Computer Studies: Intermediate Level – Computer Skills

Goal Statement

Computers are a part of daily life in personal, work and educational environments. The goal of an Intermediate Level computer course is to introduce adult learners to the use of the computer as a tool so that they become more confident and able to function more efficiently with a computer.

Core Skills

Students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

A. Keyboarding

• use correct touch typing techniques and procedures
• achieve an adjusted typing speed of 20 wpm

B. Introduction to Computers

• give examples of the history of computers and range of applications in society
• describe commonly used computer terminology and acronyms
• describe the differences between hardware and software
• assess and modify workspace ergonomics

C. Operating System

• demonstrate use of basic operating system maintenance and management functions (e.g., task manager, start up applications, add/remove applications, system and driver updates)
• demonstrate the ability to correctly name, and locate, and identify files and folders
• demonstrate the ability to perform basic file and folder operations (e.g., copy, move, delete, restore and rename)

D. Word Processing

• create a new word processing document and save it to a specified location
• use templates to create documents
• retrieve a document from a specified location
• print a document using advanced options
• use tools, such as spelling and grammar, thesaurus, and search
• modify text using basic operational tools (e.g., copy, cut, paste)
• format text using basic text formatting tools (e.g., fonts, text treatments, and paragraph settings such as bullets, spacing, indents and tab stops)
• format a page using basic page layout properties (e.g., margins, orientation, size, columns, and breaks)
• insert and modify objects and features (e.g., tables, pictures, shapes, headers, footers, and page numbers)

E. Electronic Communications

• perform a targeted Internet search
• evaluate online sources using basic techniques (e.g., identify author, publication date, citations/references, funding sources)
• send and receive email with file attachments
• recognize security problems associated with Internet (e.g., passwords and multi-factor identification, online shopping and banking, malware, phishing scams, suspicious file attachments)
• identify online privacy concerns (e.g., social media, digital fingerprint, sharing personal information, understanding disclosure and permanence of online information)
• demonstrate the ability to participate in an online course (e.g., download and upload files, complete online activities, use synchronous communication tools such as Zoom)

F. Options

• import information to a word processor from other sources (e.g., graphs, graphics, spreadsheets, and the Internet)
• perform basic spreadsheet operations
• create and deliver a slideshow or poster using presentation software
• transfer, manage, edit, and share digital photos using basic photo editing software