Trinity Valley Community College

TVCC … Excellence … A Shared Vision

 

Intermediate Keyboarding, POFT 2401

Internet Syllabus

 

Instructor

Kippi Harraid

Business Professor

Email

kharraid@tvcc.edu

Prefer emails within WebCT for class questions

Office Hours

Location: TC224

Baugh Technology Center

1:00 –   3:00 pm      M/W/F

10:30 – 12:00 am    T/TH

Phone

903.677-TVCC

903.670.2632 (office)

 

 

 

Description:

Welcome to Intermediate Keyboarding Online!  This course provides a review and builds on keyboarding competencies.  Emphasis is placed on increasing speed, improving accuracy, developing formatting skills, applying communication skills, and learning document production skills.  This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Keyboarding POFT 1429 or possess equivalent skills and knowledge of word processing software.  Students should be able to key at least 30 wpm accurately to begin this class. 

 

This course is part of a workforce education program designed to provide the educational competencies and skills required for successful employment in business, industry, technical fields, and health services.  In addition, many students enhance and upgrade their job skills for career advancement.  Intermediate Keyboarding is required curricula for several certificate programs of study at TVCC.  It is not designed as a university transfer course. 

Goals:

The primary purpose of Intermediate Keyboarding is to improve your keyboarding skills and master word processing software demanded by industry.  You will build keyboarding speed and accuracy as well as produce mailable business letters, tables, reports, memos, and desktop published documents.  People study keyboarding for a variety of reasons.  Employers may require accurate keyboarding skills, or you may be self-employed and need to do your own computer work.  This course is designed to meet all of those needs. 

 

Building on the foundation of your textbook, we'll add practice, timed writings, notes, discussions, and quizzes to build your skills.  The course is fast-paced, so keep up with the work!

 


Requirements:

The computer system requirements for this course are as follows:

·          Windows 2000 or later operating system (Windows XP is the ideal platform for course software)

·          Easy access to a reliable Internet connection – 56K modem speed or higher

·          Some Internet assignments require you to access PDF documents.  The letters PDF indicate a document is in the Portable Document Format (PDF). To view these files you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available for free from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Text:

Mitchell, William and Kapper, Ronald.  Paradigm Intermediate Keyboarding and Applications, Sessions 61-120, 5th Ed., EMC Paradigm, Paradigm Publishing, Inc., 2006. 

ISBN:  0-7638-0205-0 Textbook and User Guide

Expectations:

You will be expected to:  

·          Follow TVCC Internet course policies and procedures

·          Communicate weekly with instructor and meet all deadlines

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to perform the following with ease: 

·          Key a minimum of 48 wpm on a 5-minute timed writing with 4 or fewer errors.

·          Demonstrate good work habits, acceptable keyboarding techniques, and skill in using the microcomputer and printer.

·          Recognize, evaluate, and correct errors in content and format of documents.

·          Demonstrate skill in language arts including word division, proofreading, punctuation, grammar, spelling, and keyboard composition.

·          Produce mailable business documents including specialized letters, tables, reports, memos, and employment documents using Microsoft Word 2003 software.

Curriculum:

The textbook is organized into ten units.  You will build upon your skills as you work through each lesson.  Because of this, speed and accuracy requirements are raised upon the completion of each unit. 

Instructional Tips:

·        Check WebCT on a regular basis for postings, instructor comments and discussions.

·        Refer to the class schedule and calendar on WebCT for assignments and due dates. If you’re having difficulty, contact the instructor.

·        Set a regular schedule for keyboarding and stick to it!  It is only through regular drill and practice that you achieve your speed and accuracy goals.

·         Begin using proper technique immediately.  Once you develop bad habits, they can become difficult to break.

·         Keep your eyes ON THE COPY!  Looking at your hands and/or the screen will only slow you down and prevent you from achieving your speed and accuracy goals!

·         Use correct posture and hand position – do not let the palms of your hands touch the keyboard.  Following these simple procedures can prevent back strain, fatigue, and injury.

·         If you begin to feel tired or your eyes feel strained, take a break, close your eyes, stretch, or get up and walk around.

·         Identify problem areas or keys and complete skill building exercises which focus on them.

·         “Practice makes perfect!”  Remember that you will need to be proficient and comfortable at the keyboard in order to be able to take a timed exam that reflects your abilities.

Course Access via WebCT

Students can log on to the TVCC WebCT website after the first class day of the semester by following the link https://ecourses.tvcc.edu.  

All student log-ins are as follows:

·         User ID:  Your last name followed by the first initial of your first name plus the last four digits of your social security number.  For example, Kippi Harraid, 461-08-1234, would be harraidk1234. 

·         Password:  The last four digits of your social security number. 

·         Both your user ID and password are case sensitive, so pay attention to the caps lock key!

·         Once you have logged in to WebCT, you may change your password – just make sure you remember it!  If you forget your password, you will not be able to access your course until it is reset by TVCC Network Services.

·         Utilize the navigation tools within WebCT to go from place to place within your course rather than the back and forward buttons in your browser.

Exams:  

All exams will be timed.  Students who fail to take an exam without contacting the instructor prior to the exam will receive a zero for that exam and will not be allowed a make-up.  If a test is announced as a proctored exam, the exam will not be administered online.  Students will be required to come to the TVCC Athens Campus Library Resource Center, testing center, or the testing center on their home campus to take any proctored exams. VCT students will be required to go to the testing center on their host campus to take the proctored exams.      

Online Learning:  

Please refer to the class schedule and calendars for assignments and due dates. Keep in mind that online learning is active and self-initiated, and therefore requires self discipline. Don't think that this class will be easier because it is online; it will probably be harder.
Here are some tips for successful completion of an online course.

·          Prepare in advance

·          Set a specific time of day for doing the work

·          Prepare a physical setting (close the door, eliminate interruptions, etc.)

·          Ask lots of questions in the discussion board if you don't understand something

Online Etiquette:  

If you haven't participated in online communication very much, you might want to visit a few web sites that explain "Netiquette,” such as http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/09netiqt.htm
Briefly,

·          Use polite, understated, good language

·          Do not type in ALL CAPS, which is perceived as shouting

·          If you disagree, do so politely

·          Think of your comments as being printed in a newspaper

Documentation of Course Completion:

You are expected to keep copies of all of your submitted work.  If an assignment is lost, it will be your responsibility to redo and/or resubmit the assignment for grading. 

 

Once an assignment is graded and returned, you must keep a copy of the graded assignment in electronic format.  Then, if there is a dispute on the grade, you have verification of grade received.

Late Work:

This course is, in a sense, self-paced even though there are published assignment due dates.  No late work will be accepted, unless there is a special circumstance that is discussed with the instructor BEFORE the assignment's due date.  Any work turned in after the due date without prior approval will be recorded with a grade of zero.  You are welcome to work ahead!

Withdrawals:

It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to withdraw from this class. It must be done through the registrar’s office.  A phone call to your instructor WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED as a withdrawal.  Proper paperwork required by TVCC must be completed. You will not be dropped by the instructor.

If you do not take care of responsibility and miss the last day to withdraw and still receive a “W” on your transcript, your grades will be averaged as is and submitted with final grades.  This may mean a grade of an “F” if you have not completed your assignments.  Please take care of business and DROP this class through the registrar’s office if you do not plan to complete it.

Academic Integrity:

Among the violations of academic integrity are: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, personal misrepresentation and proxy, bribes, favors, and threats. 

 

Any work that is submitted for grading should belong to you.  Your work must reflect your own personality and understanding; work copied from another is unacceptable and grounds for a breach of academic integrity.   Specifically, as academic integrity issues relate to this course, if it is discovered that you are not completing your own assignments, you will fail this course.  The moral of this story is to study with others, but do your own work! 

 

TVCC is an equal opportunity employer/educator functioning under the affirmative action plan and

does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or other legislated

categories in its services, employment programs,and/or its educational programs and activities.

This includes but is not limited to admissions, treatment, and access.