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Effective Use
of Technology and Information Systems: the
ability to access, interpret, synthesize, and convey information to others
using state of the art retrieval, analysis and presentation tools
Each student should have a basic understanding of computing concepts and develop
the skills necessary to ensure that information technology is an advantage in
advancing his/her career. Throughout their coursework, students shall
demonstrate the use of appropriate software and technology for effective
critical thinking, communication and teamwork. Six categories of basic skills have been identified:
|
Skill |
Description |
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Basic hardware, software and networking
|
 | General—understand different functions of computers and their
components (hard drives, diskette drives, CD/DVD drives, monitors,
printers) |
| Identify files by type (.doc, .jpg, .exe, etc.) |
| Maintain files organization—store, retrieve, move, copy, delete |
| Use file security methods and firewall software |
| Use e-mail and be able to attach files |
| Detect viruses and install virus detection software |
| Save and autosave files as required |
| Create backup files
| Zip and unzip files |
| Scan documents |
| Convert scanned documents to Adobe Acrobat® format |
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Internet |
| Understand nature and concept of hyperlinks |
| Use appropriate search engines and understand differences |
| Access their space on PLU server |
| Upload/download files using FTP |
| Use plug-ins |
| Sort and cite web references
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Word Processing |
| Create and edit a document (develop document; insert and delete
text; use automatic spelling and grammar checking; save, open and
close files; select text; undo and redo changes; change fonts and
type styles; change alignment; insert, size and move graphics;
preview and print a document) |
| Revise and refine a document (move and copy text; use multiple
documents; change margins and spacing; indent paragraphs; create a
tabbed table and an itemized list; create and remove hyperlinks) |
| Create reports and tables (create and modify an outline; apply
styles; create and update a table of contents; create footnotes; use
document maps; wrap text around headers, footers and page numbers;
add captions and cross references; sort a list; print selected pages |
| Integrate word documents with other software applications (save a
word document as a web page, create a hyperlink, change picture
layout, import tables and charts from spreadsheet software) |
| Recommended software: MS WORD
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Spreadsheet |
| Create and edit a worksheet (enter, edit and clear sell
references; save, close and open workbooks; specify ranges; copy and
remove cell entries; enter formulas and functions; adjust column
widths; change cell alignment; format cells; insert rows; enter a
format and a date; preview and print a worksheet |
| Chart worksheet data (select the data to chart; move the chart
location; change the type of the chart; format chart elements;
create and format a pie chart; apply patterns and color) |
| Manage and analyze a workbook (spell-check a sheet; use copy, cut
and paste functions; apply styles; copy, move and name sheets;
reference multiple sheets; split windows and freeze pains; use
what-if analysis and goal seeking; add custom headers and footers) |
| Recommended software: MS EXCEL
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Databases |
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Use database capability in MS EXCEL to sort data
and do basic analysis (e.g., mean, standard error, number of
records, maximum, minimum) for the full dataset and for subsets
thereof |
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Use EXCEL's filter capability to identify and
display specific records of interest (e.g., all values greater or
less than a specified amount) |
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Use EXCEL's validation capability to screen for
invalid entries |
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Convert text to columns (delimited files) |
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Develop pivot tables |
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Develop data tables |
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Graphics |
| Create a presentation (view and edit a presentation; save and open
a presentation; delete, move and insert slides; set and use tabs;
run a slide show; change fonts and font size; size and move objects;
insert pictures and clip art; preview and print a presentation) |
| Modify and refine a presentation (find and replace text; change
the slide layout; create and enhance a table; modify clip art and
create a text box; change the presentation design and color scheme;
change slide and title masters; create and enhance drawing objects;
control annotate a slide show; document file and print selected
slides) |
| Copy and link between other software and presentation (link a
spreadsheet to a chart to a presentation graphic; edit links) |
| Recommended software: MS POWERPOINT
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