CLAIT Stage 1

Is this course for you?

This course is intended for anyone wishing to prepare for CLAIT Stage 1 certification. It is based on using the Microsoft Office 2000 applications, specifically Word, Access and Excel. Some experience of using a Windows PC will be helpful. Complete newcomers should consider starting with our PC Foundation course.

The course covers 5 CLAIT modules; with a separate curriculum provided for each. For CLAIT certification you should complete 3 or more modules. We recommend you complete all 5modules.

The course includes the following elements:

Lesson 1: Initialise application and enter text Lesson 12: Spreadsheet display features
Lesson 2: Load text Lesson 13: Save and print data and exit application
Lesson 3: Edit text Lesson 14: Produce a defined image
Lesson 4: Change the appearance of text Lesson 15: Edit items
Lesson 5: Save and print text and exit the application Lesson 16: Amend presentation
Lesson 6: Create a database structure and enter data Lesson 17: Save an image, print an image and exit application
Lesson 7: Edit data Lesson 18: Enter data for a chart
Lesson 8: Manipulate data Lesson 19: Display graphs
Lesson 9: Save a database, print contents and exit application Lesson 20: Control the graphical display
Lesson 10: Spreadsheet facilities Lesson 21: Save and print graphs
Lesson 11: Edit and manipulate a spreadsheet
Pre-defined curricula What you will need to enrol

Lesson 1: Initialise application and enter text top list 
Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Initialise (start or load) the application
  • Enter text
    		•  This RSA course assumes you know the basics of using a PC. You should be familiar with using folders and files and finding your way around the folder structure. You should also be able to recognise the key elements of folder and application windows. This lesson looks at the basics of starting documents and entering text using the Microsoft Word 2000 word processing application.

    Lesson 2: Load text top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Find your way through the folder structure
  • Locate a file and load text
    		•  As you work with a word processing application you will need to load documents that are stored on the computer's hard disk, so that you can work on them. In this lesson we look at how to find your way through the file structure on the hard disk and load a specific document using the Microsoft Word 2000 application.

    Lesson 3: Edit text top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Insert text
  • Replace words
  • Delete text
  • Move text
    		•  Once you have your text stored in a document you will need to be able to make changes to it. This process is know as editing. You can insert text, replace words, delete text and move text. In this lesson we look use Microsoft Word 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 4: Change the appearance of text top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Change margins
  • Alter line spacing
  • Control justification
  • Emphasise text
  • Centre text
    		•  So far we have looked at ways of editing text in a document. In this lesson we move on and look at how to change the appearance of text. You can change the space set aside for page margins. You can set different line spacing for paragraphs. The justifcation settings control where text appears on a line - lined up at the right or left margins or centred on the page. You can emphasise text by adding bold, italic or underline features to make it stand out from the body text in the document. In this lesson we use Microsoft Word 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 5: Save and print text and exit the application top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Save text
  • Print document
  • Exit from application with data secure
    		•  Often you will want to change text in a document and save it on disk so you can reuse it. Despite the increasing use of electronic mail and the Internet you will still need to print some documents out on paper. When you have finished working on a document you will need to be able to exit the application with the document changes saved securely on disk. In this lesson we use Microsoft Word 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 6: Create a database structure and enter data top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Initialise the database application
  • Create a record structure
  • Enter data in a table
    		•  Database applications allow you to store and manage information (known as data) electronically. A simple example is one that contains names and addresses. Each name and address makes up one record. Each record is split into fields to make it easy to pick out information at a later stage. You can control how large each field is, what type of information it will hold and how it will appear. This is the database structure and it is important to spend some time thinking about what information you want to keep in a database and how it is going to be used, before you create it and start to enter data. In this lesson we use Microsoft Access 2000 to look at these activities.

    Lesson 7: Edit data top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Edit data
  • Add a record
  • Delete a record
    		•  In this lesson we look at how to edit data in a record, add new records and delete unwanted records. We use the database application Microsoft Access 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 8: Manipulate data top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Sort records alphabetically
  • Sort records numerically
  • Select records specified by a single criterion
  • Select records specified by more than one criterion
    		•  Once you have entered records in a database you can control the order in which they appear in a table. You can sort records alphabetically and numerically in ascending or descenting order. You can also select records by specifying one or more criterion and display just those records on screen. In this lesson we use Microsoft Access 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 9: Save a database, print contents and exit application top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Save data
  • Print data
  • Exit from application with data secure
    		•  From time to time you will need to add to or update the information stored in a database. It is also useful to print information on paper. Informtion is stored in table form which has a plain grid structure as the format. You can change how this looks and add colour and other effects to a table. This, in turn, helps to make the printed version more interesting. In this lesson we use Microsoft Access 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 10: Spreadsheet facilities top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Initialise (load, run or start) the spreadsheet application
  • Enter text
  • Enter numeric data
  • Enter formulae
    		•  A spreadsheet application enables you to store data and make calculations using the information you have entered. In this lesson we use Microsoft Excel 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 11: Edit and manipulate a spreadsheet top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Edit spreadsheet data
  • Delete rows and columns
  • Replicate entries
  • Entend a spreadsheet
  • Generate new values
    		•  Once you have created a basic spreadsheet you'll want to edit the data it contains. You will also want to add or remove rows and columns to extend the spreadsheet. Once you have entered a formula to calulate the total for a range of cells you can replicate it in other cells instead of keying it in again for each one. In this lesson we use Microsoft Excel 2000 to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 12: Spreadsheet display features top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Left and right justify text
  • Change column width
  • Use integer and decimal formats
    		•  A spreadsheet application will make assumptions about how the data you enter will appear on the work area. Text is normally lined up at the left edge of a cell but you can change this setting and line it up at the right edge. You can also change the column width to display more information. Numeric data can also be displayed in different formats to make the information easier to read. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Excell 2000 application to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 13: Save and print data and exit application top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Save a spreadsheet
  • Print the spreadsheet display
  • Exit from the application with data secure
    		•  Once you have completed a spreadsheet you woll normally want to save a copy on disk so you can refer to it at a later date. You will also want to print copies of it as well as be able to exit the spreadsheet application knowing that your data is secure. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Excel 2000 application to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 14: Produce a defined image top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Initialise application
  • Draw shapes
  • Enter and position text
    		•  One way to make documents more interesting is by creating graphic images. You can draw predefined shapes and add text to them. You no longer need to have specialist applications to do that as it can be done with a word processing application. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Word 2000 application to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 15: Edit items top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Copy an item
  • Change the size of an item
  • Delete an item
  • Edit a shape
    		•  Once you have drawn a shape that you need to repeat, you can copy it, instead of drawing another shape. You can draw a shape then increase and decrease its size. You can also adjust the shape of a drawing object and even delete it if you change your mind. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Word 2000 application to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 16: Amend presentation top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Fill shapes
  • Change the orientation of an item
    		•  Once you have decided on the shape and size of a graphic, you can make it more interesting by adding colour and other effects. You can also change the orientation of a shape by flipping or rotating it. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Word 2000 application to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 17: Save an image, print an image and exit application top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Save an image
  • Print an image
  • Exit from application with data secure
    		•  When you draw an image, the details are stored in the computer's memory. For a secure copy you must save it on disk. You can print copies of images on paper and if you subsequently make changes to them you will need to update the disk version before you exit from the applicaiton. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Word 2000 application to demonstrate these activities.

    Lesson 18: Enter data for a chart top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Initialise application
  • Enter data
    		•  You can store text and numeric information on a spreadsheet. To make the information easier to read and more interesting visually you can represent the data graphically. The starting point of a chart is to enter the data you want to use. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Excel 2000 application to demonstrate this activity.

    Lesson 19: Display graphs top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Display a pie chart
  • Display a line chart
  • Display a bar chart
  • Display a comparative graph
    		•  Once you have entered and saved data in a workbook, you can create a graphical representation from that data.. There are different types of chart to choose from. The most freqently used types are a Pie chart, a Line chart and a Bar chart. Normally you will be creating a graphical representation forone set of figures. However, you can create a comparative graph to compare two sets of of data. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Excel 2000 application to demonstrate this activity.

    Lesson 20: Control the graphical display top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Control Y axis scale
  • Display the display the selected X axis range
    		•  Each graph has what are called the X (horizontal) axis and Y (vertical axis) The type of information stored on each axis will depend on how you arrange your data series. The application will make assumptions about what scales to use for the X and Y axis, depending on what other information you choose to include on the chart. You can override these suggestions and set custom values. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Excel 2000 application to demonstrate this activity.

    Lesson 21: Save and print graphs top list 
    Learn how to... Tutor's summary
  • Save data
  • Save graphical display
  • Print graphical display
  • Exit from application with data and graphics secure
    		•  You can change the data used for the chart as well as change how the chart appears. And you will need to save these on disk so they are secure and can be recalled from disk at any time. It is also useful to print copies of just the chart stored in a spreadsheet application. In this lesson we use the Microsoft Excel 2000 application to demonstrate these activities.

    Pre-defined curricula

    Like all courses at the Reeltime College this course comes supplied with a number of predefined curricula designed to help you go straight to the subjects you're most interested in. Curricula supplied with this course include:

    1. Standard curriculum (all lessons)
    2. Application 1 Word processing
    3. Application 2 Database facilities
    4. Application 3 Spreadsheet facilities
    5. Application 4 Computer art facilities
    6. Application 13 Graphical representation of data
    7. Personal curriculum (designed by you)

    What will I need to enrol?

    This is what you need to get the most from the course:

    1. A Pentium-class PC with Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 or XP.
    2. Sound card and loudspeakers or headphones
    3. A CD-ROM drive (or DVD drive) either on the PC or accessible over a local network.
    4. Approximately 10 Mb spare disk capacity. If you have another 30 Mb spare, you can choose to copy introduction movies onto the hard disk.
    5. If you download the course handbook, you'll need approximately 2 Mb spare for the download.
    6. The course assumes you have a copy of the target software (Office 2000) correctly installed on your computer. If not, you'll be able to watch the movie segments, but not complete the hands-on segments.

    You can enrol on the course by using the Reeltime software, which also allows you to preview the course content off-line. For more information, go to the How to join Reeltime College  page.

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