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