• Introduction to Computers 1: The Basics

  • Learn important details like how to shut your computer off properly, mouse techniques, basic software procedures, and basic troubleshooting. Microsoft Explorer and file management will also be discussed. The skills in this course are critical to the successful completion of other courses. If you are unsure about your skill level, consider this course as a refresher. We promise that you'll learn at least 3 new things! outline

• Introduction to Computers 2: Increasing Your Efficiency

  • If you find yourself lost when looking for files you know are there—or if you need to know how to copy files from your hard drive to a floppy disk—this course is a must! We will go into more detail about Microsoft Explorer, which manages all your files. We will also discuss how to customize your computer using Windows' control panel settings and ways to increase your efficiency with the computer. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1: The Basics. outline

• Introduction to the Internet

  • Learn what a web address is, how to find what you want, and how to bookmark. Also explore the many things you can do on the internet, as well as when it is safe (and not safe) to provide personal information. This course is designed specifically for those who want to get the most out of their time on the internet, as well as those who haven't had much experience with it. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1. outline

• Microsoft Outlook

  • Learn how to take advantage of Outlook's powerful features … including managing contact lists, scheduling appointments, arranging meetings, and using notes. Emphasis is placed on organization techniques. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. outline
     

• Microsoft Word 1: Document & Formatting Basics

  • Learn how to set your options, use toolbars, format your text, change your page set-up, set tabs, use headers and footers, and more. After this course, you will be able to enter, format, and print letters, reports, proposals, etc., using tabs and page set-up. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. outline

• Microsoft Word 2: Tables, Merges & Macros

  • This course is designed for those who feel they aren't using Microsoft Word to its full potential. Learn how to insert, format, and manipulate tables, as well as complete a mail merge. We'll also cover recording and using macros. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Word 1. outline

• Microsoft Word 3: Forms & Advanced Tools

  • Learn how to design forms which you can send to staff, clients, volunteers, etc., to complete and return to you for tabulation. We will also cover advanced finds/replaces, special characters, and headers/footers. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Word 1 & 2. outline

• Microsoft Word 4: Graphics & Brochures

  • There's no need to buy an expensive desktop publishing package if you have Microsoft Word. Learn how to insert and manipulate graphics, use columns, and other cool tools. After this course, you will be able to develop professional-looking flyers and brochures. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Word 1, 2, and 3. outline

• Microsoft Word 5: Newsletters

  • A nonprofit's communication strategy should always include ongoing communications with its clients, client families, volunteers, donors, funders, etc. The most professional way is through newsletters. This course will focus on what you need to know to develop newsletters that get read. Prerequisite: skills covered in Word 1, 2, 3, 4. outline
     

• Microsoft Excel 1: Spreadsheet & Chart Basics

  • Learn how to set your options, use toolbars, navigate through a spreadsheet, fill down and across, AutoSum, and more. After this course, you will be able to create a basic spreadsheet from scratch, write basic sum and average formulas, and create simple charts from your data. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. outline

• Microsoft Excel 2: Formulas

  • Learn how to enter and edit formulas-such as right and left, date and time, lookup, and IF statements. Also covers essential spreadsheet tools: grouping, naming, freeze/unfreeze panes, and references to other worksheets. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Excel 1. outline

• Microsoft Excel 3: Advanced Tools

  • Learn essential spreadsheet tools: grouping, naming, freeze/unfreeze panes, and references to other worksheets. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Excel 2. outline

• Microsoft Excel 4: Data Analysis Tools

  • For those of you who are ready to go the next step: subtotals and pivot tables! These tools consolidate your data and point out critical relationships. Also, advanced chart techniques will be covered. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Excel 1, 2, & 3. outline
     

• Microsoft PowerPoint 1: Slideshow Basics

  • Learn how to set your options, use toolbars, use the different view options, use templates, set up a master slide, individualize slides, insert graphics, and more! After this course, you will be able to create a basic yet professional presentation with graphics. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. outline

• Microsoft PowerPoint 2: Animation & Graphics

  • Learn the more complex tools of PowerPoint, including the impressive animation settings. Prerequisite: Skills covered in PowerPoint 1. outline
     

• Microsoft Publisher 1: The Basics

  • Publisher is a terrific program for people who want to create professional-looking publications without having to know design: it has lots of templates which are easy to use. This course will cover the basics of Publisher so that you can do flyers and brochures. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Word 1. outline

• Microsoft Publisher 2: Newsletters

  • The focus of this course will be developing professional-looking newsletters for your organization. The focus is on understanding how to use frames to control your text flow. Forms will also be discussed. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Publisher 1. outline
     

• Adobe PageMaker 1: The Basics

  • PageMaker is fabulous for desktop publishing! It has more powerful tools than Microsoft Word or Publisher … and, because you don't use frames, it is much easier to learn! This course will cover how PageMaker works, master pages, styles, wrapping, and graphics. outline

• Adobe PageMaker 2: Newsletters

  • This course will go into more detail about PageMaker's document management tools: linking, multiple master pages, and plug-ins. Extensive time will be spent on preparing the document to send to your printer to avoid costly mistakes (both time and money)! outline

• Adobe InDesign CS2: The Basics

  • InDesign can be very intimidating to the first-time user (even PageMaker old-timers get a bit queasy!!). Learn the logic behind InDesign, including preferences and all those new palettes! Includes formatting styles, placing text, placing graphics, text wrapping, and more! outline
     

• Introduction to Microsoft Access: Data Entry & Other Basics

  • Reduce your frustration and increase your efficiency by learning the underlying logic behind this database program. This will also include data entry techniques and writing and using simple queries and reports. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. outline
     

• QuickBooks 1: Setting Up Your System

  • According to our surveys, QuickBooks is used by more non-profits than any other accounting package. This class will cover setting up the QuickBooks system … including preferences, customers, accounts, etc. Even if you currently use QuickBooks, this class might be helpful in understanding your system. outline

• QuickBooks 2: Statements & Reports

  • This class will focus on entering and processing invoices, payments, deposits, etc. This will also cover printing simple financial reports which you can share with your board and funders. outline

• QuickBooks 3: Donors & Grants

  • After you've got the basics down, it's time to customize it for your organization's needs. This course is good for people who have been using QB for some time, or those who have completed courses 1 and 2 and are ready for more. We will also look at donor management and advanced grant tracking. outline

The Website Developers Series

• Website Development & Management: A Hands-On Planning Course

  • Great websites just don't happen: they take a lot of planning and knowledge of theory. We will explore the options of website development, paying special attention to the differences between designing for paper vs. designing for the web. When you complete this course, you will have a good plan for your new or updated website. Then you can create it yourself or give your plan to your computer specialist. outline

• Adobe PhotoShop: Graphics for the Web

  • Learn how to use PhotoShop's powerful tools to correct color balances in your scanned photos, crop and resize your images, and prepare them for the web. This includes special techniques for reducing the size of your images to reduce download time. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. outline

• Microsoft FrontPage 1: Themes & Shared Borders

  • We will cover the basics of FrontPage, the most popular website authoring software in the world! The focus will be on understanding how FrontPage works, designing themes, and using shared borders. After this course, you will be able to develop a simple but useful format for your organization's website. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. outline

• Microsoft FrontPage 2: Formatting Your Web Pages

  • This is the nitty-gritty of developing a website: the pages themselves. We will cover importing and formatting text, using graphics, hyperlinks, bookmarks, and tables. With the skills in this course, you will be able to create different types of pages using the format developed in Microsoft FrontPage 1. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft FrontPage 1. outline

• Microsoft FrontPage 3: Cool Tools

  • Now we explore the cool tools of FrontPage: forms, marquees, hover buttons, searches, etc. We will also discuss ways to make each attendee's website better and easier to use. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft FrontPage 1 & 2. outline

The Database Developers Series

Non-profits thrive on databases ... funding and services depend on the staff'' ability to obtain information about clients, donors, volunteers, etc. Microsoft Access is relatively easy to learn compared to other database applications, but it does take a lot of time and commitment. After this set of courses, you will be able to set up and use practical databases for your organization. Because each course is based upon the information presented in the previous session, we ask that you take all five in the series. Cost is $300 for the entire series.

• Microsoft Access 1: Database Planning & Set-Up

  • This first session will focus on identifying what needs to be included in a nonprofit-related database and how to structure it so that the database will be easy to use and easy to retrieve useful information. Attendees will plan the database they need for their own organization. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Excel 2.  outline

• Microsoft Access 2: Database Tables & Relationships

  • In the second session, we will actually set up the database planned in the previous session. Tables will be closely examined, especially field properties. We will also do quick searches, filters, and sorts. Relationships between tables will be a major focus. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Access 1 and completion of homework. outline

• Microsoft Access 3: Database Queries & Basic Forms

  • Queries are used to analyze data, combine data from different tables, and retrieve data from one or more tables using criteria you specify. Forms can be created to "pretty up" your data, make data entry easier, and combine data from different tables and queries. We will also integrate the data into Microsoft Word and Excel for file exchange and publication. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Access 2 and completion of homework. outline

• Microsoft Access 4: Database Forms & Reports

  • More extensive work on the forms will be covered. We will also cover creating and editing reports, which present your data in meaningful ways. Sub-forms and sub-reports will be discussed. Skills covered in Microsoft Access 3 and completion of homework. outline

• Microsoft Access 5: Troubleshooting the Database

  • This class will focus on troubleshooting the database and other useful tools. Also covers the important compact-and-repair tool. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Access 4 and completion of homework. outline

Quickies Series

We're starting something new: Quickies!! Unlike the regular half-day sessions, these one-to two-hour Quickies are down-and-dirty, learn-the-ropes-then-get-out-of-here-and-do-it-yourself courses.

• Making Data Entry Fun and Easy: Creating Forms with Word

  • This course focuses in on making repetitive tasks easier.  Learn to create printed forms using lines and tables, or electronic forms with fill-in fields, checkboxes and user prompts. outline

• Advanced Techniques for Managing Yourself & Your Staff Using Outlook

  • This session focuses on keeping all those e-mail messages organized, staying on top of meetings and appointments with Calendar, and advanced Task management.

• Collecting Data the Easy Way: Taming the Survey Monkey! 

  • Get important feedback from your clients, funders, community members, etc. Survey Monkey helps you gather and evaluate information about your programs, services, website, whatever! outline

• Top Ten Tools to Improve Productivity

  • Shortcuts, shortcuts, shortcuts!!! One hour of your time will save you days of tedious labor!

• Converting to Office 2007

  • The purpose of these classes is to give you a brief tour so that you will be able to find things you are used to using in Microsoft Office 2003 and to help you understand some of the newer commands/procedures. We assume that you have working knowledge of Office 2000/2003. We will go very fast in the class, but you will be able to take a picture-filled information packet with you so you can use it as a reference. Amy Rock will demonstrate the changes and answer questions from participants.

  • Quickie: Converting to Outlook 2007

  • Quickie: Converting to Word 2007

  • Quickie: Converting to Excel 2007
     

Technology Management Seminars  

There's so much more to technology management than buying computers. Learn from experienced nonprofit managers who can lead you through the process.

• Implementing a Technology Plan: Keys for Success 

  • Picking the right people is more important than picking the right computer. Learn key strategies that will make your technology plan succeed.

• Online Tools to Manage Your Technology

  • TechAtlas and TechSurveyor are very useful (and free!) Internet-based tools that can help you develop technology plan for your organization. Learn how you can use these to create a technology plan you can send to funders!

• Other Topics Upon Request!