Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Fall 2007

Texts/Supplies

Keyboard Mastery, by Barbara Ellsworth, Ellsworth Publishing Co. Textbook can be purchased at the Anoka-Ramsey Community College bookstore. New textbooks must be purchased; used books do not have a valid “Online Access Serial Code.”

Course Objectives

This course helps you develop or improve your computer keyboarding skills.  You will also develop formatting skills on letters, reports, and tables using Microsoft Word software. At the completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate proper keyboarding techniques.
2. Key by touch (without looking) alphabetic text at a minimum of 25 wpm on 3-minute timings.
3. Key numbers and symbols.
4. Format accurately and efficiently letters, reports, and tables using word processing software.
5. Proofread documents for accuracy.
6. Compose a document using word processing software.

Homework Commitment

Students are expected to spend approximately four hours a week outside of class to complete the homework assignments on time and to achieve the minimum speed requirements. You can complete this homework on a Windows-based computer that can access the Internet. If you prefer to use our computing facilities, check the computer lab for their hours.

Grading

Your final course grade is computed as follows:

ARCC COMPUTER LABS

If you prefer, you may use the computing facilities on campus. The open lab on the Coon Rapids campus is on the first floor of the Technology Building and is open from 7:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, the lab closes at 3:30 p.m. The lab is open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The lab is closed on official college holidays and holiday weekends. Lab aides are available to answer software questions but are not expected to know individual instructors' assignments or requirements. Hours for the Cambridge campus open lab are slightly different; check the Anoka-Ramsey Web page.

EMAIL

Students will use their Metnet email address for all email communications. When emailing me, please use the course name in the subject line “BUS 1153” along with a descriptive word(s) such as “Help” or “Question.” I delete all emails that do not have a subject line or a subject line that does not appear to be academic.

If you have not activated your Metnet email account, please activate it this week. ARCC assigns email accounts for all students registered in credit-based courses through Metnet. There is information about the Metnet email accounts on the Anoka-Ramsey (ARCC) Web site.

STUDENT CONCERNS

Academic honesty: The policies of Anoka-Ramsey Community College are strictly enforced in the case of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism and cheating on tests or assignments are not tolerated. The consequences of academic dishonesty vary from receiving a zero on an assignment to being dropped from the course.

Special needs: Let me know if you have a special need that impacts your learning, including requests to provide course materials in an alternative format. The college has an Access Services department that can help you receive services such as interpreters, note takers, special testing environments, etc.

Withdrawing from the course: If you decide to withdraw from the course, please call me or send an email message letting me know. Check the Anoka-Ramsey web site for the last day to withdraw.

Be Respectful. Respect each of your classmate’s right to a valuable class experience, free of offensive language, intolerance, or harassment of any kind. Respect these facilities and our time together by eliminating all distractions, especially cell phones, iPods, and other gadgets, and by refraining from disruptions of any kind, including sleeping in class or talking when no formal class discussion is taking place. Finally, respect yourself by participating fully in each class session and making the most of this learning opportunity.

Be Responsible. As a student in this college course, you are responsible for your own success. This includes reading and following the syllabus. It’s expected that you arrive to each class session on-time, with assigned work completed, ready to participate fully. If you miss class, you are responsible for obtaining notes, assignments, and syllabus adjustments. You are responsible for being an active participant in this class rather than a passive observer.

Rise to the Challenge. College-level courses are demanding. They require deeper thinking, more effective writing, and greater personal involvement than many students realize. In order to succeed at this level, you must be willing to accept the challenges presented by the course material, your instructors, and a rigorous schedule. One of the rewards of this challenge can be the discovery that you are capable of much more than you imagined. Therefore, expect great things from yourself, work hard to achieve them, and seek help when you need it. The other members of this community of learners are here to support you, but it’s up to you to rise to the challenge.

Tentative Course Schedule
(No Classes September 3, October 10, and November 12)

Login Instructions for Keyboarding Mastery

Turn to page A-4 in your keyboarding textbook. Follow the directions under “Getting Started” the Internet Version (Windows & Mac OS X).

There are several steps to follow. Please read carefully and complete each step. Read the information below before logging in to the course.

·         School Login and School Password. Both are “arcc” without the quotation marks.

·         Click on the Keyboard Mastery link located to the right of the textbook image.

·         Our class is Bus1153_McDonald_Fall2007. You should see your name listed. If you do not, please let me know. Your password is the first six letters of your last name and the first two letters of your first name; small letters, no capitals.

·         The first time you log in to the course, you will be asked to key a serial code. This serial code is located on the inside of the back cover beneath the cd. You will need to remove the cd to see your “Online Access Serial Code.”

Once you have logged into the keyboarding program, go through the ‘Introduction;’ there are several steps.

Once you have completed the introduction session, click on Lesson one and turn to page B-2. You can see that Lesson 1 contains 15 lines. Each line must be keyed three times within the error limit.

You are allowed to backspace; however, you will need to limit your backspacing to less than 50 percent of what you key. E.g. If you key ten lines, four of the lines can include backspacing to correct and six of the lines need to be keyed without backspacing.

Quitting the program properly – Turn to page A-4 and follow the instructions.

If you are having trouble accessing the keyboarding program at home, you may need to download Java. Go to http://www.java.com and have an experienced computer person help you download the program.