Course Outline - Summer 2012
5/29 – Introduction and Essential Computer Concepts
Introduction to course
Class software and book
- Microsoft (software versions)
- Academic
software prices (approximate) as of 5/14/2012 (Amazon and Journey Ed)
Product (2010) Microsoft Amazon Academic *Home & Student Edition $120 $105 $120 *Home & Business Edition $200 $165 Professional $350 $371 University 2010 $100 $104 $100 * does not include Access - Virtual Computing Lab (VCL)
- Book
- Cengage/Course Technology (the publisher)
- Our bookstore
- O'Reilly.com - excellent books - but not ours
- Software – two basic types
- Hardware – six basic types (map of MC WiFi zones)
A quick history of PCs and Macs
Windows XP/Vista/7
- Brief history of the Windows Operating System
- Windows OS basics (window anatomy and tools)
- File and disk management
Searching the Internet and MC library databases
5/30 - Podcasting and tips for better podcasts
Podcasting Samples from prior semesters
Podcasting Assignment
Camtasia use, tutorials and debugging
Storytelling basics
5/31 - Word - Creating Documents
Default Document Format (Normal template and how to change it)
Exploring the Word window
Correcting errors
Understanding line and paragraph spacing
Previewing and printing a document
Moving text in a document
Homework #1 - Page Wd 48- Case #2 (Pear Tree Investment Services)
6/5 - Word - Editing and Formatting
Changing margins
Aligning text
Working with themes and fonts
Homework #2 - Page Wd 104- Case #2 (Franklin College of the Arts)
6/6 - Word - Working with Long Reports
Organizing information in tables
Setting tab stops
Adding headers and footers
Homework #3 - Page Wd156 - Case #2 (Municiple Wireless Network)
6/7 - Word - Desktop Publishing
Elements of desktop publishing
Inserting graphics
Performing a simple mail merge
Creating a blog post
Homework #4 - Page Wd 209 - Case #2 (Flannery Investments)
6/12 - Midterm Exam
6/13 - Excel - Key Concepts
History of spreadsheets (VisiCalc and Lotus)
Dimensions of a spreadsheet (1,048,576 rows by 16,384 columns)
Contents of a cell (words, numbers, formulas, functions)
Understanding spreadsheets
Planning a workbook
Working with formulas
Introducing functions
Homework #5 - Page Ex 53- Case #3 (Global Site GPS)
6/14 - Excel - Formatting Worksheets
Formatting data
Formatting worksheet cells
Working with table styles
Introducing conditional formats
Homework #6 - Page Ex113- Case #4 (Life Managers)
6/19 - Excel - Formulas and Functions
Understanding cell references when copying formulas
Understanding function syntax
Working with autofill
Working with logical functions
Working with financial functions
Homework #7 - Page Ex 166 - Case #3 (Eason Financial Services)
6/20 - Excel - Charts and Graphs
Creating charts
Working on chart design
Creating a column chart
Creating a Line chart
Homework #8 - Page Ex 225 - Case #2 (Midwest Tornado Institute)
6/21 - Access - Key Concepts & Creating Tables
Database basics (field, record, table, relationship, database)
Flat file vs. relational database (advantages and disadvantages)
DatabaseStructures.pdf and DatabaseGuidelines.pdf
Creating a database
Creating a table in datasheet view
Entering records
Managing a database
Homework #9 - Page Ac 45- Case #3 (Rossi Recycling Group)
6/26 - Access - Database Objects
Guidelines for setting field properties
Creating a table in design view
Specifying a primary key
Defining table relationships
Creating a form using the form wizard
Creating a report using the report wizard
Homework #10 - Page Ac104- Case #3 (Rossi Recycling Group - continued)
6/27 - PowerPoint - Basics
Suggestions for effective PowerPoint Presentations
Microsoft metaphors (tabs, ribbons, groups, tools)
Switching views and navigating a presentation
Modifying a presentation
Adding a new slide and choosing a layout
Promoting, demoting, and moving outline text
Applying a new theme
Understanding graphics
Creating a table in a slide
Creating a diagram in a slide
6/28 - Final Exam