting your Boxes by clicking on Header – search alphabetically
  - Adjusting column widths
  - Composing a message
  - Select and forward a contact via email (Actions>Forward)
  - Shortcuts to find a name or list from global or contact list
  - Save As Draft – Draft Folder
  - Formatting Tools (set up toolbar) – only when composing a new message
  - Setting flags (do not overuse)
  - Creating a signature block (Inbox/Sent Folder, Tools, Options, Mail Format) Note: In XP, Tools, Option, Email Options)
  - Rules Wizard
Class 4:
- Hour 1: Attachments – documents, pictures, Outlook messages
  - Reply to all, Forward
  - Email trail and confidentiality
  - Resend, Recall
  - Delete multiple messages by date, sender, etc.
  - Using shift and CTRL keys to delete
  - Deleted Items Folder
  - Bouncebacks
- Hour 2:
  - Receiving Email
  - Add Sender to Address Book
  - Opening Attachments and saving them to the right place (File>Save Attachments)
  - Creating folders for incoming mail
  - drop and drag
  - Creating a rule
  - Saving to Desktop vs network
  - Junk e-mail
  - Out of Office Assistant
  - Reply vs Forward (attachments)
Class 5:
- Hour 1: Using the Task feature
  - Setting Views and Tools
  - Tracking and Assigning
  - Creating and Choosing Fields
  - Setting up Calendars
  - Customizing Tools and Views
  - Making an appointment
  - Setting up a recurring appointment
  - Sharing your Calendar
  - Setting up a meeting, inviting multiple persons and checking availability
  - Accepting a meeting
  - Print views for calendar
  - Attach email to a meeting request
  - Notification options (Tools, Options, Preferences)
Class 6:
- Searching and Archiving
- Review
- Exercises:
  - Throughout the two days create a Job Search Task List, Folders and Calendar.
  - Set up contacts for job search using business, location and categories
  - Set up a folder to track sent and received email related to job search
  - Set up a task list to track follow up,
  - Use calendar to track interviews, appointments, etc.