Adult Learning Center

Course Descriptions

Most classes are eight weeks. Held at Adult Recreation Center.

Course fees will vary; see the latest catalogue listings for fees and dates.

Want to know in what order you should attempt to take these classes?

Computer Fundamentals

This course is designed for people who are thinking about or beginning to use a computer, and who would like to gain confidence and learn the fundamental skills necessary to become computer literate. It will familiarize you with:

1) Basic hardware and software components

2) Proper mouse and keyboard use

3) Keyboard word processing and Internet and email concepts

Students who complete the course should feel more confident and comfortable with computers, and will be ready to learn more about some of the common programs in the next courses offered: Introduction to Windows for Beginners

Skills required:

Visual acuity which allows you to read a computer screen and a manual
Hearing acuity which allows you to hear a teacher in a classroom setting
The willingness to try something new!

Course manual and student practice files included;

Home or office use of a Windows 7- equipped computer with USB ports & flash drive or a CD/DVD drive is strongly recommended.

Computer Lab FREE!

Our Computer Lab will be available for supervised practice and assistance every Friday afternoon from 1 - 4pm, when classes are in session. The Lab will be open and the computers available with an experienced person to help students practice any parts of the lessons for which they need help. The lab is only open to former and current students.

Exploring Windows 7

Exploring Windows presents information on the Windows 7 operating system. The student will learn what the operating system can do, and how to perform routine maintenance necessary to keep the computer functioning well.

Topics include:

using Windows Explorer;
managing the desktop;
formatting, copying, and write-protecting disks;
modifying system settings and properties;
using incidental programs such as the calculator;
customizing your system; and
improving computer efficiency by identifying hard drive errors and defragmenting the hard drive.

It is recommended that registrants have Windows 7 on their computers at home, and have taken Microsoft Works or have equivalent skills. Course manual and student practice files included.

Genealogy - Introduction to Family Tree Maker

Course manual and student practice files included.

There is a lot to learn about genealogy. This course focuses on introducing basic components of the Family Tree Maker program; not on teaching all of the many things someone needs to know to research their family history. This course will familiarize you with:

Creating family pages
Ancestor/descendant charts
Printing family sheets
Printing family sheet forms for research
Searching published CD's for ancestors
Searching the internet for ancestors
Scanning photos, vital records, other into scrapbooks
Creating & printing a family book
Importing digitized photos into scrapbooks

Students who complete the course will be ready to begin building family history files. You can be the family historian and organize and share with others, those old photos, obits, vital records, clippings and family bible notes that have been gathering dust in family attics.

Students who have access to a computer with Windows versions, and Family Tree Maker with which to practice will gain more knowledge from the course.

Skills required:

Basic skills using a personal computer, mouse and Microsoft Windows versions.

Genealogy & Family History (A)

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In this class you will learn how to seek information about your ancestors via the Internet. You will learn about different genealogy programs, and free Internet research sites. At the completion of the course you should be capable of writing and publishing a family history. Bring as much information about your ancestors as possible. You may use your own laptop or one of our computers. It is recommended that the student have taken the Computer Fundamentals course or possess similar skills.

MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007 for Beginners

Eight sessions which build on fundamental skills with Windows 7 and Office 2007 programs. Creating, editing and saving files created with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are approached in slow, observant, step-by-step fashion.

Skills required:

Completion of Computer Fundamentals or equivalent skills, familiarity with using a mouse, turning on and shutting down a PC.
Access to a home or office computer with Windows is highly recommended. The computer should be equipped with a CD/DVD drive or a USB port. Your own USB Flash drive is optional. The computer should have an installation of Microsoft Office 2007.

Included with class:

a manual with step by step instructions for learning concepts and practicing illustrative documents.
Media with practice files

Introduction to Excel 2007

Course manual and student practice files included.

Introduction to Excel 2007 enables the Beginner/Intermediate Spreadsheet User to create spreadsheets using Excel 2007 software. Topics covered include how to use the Ribbon, entering data, formatting data and worksheets, creating charts and printing data. The student will learn to create Spreadsheets for stocks and other investments, checking accounts, household expenses as well as any other data.

This is not a course for computer novices. It is highly important that the student be well versed with Windows and have the use of a computer.

Introduction to the Internet and Email

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The goal of this course is to introduce students to the Internet and the fundamentals of using Email. Included are the basic skills needed to correspond with friends and family using Email, navigating around the Web and searching for information of interest. Students will also obtain experience in sharing their ideas and support with others via Internet discussions, chat or Email groups. Some topics include: Introduction to the Internet and Browser Basics, using email, chat and instant messaging, organizing your browser, saving and downloading files, understanding security, privacy and on-line commerce, viruses, anti-virus programs and more. The exercises in this course are primarily based on Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. Students should be comfortable and experienced in using a personal computer, interested in communicating via email, and have a personal computer at home. Course Manual and student practice files included.

Introduction to Quicken -

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This course is for those interested in using the popular personal finance management software, Quicken. Quicken provides tools for organizing financial tasks, tracking income and expenses, tracking and optimizing investments, gathering tax data, and planning for long term goals such as retirement.

It is recommended that students have completed the Microsoft Works course or have equivalent skills, and be interested in managing their finances, including entering financial transactions to create, read, and use reports and graphs. Course manual and student practice files included.

Introduction to Word Processing

Using Microsoft Word 2007, Introduction to Word Processing enables the beginning word processing student to create and edit various types of documents, including documents such as newsletters, form letters, address labels, and letterheads. The student will also learn to insert clip art into a document, change the formatting, and correct errors, while learning about the basic features of the program.

It is recommended that the registrant have Microsoft Word 2007 on the home computer, and have completed the Microsoft Works course or have equivalent skills. Course manual and student practice files included.

Typing/Keyboarding (type without looking at your hands on the keyboard.)

This course is a one-session lesson about using Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing – this program installs on your home computer and gives traditional touch- typing instruction using the computer as a classroom completely at your own pace. Fun repetition, skill builder exercises, document tips, and games teach you to type or updating your keyboarding skills on the computer.

Students are taught to install the program, how to use the program to develop typing skills, with a little classroom practice time.

Skills required:

Ability to learn from reading display on the computer screen.
Familiarity with making changes to a computer such as practiced in Introduction to Windows or equivalent skills are recommended.

Mavis Beacon Software CD is provided and is yours to take home.

There are no written manuals, however, a handout outlining steps to install the program on a home computer will be passed to you.

PhotoShop Elements

Course covers beginner and intermediate digital Photo Editing using Photoshop Elements. Class exercises include downloading photos from digital camera, cropping pictures, straightening tilted photos, adjusting contrast and color, hiding blemishes, whiten teeth, smooth wrinkles, adjust photo size, adding text to photos, printing, and much more.

This is not a course for computer novices. Students should be experienced with Windows and have use of a computer, photo printer and PSE software. Student registration fee includes a copy of a commercial manual, and student practice files with high-resolution photos.

ADVANCED DIGITAL PHOTO EDITING WITH PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS

This course steps up to the next level after completing our Adobe Photoshop Elements course. We will concentrate eight weeks learning about the most powerful features on Photoshop - Layers. This will include Layer Basics, Blending Layers, Adjustment Layers, Layer Masks, Type and Shape Layers, Enhancing Photos with Layers, Retouching with Layers and Layer Styles. This is not a course for computer novices. Student should have strong Windows skills, completed the Adobe Photoshop Elements course or have equivalent experience, a computer, photo printer and Photoshop Elements software.

Buying & Selling on eBAY

In this workshop, you will learn how to register and navigate on the eBay web site. The first session provides an overview of how to browse for and find specific items by topic. You will learn how to verify the reputation of a seller and how to track the progress of auctions that interest you. You will learn about important elements such as shipping costs and the privacy policy on a site. The second session will show you how to open an account to sell items on eBay. You will learn how to add a picture to your listing to make it more appealing. You will learn about pricing and tracking the progress of your auction.

To take this course, it is required that you bring the following information to the workshop:

A valid email address that you can access remotely, using your ID and password.

If you do not bring this information, you will not be able to participate fully in the workshop. It is also highly recommended that you have completed the Introduction to the Internet and Email course, or have equivalent skills.

Introduction to Facebook (I)

In this workshop you will learn: how to register and navigate on the Facebook website, how to enter Profile Information, what Facebook Buttons are used for, how to Find and Add Friends, how to Add Photos, how to Post Status Updates on Your Wall, how to Write on a Friend’s Wall and many more fun things to do with Facebook. To take this course, it is required that you bring a valid email address that you can access remotely, using your own ID.

Memoir Workshop

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The best gift you can give your children and generations to come is your life’s story. Everyone has great stories to tell, but some may need a little help getting started, a little encouragement when we get writer’s block, or someone to help with proofreading and editing. If you are interested in writing your memoir, or have already begun, please join us at the Memoir Workshop. Your family will gain a sense of identity and stability and a clear understanding of their heritage. A workshop facilitator will lead the group in discussing pertinent topics such as using dialogue and inserting photographs. Coaches will be available to help with questions. Writing will be done on computers in the classroom, and participants should bring a flash drive to save their work. (A CD will be provided if the participant does not have flash drive capability). It is recommended that participants complete Microsoft Works or have equivalent Word skills before joining the group.

Power Point

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Using Power Point, this course introduces students to this tool which may be used for the creation of business presentations, visual memoirs, etc. Your own creativity and imagination is your guide. The student will create basic presentations, use design templates, edit existing presentations, add clip art or photos, and develop a slide show including animation. It is recommended that students have completed MS Windows and Word, courses or have equivalent skills. Course Manual and student practice files included.

INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL CAMERA

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This course is appropriate for those that are considering a digital camera and those that have a digital camera and want to take advantage of its capabilities. We will cover when digital cameras were developed and why, cover the difference between digital and film cameras. We will discuss why digital cameras are so popular and cover what to consider if you are going to buy one. The course will show the student how to prepare and use a digital camera, covering the basic functions of the camera and how pictures are taken. Time will be devoted to how images are played back on the camera, your computer, and television, as well as the printing of images. We will cover in-depth connecting the camera to a computer, installing software, downloading images directly from the camera and downloading images from a memory card using a card reader. Two of the sessions will be practical labs where we will put into practice what we have previously discussed.

Antivirus and Digital Security Antivirus and computer settings You Must Have!

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This three-session workshop will show you how to protect your computer from those nasty viruses! We will learn generalities about programs available. We look at security settings built into File Save options, browsers and email programs. Discussion will take place comparing results and problems arising from virus and malware infection. We outline how to install common protection software, scan your home computer, set automatic updates, and explore links to websites that support antivirus and antispyware products.

Skills required:

· Completion of Introduction to Windows 7 or equivalent.

· Access to Administrator functions to make changes on a home computer

· A Windows 7 –equipped computer is recommended but not required.

· A CD drive or USB flash drive is recommended.

Handouts and media with supportive documents, links and software will be provided.

PICASA 3

Course covers beginning digital photo editing and album creation. The student will be using a free computer program, Picasa 3.

Class exercises will include the following:

Importing digital photos from your camera.
Creating a photo album.
Editing (Enhancing) your digital photos. Improving color, removing “Red Eye”, cropping photos, sharpening photos.
Sharing your photos via e-mail, Web Albums and gift CD’s.
Creating slide shows.
Creating Collages.
Printing your photos or uploading to a printing service.
This is not a course for computer novices. Students should be familiar with Windows. Students will be supplied with practice photos.