Course Descriptions

WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT

MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007 OVERVIEW

Explore and experience the redesigned look and feel of the Office 2007 suite:  Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.  Although this latest release has a totally new look, the reliability and flexibility of your trusted software essentials remain.  This is “blue ribbon” stuff!

WINDOWS XP

Discover what the upgraded Windows environment has to offer. Learn how to manipulate the newest features on your desktop like My Documents and My Computer. Also learn how to manage Windows Explorer and much more.

WINDOWS VISTA

The wow starts now! Preview Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista. Basic features will be demonstrated with an opportunity for Q&A. Office 2007 and Internet Explorer v.7 will also be featured. This session is not hands-on.

E-MAIL

Microsoft Outlook is a mail system that allows you to make appointments with its electronic calendar system, Microsoft Outlook Calendar.  You will also have a chance to setup a rolodex within your mail, and with just a click of a button you will be able to go directly to your hard drive to access a document.

OUTLOOK 2007

Better manage your time and information using Outlook 2007.  The Office Fluent Interface incorporates an intuitive experience integrating the expanded functionalities found in the other Office 2007 applications.

OUTLOOK CALENDAR 2007

Utilize the electronic calendar in Microsoft Outlook to schedule appointments, arrange meetings, and generally organize your time.  Learn how to “digitize” your date book and improve professional and personal efficiency.  New 2007 features include a really simple calendar sharing process, calendar snapshots, task integration into your calendar and improved scheduling capabilities.

OUTLOOK 2003

Learn how to utilize the multi-purpose communication tool, Microsoft Outlook.  You will discover how you can organize, sort, and categorize messages effectively. Learn how to manage your personal address book, create an AutoSignature, attach a file, access your e-mail account from a remote location and much more.

OUTLOOK CALENDAR 2003

Utilize the electronic calendar in Microsoft Outlook to schedule appointments, arrange meetings, and generally organize your time.  Learn how to “digitize” your date book and improve professional and personal efficiency.

OUTLOOK TASKS

A task is a personal or work-related errand you want to track through completion.  Tasks can be as simple as “pick up Johnny at baseball practice” or they can contain start and end dates with detailed instructions. Tasks can be used to chart the progress of a complex project over a period of time, can be assigned to others and can even be modified to contain billing information.  Tasks are located in Microsoft Outlook.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

INTERNET EXPLORER v. 7.0

Improved security and a new interface are two of the technical reasons for the Internet Explorer v.7 upgrade. Attend this informative overview and discover the dozen or so other really COOL features. 

HTML

In this introductory course, learn how to create and maintain a web page using the authoring program, HTML, as well as compose HTML documents using text editors. Topics Covered include: formatting, creating tables, incorporating images, hyperlinks and adding color.               

WEBMAIL

Learn how to access your WCU email from an off-campus location. This convenient utility has recently received a facelift and is easier and more appealing than ever!

prerequisite: you must have a wcu email account

WEB ACCESS TO FINANCIAL REPORTS

The PeopleSoft Financials implementation has delivered access to university financial reports through the WCU Web page.  Learn how to access these reports and receive detailed explanations on report components as well as new features/improvements. 
NOTE:  Only dept. managers or their designees should register for this session. 

PAYMENTNET

Need a refresher on using PaymentNet to manage your Purchasing Card transactions? Learn to use the full power of the PaymentNet website. Topics include: Transaction Review, Transaction Reporting and Statement Generation. Questions about PaymentNet and the Card Program in general will be welcomed! (Open to current WCU Purchasing Cardholders only.)

INTRODUCTION TO DREAMWEAVER

Expand your web design knowledge. Experience how simple it is to create and manage a professional web site using Macromedia Dreamweaver. You will gain a basic understanding of this web development application.

PREREQUISITE: HTML

CREATING FORMS IN DREAMWEAVER

Forms are a primary way of web interactivity allowing you to collect information and transmit that information to an email address. Forms can be used for surveys, information gathering, online quizzes, applications, etc. You can also use Dreamweaver to create and add objects to your forms such as text fields, buttons, checkboxes, radio buttons, and list/menus as well as text, tables, and images.

PREREQUISITE: INTRO TO DREAMWEAVER

WEB DESIGN

“Your competition is just a click away” Come learn how to best design your site to attract users and how to keep them interested in coming back.   Topics include: homepage design, navigational menus, structure of secondary pages, as well as, the general dos and don’t's of web design.

ONLINE MARKETPLACE

This seminar offers information to help you shop safely and wisely while in the comfort of your own home. Explore the convenience and variety of online shopping while securing your personal and financial information. We will discuss internet auction sites, Craigslist, and other web-based retail shopping sites. This promises to be a lively discussion on the pros and cons of internet shopping.

COMMUNICATION TOOLS FORUM

Over the past several years, a new online social frontier has evolved. Interactive forums such as Facebook, mySpace, Instant Messenger, as well as other internet-based communication tools have dominated popular culture. Join the active participates, current WCU students, as we explore this booming advance in social technology.

CREATING ONLINE SURVEYS…Using “SURVEY MONKEY”

Online surveys have become an important mechanism for gathering information, conducting research and performing assessments.  Survey Monkey is an online tool for developing and launching online surveys, which also includes functionality for compiling and analyzing respondent data.  Come learn the basics of this inexpensive and feature-filled program.

Word Processing

Microsoft Word for Windows is a powerful word-processing tool.  Word allows you to create letters, documents and memos, and with the click of the mouse, features like text enhancements, graphics, tables and columns will help you to create a professional looking document easily.

WORD 2007

Microsoft Office Word 2007 takes you to the next level of document production.  Appreciate the new features and improved interface of this software application staple.

MAILMERGE FOR MICROSOFT WORD 2007

Learn how to create and customize various document types for mass mailings with this time-saving tool.  Utilize Word 2007 functionalities to produce professional form letters or mailing labels.

PREREQUISITE: WORD 2007

WORD 2003

Get acquainted with the latest and greatest updates that Word 2003 has to offer. You will learn new ways to create, save, and print documents.  Learn how to effectively use smart tags and master task pane features.

GENERIC WORD 2003

This word processing standard is a proven remedy for text creation, but will it hold up to rigid publisher restrictions?  The answer is yes.  Register for this session and learn how to create (and control) page numbering, headers/footers, footnotes, endnotes, paragraph and text formatting.

MICROSOFT PUBLISHER 2003  

Microsoft Publisher 2003 is a publishing program that allows users to create professional looking documents such as newsletters, flyers, brochures, gift certificates, and business cards. This unique program includes several different pre-designed templates that make it quick and easy to create a professional-looking document.

PREREQUISITE: WORD 2003

WORD 2003 INTERMEDIATE

Expand your word processing skill level, integrating new features.

prerequisite: word 2003

MAILMERGE FOR MICROSOFT WORD 2003

Learn how to create and customize various document types for mass mailings with this time-saving tool.

GRAPHICS, COLUMNS, AND TABLES IN WORD 2003

Word XP provides the ability to easily create various types and sizes of tables and columns.  In this seminar, you will learn how to create, navigate, and format documents that include desktop publishing features.

prerequisite: word 2003

SPREADSHEET

Microsoft Excel for Windows is one of the most respected spreadsheet packages on the market.  Spreadsheets allow you to keep a budget for financial planning and will do all of the calculating for you.

EXCEL 2007

Analyze this:  In Excel 2007, you will be amazed at the expanded workspace, improved functionality and dramatic visual effects delivered by this upgraded workhorse.

CHARTS AND GRAPHS FOR EXCEL 2007

Excel 2007 turns information entered inside rows and columns into an easy to read and comprehendable chart complete with pretty colors! 

PREREQUISITE: EXCEL 2007

EXCEL 2003

Master the basics of this powerful calculating application.  Discover the cool new tools and functionality that Excel XP has to offer. See how this dependable workhorse has been reinvented.

ADVANCED EXCEL

Master the advanced techniques Excel has to offer, such as linking worksheets, adding graphics, and the new feature "text to speech".

PREREQUISITE: EXCEL 2003 OR EXCEL 2007

MANAGING DATA WITH EXCEL 2003

Utilize your excel skills in data management. This session will demonstrate the rich set of list management features making it simple to organize and analyze information. In this seminar you will learn how to sort, query, filter, and create pivot tables and much more.

PREREQUISITE: EXCEL 2003

CHARTS AND GRAPHS FOR EXCEL 2003

Microsoft has made creating Charts and Graphs more user-friendly. This seminar will provide you with the knowledge of how to create, save, and print sophisticated charts and graphs from your worksheet data in Excel XP.

PREREQUISITE: EXCEL 2003

PRESENTATION PACKAGE

Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows is the leader in presentation graphics software.  PowerPoint features include text handling, outlining, drawing, graphing and presentation management tools which help to create professional looking presentations with the click of the mouse.

POWERPOINT 2007

The remake of PowerPoint further simplifies the creation of high-impact presentations while incorporating improved functionality with new visuals and designs.  Take a test run and realize how easy it is to effectively deliver information in this visual format.

POWERPOINT 2003

Learn how to create an effective presentation using the latest version of the windows based presentation package: PowerPoint XP.  Discover how to create slides, import graphics, enhance text/background, and how to pack and go.

WEB PUBLISHING IN POWERPOINT 2003

Learn how to increase your presentation skills by incorporating PowerPoint XP and various multimedia techniques, such as sound, video, and animation.  Discover how to convert your presentations into HTML format to incorporate into the Internet.

prerequisite: PowerPoint 2003

ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS

PEOPLESOFT - Faculty

This faculty-focused seminar will demonstrate how to access and navigate myWCU - PeopleSoft Campus Solutions 9.0.   During this session you will learn how to view faculty workloads, class rosters, student records, student advisement information, on-line grading and much more.  Participation in this class is a requirement for account and security privileges.    

PEOPLESOFT - Staff

This is a staff-focused seminar utilizing PeopleSoft Campus Solutions 9.0 (myWCU).  You will learn how to navigate the Student Services Center, obtain information on Work/Study students within your department, class information – including faculty work schedules and rosters, and how to run departmental reports.  Participation in this class is a requirement for account and security privileges.   

BASIC SAP NAVIGATION

Recently WCU migrated from the PeopleSoft Financial software system to the PASSHE SAP Financial system. This Basic SAP Navigation training session is a prerequisite for obtaining a SAP user ID which allows access to the SAP Financial system.  Only employees who, as part of their official duties and responsibilities, are required to access budget, financial, and procurement information or to process purchasing requisitions should take this session.

SAP FINANCIAL REPORTS

Tired of logging into the SAP Finance system to try to find budget and expense data?  Confused about submitting the ZBUDSTAT reports?  The Finance and Business Services division and the Budget Department have a better answer.  New web-based financial reports that can be easily downloaded to Excel have been developed.  Find out what is available for determining budget, commitment (encumbrance), and actual expense totals along with the resulting budget balance.

Please note that only a cost center / department manager or an official designee should register for this session.

SECURITY/SAFE COMPUTING

AD-AWARE +

The dark side of the Internet has become apparent to most everyone:  unsolicited email, pop-up advertisements, data-mining, system hijacking, etc.  If you want to fight back, attend this informative seminar and learn about this effective anti-“spyware” application.  We promise it will be worth your time!

FILE MANAGEMENT

A 12-step self-help program demonstrating critical data file management and file back-up techniques.

ID THEFT

Everyone has seen those credit card commercials about ID theft. Learn some of the best practices to help reduce the chances of ID theft.

BACKING UP DATA

A primary responsibility of every computer user is performing regular file backups.  To back up data is to copy to another medium so that, if the active data is lost, it can be recovered in a recent if not completely current version.  There are many ways of backing up your data and just as many types of media to use as well.  This session covers these critical procedures and devices.

COMPUTER WELLNESS

How do you keep your computer from getting sick?  Acquire some of the best practices you can use on a computer connected to the internet.  Discussion will include e-mail, instant messaging, pop-ups, and surfing.  These skills are applicable to home computing as well as at WCU.  This session focuses on Windows XP Pro and Home editions.

ADOBE

PHOTOSHOP

Discover how to bring digital image editing and professional graphics to your desktop.  Learn how to create GIF's & JPEG's for your Web page.  You will also learn how to edit scanned images and import 3D visualizations.

PDF FILES      

PDF (portable document format) files allow you to view and print a document as the author intended it. They are widely used for brochures, magazines, forms, reports, interactive online reading and other materials with complex visual designs.

PDF FORMS

Creating forms no longer needs to be a major challenge. With Adobe LiveCycle Designer you can create user friendly forms from existing documents created in Word or other Office applications. This software will analyze your file and place form fields where needed based on its appearance. You will learn how to create fillable forms that can be submitted back to you via email by the click of a button.

BLACKBOARD

BLACKBOARD BASICS

This workshop is designed for faculty who are brand new to the WCU Blackboard system or for those who want to review the basics.  

BLACKBOARD BRIEFING

This workshop is an open session designed for Faculty who have attended Blackboard Basics or who have Blackboard course management experience and are interested in learning additional skills and/or refining their current sites. 

BLACKBOARD MAINTENANCE

This workshop is designed for faculty who would like to master end of semester course maintenance. Exporting/importing  a course shell  and archiving courses will be discussed.   Learn how to manage courses from one semester to the next.

ONLINE QUIZZES AND SURVEYS

This workshop will explore the online assessment tools built-in to Blackboard: quizzes, surveys and the question pool. Attendees will learn how to set up, produce and evaluate quizzes and surveys and will learn how to populate a question pool and use that pool to create an online quiz.

BLACKBOARD: ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS

Rather than collecting several reams of paper during class, Blackboard provides two tools that allow students to submit assignments electronically. The Digital Drop Box allows students to submit assignments to one location which can be disorganized and hard to manage. The new Assignment Manager takes the best parts of the Digital Drop Box and adds organization, grade ability, and focus. In this workshop we will explore both tools in depth and explore options for using one or both in a course.

BLACKBOARD: DISCUSSION BOARDS

Blackboard’s Discussion Board is a powerful tool for stimulating reflection, discussion, and peer review of drafts or designs. To help you take advantage of the Discussion Board, this workshop will show you to do the following:  •set up a forum  •participate in a forum •monitor students’ contributions to a forum  •evaluate student work

BLACKBOARD: CHAT AND THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

Blackboard’s Collaboration tool (Chat) supports a variety of activities that can stimulate interaction, enhance cooperative learning, and facilitate one-on-one conferencing. To enable you to explore the Virtual Classroom & Chat features, this workshop will show you how to accomplish the following tasks:  •hold a "real-time" classroom discussion online  •browse the Web with your "virtual" class  •conduct office hours online  •draw on the online whiteboard

GRADEBOOK

This workshop will explore the built-in gradebook feature of Blackboard. Attendees will learn how to set up the gradebook, including designating weights; allow students to view their grades; and how to enter and retrieve information throughout the semester.

INTEGRATING LIVE CLASSROOM WITH BLACKBOARD

Join us for a demonstration of Live Classroom, the fully featured live virtual classroom supporting audio, video, application sharing, and content display.  Live Classroom enables instructors to add vitally important elements of interaction that simply cannot be provided in a text-based course. Personalize your online courses by holding live, online classes, office hours, guest lectures, webcasts, or meetings.

USING RESPONDUS TO CREATE, CONVERT, AND MANAGE BLACKBOARD EXAMS

Respondus is a software package used to develop assessments, exams and surveys that may be published to Blackboard, printed for distribution, or saved as a Word document.  Learn how to take your existing Word document exams and convert them to online exams for Blackboard.

WIKIS, BLOGS & COMMUNICATION TOOLS

With Wikis (Teams LX) online collaboration between students is not just a goal, but a reality. For the first time, you can organize students into groups and assign each group to jointly author a dynamic website with multi-media content. And when the Teams site is done, instructors can view each group member's contributions and grade them accordingly. With Journal LX, instructors can create blogs in which students can gather information and reflect on course-related topics and assignments. Students can review and comment on their peers' postings, and instructors can participate with students in the evolving dialog. The session will provide an overview and best practices of the journals and teams tools. Participants also will learn how to set up a journal and teams site.

BLACKBOARD'S "NEW" VOICE COMMUNICATION TOOLS

Voice Communication Tools allow instructors to add a recorded voice component to their courses.  This can be particularly useful for web-based instructional materials and courses. Wimba's audio resources can be incorporated into many types of curricula including Foreign Languages. This workshop will introduce two new tools available for Blackboard: Horizon's LIVE Classroom and Voice Communication Tools. You will learn about the exciting new features in each.

MISCELLANEOUS

INSIDE/OUT YOUR COMPUTER

Learn the essential skills of personal computer operation. This introductory course will assist you in understanding both the software and hardware components of the PC.        

TABLET PC

Learn how to carry out flexible computing tasks that augment the role of traditional laptop computers. Discover how Tablet PCs can be utilized for lecturing.

TYPING TUTORIAL

This typing tutorial is a versatile program designed for everyone from the novice typist to an experienced keyboard professional. This is an excellent learn-to-type program.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

If you have questions on how to submit items for reimbursement or payment, need to know more about University travel regulations, or just want to know more about Accounts Payable (AP) and what we do, this is the workshop for you. General policy and procedures for both Accounts Payable & Travel will be reviewed and we’ll also take a tour of the AP website.

DIGITAL CORNER ORIENTATION SESSION

Do you have photos or transparencies you'd like to scan to use in your teaching materials? Would it be helpful to copy those video tapes to DVD or convert that Word document to PDF ? Come find out about the scanners, video duplicating equipment, software and assistance that is available to you in the Anderson Hall ACADEMIC COMPUTING DIGITAL CORNER .

And for more information about Digital Corner, check out the Digital Corner website at http://www.wcupa.edu/infoservices/digitalcorner/

HELPFUL HABITS

Attend these seminars for a fresh approach to harmonious interaction with technology. Learn how to command respect from your email application, Outlook. Protect yourself from the “heartbreak of data loss”. Secure your technical identity and avoid the annoyance of pop-ups.

•  Outlook – topics covered:

• Personal storage: what is it and what does it mean to me?

• Effectively locating and dealing with large email

• Working with attachments

• Postini: what is it and am I supposed to be doing something?

•  Data Backup and Security – topics covered:

• Hard-drive management techniques

• Backing up to a jump drive

• Burning data to a CD

• Spyware, adware and other annoyances

MODELING SOLUTIONS

Microsoft Visio for Windows allows you to create a professional ORG chart for your division.

SAS

Learn the power of SAS for recording grades and generating statistics both about the individual student and about the class in general. Learn to use SAS to compare results of tests from semester to semester. Discover SAS's power to enhance your research.