Additional Helps: Course Descriptions   Curriculum Structure   Class Frequency   1st Year School/Transfer Student   Grade Level Expectations   High School Usage   Adult Programs   Educator Program

Courses are listed chronologically below.  New schools' students and transfer students will skip selected courses to be safely placed.  See our 1st Year School/Transfer Student page.  

Kindergarten Program- Designed as a once per week class for kindergarten and non-readers.  Students are lock-stepped with lessons that cover hardware and computer literacy.  The instructor uses the kindergarten guide to read instructions and review information to the students along with viewing videos.  These students do not use the drills and quizzes, but are asked questions orally from the guide.  Non-readers will build a mastery of using the mouse, build a familiarity with the lab, and learn an amazing amount of computer literacy.  Students will master names of computer components and participate in replacing cards inside a computer (great photo opportunity).

How Computers can teach I- Students will learn how to open an internet browser program. Covers how computers can teach by using a mouse intensive introduction to Spanish language program. Covers hardware inside and out. Students will have drills and quizzes for hardware concepts. Enhancement activities will involve the Spanish program. It will review/introduce spreadsheet column/row/cell names and two major uses of a spread sheet.

How Computers can teach II- Covers how computers can teach by using a mouse intensive introduction to Spanish language program. This course covers brief introduction to word processing using Word Pad.

Operating Systems I-Students learn common procedures such as saving and opening while learning common program features to develop a strong foundation in the core features of most programs. How to manage multiple programs, windows, and projects at the same time. Safe downloading and/or installing programs/files. Includes a brief overview of basic word processing formatting tools.

Graphics I- Pixels, file size, number of colors, cropping, resampling, replicating, photo touchup, special effects, clipart, screen capture, logos, and common graphic tools are covered.

Spreadsheets I- Spread sheet fundamentals such as cell, column, row, sum formulas, lists, simple budgets are covered.

Hardware- cover basic literacy, remove intimidation, and develop mouse skills. Students learn all internal parts of a computer and participate in projects such as replacing expansion cards, ram, and drives to master a general understanding of common components.  Hardware, terminology, mouse skills, proper computer usage, and proper computer safety. Computer Breakdowns- Students learn the most common reasons a computer (hardware) will breakdown. Trends and Emerging Technologies- Students learn historic trends to develop spatial ability. Recently released technology, technology in development, and technology industry forecasts are covered. How to save $1000's on technology. How to buy a computer.  

Computer Security I- Technology Safety and Financial Safety Rules on the Internet

File Management I- Drives, folders, filenames, and recommended procedures for storage.  Backup/restore procedures are also covered.  Burning cd's/dvd's.  Search methods for local, intranet, and internet are covered along with the use of wildcards/Boolean searches.

Business Programs- overviews and basic use of six major types of business applications including word processing, spread sheets, desktop publishing, presentations, financial, and data bases. Desktop Publishing- Differences between word processing and desktop publishing. Tools such as frame connecting, layering, binding, and templates are covered.  Common projects are overviewed such as books, booklets, flyers, posters, business cards, greeting cards, and newsletters.  Financial Software- Quicken, Money, Quickbooks, and web options are covered.  Strengths, weaknesses, and security are included.

Ethics- Includes Ethics and Data Tracking (not prevention of data tracking). How to reduce the temptation by using free or public domain options. Overview of copyright and mark rules. Avoiding the technology trap. Ethics II- Software and music license management.  Should we support immoral websites, online tools, and software?

Word Processing I- Formatting, spell checking, and thesaurus is covered. Header/footer use and codes. Standards for documents such as business letter, resume, and appearance.

Presentations I- An introduction to making a presentation with text, graphics, and animation. Adding sound and timing to presentations. Converting presentations into single files for downloading/file attachments.

Ergonomics- Identifying and preventing improper technology usage, common injuries, and recommended equipment.  The health industry is discovering this must be emphasized with younger people.  

Computer Security II- Understanding what is needed to protect a computer from viruses, adware, spyware, hijacking, and spam through the use of free programs such as software, firewalls, and practices. Management of firewall, Vista, virus, spyware, and IE popup questions.

Printers- Basics of printing options, installation of printers, how to cut ink costs by 90%, troubleshooting, preventing jams, purchasing. Brochures, photos, posters, scanning, copying, faxing, in-house vs. outsource guide. PDF- Benefits, creation, usage of printable document format files.  PDF concepts are covered such as converting PDF's back to an editable format, fillable PDF's, and saveable PDF's. 

Spreadsheets II- Formulas, ranges, sorting, and charts.

Graphics II- Graphics is continued including digital cameras, scanners, and animated gif's. Graphic management software which includes auto resizing for email, photo printing, and special effects is also covered. More complex graphics skills are learned with emphasis on differences in printing, web, and presentation.

Cameras- How to buy a camera and how to use a camera.  Settings, storage, transfer, backups, docking stations, printing services, and subject permission is also covered. (Graphics I and II should be completed first.) Web cams, teleconferencing, and Instant Messenger.

Internet- History, service choices, computer installation, troubleshooting.

E-mail- Basics of email including webmail, pop3, spam, forwarding, auto responders, group mail/ISP limits, address books, default browser mail, signatures, folder management, much more. Organizational email including newsletters, automatic subscriber management, user tracking, ICAAN rules.

College Test Prep- High school students will learn how to use free online tools to prepare for college entrance tests.  Students will learn where and how to use a collection of online test training, drills, and current practice tests.  Students will also learn other college entrance procedures such as online FAFSA, online testing registration, and early testing to allow a retake.   Students will review how colleges process enrollment steps.  

Databases- How to setup a database to interact with form letters and label creation. Overview of features, tools, and usage.

Word Processing II- Form letters, labels, business cards, and external data sources.

Web Design I- Basics of a website. Domains, Hosting, CMS, historic web software. Simple HTML.

Web Design II- Navigation, mistakes to avoid, common features of any website, browser/resolution compatibility. Visitor statistics.

Communications I-  How to participate or use a blog, forum, chat, instant messaging (typing, talking, teleconferencing), VOIP, fax through email, IPod (audio, video, shopping for an IPod),   Things to avoid.  Cell Phones- Current feature and service comparisons.  Recommendation of features/phones for individual circumstances. Common practices.

Spreadsheets III- Macros, csv, importing non-spreadsheet data into a spreadsheet, inserting as a data source into other programs.

Communications II- How to setup a blog, how to setup a forum, hot to setup a chat service (responsibilities of a moderator), .  How to use one program for all IM services.   How to host a podcasting service. 

Web Design III- Implementing free hosting features such as blog, forum, email accounts, photo gallery, calendar system.

Web Design IV- Implementing additional purchased features such as a newsletter service, podcasting account, upgraded email, online file folder, shopping cart system, fax through email, SSL certificate.

File Management II- Data recovery and computer forensics show how to recover deleted data and track/monitor user history. 

Communications III- How to customize a blog for other uses (FAQ, department web pages, front end for a database of information, etc.), how to customize a forum for other uses (Help System, FAQ,  front end for a database of information, etc.), how to customize a chat program as a Live Help or scheduled online meeting Computer to Cell Communication- Services and tools that send information to your cell phone.  

Presentations III*- Converting Power Point/Impress presentations into video files for the web.  Including dubbing, narration, and sound effects. 

Operating Systems II-Windows Versions (Vista, XP, Win9x, Win2000, ME), Linux (Red Hat), and Mac (OS10) Overview. 

Web Design V- Using custom web-applications with a database. MySql and SQL.

Web Design VI- Ecommerce including PayPal, shopping carts, merchant accounts, security.

Web Design VII- Marketing including meta tags, keywords, search engine submissions, pay per click, statistic analysis, newsletters, reciprocal links, link submission, services. Using optimizing programs to improve search position. 

Web Design VIII- Ability to customize multiple web languages' code (such as perl, php, java). Ability to structure a website to reach multiple platforms (such as XML/RSS). 

Web Design VIIII- Ability to customize and implement an open source application.

Tech Skills Inventory- To inventory student strengths/interests and select post-secondary options for furthering training in this subject.  Ministry Skills Inventory-  To inventory student strengths/interests. To understand how to choose the right tool for the job: How to evaluate and implement the right software or online tool for a need.  Method evaluation, growth potential, user friendliness, and other concepts are covered. Mastering New Technology: To know how to master any software when needed. Training and tips will clarify skills that should be developed to be able to use any program without help from another person. 

Advanced students can choose from these courses after completing core courses:

Ebay Training- How to safely buy from Ebay and evaluate sellers.  How to effectively and safely sell on Ebay. (Recommend the Camera, Graphics I, Graphics II courses in addition to this.) Short review of non-auction based sites such as Amazon.

Free Programs- Overview of the most popular, fastest growing, most useful software and online tools that do not cost anything.  Tips for researching hidden adware or spyware features within free software.  

Genealogy- basics, software, research tools (free/paid), free and paid website to store/share information.

How to Make a Family Web Site*- domain, hosting, typical family features, setup

How to Make a Church Web Site*- domain, hosting, typical church features/checklist, setup, delegation with control.

How to Make a School Web Site*- domain, hosting, typical school features/checklist, setup, delegation with control.

How to Make a Business Web Site*- domain, hosting, typical business features/checklist, setup, ecommerce, marketing.

Online Grading*- Complete training to using an online grading program.  Program that is covered features the following options: weighted grades, individualized curriculums, previous years' records, automatic backups, parent and student logins, much more.

Presentations IV: Usage of projectors, LCD tv's, kiosks, multiple monitors, and other presentation options.  

Teacher Standards- overview of national teacher standards in technology, developing technology stranding in other subjects, formats and tools you should expect students to use, how to receive media, teacher resources, online grading tips. 

Web Design X*- Online course development including enrollment, assignments, drills, quiz/test creation, grading options, student communication. Educators should consider Presentations II and III to strengthen this skill.

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Substitute Instructor Orientation- This is a quick overview of managing the computer lab classes.  Covers our program and reviews tips for supervising the classroom.  Can be completed in less than an hour.