5132 - COMPUTER SKILLS

The overall objective of the course is to provide basic knowledge about Information Technology (IT) and basic competences in using personal computers and common end user computing applications. For this reason the program required by the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) - START level has been adopted. This certificate states that the holder has passed four of the seven tests which represent the basic knowledge about  the use of a PC, a word processor,  a spreadsheet and the Internet.

The course consists of lessons and exercises.
The modules of the ECDL Start are the following:

• Using the Computer and Managing Files: the goal of this module is to provide the students with the practical skills and competencies required to use the basic functions of a personal computer and its operating system. At the end of this part the students are expected to be able to operate effectively within the desktop environment, manage and organise files and directories/folders and know how to copy, move and delete files and directories/folders.
• Word Processing: in this module covers the basic operations associated with creating, formatting and finishing a word document ready for distribution and advanced features associated with word processing applications such as creating standard tables, using pictures and images within a document, importing objects and using mail merge tools.   
• Spreadsheets: the goal of this module is to illustrate the basic concepts of spreadsheets and the ability to use a spreadsheet application on a personal computer. The students are expected to be able to accomplish basic operations associated with developing, formatting and using a spreadsheet and standard mathematical and logical operations using basic formulas and functions and some of the more advanced features of a spreadsheet application such as importing objects, and creating graphs and charts.  
• Information and Communication: divided in two sections. The first one illustrates how to accomplish basic Web search tasks using a Web browser application, available search engine tools and Usenet; to bookmark search results and to print Web pages and search reports. The second section describes how to use electronic mail software to send and receive messages; how to attach documents or files to a message and organize and manage message folders or directories within an electronic mail software.