Credit Course Descriptions

These are the courses that I taught at USM under the course number MIS204. Each class met
in the ILR computer lab in McLemore Hall room 309. We met in the lab so that each class was a
hands-on activity where students were actually doing exercises on the computers during class.

Introduction to Windows	Desktop Publishing using Microsoft Word for Windows
Microsoft Word Part 1 - Basics	Learning to Use the World Wide Web
Microsoft Word Part 2 - Advanced	Searching and Researching on the World Wide Web
Microsoft Excel Part 1 - Basics	Using HTML - Basic Introduction
Microsoft Excel Part 2 - Advanced	Planning and Designing Effective Web Sites
Microsoft Access Part 1 - Basics	Integrating Microsoft Office 97
Microsoft Access Part 2 - Advanced	Microsoft PowerPoint

Back to Nuckols Home Page

Introduction to Windows

Microsoft Windows is an operating system that lets you use a graphical user interface to control the basic operation of your computer and the programs you run on it. Students will learn to use the mouse to navigate through the environment. You will also learn to manage files and folders, to customize Windows to suit your preferences, and much more. No prior knowledge of computers is necessary.

Textbooks used::
Microsoft Windows 95 - Illustrated Standard Edition
Neil J. Salkind
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 1-56527-595-0

Microsoft Windows 2000 - Illustrated Introductory
Kemper/Carey/Salkind
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 1-7600-6008-8

Microsoft Word Part 1 - Basics

Word processing is more than an automated typewriter. Microsoft Word is a powerful computer program that helps you create documents that communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. This workshop teaches you the basic features such as copying and moving text, using proofing tools, formatting, and working with tables. You will also learn to merge documents, create labels, and how to create and work with graphics. Experience with Microsoft Windows is required.

Textbooks used::
Microsoft Word 97 - Illustrated Standard Edition: A First Course
Marie L. Swanson
Course Technology, Inc.
ISBN: 0-7600-5996-9

Microsoft Word 2000 - Illustrated Introductory
Jennifer A. Duffy/Marie L. Swanson
Course Technology, Inc.
ISBN: 0-7600-6066-5

Microsoft Word Part 2 - Advanced

This class is a continuation of part 1 and is not for beginners. You will learn to share information with other programs by linking and embedding objects. Learn about working with large documents, columns, WordArt, charts, and forms. You will also learn about the Compare Documents and Track Changes features that allow you to develop documents with the collaboration of others. Experience with Microsoft Word is required.

Textbook used:
Microsoft Word 97 - Illustrated Standard Edition: A Second Course
Marie L. Swanson
Course Technology, Inc.
ISBN: 0-7600-5141-0

Microsoft Excel Part 1 - Basics

Spreadsheet software is well known for its number-crunching capabilities and its skill with "what if" evaluations. In this course students will learn how to build, edit, and format worksheets; how to work with charts, formulas, and functions; how to manage workbooks; and more.

Textbooks used:
Microsoft Excel 97 - Illustrated Standard Edition: A First Course
Elizabeth Eisner Reding/Tara O'Keefe
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 0-7600-4695-6

Microsoft Excel 2000 - Illustrated Introductory Edition
Elizabeth Eisner Reding/Tara Lynn O'Keefe
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 0-7600-6062-2

Microsoft Excel Part 2 - Advanced

This class is a continuation of Part 1. Students will learn how to use lists to include analyzing list data, how to enhance charts and worksheets, and how to exchange data with other programs such as PowerPoint and Access. Students will also learn how to use some of the numerous tools and options designed to help eliminate repetitive typing chores, save calculating time when using a large worksheet, as well as how to customize basic Excel features.

Textbooks used:
Microsoft Excel 97 - Illustrated Standard Edition: A Second Course
Elizabeth Eisner Reding/Tara O'Keefe
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 0-7600-5146-1

Microsoft Excel 2000 - Illustrated Second Course
Tara Lynn O'Keefe
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 0-7600-6063-0

Microsoft Access Part 1 - Basics

Microsoft Access is a database program that allows you to enter and retrieve information faster and more accurately than using a paper-based method. In this course you will learn the basics of planning, creating, and modifying a database. You will learn to create tables, queries, forms, subforms, and reports. You will also learn how to create a relational database by linking tables in one-to-many relationships and then creating multiple table queries and complex reports.

Textbooks used:
Microsoft Access 97 - Illustrated Standard Edition: A First Course
Elizabeth Eisner Reding/Lisa Friedrichsen
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 0-7600-4697-2

Microsoft Access 2000 - Illustrated Introductory
Lisa Friedrichsen
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 0-7600-6070-3

Microsoft Access Part 2 - Advanced

This class is a continuation of part 1 and is not for beginners. In this course you will learn to share Access information with other office programs (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), create advanced queries, add complex objects to a form, and how to manage database objects. You will also learn to create macros, modules, and graphical reports. Experience with Microsoft Windows is required.

Textbooks used:
Microsoft Access 97 - Illustrated Standard Edition: A Second Course
Elizabeth Eisner Reding/Lisa Friedrichsen
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 0-7600-5154-2

Microsoft Access 2000 - Illustrated Second Course
Lisa Friedrichsen
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN: 0-7600-6071-1

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation graphics program that allows you to transform your ideas into professional electronic slide show or as 35-mm slides and transparency masters to display on an overhead projector. In this course you will learn the basics of planning, creating, and modifying a presentation. You will also learn how to enhance a presentation by using clipart and charts, and by setting slide show timings and animation effects. Also you will learn to customize a presentation, how to enhance charts, how to work with embedded and linked objects, and how to use custom slide show features. Experience with Microsoft Windows is required.

Textbooks used:
Microsoft PowerPoint 97 - Illustrated Standard Edition
David Beskeen
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN 0-7600-5160-7

Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 - Illustrated Introductory
David Beskeen
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN 0-7600-6074-6

Integrating Microsoft Office 97

Microsoft Office 97 is a collection of programs designed to take advantage of the Windows 95 interface and improve your computer efficiency. In this course students learn how to work with the programs together by copying and pasting, linking, and embedding files from one program to another.

Textbook used:
Integrating Microsoft Office 97 - Illustrated Brief Edition
David Beskeen and Elizabeth Eisner Reding
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN 0-7600-4711-1

Desktop Publishing using Microsoft Word for Windows

Desktop publishing is a communication tool that is currently being used extensively in today's business office. By learning to work with desktop publishing, you will be gaining a valuable skill and increasing your employability.

This course is designed to help students learn the various desktop publishing capabilities of Microsoft Word. This is accomplished through the presentation of concepts and the creation of a variety of documents. Although Microsoft Word 97 will be used in class to do the exercises and create the documents, the instructions will also cover Word 7 for Windows 95 and Word 6.0 for Windows 3.1.

Textbook used:
Desktop Publishing using Microsoft Word for Windows
Dennis O. Gehris, Ed.D.
South-Western Educational Publishing
ISBN 0-538-67918-2

Learning to Use the World Wide Web

This class is for people who want to learn how to access the World Wide Web and how to get the most from the resources available on the Internet. No prior experience with the World Wide Web or the Internet is assumed. We pay some attention to why things work the way they do, but the emphasis is on how to learn to effectively use the World Wide Web and associated services in a step-by-step, organized manner.

Textbook used:
Learning to Use the World Wide Web: academic edition
Ernest Ackermann
Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc.
ISBN 1-887902-28-7

Searching and Researching on the World Wide Web

This class addresses the research needs of students in a broad range of disciplines, as well as researchers, prospective and in-service teachers, and librarians. The main topics are formulating search strategies, understanding how to form search expressions, critically evaluating information, and citing resources.

Textbook used:
Searching & Researching on the Internet & the World Wide Web (Second Edition)
Ernest Ackermann & Karen Hartman
Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc.
ISBN: 1-887902-56-2

Using HTML - Basic Introduction

You already know how to navigate the World Wide Web. Now you'll learn the basics of creating beautiful Web pages using markup codes called HTML. You'll also learn how to link Web sites, include graphic images and sound files, and create user-friendly forms.

Textbook used:
HTML - Illustrated Brief Edition
Elizabeth Eisner Reding
Course Technology, Inc
ISBN 0-7600-6077-5

Planning and Designing Effective Web Sites

We have all seen Web sites that are cleanly designed, pleasing to look at, and helpful. For every one of those Web sites, however, we have seen several that are poorly designed, unattractive, and confusing. The purpose of this course is to show you how to analyze information and apply graphic design techniques to develop effective, pleasing, useful Web sites.

Textbook used:
Planning and Designing Effective Web Sites
Sue A. Conger - Richard O. Mason
Course Technology, Inc.
ISBN 0-7600-4988-2

Back to Nuckols Home Page