These classes are planned for 8 classroom hours *, which can be broken into ‘modules’ that meet the client needs. They are designed to be live, instructor-led in a traditional classroom setting, however most courses require that each student have a computer for hands-on instruction. Custom classes may also be developed, if required.

* Classes denoted may be longer or shorter, see detailed descriptions.

Office tools

Excel Courses
Excel Basic: The basic functions and features of Excel, simple Functions and Charts
Includes an introduction to spreadsheet terminology and Excel’s window components. Students will learn how to use the Help system and navigate worksheets and workbooks. Then they will enter and edit data as text, values, formulas, and pictures, and they will save workbooks in various formats. Students will also move and copy data, learn about absolute and relative references, and work with ranges, rows, and columns. This course also covers simple functions, basic formatting techniques, and printing. Finally, students will create and modify charts, and learn how to manage large workbooks.

Excel Intermediate: Formatting, PivotTables and Charts
Builds on the skills and concepts taught in Excel Basic. Students will learn how to use multiple worksheets and workbooks efficiently, and they will start working with more advanced formatting options including styles, themes, and backgrounds. They will also learn how to create outlines and subtotals, how to create and apply cell names, and how to work with tables. Students will save workbooks as Web pages, insert and edit hyperlinks, and learn to share workbooks by email. This course also covers advanced charting techniques, use of trend lines and Sparkline’s, worksheet auditing and protection, file sharing and merging, and workbook templates. Finally, students will learn to work with PivotTables and PivotCharts.

Access Courses

Access Basic: Covers the basic functions and features of Access and relational databases
Includes an introduction to database concepts and the Access environment and Help systems, students will learn how to design and create databases. Then they will work with tables, fields, and records; sort and filter data; and set field properties and data entry rules. Students will then learn to create queries, forms, and reports.

Access Intermediate: Expanding on the Basics, covers Relationships, Lookup Fields, and PivotTables
Builds on the skills and concepts taught in Access Basic. Students will learn how to normalize data, manage table relationships, and enforce referential integrity; work with Lookup fields and subdatasheets; create join queries, calculated fields, and summary values; add objects to forms and create advanced form types; print reports and labels; create and modify charts; and use PivotTables and PivotCharts.

Word Courses

Word Basic: Covers the basic functions and features, inserting tables and graphics
Covers the basic functions and features of Word. After an introduction to Word’s window components, students will learn how to use the Help system and navigate documents. Then they will enter and edit text, create and save documents, and learn how to enhance the appearance of a document by using various formatting options. They will also create tables, insert headers and footers, proof and print documents, and insert graphics.

Word Intermediate: Expands on Word Basic and includes styles, columns and Web features
Builds on the skills and concepts taught in Word Basic. Students will work with styles, sections, and columns and will use the Navigation pane to work with outlines. They will format tables, print labels and envelopes, and work with graphics. They will also use document templates, manage document revisions, and work with Web features.

PowerPoint Courses

PowerPoint Basic: Covers the basic functions of PowerPoint, including formatting and transitions
Covers the basic functions and features of PowerPoint. After an introduction to PowerPoint’s window components and Help system, students will learn to create, save, and rearrange presentations. Then they will format text, use drawing objects, work with graphics, and insert tables and charts. They will then learn to use templates and themes, slide masters, and transition effects. Finally, students will learn to proof, run, and print presentations.

PowerPoint Advanced: Expands on the Basics includes themes, the Ribbon and integrating with other Office tools
Builds on the skills and concepts taught in PowerPoint Basic. Students will customize PowerPoint by modifying the Ribbon and changing application settings. They will also apply themes and templates, and they will work with SmartArt graphics and tables. Students will add multimedia content and interactive elements to slides, and they will learn about presentation distribution options including PDF, HTML, and online broadcasts. Finally, students will integrate PowerPoint with Word and Excel.

Business Skills

Writing for Business: How to write in a business environment.
How to write in a business environment. After a review of basic writing skills, students will learn how to write business letters and reports, as well as several types of proposals.

Effective Presentations: Organizing a presentation, overcoming fear of speaking and handling an audience
Students learn how to determine realistic presentation objectives, analyze the audience, use supporting materials effectively, organize a presentation clearly, and successfully incorporate visual aids. Course activities also cover reducing the fear of speaking, remaining calm, appearing relaxed, and improving the delivery of your presentation. Finally, students learn how to assess the audience members and answer their questions, organize a persuasive presentation, and use reasoning and emotional appeals to persuade an audience.

Negotiations Skills: Covers the basics to identify objectives and gain control of a negotiation
Teaches students the basics of negotiations. Students will learn how to identify objectives and variables, establish negotiation requirements, research the other party, determine concessions, formulate a plan for agreement, and determine the logistics of a negotiation. Course activities also cover the guidelines for conducting a successful negotiation and facilitating communication, questions a person should ask and appropriate responses, and situations that require a specific negotiation style. Students will also learn how to gain control in a negotiation, use various negotiation tactics, and deal with unethical negotiation tactics.

Conducting Effective Meetings: Teaches students about planning, participating in, and concluding successful meetings
Teaches students about planning, participating in, and concluding successful meetings. Students learn how to establish the purpose and agenda of a meeting, facilitate participants’ progress toward the meeting goals, improve their leadership abilities, facilitate situation analysis, brainstorming, and decision making, foster creative thinking, manage conflict among meeting participants. Course activities also cover building a positive climate during a meeting and following best practices of verbal and nonverbal communication.

Project Management: Prepare yourslef to earn Certification
5 Day “Project Management Professional” (PMP©) Exam Prep (“PMP Boot Camp”): This preparatory course provides participants with all of the information necessary to take the PMP® exam and pass on the first try! The course covers all ten knowledge areas of project management, as contained in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) Guide 5th Edition in addition to test taking techniques applicants should know when taking PMI’s 200-question (4 hour) certification exam. This multi day curriculum satisfies the 35 hour training requirement for applicants to be eligible to sit for the exam and provides professional development units (PDUs) for each hour of training attended for existing PMPs. Note this is a 5-day class