Most jobs today require a working knowledge of certain computer skills. Employers seek and reward employees with the skills and knowledge to send messages across the country via e-mail; use a spreadsheet to create a graph and paste it into a report; add and edit data in a database; understand the implications of file sizes, memory limitations, and network arrangements; and recognize the function and features of modern computer components. Any job candidate who already possesses these skills will stand above those who do not.

This course is designed to provide the fundamental computer competencies you need to survive and prosper in today's fast-changing workplace. You will learn how to implement the powers of modern office software to work faster and more efficiently. We'll focus on practical application for software most common to the workplace. When you finish this course, you will have learned why employers consider technological literacy so critical to the success of any organization.

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Microsoft Windows XP or newer with any edition of Microsoft Office Pro or newer (please make sure Microsoft Office is installed and operating before the course begins); Internet access, e-mail, and the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser. Note: your version of Windows is not extremely important and will impact only a small part of the course. Many students will have a version of Windows that differs from Windows 7 in which the course was written. Simply ask the instructor for clarification on how to accomplish any tasks when necessary. Also note: Mac users are welcome, but please note that the course was written using Microsoft Windows. Students using Mac OS X with any edition of Microsoft Office 2004 (Mac) can be supported in the discussion areas.

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be David Paquin.

“ Computer skills is something I have been lacking for years now. I am already learning more than I thought I ever would. Instructor Dave presents the information in a very easy to understand format which basically makes it like child play. I am extremely pleased with both the instructor and the information being presented. Now that I am learning these new skills, I know I will be an asset to any organization in todays work force. Thanks Instructor Dave. I have a totally new outlook on life in general! ”

“ Dave, thanks so much for an awesome class! I am looking for a new opportunity after 20 years with one employer and this was the perfect course to teach me things so that I could be competitive in my job search. I also recommended and sent the link to a friend and I know he is excited about taking your course as well. ”

“ Dave, you're a fabulous teacher. You have opened a door for me. You really know your stuff and it's been a great experience doing each lesson, reading and participating in the discussions and gaining knowledge that makes me feel confident in handling my work and/or problems that arise with the computer. I plan to take more courses and see how far I can go. Thank you so very much! ”

“ Great class, great material. I have already implemented what I have learned and got a great promotion!! Thanks for taking the scariness out of the computer world for me. I am looking forward to more on-line classes, this is a great way to learn. Thanks Dave. ”

“ I enjoyed this course. I felt rather "computer illiterate" before taking it, but found that I knew more than I thought I did. Also; my trouble areas weren't as difficult as I expected them to be. I would highly reccomend this course and may take others myself. Thank you very much for your assistance. ”

“ I'm so excited about having taken this online course. It has truly proven to be very beneficial to me in both my work environment and personal use, as well as managing my spouse’s small business. I have recommended this course to some of my friends and family. When I first took the pre-test I scored 69%. Needless to say I was quite discouraged. I'm happy to say that after the 12 lessons and finally taking the final exam I scored 100% on the final exam. Instructor Dave you did a great job with course presentation and replies to our questions. We all owe you for this wonderful new wealth of knowledge. Thank you! ”

“ I really enjoyed taking the course and learning the names of some of the things I have been doing. I enjoyed this class so much that I am taking more computer courses in the near future. ”

“ I thought this course was extremely helpful in improving my skills and liked the style of the course and would like to take more on-line courses in the future. ”

“ I've used a computer in my home for approximately 9 years and what I know I've learned from my husband, and one other computer course, and a lot of trial and error. I recently entered the work force and want to feel confident in what I know. This course helped with that. Taking this class has helped me feel a little more confident and has inspired me to take some harder courses for the more specific information I will need to do my job. Although, this did not start out to be the class for me, I am glad I did pursue it. ”

“ I was juggling this course and another (Intro to Word) while simultaneously seeking employment all summer. Happily I completed both classes and was able to land a temp-to-hire job primarily based on my familiarity with spreadsheets. A computer literacy test was required; many of the questions were covered in this course. I was able to impress them with a score in the 85th percentile, thanks to these classes. I plan to follow your advice and continue to build my computer skills next session with Intermediate Word and Excel. Thanks, Instructor Dave! ”