A Fresh Start: Computer and Job Readiness Course

Grace History

This fall, put your career on a fast track with A Fresh Start: Grace Institute’s intensive computer program that will give you the skills to succeed. The heart of this program is a hands-on practical grounding in the Microsoft Office Suite 2007. This course is designed to give students a more in-depth knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, which includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Outlook. Workshops on resumes, cover letters, job searches, and networking will ensure that you have the necessary tools to compete in a tight job market.

This class is generally offered in two levels. In the basic level, this class aims to teach women with limited computer skills how to comfortably navigate Microsoft Office Programs. In the intermediate level, the class is geared toward helping women update current computer skills.

COMPUTER INTENSIVE CURRICULUM*

Prerequisites: None

Course Length: 10 weeks

Start Date: TBD

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL: Please consider yourself an intermediate if you have familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or similar applications and are able to do the following:
 * Create and save documents in Microsoft Word 2007
* Know the parts of a spreadsheet and how to input data
* Understand how to navigate and use the Ribbon in Office 2007
* Have an email account and know how to send and receive e-mail attachments
* Able to surf the internet

Sessions One and Two: Class Introduction, Hardware and Networks, and Windows
Session Three and Four: Windows & Microsoft Word Review
Sessions Five and Six: Microsoft Word — essentials, formatting, tables, mail merge, and more
Sessions Seven- Ten: Microsoft Word Continued
Sessions Eleven - Twelve: Microsoft Excel—basics, spreadsheets, and functions
Sessions Thirteen and Fifteen: Microsoft Excel Continued
Sessions Sixteen and Seventeen: Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint—fundamentals, presentation features, and graphics
Session Eighteen - Twenty: Microsoft PowerPoint, Outlook and Review

*Curriculum may vary based on students’ knowledge and experience. 

ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS
These workshops will be held at a time to be announced.

  1. Resume Writing: A how-to session that covers the dos and don’ts of constructing and improving a resume
  2. Cover Letter Writing: A presentation on writing an effective cover letter : writing more clearly, more persuasively, and more forcefully
  3. Self-directed Job Search: A workshop on crucial job-hunting information, including tips on using the internet effectively for a self-directed job search
  4. Networking 101: How to expand your networking skills

Conditions of Enrollment
• Fresh Start is a non-certificate course. In lieu of a certificate, if you complete 17 of the 20 sessions, you will receive a letter of completion.
• All fees must be paid in full prior to the first day of classes. No exceptions.
• As stated in your enrollment form, there are no refunds issued at any time. If for any reason, you are unable to complete the 20 sessions, we will not be able to roll over your fees for the next session after you have attended 3 classes. If you attend less than three classes Grace Institute must be notified immediately to discuss the possibility of enrollment in the next session.
• If a student has taken the Beginner Fresh Start Course at Grace Institute and wishes to continue with the Intermediate Course, the book fee will be waived if the computer textbook remains the same. The enrollment fee will be $237.00. If the textbook changes, then the customary fee of $275.00 must be paid prior to the first day of classes.