Course Description
This course is a "hands-on" computer course. The students will build on their working knowledge of computers while developing new skills in using spreadsheets, presentation software, databases, and PDF editors. Students will apply the knowledge and use of these tools to solve problems encountered in an office environment. Students will be expected to integrate their learning and to incorporate the use of these tools in the production of professional documents that adhere to workplace standards.
Course Content
Module 1 - Presentation Software [2]
- Create and edit the text of a presentation.
- Add animation and transition effects to a presentation.
- Add and format clip art, pictures, shapes, smartart, video and audio in presentations.
- Insert and format a table and chart in presentations.
Module 2 - Databases [5]
- Create a relational database with multiple tables.
- Modify and update tables while establishing validation rules.
- Establish and use input masks.
- Perform a variety of queries and generate related forms and reports.
- Create, modify, print and save forms.
- Create, modify, print and save reports.
- Create a form with a sub-form.
- Create and use a lookup field.
- Create and use a calculated field.
- Add controls to both forms and reports.
Module 3 - Spreadsheets [4]
- Solve problems involving the PMT, FV, AND, OR, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, IFERROR, COUNTIF, SUMIF, and AVERAGEIF functions.
- Work with large spreadsheets--freeze panes, hide rows/columns.
- Use relative, absolute, and mixed references.
- Create, format and filter a spreadsheet table.
- Create, filter and sort a PivotTable and related PivotChart.
- Link cells in multiple worksheets.
- Link multiple workbooks.
- Use conditional formatting.
- Use defined names in formulas.
- Protect contents of worksheets and workbooks and create an application utilizing a macro.
Module 4 - PDF Editors [3]
- Create a PDF document from various sources.
- Arrange, insert and delete PDF document pages.
- Edit and format PDF document text and images.
- Add, modify, arrange and format bookmarks.
- Create, resize and align links.
- Add notes, text and drawing markups.
- View, organize and summarize comments.
- Create, format and modify fillable forms.
- Create, format and modify multimedia presentations.
Learning Activities
A combination of lecture, demonstration, guided practice, web-based training, and self-paced lab assignments and simulation projects may be used. Active learning is an integral part of this course, and major emphasis will be placed on a "hands-on" environment to allow students to work both independently and collaboratively to learn and apply computer application skills and techniques.
Means of Assessment
| PowerPoint Test |
|
10-15% |
| Access Test |
|
25-30% |
| Excel Test |
|
15-25% |
| PDF Test |
|
15-20% |
| Assignments |
|
5-10% |
| Project(s) |
|
5-15% |
| Total |
|
100% |
Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.
Learning Outcomes
The learning has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Use the operating system interface to perform basic software functions and to organize and manage directories and files effectively;
- Use database software to create and maintain tables in a relational database, and routinely retrieve information by performing queries to generate a variety of forms and reports;
- Use presentation software to produce slideshows that include clip art, pictures, shapes, smartart, tables, charts, video, and audio, and animates both text and graphics;
- Use spreadsheet software to solve a variety of business problems requiring mathematical solutions;
- Use a PDF editor to produce a variety of business documents meeting industry standards for timely completion, correctness of content and format, and professional appearance;
- Use the computer as a decision-making and problem-solving tool; and
- Produce business documents requiring the integration of all applications found in a typical office suite.
Textbook Materials
Zimmerman, Beverly B., Zimmerman, S. Scott, and Katherine T. Pinard. New Perspectives on Microsoft PowerPoint, Introductory, Latest Ed., Nelson Education: Course Technology Cengage Learning.
Adamski, Joseph J. and Kathleen T. Finnegan. New Perspectives on Microsoft Access, Introductory, Latest Ed., Nelson Education: Course Technology Cengage Learning.
Parsons, June Jamrich, Oja, Dan, Ageloff, Roy and Patrick Carey. New Perspectives on Microsoft Excel, Introductory, Latest Ed., Nelson Education: Course Technology Cengage Learning.
Adobe Acrobat: Classroom in a Book. Latest Ed., Adobe Press.
Skills Assessment Manager (SAM), Latest Ed., Nelson Education: Course Technology Cengage Learning.
Or other textbooks and online assessment tools as approved by the department.