Prior Learning Assessment Portofolio

Learning and Skills in CSST Acquired through My Life Experiences Pat Johnson UMUC EXCL 301 Summer 2005 Overview of Experiential Learning in Computer Studies Targeted Courses 1. CSST 103: Application Software 2. CSST 303: Advanced Application Software 3. CSST 306: Introduction to Visual Basic Programming Demonstration of Learning in Targeted Courses CSST 103: Application Software Course Description An introduction to microcomputers and application (enterprise) software. Hands-on experience with software packages (including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases) is provided. Focus is on concepts, features, and business applications of those facilities. Course Outcomes After completing this course, you should be able to: 1. differentiate and explain the functions of components of microcomputer systems 2. identify and apply the functional elements of application software programs 3. apply the necessary skills and knowledge of electronic transfer of data to enhance enterprise decision-making 4. apply principles of application software using hands-on techniques to solve practical problems in national and international business 5. using written materials, assess your understanding and appreciation of the power and payoff of technology 6. critically analyze the social and ethical issues resulting from the introduction of microcomputer software into organizations Outcome 1: Differentiate and explain functions of components in microcomputer systems As director of training from 1985-1986 for the Merchandise Presentation Department of the Clover Department store chain in Philadelphia, I was responsible for the training of new employees in the basics of their personal computers, which were a new workplace tool for most new hires in the 1980s. The capabilities of desktop PCs have greatly increased since 1985, but their basic architecture has not changed. A typical desktop computer is a collection of components: a central processor unit (CPU) that stores and manipulates data, input devices (keyboards, mouse) that are used to send data and instructions to the CPU, and output devices (printers and monitors) that relay data to the user. Hardware Components The central processing unit - the box that most people think of as the computer, consists of several components housed within a single container. The most important component of the CPU is the processing chip. The processor is the heart of the computer; it is where the computer runs applications, receives commands from its user, and executes the instructions required to carry out those commands. Closely associated with the processor is the computer’s DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). DRAM (or RAM) provides the processor with space where data are stored for processing and instructions are executed. Data within the RAM chip is constantly changing (dynamic) as the processor executes instructions. If power is lost, any data being held within DRAM will disappear. Users can add RAM capacity to their computers. This provides the processor with more space in which to work. Additional RAM allows more files or larger files to be opened and allows the processor faster access to the data being processed. Other components within the CPU exist to serve the processor. The hard drive, an enclosed group of hard discs, magnetically stores data and software applications. Unlike information stored in the RAM chip, data on a hard drive will remain after the power is turned off. Depending on the configuration of the user’s PC there might also be disk drives, CD drives, DVD burners, or other devices that allow users to create transportable copies of data stored within the computer. Most CPU’s also house a power supply—a combination transformer and cooling fan that provides power to the CPU’s components and cool its interior. The two most common input devices used to communicate with the processor are the keyboard and the mouse. Using these two devices, users can enter data and issue commands to the CPU and its components. There are a wide variety of output devices. The two most common are the monitor and the printer. The monitor allows the user to visually monitor data as it is manipulated within the CPU. The printer allows the user to create hard copies of information. There are wide variety of both monitors and printers available to users, allowing them to select output devices that are suited for the jobs they perform. When teaching new employees the basics of how their personal computers worked, I employed a typical office analogy as a way to help novices understand what was at that time this strange and somewhat frightening new tool, the personal computer. In this analogy, the processing chip, monitor and RAM are analogous to an office desk – it is where documents temporarily reside while the user works on them. However, information placed on the desktop is not permanent and will disappear unless the user takes action to put documents in permanent storage. The hard drive is analogous to a large file cabinet: It provides permanent storage for all of the user’s work, which is stored in documents called files. These files are grouped together into file folders. These folders are then stacked in a computer’s file drawers: which are called directories and sub-directories. This analogy is reinforced by the computer’s operating system, which graphically represents these directories with icons that resemble folders in a file cabinet. This analogy allowed new users to view their new computers in a familiar physical context, making the new technology less threatening and increasing their comfort level. The new employees quickly became productive and my department received a special commendation for the effective training program that I designed that included topics related to the effective use of Microsoft Word. (See Doc.01- Training Commendation.pdf and also see Doc.02-Employee Training Program). The Operating System: Windows The operating system software of the desktop computer connects all of the desktop computer’s components together and coordinates their activities on behalf of the user. The applications that the user runs on her desktop computer operate within the operating system, using it to execute instructions, access memory resources, and drive output devices. The first operating system for IBM type desktop computers was DOS (Disk Operating System). The primary input device for DOS based applications was the keyboard. Each DOS program had their own unique menu system that required the user to type in commands or use unique combinations of keystrokes to execute common tasks. For example, in order to start printing from WordPerfect users had to press the Shift and F7 keys simultaneously; Lotus 1-2-3 users had to press the slash (/) and the letter P. In 1995, Windows introduced the first version of its Windows operating system featuring a graphical user interface (GUI) similar to Apple’s, the new operating system offered several improvements over DOS: 1] Windows utilized a Graphical User Interface (GUI). This interface presented users with a visual menu that allowed them to enter commands by selecting symbols with their mouse. 2] All programs within Windows use basically the same menu structure. Formatting, editing, and printing options are always found in the same place within the menu structure regardless of the application being used. 3] Windows allows users to “copy” and “paste” data from one program into another. Users can highlight text or numbers from one program, copy the data onto a virtual clipboard, and then insert (paste) the data into another Windows program. Businesses were quick to adopt Windows as the operating system for their corporate computers because it offered several advantages over DOS. The common menu systems reduced the user’s learning curve. The ability to easily move information between programs also offered businesses new tools for managing and distributing information. As Windows was adopted by more users the old DOS based applications that had dominated the market – WordPerfect (word processing), Lotus 1-2-3 (spreadsheet) and dbase IV (database) were quickly replaced with Windows programs from Microsoft – Word, Excel, and Access. Outcome 2: Identify and apply the functional elements of application software programs [Partial extract follows.] Microsoft Word My skills with Word were essential to my success at Trak Auto, where I was asked to rebuild a Merchandise Presentation Department that had failed and had been disbanded. To restore the credibility of the department, and to portray myself as a competent professional, it was important that all of the reports and memos generated by my department looked serious and credible. The formatting features of MS Word helped me achieve this desired appearance (See Doc.03-Microsoft Word Formatted Report). I found that placing the letterhead graphics within the document’s header, eliminated the need to switch paper trays in the printer. In my documents, the fonts, paragraph settings, and margins were set to create a document that is easy to read. I also used the Table Function of Word to create forms for use in my office. These documents were then used to help my new staff track the progress of their projects (See Doc.04-Staff Project Tracking Report). Because most of the problems that my department addressed were visual in nature, I made great use of Word’s ability to incorporate graphics with text. In this example, I inserted photographs with captions into a Word document that explained to store managers how to go about solving a potential problem (See Doc.05-Report in Word with Embedded Photos) Microsoft Excel Microsoft’s Excel is a spreadsheet program designed to allow a user to collect numerical data and perform a variety of mathematical, statistical, or financial calculations on that data. Excel spreadsheets can recalculate formulas as new data are entered, allowing the user to immediately view the impact of the new information. Excel also features many options for presenting information in a variety of formats. An Excel file is commonly called a spreadsheet. Each spreadsheet is divided into cells into which data are placed. Excel allows users to create formulas that perform a variety of mathematical operations on the data. In this spreadsheet that I developed to evaluate the performance of different merchandise categories sales data are added up for each category of merchandise using the SUM function. These sub-totals then appear in the header above the beginning of each category. Sales and unit movement numbers for each category have been added together (using the SUM function) at the top of the page to give a grand total. Further calculations at the top of the page then show the percentage of the sales that each category contributes to the total. Using Excel to calculate total and percentages in this manner helps users extract usable information from the mass of data in the spreadsheet. In this more complex example, information from an Access query has been exported to an Excel spreadsheet. Using Excel’s sorting function the data have been sorted so that they appear in order by market, store, and the sales percentage above or below average sales. Using the Advanced Filter function, percentages of sales that are within the average range have been excluded so the report only shows sales categories that are significantly above or below the average. Using Excel filters in this manner allows users to sift through massive amounts of data and find usable information. Excel’s built-in functions relieve users from the need to build complex formulas by themselves. And when used singly or in combination with each other, these functions help Excel users analyze data and present it in a credible manner. Excel also has the ability to present data in a graphic format. In this example, the numbers of visitors to a website are calculated by subtracting the number of visitors during the current week from the previous week. The number of visitors and the date are then presented as a bar graph. Presenting information in graphic form allows users to quickly recognize patterns in data. Excel also users to place text information within spreadsheet cells. This ability, along with Excel’s ability to sort and filter information allow Excel spreadsheets to be used as simple (or flat-file) databases. I created this spreadsheet so that I would be able to sort through a list of available music to find an appropriate selection. Microsoft Office (which includes Excel) also allows users to establish live links between two files. This option allows users to place data from a source file into another file and establish a link between the two files. As the information in the source file changes, the linked information is up dated in the second file. I have used this linking feature extensively. One of my tasks at Trak Auto was to provide the Operating Committee with weekly updates on sales trends. I kept sales data in Excel spreadsheets that were linked to graphs in a PowerPoint slide show. As I updated the sales trend information in the Excel spreadsheet, the linked graphs in the PowerPoint presentation would be updated. I did not have to build a new presentation every week – the graphs in my presentation updated themselves (See Doc.06-Sales Trends Spreadsheet and Doc.07-Sales Trends Weekly Presentation). Outcome 3: Apply the necessary skills and knowledge of electronic transfer of data to enhance enterprise decision-making Outcome 4: Apply principles of application software using hands-on techniques to solve practical problems in national and international business Outcome 5: Using written materials, assess your understanding and appreciation of the power and payoff of technology Outcome 6: Critically analyze the social and ethical issues resulting from the introduction of microcomputer software into organizations These days, it is critical that information does not get into the wrong hands. I am aware of privacy being one of the largest ethical issues facing users and organizations these days. Privacy is related to confidentiality, which is the assurance that messages and information are available only to those who are authorized to view them. I understand that some of the threats to the data can be internal. And of course, it is also important to safe guard the data from the hackers from outside the organization by installing appropriate utilities which can eliminate or mitigate the risk of data getting stolen. All businesses and users must understand the importance of information security. For example, if the business happened to store the credit card information of its customers and if that information somehow falls into the wrong hands of the people either from inside or outside the organization, the customers’ identity would be seriously jeopardized and also customer’s trust in the organization might well be threatened, and with that loss of trust there could be serious consequences to the organization. At Trak Auto, I was fortunate to have access to several workshops focusing on the need to protect the privacy of our clients and our company’s policies related to maintaining the security of our records. (See Doc.08-Workplace Security Essentials: Certificate of Completion). Also at Trak Auto, I observed former employees (who were eventually dismissed because of their actions) using our systems to retrieve names and addresses of customers who they found attractive. In addition to the fact that the legality of this behavior might be questionable, it is a clear violation of the customer’s privacy because it involves using information for a purpose other than that for which it was obtained. As a result, I make sure that… CSST 303 CSST 306 CSST Conclusion Throughout this DoL, I have tried to illustrate the depth and breadth of my knowledge and skill relevant to the CSST courses I have targeted for review. Since 1985, when I was first introduced to the features of Microsoft Office, I have worked for three organizations, bringing my knowledge of the applications I described in the DoL to each new position, and adapting to the updates in the software itself (Doc 9 –Recommendation from Lockheed Supervisor, 2005). In addition, … Related Competencies CSST 1103 Outcome 1: I can identify the basic parts of a computer system and explain their functions and relationships. Outcome 2: I know how to use PowerPoint, MS Word, Excel, Visio, and Microsoft Project in order to create technical white papers, architecture diagrams, technical presentations, Gantt Charts, and spreadsheets Outcome 3: … Supporting and Corroborating Documentation Doc.01: Commendation for Desktop Training program • Supports discussion for CSST 103 Outcome 1. • Supports competency 2 Doc.02: Desktop Training Program excerpt • Supports discussion for CSST 103 Outcome 1. • Supports competency 2 Doc.03: Memo Report produced with Word • Supports discussion of CSST 103 Outcome 2 Microsoft Word® • Supports competencies 3 and 8 Doc.04: Staff Project Tracking Report using selected features of Word • Supports discussion of CSST 103 Outcome 2 Microsoft Word® and CSST 303 Outcome … • Supports competencies 3, 8 and 14 Doc.05: Report in Word with embedded photos • Supports discussion of CSST 103 Outcome 2 Microsoft Word® and CSST 303 Outcome … • Supports competencies 3, 8 and 14 Doc.06: Sales Trends spreadsheet using Excel • Supports discussion of CSST 103 Outcome 2 Microsoft Excel® and CSST 303 Outcome … • Supports competencies 3, 8 and 14 Doc.07: Sales Trends weekly presentation using PowerPoint • Supports discussion of CSST 103 Outcome 2 Microsoft PowerPoint® and CSST 303 Outcome … • Supports competencies 3, 8 and 14 DoL Summary: CSST Course Outcome Related Key Life Experience(s) Related Competencies (Knowledge and Skills) Documentation CSST 103 Outcome 1: differentiate and explain functions of components in microcomputer systems As training director, taught introductory workshops on Introduction to Computers and on Microsoft Applications to new hires at Clover Department store chain. I know the main components of a microcomputer. I can explain the relationship among those components. Doc.01: Commendation for Desktop Training program Doc.02: Desktop Training Program excerpt Outcome 2: identify and apply the functional elements of application software programs Keys to my success at Trak Auto were my skills in Word and other Microsoft Applications. I am skilled in the use of MS Office Applications. Doc.03: Memo Report produced with Word Doc.04: Staff Project Tracking Report using selected features of Word Doc.05: Report in Word with embedded photos Doc.06: Sales Trends spreadsheet using Excel Doc.07: Sales Trends weekly presentation using PowerPoint Outcome 3: Outcome 4: etc. DoL Summary: CSST Course Outcome Related Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities) DoL pages Documentation CSST 103 Outcome 1: differentiate and explain functions of components in microcomputer systems I Know the main components of a microcomputer (CPU, DRAM. Input and Output Devices, Storage Devices) I can explain the relationship among those components. 2-4 4-6 Doc.01: Commendation for Desktop Training program Doc.02: Desktop Training Program excerpt Outcome 2: identify and apply the functional elements of application software programs I am skilled in the use of MS Office Applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) 6-8 Doc.03: Memo Report produced with Word Doc.04: Staff Project Tracking Report using selected features of Word Doc.05: Report in Word with embedded photos Doc.06: Sales Trends spreadsheet using Excel Doc.07: Sales Trends weekly presentation using PowerPoint Outcome 3: Outcome 4: etc. 5 Discuss and evaluate one or 2 of any of the following alternatives to jail (full-time incarceration) For example: Community service orders, week end jail, work release, probation and parole or any other alternative to full time jail Essay Marking Guidelines, Rubric and Presentation Guidelines to the marking of the long essays are provided below You need to submit the essays via the Turnitin tool. I will in a future Announcements provide more information on submitting via that tool. Download the assignment cover sheet and attach it to your essay before uploading the essay.The essay needs to be either in double spacing or one and a half spacing. You can use any referencing system as long as it is used consistently throughout the essay. Normally students use either the American Psychological Association 6 Style (APS) format or the Harvard Style Referencing format. It is important that your essay title reflect the content of your essay. Using the essay topic from the list provided as a title for your essay is not adequate as the question topic is deliberately very general and allows multiple approaches. The essay topic should reflect your unique contribution; content of the individual essay goals of the essay argument of your essay. For example some essay questions pose multiple topics and you can’t cover them all. Thus you will have to decide what aspect of the question you want to focus your essay on. Other questions may involve your personal view or assessment. Treat your essay as a formal journal article with a topic that reflects the content. In a formal academic journal article you can’t normally entitle it as an essay question. For example question 7 is; Choose any chapter in the Corker and Shakespeare book on postmodernism and present an overview, comment and critique of it. How has postmodernism impacted on understanding of disability and rehabilitation? This is clearly not a journal article topic but something like the following is acceptable. 'An assessment of Shakespeare’s view on a Postmodernist view of disability'. Your essay also requires an introduction that reflects the argument to follow. It can be in the form of an abstract. Be clear to readers at the commencement of the essay what the essay is about and what position you will be taking on the topic. Many essay introductions or abstracts provide what conclusions have been reached. An absence of an introductory paragraph will result in a loss of marks.