Ewing SeniorNet Computer Literacy Center
Course Descriptions
Introduction to Computers (6 Sessions) Course Fee: $20 A comprehensive overview that combines lecture and hands on experience to introduce participants to the world of the personal computer. Students will become familiar with the technology and jargon of personal computers. Software applications, such as word processing and database, will be demonstrated to show computer capabilities. Connection to the Internet will also be shown. The application used to demonstrate the various concepts is Microsoft Works. This course covers very basic topics about computers and computing. It should almost always be taken before any other. The only exception would be in the case of an experienced computer user.
Keyboarding Skills and Shortcuts (2 Sessions) Course Fee $10 Learn to use a typing tutor program that will teach you to type with more than one finger. Successfully deal with the anxiety of not knowing where anything is on the keyboard. You will be given the typing tutor program to take home. And once you know all about the keyboard, learn how to use it effectively. You don't really need that mouse. Keyboard shortcuts are easy to learn, they can make your work easier and more efficient and make you look like an accomplished pro.
Introduction to Windows (6 Sessions) Course Fee: $20 Introduces the computer novice to the Windows Operating System. Topics will include an overview of Windows, working with Desktop and Taskbar, accessing Help, manipulating Windows, managing files, and more. Concepts will be demonstrated using both Windows XP and Windows 98. This course should be taken after the Introduction to Computers course and before any others. It covers topics dealing with "How Windows Works." Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers or some computer experience.
Computer Safety (3 Sessions) Course Fee $15 The course will cover how to defend your computer against viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. What to do if you become infected will be demonstrated. How to configure your computer to maximize safety and how to use anti-virus programs, firewalls, and Trojan removers will be discussed. How to manage the many security patches for Windows will also be discussed. Enrollees must have previously taken the Introduction to Windows course and should have Windows XP installed at home. There will be no exceptions to the required prerequisite except by specific permission of the instructor or a designated proxy.
Windows File Management (Four sessions) Course Fee $15 Learn how to manage and organize your computer's the files and folders. Learn basic file operations such as moving, copying, creating, and saving. Learn the powerful things you can do using the right mouse button. Learn how Windows uses file extensions and associations. Except by special permission of the instructor, enrollment is limited to those who have previously taken the Introduction to Windows course and who have Windows XP installed at home.
Word Processing (6 Sessions) Course Fee $20 Introduces the concepts of word processing. Included will be creating, editing, saving, retrieving, and printing documents. Font styles, sizes, margins, tabs, and Spell Check are some of the topics discussed. The application used to demonstrate the various concepts is Microsoft Works. Word processing is exactly what its name implies: processing words. This course covers how to put them in a document, how to change them and move them around, how to save them and print them, and how to make them look the way you want them to (large, small, dark, light, in tables, in columns, as labels, etc.). It should be taken by anyone who wants to communicate in writing with others using a computer. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Spreadsheets (6 Sessions) Course Fee $20 The course will provide the skills to create worksheets, to manipulate worksheet data, to work with formulas and functions, to enhance appearance before printing, and to create charts and graphs. Students will develop basic spreadsheet skills that are transferable to most other spreadsheet programs. The application used to demonstrate the various concepts is Microsoft Works. Spreadsheets are most often used to process numbers. You use them for financial records, mortgage amortization tables, school grades, bowling or golf scores, survey results, etc. Spreadsheets can automatically add, subtract, multiply and divide (and much more!!), thus keeping your records current and correct. Graphs and charts can also be produced from these records. This course should be taken by anyone who needs to process numerical information, but for people who are primarily interested in keeping financial records, the Managing Finances with Quicken course is probably a better choice. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Database Management (6 Sessions) Course Fee $20 Students will learn database concepts and terminology, and how to create and design layouts, sort or group lists of addresses, household inventories, collectibles, recipes, etc. The application used to demonstrate the various concepts is Microsoft Works. A database is like a drawer full of 3" X 5" index cards. Each card contains some information (a recipe, a name and address, the title and author of a book, etc.). This course covers how to create records like these, how to sort and search through them, how to extract selected information, and how to print it out. It should be taken by anyone who wants to put some information into a logical and useable order. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Managing Finances with Quicken (4 Sessions) Course Fee $15 Quicken can manage your checkbook, savings and money market accounts, stocks and bonds, or loans. You will learn to set up a checking account and reconcile that account, keep track of who and where money is spent, create year-end reports showing how each of your dollars was, and how manage a securities portfolio. Quicken is one of two major software programs designed to help people keep track of their financial situation (Microsoft Money is the other). It will be useful for anyone who wants control of his or her financial situation. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Optimize Your Computer's Performance (3 sessions) Course Fee $15 Learn how to keep your computer operating at maximum performance and how to avoid problems. Use of tools included with Windows (CheckDisk, Disk Defragmenter, and Disk Cleanup)will be practiced. Learn how to back up your vital information with System Restore. Learn to employ basic safety measures using anti-virus programs and firewalls. Except by special permission of the instructor, enrollment is limited to those who have previously taken the Introduction to Windows course and who have Windows XP installed at home.
Up-grade Your Computer's Performance (2 sessions) Course Fee $15 Is your computer's performance getting sluggish lately? Learn how to add memory, replace obsolete hard drives and more. A definitely "hands-on" course.
The Internet for Non-AOL Users (6 Sessions) Course Fee $20 This course is for both new and experienced Internet users. Learn how to access and search the World Wide Web, use email, participate in News Groups, transfer files to and from your system, etc. It also covers how to deal with security, viruses and other on-line issues. Users of both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator can benefit from this course. This course covers all major aspects of using the Internet.Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
How to Become a Savvy Email User (4 sessions) Course Fee $15 Learn how to send email, pictures, and files to your friends and associates as well as how to receive them safely, how to reply to email messages and how to forward them on to others. The course covers topics such as how to create an address book, how to deal with spam, how to avoid viruses and email etiquette. The course uses Outlook Explorer as the example email program; nevertheless users of Thunderbird, Netscape Messenger, Eudora, Juno and many other popular email clients can benefit from this course.Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Planning Travel on the Web (4 Sessions) Course Fee $15 Planning a trip or vacation is often as much fun as actually taking it. In this course you'll learn how to sniff out interesting places to go, how to find out what to do while you're there and how much it costs, how to find the fastest and most economical way of getting there, and where to get recommendations and suggestions on places to stay and eat ... all free and all on the World Wide Web. Get the information, learn from others' experiences, make reservations online and have a ball doing it.Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Downloading From the Internet (2 Sessions) Course Fee $15 The Internet is full of fun photos, videos and programs available to be downloaded and used on your own computer. This course will show some of the places to find free programs and will give hands-on instruction of the methods and techniques of safe downloading. Enrollees must have previously taken the Introduction to Windows course. There will be no exceptions to the required prerequisite except by specific permission of the instructor or a designated proxy.
The Many Faces of Google (6 sessions) Course Fee $20 Google is arguably the most popular as well as the most powerful search engine available. But did you know that, in addition to searching the web, Google can do calculations, provide dictionary definitions, check airport and flight status, track FedEx and UPS packages, scan L.L. Bean catalogs and more? This course will show you how to use all the powerful features of this great search engine. Recommended prerequisite: Some computer experience.
Buying and Selling on eBay (4 Sessions) Course Fee $15 Visit the largest garage sale in the world by entering the world of eBay. You will learn to navigate through eBay by browsing sale items, how to tell when an auction will end, how to determine whether a seller is trustworthy and how to bid or buy items safely. Part two of the course will help you create a practice auction listing. This will include the writing of a description and photo of the sale item. You will learn about the responsibilities of a seller throughout the auction process. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Creating Cards, Calendars and Labels (4 Sessions) Course Fee $15 This course will teach you to quickly and easily create greetings cards, signs and posters, banners, certificates, stationary, calendars, and labels. The application used to demonstrate the various concepts is Print Artist.Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Digital Photography (6 Sessions) Course Fee $20 Learn how to import photos into your computer from a a digital camera, scanner, email or web site and how to edit and enhance them. The course also covers how to send and receive photos to and from relatives and friends via email and the web, and the fun things to do with photos and computers (e.g. create a digital photo album CD to give to friends and relatives). This course is not just about digital cameras. In fact, you don't have to own one to benefit from the course. Digital images come from many sources in addition to digital cameras (commercial CDs, email, web sites, scanners, etc.) Finally, you can print the photo, email it, fax it or save it on the web or in a computerized photo album. Anyone who likes pictures will benefit from this course. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Genealogy (6 Sessions) Course Fee $20 This course consists of class instruction and lab time showing you how to organize and display basic and detailed genealogy information, including how to search archives and print family trees. A lab period provides time for application and practice. The application used to demonstrate the various concepts is Family Tree Maker. This course is for people who are seriously interested in genealogical research. Recommended prerequisite: Some computer experiencee.
Creating a Free Personal Web Page (4 Sessions) Course Fee $15 Have fun creating your own personal page on the Web! It is easy and does not cost anything! Learn how to design a web site, include photos, graphics, links to other web pages, and more. This course is for anyone who wants to create and maintain his or her own web site (to display family pictures, exchange messages, publicize a club or organization, state their views on an issue, etc.). It covers everything you need to know from where to find a free place on the World Wide Web to locate your page to how to design it and publicize it. The approach used is WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) which means that no programming language is involved.Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
Share Your Life Storyo (6 sessions) Course Fee $30 This course gives people a simple way to record their personal biographies and family history. The people and relatives we have known over the course of our lives may not be famous, but our memories of them and what they taught us have extraordinary value. Information for the story is compiled using a series of organized, thought-provoking key questions and templates which can also incorporate photographs. Such questions might ask the writer to describe his or her parents to someone who had never met them; recount family celebrations or vacations that stand out in their memory; recount a teenage experience; or simply pass on a motto the biographer has come to guide him or her through life. The completed story can be read in both a computerized and hard copy version. Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows, or equivalent experience.
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