ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Gain essential skills by learning about the Windows or Macintosh operating system, the Microsoft Office suite, and presentation equipment.

Using Projection and Presentation Equipment 

Macintosh Basics Tips & Tricks 
Macintosh Advanced Tips & Tricks

Microsoft Excel Basics
Statistics in Excel  Updated 2/20

Presentations in PowerPoint, Basics
Presentations in PowerPoint, Advanced 

RefWorks and Write-N-Cite
 

Have your Computer Read to You and Other Accessibility Features


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Using Projection and Presentation Equipment    

Be prepared for your organization’s big event! Learn how to use the built-in classroom media equipment now, and avoid stress later. This one-hour session will cover using the digital projector, VCR, DVD player, and cable TV hookup in classrooms, plus how to hook up a laptop and other equipment. You will also get an overview of using the equipment in all of the major auditoriums on campus. Lots of opportunities for hands-on practice will be given.

Prerequisites:  Basic knowledge of how to use a VCR and DVD player.

Instructor: Stephen Davis

Date: Wednesday, February 4th
Time: 12:00-1:00 PM
Location: Wright Hall 5

Workshop Objectives:

• Provide training on how to use the standard classroom media equipment.
• Give opportunity for hands-on practice. Explain variations in auditorium equipment.

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)
Presentation Handout (PDF)

Related Links:

Classroom Support website
Classroom Equipment Database

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Macintosh Basic Tips & Tricks

Do you want to get to know your Mac better? This workshop will cover basic features of OS X that will make your everyday computer use easier and more streamlined. 

Prerequisites:

• Familiarity with Mac OS X.
• An interest in learning how to make better use of your Mac.

Platform: MAC only

Instructor:  Bruce O'Leary

Date: Monday, February 2nd
Time: 6:30-8:30
Location: Seelye B3

OR

Date: Thursday, February 12th
Time: 3:00-5:00
Location: Seelye B3

Workshop Objectives:

Provide demonstrations of basic features that can greatly improve your computing experience, including how to find the appropriate help documentation or instructions.

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Advanced Macintosh Tips & Tricks

Ready to go beyond the basics? Ever wonder what Automator can do, or what Folder Actions are for? This workshop will delve into those and more, including using Terminal for Unix commands, adding plug-ins and widgets, and keeping your Mac running clean and fast.

Prerequisites:

• Good familiarity with Mac OS X.
• An interest in learning how to make efficient use of your Mac.

Instructor: Bruce O'Leary

Date: Monday, February 9th

Time: 6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Seelye B3

Workshop Objectives:

• Provide specific information and demonstrations of Mac maintenance procedures.
• Provide information and demonstrations of Unix, Plug-Ins and automation options on the Mac.

Related Links:

Mac OS X Hints
OSX FAQ’s Tip of the Day
Apple’s Mac 101
Tuning Mac OS X Performance
Mac World How-To
Your Multilingual Mac
Mac OS X Unix Tutorial


To register for this workshop, click here.

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Microsoft Excel 2007 Basics

This class will cover the fundamental elements of Excel. You will learn to enter and edit data, navigate within a workbook, and use basic formatting, simple formulas, and functions. Learn to create a chart from your data.

Prerequisites: Basic familiarity with the Windows or Macintosh operating system.

Instructor: Liane Hartman

Date: Tuesday, February 10th
Time: 3:00-5:00PM
Location: Seelye B2


OR

Date: Thursday, February 19th
Time: 3:00-5:00PM
Location: Seelye B2

OR

Date: Wednesday, March 4th (Faculty and Staff only)
Time: 9:00-11:30AM
Location: Seelye B2

Objectives:  

Participants will become familiar with the following topics and procedures:

• Identify the basic elements of a worksheet
• Enter a variety of data
• Format data
• Auto Fill feature
• Basic formulas
• Basic elements of a chart

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Handout (PDF)

Related Links:

Microsoft Excel 2007 Online Training

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Statistics in Excel

This session will provide participants with an understanding of how to use Excel for statistical analysis. Descriptive analysis such as mean, median, mode, and standard deviation, some inferential statistics, and charting will all be covered. Participants will leave the workshop with a better understanding of the capabilities and limitations of Excel for statistical analysis.

Prerequisites: Basic familiarity with Microsoft Excel.

Instructor: Thomas Laughner


Date: Thursday, February 12th
Time: 12:00-1:00 PM
Location: Seelye B3

OR

Date: Thursday, February 26th   New
Time: 12:00-1:00 PM
Location: Seelye B3

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Presentations in PowerPoint 2007, Basics  

This workshop is an introduction to the basics of Microsoft PowerPoint, the popular digital slideshow software. Participants will learn to create a new slideshow and add slides, choose a slide layout and create their own custom layouts, insert photos, charts, and other graphics, and choose a design template and customize their own. This workshop will also include tips on how to use PowerPoint effectively to highlight a presentation and keep the audience’s attention.

Prerequisites:

• Some basic computer experience, such as word processing and checking email.
• Participants should be PowerPoint beginners. This course will start from the very beginning.

Instructor: Caroline Moore

Date: Monday, February 2nd canceled
Time: 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Location: Seelye B2

OR

Date: Tuesday, February 10th
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Location: Seelye B2


Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)
Presentation Handout (PDF)

Related Links:

Microsoft PowerPoint website
Online Templates
Online PowerPoint Training
Advanced PowerPoint Tutorials

To register for this workshop, click here.

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Presentations in PowerPoint 2007, Advanced

Have you ever seen a PowerPoint presentation where elements flew on and off screen, or one slide faded into the next, and wondered how it worked? This session will teach you all about using Animations and Transitions in PowerPoint to add interest and emphasis to your presentations. You will also learn tips on how to use these features for best effect, and when to stick to the basics.

Prerequisites: Familiarity with all topics covered in PowerPoint Basics.

Instructor: Caroline Moore

Date: Monday, February 16th
Time: 3:30-5:30 PM
Location: Seelye B2

Workshop Objectives:

• Demonstrate the use of Animations and Transitions in PowerPoint.
• Show the participants how to use built-in Animations and Transitions and how to customize and create their own.
• Provide hands-on activities for participants to try out each step of creating a presentation.

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Outline (PDF)

Related Links:

Microsoft Powerpoint website
Cool PowerPoint Animations Tutorial

To register for this workshop, click here.

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RefWorks and Write-N-Cite

RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic management program that enables users to store, manage, and output (in a variety of styles) bibliographic references from various sources, including online article databases. RefWorks can help you effectively organize and manage citations while conducting research, incorporate references into word processing documents, and create independent bibliographies in a variety of styles. In order to use RefWorks, users must first create an individual account.

Write-N-Cite is a feature within RefWorks which allows you to access your references while working within Microsoft Word. Write-N-Cite allows you to insert citation placeholders and when you are ready to add a bibliography to the end of the document, Write-n-Cite will create a bibliography and properly format your in-text citations based upon only those references that have been inserted into your Word document.

Prerequisites: None.

Instructor: David Podboy and Liane Hartman

Date: Wednesday, February 11th
Time: 3:00-4:30 PM
Location: Neilson Library Classroom

OR

Date: Thursday, February 26th
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Location: Neilson Library Classroom

Objectives:

Participants will become familiar with the following topics and procedures:

• Import references directly from online databases
• Import references in a text file
• Add references manually
• Create folders
• Sort and edit
• In-text citations
• Citation Placeholder within Word

Instructional Content and Learning Activities:

Presentation Handout (PDF)


To register for this workshop, click here.

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Have Your Computer Read to You and Other Accessibility Features

Learn about the built in accessibility features for Windows with a focus on text reading (how to have your computer "read" to you) and Adobe Acrobat "read out loud".  You'll also see voice recognition and we'll discuss how and for whom this may be helpful.

Prerequisites: None.

Instructor: Maureen Bourbeau

Date: Thursday, February 19th
Time: 4:00 - 5:00
Location: Seelye B3

To register for this workshop, click here.

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