Basic Computer Skills for the Workplace

Most jobs require a working knowledge of certain computer skills. Whether you're looking for a new job or looking to improve your position at your current company, computer skills are essential to your success. Employers seek and reward employees who can effectively send emails, create spreadsheets, manage databases, understand memory and network limitations, and recognize the function and features of modern computer components. Any job candidate who already possesses these skills will stand above those who do not.

This course provides the fundamental computer competencies you need to survive and prosper in today's fast-changing workplace by using Windows 10 and Office 365. You will learn how to implement the powers of modern office software to work faster and more efficiently. This course will also focus on practical applications for software most common to the workplace. By the time you finish, you will have learned why employers consider technological literacy so critical to the success of any organization. Confidently apply for jobs knowing that you possess the computer skills needed to perform on the job.

Lesson List:

• Overview: The Workplace Technology Solution
  Examine how companies set up and use technology solutions. Understanding how technology fits into the overall flow of work at your company will advance your position relative to your peers.
• Outlook: Email and Scheduling
  Your computer has a software program installed on it that's referred to as an "operating system." Most often, this system is Microsoft Windows, but it could be others, such as macOS or Linux. In this lesson, you'll learn how this system controls many important parts of the computer and how you use those controls every day for tasks like managing where you keep important files and printing hard copies of documents. We'll also talk about menus, taskbars and shortcuts.
• Word: Creating and Formatting Documents
  Next to email, the word processor is probably the most frequently used application software in the workplace. If you've never taken the time to learn the basic features of most word processors, you're not performing nearly to your potential. Learn and practice the important capabilities of word processors like Microsoft Word.
• Word: More Advanced Formatting
  There are many excellent features in Microsoft Word that can enable you to create and edit very professional-looking documents. Incorporate some of the more advanced Word functions to create documents that are sure to impress your peers and your supervisor. This lesson focuses on formatting and organizing your information using a wide range of Word processor tools.
• Excel: Spreadsheet Basics
  Cover some important fundamental concepts related to spreadsheets, including spreadsheet organization, formatting, basic formulas, and data sorting. Once you discover how to create a basic budget spreadsheet, you'll see how the skills and knowledge you gain from this lesson can have a powerful impact on your ability to contribute more to the workplace.
• Excel: Formatting, Charts, and Printing
  This lesson discusses more details about the spreadsheet, and how to provide easy-to-understand, accurate data. Learn how to build graphs that can graphically display numeric information so you can easily demonstrate trends, analyze past results, and predict future performance.
• Access: Database Basics
  Examine the components of a database, focusing primarily on the user interface. In your job, you might use this interface to perform a lot of different functions, including data input, data output, and data maintenance. Employees might work with databases to filter, sort, and read information. Database-management personnel interface with databases to keep them accurate, reliable, and secure.
• PowerPoint: Creating and Editing a Presentation
  PowerPoint is an important tool for creating presentations suitable for the work environment. This powerful program has many features, but they must be used correctly or else your audience will be distracted or overloaded. Explore the best ways to create an effective presentation that incorporates the right mix of multimedia. Learn how to insert graphics and audio into your presentation in an effective and organized manner.
• Integrating Microsoft Office Programs
  The suite of Microsoft Office products includes Excel and Access, which are both very powerful on their own. In this lesson, you are going to learn how to integrate information from one program to the other.
• Using the Internet
  This is the greatest source of information you'll ever have access to—yet it can be confusing and overwhelming if you are not familiar with the basic Internet tools. Enjoy seeing how easy it is to find information that specifically meets your needs and interests.
• Transferring and Protecting Data
  Cover various methods for transferring information from one computer to another. Explore different terms used to describe the volume of information—or size of a file—and then learn how to most effectively and efficiently move that data from place to place. You'll learn about bytes, megabytes, memory sticks, and external hard drives.
• Putting Your Skills to Work
  In the final lesson, we will focus on putting all your new knowledge to work! We have three specific goals. The first is to identify ways to use your computer skills to find a new job. The second is to use those same computer skills to get a promotion within your current organization. Our third goal is to explore strategies for continued learning in order to support your ever-growing employment goals.

Hardware Requirements: This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.
Software Requirements (Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins):

• PC: Windows 10 or later
• The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred; Microsoft Edge is also compatible
• Any edition of Microsoft Office with desktop apps Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access and Adobe Acrobat Reader (not included in enrollment).

Upon registering, you have six weeks to complete the course.

Course Dates and Times

 Course Hours: 24 Hours

This workshop is offered through our continuing education online partner.