Essential Skills Computer Use

1. Essential SkillsComputer Use Anca & Naomi August 8, 2011

2. Executive assistant • Responsibilities Include: • Provide professional administrative support to the Director, Right of Way Planning, Lands and Aboriginal Consultation • through proactive development and preparation of correspondence, presentations, and reports. • Proactively manage the daily calendars through effective scheduling and rearranging of meetings and appointments. • Arrange and coordinate logistics for meetings, travel and other events. • Coordinate prioritize and track the flow and distribution of mail, telephone, and electronic information. • Create and maintain hard copy and electronic file system. • Consolidate, amend and analyze data for reporting purposes. • Create reports and tables for information purposes. • Interpret and present large amounts of data in user friendly manner such as graphs and charts. • Act as liaison and guide Executive Assistant's of VP's. 1 c communication (email), presentation, word processing 2cInternet, communication (email) 3ccommunication (email) 4 coperation system 5cdatabase, spreadsheet, Internet 6 cword processing, spreadsheet 7 cdatabase, spreadsheet

3. Computer Use Use of computer skills by occupation • Communication software • Word processing • Spreadsheet • Database are most in demand in the workplace. lnecessarymhighlyrecommended rpreferable Source: Essential Skills Profiles on Human Resources and Skills Development Canada http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/LES/profiles/profiles.shtml#a5b

4. Communications Software • The most frequently used computer skill. • Any organization uses email for internal and external communication. • Common software: MS Outlook • Examples: Sending and receiving emails, managing schedule, booking meetings, etc.

5. Word Processing • This is a key skill in computer use because basic knowledge of word processing is useful for email and other applications. • A speed of 40 wpm is the basic minimum standard required by many employers and government positions.  Effective typing speeds should be at least 3 - 4 times your handwriting speed. • Common software: MS Word • Examples: creating and editing letters, meeting agendas, itineraries, memorandums, documentation, manuals, reports, etc.

6. Spreadsheets • Common software: MS Excel • Examples: Creating, editing and/or analysing budgets, sales reports, analyzing financial information, creating charts for presentation documents, etc.

7. Internet • Many businesses use web sites and web applications for research. • Major internet browsers: Internet Explorer(52.81%), Firefox(21.48%), Google Chrome(13.45%), Safari(8.05%), and Opera(2.9%) • Examples: Performing keyword searches using search engines, like Google, Yahoo, etc., visiting websites to research industry or company information, etc.

8. Database Software • Common software: MS Access, Oracle • Many companies have customized databases. • Examples: entering, retrieving and updating client information, account details and inventory, etc.

9. Others • Graphic Software • PowerPoint: Presentation software • Prezi: Presentation software • MS Visio: Creating diagram • Financial Software • QuickBooks: Bookkeeping • PeopleSoft: Payroll • Others • Adobe Acrobat: Creating and editing PDF files

11. Adobe Acrobat

12. Mastering MSOffice • Word • Excel • PowerPoint • Outlook • + • Access Essential in most of the workplace

14. Improving your computer skills will help you to use technology more effectively . • Important skills to have: • using word processing software • sending e-mails • creating and modifying spreadsheets • operation of cash registers

15. Keyboarding: Is a very helpful skill for completing assignments or participating in online learning activities. •  Practice your skills with a free typing game at http://freetypinggame.net/ • For a quick tutorial on the basics of using Word, go to http://www.gcflearnfree.org/. • You can also practice in class in the computer lab.

16. Office tools such as Microsoft Office is a necessary part of online learning.  • “Microsoft Office was introduced by Microsoft in 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of Office contained Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Over the years, Office applications have grown substantially.”

17. Microsoft PowerPoint: • Is a popular presentation program for Windows • It is used to create slideshows, composed of text, graphics, movies and other objects, which can be displayed on-screen and navigated through by the presenter or printed out on transparencies or slides. • For a quick tutorial on the basics of using PowerPoint, go to  http://www.gcflearnfree.org/

18. Microsoft Excel : • Has the basic features of all spreadsheets, using a grid of cells arranged in numbered rows and letter-named columns to organize data manipulations like arithmetic operations. • It has a battery of supplied functions to answer statistical, engineering and financial needs. In addition, it can display data as line graphs, histograms and charts, and with a very limited three-dimensional graphical display. • For a quick tutorial on the basics of using Excel, go to http://www.gcflearnfree.org/

19. Mind mapping: • When you are working in a traditional or online course, there is a great deal of information to manage. Mind-mapping tools can help you be more effective in your studies by allowing you to brainstorm, create outlines, or manage research and documentation. • For more information on mind mapping and to download free programs, check out the following site: •   Check out Inspiration at  www.inspiration.com where you can use a free-trial for thirty days.

20. Online note-taking: • Tools can help you to create class notes, organize them and share them with your peers. Effective note-taking strategies can significantly impact your success. For some strategies and suggestions for note-taking, visit the Study Skills section of the eLearning Cafe website. • And, explore these online note-taking tools: • Check out Evernote at http://www.evernote.com/.  This tool lets you view your notes online, on your desktop, or on your mobile device.

21. Prezi • Is a web-based presentation application and storytelling tool that uses a single canvas instead of traditional slides. • Text, images, videos and other presentation objects are placed on the infinite canvas and grouped together in frames. • Users to create non-linear presentations, where users can zoom in and out of a visual map.

22. Did you got stuck in a rut? Get help • “At some point, you're likely to run into a computer problem or task that's confusing. To figure it out, you need to know how to get the right help.” • Using Windows Help and Support • Windows Help and Support is the built-in help system for Windows. It's a place to get quick answers to common questions, suggestions for troubleshooting, and instructions for how to do things.

23. To open Windows Help and Support, click the Start button , and then click Help and Support. • The fastest way to get help is to type a word or two in the search box. • If you're connected to the Internet, your searches can include new Help topics and the latest versions of existing topics from the Windows Help online website.

24. Did You Know... • Ray Tomlinson gave society one of the greatest communication tools in history. He invented email back in 1971 -- essentially fostering global business communication and turning the Internet into a digital kitchen table for far-flung family members.[Source: Datamation] • Passwords comprised of characters rather than proper words are more secure.( Do not use common information in your password, such as birthdates, your phone number, or other information directly related to you.)

25. Almost half of people online have at least three e-mail accounts.In addition, the average consumer has maintained the same e-mail address for four to six years.

26. Around 1% of the world's 650 million corporate e-mail accounts are plugged into hardware and software that forwards incoming messages to a mobile device. And about 3.65 million of them use a BlackBerry.An estimated 126 million employees use Microsoft Outlook on desktop. • The best way to power off your computer completely it to hold in the power button for 10-20 seconds until the entire computer shuts down. You can usually tell when it has done this, as the monitor will go blank and you will no longer hear the humming of the computer's fan or hard disks.

27. Sources: • http://www.workopolis.com/EN/job/13247358?uc=E8 • http://www.workopolis.com/EN/job/13270634?uc=E0 • http://www.ehow.com/about_6387376_basic-computer-skills-workplace.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers • http://www.schaumburg-computer-services.com/ • http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ • http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat.html • http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html?promoid=DIODC • http://www.highlands.edu/subwebs/ecore/Ecore_Orientation/computer+skills+page.JPG • http://www.customtyping.com/tutorials/kb/keyboarding_speed.htm • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Access.PNG • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Outlook_Today_-_Microsoft_Outlook.png • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Excel_2010.png • http://facts-facts.blogspot.com/2007/09/computer-facts.html • http://techiq.welchwrite.com/2007/05/did-you-know-how-to-turn-off-your.html • http://distancelearn.about.com/od/technology/a/software.htm • http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Getting-help • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prezi • http://www.google.ca/search • http://www.wem.mb.ca/computer_use.aspx • http://www.microsoft.com/canada/windows/new-pc/default.aspx?icid=pcstorevan;&wt.srch=1 • http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/LES/pdfs/learning/cu_tip_sheet.pdf • http://careerplanning.about.com/od/importantskills/a/comp_literacy.htmhttp://www.marcandangel.com/2008/06/02/50-things-everyone-should-know-how-to-do/