Class Text:

The book's web site.

A tour of the book

• The Instructional material is on the white pages.
  • This includes a complete discussion of the topic for the section.
  • Including screen shots
  • And Tip boxes.
• The Hands On Exercises are on the yellow pages.
  • These exercises provide detailed instructions on how to use the information covered on the white pages.
  • If, while working on the hands on exercises you have a problem you should
    1. Consult the white pages that precede the exercise.
    2. Consult with the Instructor or Student Assistant
    3. Seek help in other places
       1. On line
       2. A classmate
  • I expect that you will spend time in class working on the hands on exercises.
  • You should do the hands on exercises for each chapter we cover.
• Practice Exercises
  • At the end of each chapter are a set of practice exercises.
  • These contain descriptions of what to do, as well as a very short explanation of how to do it.
  • You will do one or more practice exercise for each chapter we cover.
  • Part of your grade will depend on demonstrating that you have accomplished the practice exercise in a timely manner.
  • These usually include a picture of the final product.
• Mid-Level Exercises
  • Mid-Level exercises follow the practice exercises.
  • They describe what you should accomplish in terms of files/formats/computations but do not tell you how to perform these tasks.
  • There is usually no picture of the final product.
  • You may be assigned mid-level exercises for a chapter which will be included in your grade.
• Capstone/Beyond the Classroom
  • The final elements of each chapter is a set of additional exercises.
  • These contain a description of a final product, but no indication of how to produce this document.
  • You should employ the techniques from the previous exercises to accomplish the assignment.
  • Part of your grade will depend on submitting your solution to the mini cases in a timely manner.
• Other Assignments
  • I will from time to time produce my own exercises when I feel that the book does not provide suitable exercises.
  • You will be graded on your performance on these exercises.
  • In addition, such exercises are an excellent way to understand the format for a test.

Mini FAQ

Do I need the book?

Yes, we will use the book almost every class session.

My friend has a copy of (Brief, Word, ...) book, can I use it?

We will cover Fundamentals chapter 1, Word chapters 1-4, Selected Excel chapters 1-8 and PowerPoint chapters 1-2. If the book(s) have these chapters, you are fine.

May I share the book with my (friend, girl/boy friend, husband, child...)?

Yes, but you may not do so on the tests.

Do I need a MyItLab license?

No, I am not using MyItLab.

Do I need to buy the book from the bookstore?

I might look elsewhere.

Aren't we using Office 2016?

Yes, but the core of Office has not changed. There are minor changes to the user interface and using the 2013 book students can experience substantial savings.