As a student you are required to use various software applications to complete projects and to write lab reports and papers. Knowing which application to choose for your task and how to take advantage of that application's features can make your student life much easier. CPS 105 will introduce you to the main applications in Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access. Each application was designed with a different type of data in mind and thus works differently.
Word, for example, is used for text documents (letters, papers, etc.) so it has features that make working with text documents easier. Excel is used for managing data and handling calculations so it has features that make data manipulation and calculations easier. Trying to write a paper in Excel is almost impossible, as is trying to do calculations in a Word document. Using the right tool for the right job is critical to success. This course will also teach you how to use the features of each application to your advantage.
This course will also show you how to move data from one application to another so you do not need to re-create it. For example you might use Access to manage all the data you are collecting from a science experiment. You could then export data to Excel so you could analyze the data using Excel's functions and formulas. You could also chart your results with Excel's charting tools. Your analysis and charts can then be added to a Word document that contains your lab write-up and into a PowerPoint presentation you give to the class.
Whether your main reason for using Office is creating documents, analyzing data, or managing the flood of information you gather, take a moment to consider what other tasks you might be able to delegate to your Office programs. When you use the best tool for the particular job, you not only get the best results with the least amount of work, but you are also likely to discover new ways to save time, get connected, and get it done.
UW Colleges Catalog Course Description for CPS 105: Computer Applications - 3 credits. Principles and use of computer applications including word processors, spreadsheets and databases. May also cover other applications such as telecommunications, graphics, statistics, simulations or CAI. Does not include teaching of programming. Course may not be taken more than once for degree credit. Student may not receive credit for both CPS 105 and any of CPS 106, CPS 107, CPS 108. This course fulfills the UWC requirement for Application and Performance (AP).
This course will cover Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access. Both features of individual applications as well as the integration aspects available with Microsoft Office will be covered. Students will also learn to work with compressed/zip folders and various other applications as needed.
Emphasis is put on not only learning the features, but also on how to investigate an application and its features to learn more. New applications are constantly being introduced and existing applications are constantly being upgraded with new features so students need to "learn how to learn" in a computing environment.
Successful completion of this course will enhance students' ability to
By completing this course, students will
Access to Microsoft Office Professional (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access).
Microsoft WORKS is not an acceptable substitute. Please note that there are several versions of Microsoft Office and not all versions contains all 4 applications we will be using in this course. Only Office Professional contains all of the applications needed for this course.
The most current edition of MS Office (containing MS Word and other valuable programs) is available to University of Wisconsin students at discounted prices through the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog.
Mike Theiss
