Entry Level Skills

The following competencies have been recommended and approved by the Professional Education Council.

Entering professional education students should be able to perform the following generic computer tasks/applications:

Perform general computer operations, including:

• Perform the boot process
• Perform virus protection scan
• Create folders and subdirectories
• Create and use file names and extensions
• Search for files and directories
• Print selected pages

 Use HELP features perform file manipulation, including:

• Retrieve files
• Copy, move, delete files
• Back up files
• Use auto save
• Import and export files

 Create a word processed document, including:

• Enter text
• Save document file
• Print document file

 Format a word processed document, including:

• Select and change fonts
• Select and change style attributes (i.e., boldface, italics, underlining)
• Select and change font size
• Set line spacing
• Set paragraph alignment
• Set paragraph indentation
• Set margins
• Set tabs
• Create itemized lists (e.g., bullets, numbered lists)
• Insert date and time
• Insert page numbers
• Insert page breaks and sections
• Insert headers and footers
• Create tables
• Create page setup (e.g., page orientation, columns)

 Edit a word processed document, including:

• Open an existing document file
• Cut/copy and paste selected object
• Insert or delete selected object
• Use dictionary/thesaurus
• Make corrections using spell check
• Make corrections using grammar check
• Use the "find and replace" function

 Use graphics software, including:

• Use clipart
• Create an image use a graphics program
• Use word/text art
• Capture a pre-existing image from Internet
• Use color, space, and layout

 Create a presentation using presentation software, including:

• Select a presentation scheme
• Create an outline with text

 Modify a presentation, including:

• Add bullets
• Correct errors
• Spell check
• Resize text boxes and images
• Rearrange slides
• Insert a new slide

 Enhance a presentation, including:

• Add clipart and graphics
• Add sound clips
• Integrate with word processing and spreadsheet

 Use e-mail to communicate, including:

• Send and receive e-mail
• Maintain designated space quota (delete e-mail)
• Enclose and recover e-mail attachments
• Forward an e-mail message
• Reply to an e-mail message
• Print an e-mail message

 Use the Internet to communicate and locate information, including:

• Access the Internet with a browser
• Navigate the Web by use of links and URL addresses
• Use the browser tool bar to navigate
• Use a search engine to locate desired information
• Download and print desired items from the Internet
• Evaluate the credibility of a site
• Use listservs
• Bookmark a site
• Define in general terms "Acceptable Use Policy"
• Insert a hyperlink into another document

 Create a simple database, including:

• Enter the field name, the field size, the data type
• Identify the primary key
• Identify the default values
• Enter data into fields and records

 Change the structure of a database

• Change the contents of a record
• Insert and delete fields
• Insert and delete records

 Manipulate the contents of a database, including:

• Sort records; create and print forms
• Perform searches and queries
• Prepare mail labels and envelopes

 Create a spreadsheet, including:

• Enter labels, values, headings
• Enter formulas use arithmetic operators or built-in functions
• Create charts and graphs from cell contents

 Edit a spreadsheet, including:

• Cut, copy, and paste cell contents
• Delete cell contents
• Insert and delete rows and columns

 Format a spreadsheet, including:

• Set fonts, font sizes, and styles
• Apply appropriate formats for cell contents
• Align cell contents (left, right, center, justify, center across columns)