SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

AST 236

 

NVCC COLLEGE-WIDE COURSE CONTENT SUMMARY
AST 236 - SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS (Specify Software) (3 CR.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Teaches specialized integrated software applications on the microcomputer. Emphasizes document production to meet business and industry standards. Lecture 3 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

A hands-on course to introduce the student to one or more business applications software packages. The course is designed to develop software skills in special applications such as operating system/environment, word processing, presentation manager software, spreadsheet, and database. Other components may include project manager.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES

Students must be able to read and write at a college level.  AST 101 or equivalent.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

    1. describe the typical components of a microcomputer
    2. identify and discuss the four main functions of a computer hardware:  input, processing, output, and storage
    3. identify important categories of microcomputer software (word processing, spreadsheet, database management, presentation graphics) and explain what they do and how they work in general terms
    4. use the operating system to perform disk management operations such as formatting and copying
    5. use the operating system to perform file management operations such as copying, moving, renaming, deleting and subdirectory organization
    6. identify and discuss the basic activities involved in word processing
    7. use a word processing program to:
      creat a document
      input text
      edit text
      format a document
      save and retrieve a document
      print a document
    8. identify and discuss the basic activities involved in working with a spreadsheet
    9. use a spreadsheet program to:
      creat a worksheet
      input text, numbers and formulas
      edit text, numbers and formulas
      manipulate text, numbers and formulas
      format a worksheet
      execute spreadsheet commands
      save and retrieve a worksheet
      print a worksheet
    10. identify and discuss the basic activities involved in working with a database
    11. use a database management program to:
      create the structure and contents of a database
      modify and sequence the database
      perform queries
      create and run reports
    12. identify and discuss the basic activities involved in working with presentation software
    13. use a presentation program to:
      create a slide show
      input text and graphics to a slide show
      edit text in a slide show
      save, retrieve, print, and view a slide show
    14. identify and discuss the basic activities involved in using the Internet
    15. use the Internet to:
      access resources
      search using key words

      evaluate resources

MAJOR TOPICS TO BE COVERED

    1. Understanding the microcomputer's typical components:  input, processing, output, and storage
    2. Using operating system commands
    3. "Booting" the system
    4. Formatting and copying disks
    5. Naming, copying, deleting and renaming files
    6. Basic word processing concepts
    7. Inputting and editing text with a word processor
    8. Formatting text with word processing software
    9. Saving, loading, and printing documents
    10. Basic spreadsheet concepts
    11. Labels, numbers and formulas
    12. Global and range commands
    13. Saving, loading, and printing spreadsheets
    14. Basic database management concepts
    15. Organization of information and database management systems
    16. Creating a database
    17. Viewing, modifying, and sorting the database
    18. Performing queries
    19. Creating and printing formatted reports
    20. Basic presentation graphics concepts
    21. Creating a slide show with text and graphics
    22. Saving, editing, and viewing a slide show
    23. Basis Internet concepts
    24. Searching on the Internet
    25. Evaluating sites on the Internet
    26. Sending and receiving electronic mail
EXTRA TOPICS (OPTIONAL)
    1. Evaluation and selection of microcomputer hardware and software
    2. Integrated Packages
    3. Creating calendars and schedules
Revised 2/02

 

 

BACK TO HOME PAGE