Microsoft Office Specialist Certification
Career Field: Technology
Adult Career Pathway: Business/General
Type: Certification exam prep
Prepares Students for: Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams in Excel, Word and PowerPoint; articulation agreement with local community/technical college may grant credit for passing the exam, upon entry into an IT or other program.
Target Student Population: TABE Reading 5.0
Access Curriculum: View Materials
Course Description: Students go through step-by- step tutorials and practice activities to master skills necessary to pass the official Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams for Microsoft 2013. Independent study approach in a school-based computer lab with instructor support.
Duration: Self-paced in an open enrollment class that runs 2.5 hours/day, 4 days/week
Curriculum Description: Includes 15 tasks in Word, 14 in Excel, and 8 in PowerPoint. Each task includes a starting document, a list of instructions for the task, and an “answer key” that shows what the completed task/document should look like. For each of the three software applications there are also objectives, overview of tasks, and student progress checklist. Word materials also include 3 projects of original writing (resume, biography and one other) that integrate all the skills learned; plus 15 practice sheets similar to items on the certification exam. Excel materials include video links with select skill tutorials.
Curriculum Pluses: Comprehensive, clear list of objectives for mastering each of the three software applications. Materials well-organized for easy use. Task sheets and projects provide extensive practice for mastery of skills. Online tutorials are very helpful teaching tools. Independent study approach develops self-management (transition) skills. Entire course promotes digital literacy skills.
Curriculum Drawbacks: No teaching / learning tools for vocabulary building or other reading skills necessary to handle the high level written materials. No student syllabus.
Notes:
- MOS certification exams: see information here. Exams are approximately $100 each. ISD 622 is a testing site; they have used grant funds to cover exam fees.
- See overview of IT Careers offerings here.
- Rationale for ABE-provided training – supports students in an individualized approach to learning, students can self-pace (vs. fast-paced fee-based training sessions elsewhere). ABE instructors have strong cross-language / cross-cultural sensibilities necessary for effective training of second-language learners.
Author: John Edmundson & Randee Edmundson, Harmony Learning Center
Published: 2016
Contact:
John Edmundson
Harmony Learning Center, ABE Program
North St. Paul – Maplewood – Oakdale ISD 622
612-385- 1050 / [email protected]