By
Hank Huber
Academic Support Programs
is offering free computer skills workshops to any Buffalo
State College student who may need to learn the basics of
the internet, word processing, or e-mail.
The Academic Skills Center
is holding the one-hour workshops in the ASP computer lab,
South Wing 320, on Tuesdays this semester during Bengal
Pause. The alternating lessons focus on one of three customary
areas of trouble for beginners:
Student E-Mail for Beginners
covers reading and sending mail, saving and deleting messages,
forwarding a message, and sending an attachment.
Internet for Beginners covers
Web browsers, search engines, and academic databases. Students
learn how to navigate the Web to find what they need quickly,
including how to narrow searches considerably by using simple
Boolean logic. The quality of information received from
academic-orientated search engines such as Academic Search
Elite will be compared to the results of popular commercial
search engines, such as Yahoo! and Google. Privacy protection,
avoiding spam, and dealing with advertisements will also
be discussed.
Word Processing for Beginners
introduces users to Microsoft Word, and covers writing a
paper, formatting and editing, saving and backing up files,
organizing files into folders, and compatibility issues.
Saving work to the z-drive
will also be covered.
Every Buff State student has 15 megabytes
of storage space, more than 10 floppy disks worth, set aside
for them under their user name on the z-drive. The z-drive,
accessible from all campus PCs, is also where each student’s
web page is located.
“We want to bring computer help for
beginners on par with the math and writing skills tutoring
programs we offer,” said Monica Heavey,
computer lab manager/tutor. “Because we think these
skills are important for those who were disadvantaged in
high school, or whose formal education predates the widespread
use of computers.”
Ms. Heavey, who is teaching the workshops,
is looking for volunteers to help out with the informal-style
program.
“It’s supposed to be limited to
10 (people),” she said, “but I don’t want
to turn anyone away.”
The lab has 25 computers, but she said she
wants everyone to get the attention they need.
Students are not required to bring anything
to the session, but “It might be a good idea to bring
a floppy disk, especially for the word processing workshop,”
said Carol Reed, keyboard specialist for
the Academic Skills Center.
The schedule is:
E-Mail For Beginners: March 25, April 15.
Word Processing For Beginners: March 4, April 1, April 22.
Internet For Beginners: March 11, April 8.
Students interested in participating should
call 878-4041 by 4 p.m. on the Friday before the workshop
they want to attend.
More information can be found by clicking
on http://www.buffalostate.edu/offices/
asp/CmptrWrkshpFlyer.htm
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