This curriculum is designed to be flexible based on the student's interests and needs. There are no prerequisites and it is self-paced. The instructor will assess the student to determine appropriate placement. Students who express a desire not to take formal keyboarding may go on to other software packages. Students may focus on one or several software packages which include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, GED Programs, and Pre-GED (Reading & Math). The Internet, E-mail, and Employment Prep Activities are also available.
The class is scalable to varying numbers of students, from one-on-one up to larger class sizes utilizing overhead projection. Because the class curriculum is based on using the Windows operating system throughout the course, instructors should have a basic hands-on knowledge of Windows XP through Windows 7 Operating systems. The office software mandates that the instructor has a working knowledge of Office 2003 with knowledge of the nuances of Office 2007. This knowledge should include the subtle differences in the operating system types and office suite versions to ensure that functional differences can be addressed.
Knowledge of the Internet and the ability to teach learners how to do a web search is important for students. Employability skills for our students will require internet use of on-line forms and email.
Ideally, for the lower level ESL (4 and below), this class should be team taught, with the Computer Lab instructor as a co-instructor aiding the ESL instructor, if needed.
Teaching materials for each class are listed in the Lab Setup section.
Student Set Up and any Students Prerequisites are listed in each named section respectively.
The technical requirements for the lab are listed for the teacher and technicians in "Computer Settings", "Software", "Hardware" and "Lab Files" to ensure that the student files are loaded in the proper locations and that the minimum computer requirements are met to ensure a smooth transition from one skill to the next.
Also included is a list of materials to be made available to each student as handouts and reference sheets, as well as suggestions for a possible box of material to pass around as hands-on samples. These materials for the instructor should be collected before the class leaves.
Student Resources for on-going reference, including Web sites to visit, sources of free employment materials, names of possible leads, magazine references and various other worksheets are included as part of the course.
The instructor should make sure the lab is set up for the next class coming into the lab. That may mean the instructor has to make a lab schedule and share it with other instructors to establish the best time for each class. The instructor should have the lab machines turned on, the desks and stations straightened and the ELMO, Smartboard or the Video Machine set up and ready for the class to begin. While the class is running, the instructor should field any tech or setup questions and help the instructor during the class as needed. After the class the chairs should be pushed in, headphones returned to their place, papers cleared and the station straightened out.
The instructor should make sure the computers are turned off, fans off, presentation media (Projectors, ELMO, Video Machines etc.) are turned off and that the computer lab is locked. Computer Lab instructors are also called on to lend support throughout the day. ELMO carts, printer set up and general software help are part of the daily routine and a working knowledge of the equipment is essential. Studing the manuals and "How To" instructions will make for stress free troubleshooting.
Classes are:
The lab is divided into two parts, the upper lab (room 108) which is used for classes like ESL, Reading Labs or Family Care classes that have large numbers of people at one time. The lower lab (room 107) is used for individuals that are working in curriculums that are self-paced, GED, internet research, documents or email or for classes needing the use of the Smart Board.
Bathrooms are located in the South East corner of the building; Go outside of the lab and into the main hall, then turn left to the vey end, and they are on the left.
The computer lab is located in the small 'trailer' building. The bathrooms are in the main building, in the front doors and straight back and to the right. Ask the instructor to show you if needed.
There are three main computer labs. Check with the computer lab instructor for directions to the bathroom and eating facilities.
In the Valley the bathrooms are located in the West Side of the GED / Computer Lab room.
The computers are set up with a logon so that students cannot change settings or save software on the computers. Some lessons will teach you how to manipulate the system and will not work on the lab computers, so the lessons that reference system settings are for reference or home use only. On your own home computers it is possible that by changing system settings the computer will operate and react very differently than when you started it. It is important to remember: Shutting off and restarting the computer will not reset these settings!! Make your choices very carefully. It is wise to write down system settings before you change them, so that they can be changed back if there are undesirable consequences.
Our classes will show you where these settings are located and how to adjust them, and basically what they are used for.
STUDENTS SHOULD NOT CHANGE SETTINGS ON THE SCHOOL COMPUTERS.
The labs are open Monday to Thursday and are closed Fridays. The instructor names and class times are:
Sean Wash Work First Students
The class sign-in sheet is located on a table in front of theroom. If students come from another class and are signing in and out there, they do not have to sign in or out in the computer lab. However, if students are coming in during off hours and have not signed in anywhere else, then signing in at the lab ensures that the hours will be included in theirr attendance file.
Computers should have permissions for file creation / save in My Documents NETWORK SHARE Folders, BUT NOT THE DESKTOP. Office 2007 and Certificate How To
Use only the official brown Certificate paper that comes from the Graphics Department and add a raised seal on the bottom left. For checkin student progress, projects are saved inside of the "My Documents" > "Students" > [Student Name] Folder. The tracking data for and the projects are checked for accuracy and that the skill set or process of the project is understood. Students need 80% and above to go on, so any score less than that has to be corrected before the certificate is issued. The instructor may require one-on-one time with the student.
Lab files should be set up on the hard drive or network drive with the path ...\My Documents\Lab Files. The lab files should include the Shelley Cashman files for the office materials you are using and the Practical PC and Practical Office Data Files .
In the beginning of the year a folder is created inside of "My Documents" called "Students". As students come in, they click on the desktop icon "My Documents", navigate to the "Students" folder where they create a new folder with their first AND last name. The student can then use this area to place their files. Their files are stored inside the My Documents \ Students \ [Student Name Here] Folder, and then all of the student files can be backed up (burned onto CDs) once or twice a year if you want to do that. NOTE: The folders may eventually contain:
Some of the lessons require student data disks. Practical PC and Practical Office require a folder in "My Documents >> Students >> [Student Name]" for the student tracking disk. The tracking is only for tests.
To set up the tracking disk, insert the Practical Office CD and select "My Computer". When the CD Icon changes, double click it and then click on "Books" to open the program.
When the program starts, select the checkmark "Save tracking data" and remind the student to do that each time. Then fill in the first name, last name and then ABE and then a number 1. Save the file as the default name and place it in the students' folder.
In the beginning of the year a folder is created inside of "My Documents" called "Students". As students come in, they click on the desktop icon "My Documents", navigate to the "Students" folder where they create a new folder with their first AND last name. The student can then use this area to place their files. The USB Flash Drives or Thumb Drives or the floppy A Drives are used as a backup ONLY!
For the Office Suite classes, student data files are located inside of the "My Documents/ Students/ Student Name " folder:
For Practical Office, sometimes the students move the files instead of copying them, and they can be found on the Practical Office CD. Put the CD in and close all of the windows when they open. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the CD and copy the files into the "My Documents/ Lab FIles/ Practical Office" folder.
Contact Ray at (509) 533 - 4619 if you need help.
Some computer labs may still use paper folders that are given to students to store their data and printouts. The folders contain:
The folders are recycled at the end of the school year,(end of Spring quarter) and the floppy disks backed up inside the My Documents \ Students \ [Student Name Here] Folder, and then all of the student files are backed up onto CD for the year. Floppy disks are then re-formatted and the labels removed, new ones placed inside the folders that are a different color for the following year.
Reference materials, dictionaries and phone books are located on the desks in various locations throughout the lab. Class reference manuals, teaching books and computer related courseware are lovated in the black cabinet in the lower lab. If you need help locating anything, ask an instructor for assistance. Student Reference are placed where all can access it in plain view.
These materials include: