Computer Software 1 Syllabus
Instructor: Vincent L. Doyle
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The purpose of the course is to provide student viewers with an introduction to the world of computers and the software packages that run computers.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To remove some of the mystery surrounding computers and how they work
To introduce the computer as a powerful tool to accomplish tasks more quickly and efficiently
To introduce the concepts of DOS and Windows
To introduce specific software applications
Lessons 1-5 DOS
History of the Computer
Components of the Computer
What happens when the computer is turned on
Preparing a diskette for use
Definition and difference between storage and memory
Working with autoexec.bat and config.sys
Moving between directories
File extensions
Emergency boot diskette
DOS idiosyncrasies
Keyboard shortcuts
Delete/undelete
Proper mouse control
Help screen
Lessons 6-16 WINDOWS
Background and reasons for the Development of Windows
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
Concept of folders on a desktop
Pulldown menu (window shade)
Help Access and the importance of Tutorials
Review of the Windows’ concept
Parts of a window
Definition of default
Program Groups
Dialog Box
Readme Files
Customizing the Windows’ environment
Control Panel (Fonts, color, etc.)
Desktop (screensavers, introduction of passwords)
Date/time stamp
Moving more efficiently in a Window
Control Menu Box--commands to be activated by keyboard or mouse and what they do
Accessories--the reason for them
Paintbrush
Notepad
Calendar
Write, Cardfile, and Calculator as a basis for later applications
The importance of the Print Manager
Switch To command
Alt +Tab keyboard sequence
Copy and Paste
File Manager and its relationship to DOS
File Manager Functions and their power
Installing non-Windows and Windows applications
Creating Program Groups and Items
Browse Command
Lessons 17-22 Printers and Word For Windows 6.0
Types of Printers and their various purposes
Principal parts of a dot matrix printer
Different feeds
The on-line light
Word for Windows 6.0
Pulldown menu
The concept of the toolbar button
The different shapes and purposes of the cursor
Help
Creating, saving and printing a document
File Summary command
Copy and Paste in conjunction with Switch To and Clipboard viewer
Using many documents to create one multi-page document
Find Command
Formatting different parts of the text
Moving around in a document
Auto Correct
Bullets and Numbering
Spell Check
Grammar Check
Thesaurus
The importance of the Print Preview command
Lessons 23-25 WordPerfect 6.0
An overview of WordPerfect for Windows 6.0
File conversion and formatting options
Watermarks
Moving a document between different word processors and problems associated with it
Lessons 26-28 The database program Microsoft Access 2.0
Introduction to Microsoft Access for Windows 2.0
The purpose of the database
The design process of the database
The different type of screens in the database and the spreadsheet
The concept of Microsoft Cue Cards
Fields, columns, and rows
Entering data
Sorting a large table in Access
Print and Page Setup
Portrait and Landscape orientation
Printing a Database table in Landscape orientation
Lessons 29-31 The spreadsheet program Microsoft Excel 4.0
Introduction to Excel for Windows 4.0
The concept of the spreadsheet
The concept of the size of a given worksheet and how to not only move around in it, but to know where you are
Create a spreadsheet for an employee
Absolute and relative references
Save and print the spreadsheet using landscape orientation
Create a solution for a specific task
Create a letter and copy and paste a spreadsheet into it
Save and print the merged information
Lesson 32 Mail Merge and Conclusion
Mail Merge in Word for Windows 6.0
Create a solution for a specific task
Create a form letter as Main document
Create data source
Merge information
Save, Preview, and print five (5) form letters using merged information