Skills Update A: Microsoft Word & Excel

So, I am pretty sure I am a master of Microsoft Word & Excel...okay, not a complete master, but pretty close.  Take a look at my updated skills list for starters...then my progress and summaries that follow...

Word Processing Skills	Beginner	Intermediate	Advanced
Set margins.			1/19
Align (center, right, left, or proportional) text using ruler			1/19
Change fonts and styles of text			1/19
Use page break option to force material to new page			1/19
Create a header and footer			1/19
Use current date & time in header or footer			1/19
Use title page option (not print header or footer on first page)			1/19
Use automatic page numbering in header or footer			1/19
Turn automatic formatting options off and on		1/19	1/25
Use indent markers to create hanging indent format, and indented quote format		1/19	1/25
Apply spacing and alignment with ruler options and with formatting palette and toolbar options			1/15
Set tabs for columns of data		1/19	1/25
Use tab markers and type tabbed columns of data appropriately		1/19	1/25
Use Leader Tabs		1/19	1/25
Use Outline options			1/19
Create columns then add text; format existing text into columns			1/19
Use column break to force text to a new column			1/19
Use section break to allow part of a page or one part of a document to have a different type of formatting from another (as varied number of columns, different margins, restarted page numbers)			1/19
Create Tables using the menu bar and toolbar, with and without pre-selected text			1/19
Use Tables Toolbar and menu to change the size of a table or merge or split cells			1/19
Use convert text to table and table to text, using Table Menu and various text/table formats			1/19
Save and organize document files and backups			1/19
Use spell checking, thesaurus, and word count			1/19
Use borders and shading around text			1/19
Insert a graphic from clip art or a file			1/19
Use text wrapping options on a graphic			1/19
Use highlighting (not selection)			1/19
Use Comments			1/19
Zoom in and out			1/19
Mail Merge with a word-processed document (a table in MS Word), a spreadsheet (in MS Word), or a database	1/19		1/25
Use ‘Track Changes’		1/19	1/25
Copy (Paint) text and paragraph formats			1/19
Advanced: Create and use Styles			1/19
Total # = 33			33

Spreadsheet Skills	Beginner	Intermediate	Advanced
Enter data in a cell			1/19
Align cell data (center, justify, etc.)			1/19
Format cell data (as number, date, etc.)			1/19
Enter a formula in a cell			1/19
Use relative references to cells in a formula		1/19	1/25
Use absolute references to cells in a formula		1/19	1/25
Use functions (Sum, Average, If, etc.)			1/19
Use Fill Down (Fill Right, etc.)			1/19
Use Fill Series		1/19	1/25
Create charts from data in cells			1/19
Edit chart components			1/19
Use options for copying and inserting charts into Word documents, so that data can/cannot be changed in the Word document to change the chart			1/19
Total # = 12			12

All these great reminders of skills will come in handy creating documentation and other forms.  Next up...

Goal #2: By February 7, 2016, using the Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my knowledge of graphic skills

-          Hide and show Drawing toolbar

-          Add pages to document (AppleWorks only)

-          Create layers of objects and move objects to different layers

-          Group and ungroup objects

-          Create Text Objects for selected text (note: this is different from borders) and before text is typed.

-          Advanced: Link text boxes

Technology Boot Camp Skills Checklist, Summary & Plan

To begin, please enjoy my technology skills checklist...

Here is my summary and rough plan of work...

I feel confident in my Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and email skills.  I do need to brush up on some word processing and spread sheet skills.  In my experience, I have been able to generalize the tools of Microsoft over to a variety of applications.  My biggest downfalls seem to be graphic skills, as well as database skills.  Microsoft Access has always been that one application that haunts my dreams.  In all seriousness, I don’t use it because I have not seen the benefit of it.  However, it must have some sort of relevance or it would not exist.

Another tool that I have some experience with Acrobat/Adobe, but I know I am not proficient.  One of the skills I am always trying to figure out is how to create space to add text to an existing document. 

As a speech-language pathologist, I use alternative and augmentative communication.  I have experience with a variety of iPad applications, computer websites, and switch access.  Something that has repeatedly come up since I have started my AT certification is the IntelliKeys keyboard and computer access.  I would like to focus some energy into increasing my knowledge and skills of this program and other alternative access programs.

Goal #1: By January 31, 2016, using the Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my word processing and spread sheet skills.

-          Turn automatic formatting options off and on

-          Use indent markers to create hanging indent format, and indented quote format

-          Apply spacing and alignment with ruler options and with formatting palette and toolbar options

-          Set tabs for columns of data

-          Use tab markers and type tabbed columns of data appropriately

-          Use Leader Tabs

-          Mail Merge with a word-processed document (a table in MS Word), a spreadsheet (in MS Word), or a database

-          Use ‘Track Changes’

-          Use relative references to cells in a formula

-          Use absolute references to cells in a formula

-          Use Fill Series

Goal #2: By February 7, 2016, using the Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my knowledge of graphic skills

-          Hide and show Drawing toolbar

-          Add pages to document (AppleWorks only)

-          Create layers of objects and move objects to different layers

-          Group and ungroup objects

-          Create Text Objects for selected text (note: this is different from borders) and before text   is typed.

-          Advanced: Link text boxes

Goal #3: By February 14, 2016, using the Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my knowledge of Databases Skills.

-          Search for a specific record

-          Sort records by two fields

-          Edit records

-          Add and delete records

-          Change the layout of the record

-          Add and delete fields

-          Change the format of a field (as increase decimal places in a number field)

-          Merge the file with a word processing document

Goal #4: By February 21, 2016, using Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my skills within Google applications to create and utilize professional documents.

-          Explore Google applications including Google sheets, forms, and docs to increase team communication and collaboration.

-          Explore Google for Education options.

Goal #5: By March 6, 2016, using Atomic Learning Website, online tutorials, and hands on exploration, I will increase my skills within IntelliKeys as well as other alternative computer access programs to be determined.

-          Create & utilize IntelliKeys Software to access page/keyboard to support writing lesson.

-          Explore alternative computer access programs for preschool students.

Please join me later this week, when I attempt to become a master of Microsoft Word & Excel :)