In this Introductory Session you will carry out all required preliminary steps before you can actually begin using the materials that will prepare you to pass the Core and Expert level Microsoft Office Specialist Exams for MS Word 2002. If you have taken one or more of our modules in the past, you may already be prepared to move on the the next session. Nevertheless, take a few moments to review these preliminaries before jumping into the training sessions that follow. Be sure that you have all necessary materials and the proper versions of those materials before moving on.

1. Purchase MS Word 2002, the Certification Circle textbook and the SAM XP software.
2. Explore the Web Portal.
   1. Course Information
   2. Handouts
   3. Web Links
   4. Syllabus.
   5. Coursework.
   6. Forums
   7. Coursemates
   8. Announcements
   9. Chat
3. Download and install the textbook project data files.
4. Explore the textbook.
   1. Read all preliminary material, pp. i-xvi.
   2. Examine the structure of the book and the relationship between the Skill Sets (pp. 1-304) and corresponding Projects (pp. 305-335).
   3. Examine the Glossary (pp. 337-340).
5. Install the SAM XP software, and logon.
6. Explore TOM and SAM.
7. Post any questions you have about this session in the appropriate Forum on the Web Portal; or, email the Instructor by means of the email link above.

1. Purchase MS Word 2002, the Certification Circle textbook and the SAM software.
   
   The most important preliminary step is to double-check that you have the correct versions of all software and the correct edition of the required textbook.
   
   This course will prepare you to pass the Microsoft Office Specialist Exams for Word 2002 (also called Word XP) at the Core AND Expert levels. In order to do all of the assignments, you must use a PC that has Microsoft Word 2002 loaded on it. If you choose to use your own PC, you may purchase Word XP as a stand-alone product or as a part of one of several different Microsoft Office Suite packages. You may not use earlier versions of MS Word, or MS Works or any other word processing program to carry out the assignments for this course. MS Word 2002 can be purchased from the Mount Bookstore (operated by Barnes and Noble), from many office supply stores and from many online vendors.
   
   The textbook for this course is the Certification Circle EXPERT edition of MOUS Microsoft Word 2002 by Katherine T. Pinard. ISBN number is: 0-619-05716-5. This book is available from multiple sources, including the Mount Bookstore, many online book vendors and direct from its publisher, Thomson Course Technology at www.course.com .
   
   Thomson Course Technology also publishes the SAM XP software that you must purchase for this course as well. The ISBN number of SAM XP is: 0-619-17309-2. Like the textbook, SAM XP is also available from multiple sources, including the Mount Bookstore, many online book vendors and direct from its publisher, Thomson Course Technology at www.course.com .
   
   If you decide to purchase the textbook and the SAM XP software from the Mount Bookstore, make sure that you refer to this course by name and number when you order it; the textbook and software will be bundled and send to you as a unit.
   
    
2. Explore the Web Portal.
   
   The Web Portal is the gateway by which you download your coursework assignments and necessary data files. The Web Portal will also provide the means for communication between you, other students in the course, and the course instructors. Since all materials for this class are protected by copyright, you may copy and use those materials for your own educational purposes only. You may not reproduce them or use them for any purpose other than your own personal learning.
   
   Be sure to explore each of the nine Web Portal sections. The Course Information section contains a brief summary of this course and a list of the instructors. The Handouts section contains the necessary files you must download to your own computer in order to complete the assignments. The Web Links section contains one or more links to important web sites you may wish to visit while taking this course. The Syllabus contains a brief tabular listing of the structure of this course. The Coursework section is the most important section of the Web Portal; it contains all coursework assignments with detailed step-by-step instructions for the completion of this course. The Forums section provides you with the opportunity to post and answer questions relating to any of the Coursework; all questions will be monitored and answered by the instructors in the Forums section; students are encouraged to read and to participate in class discussions regularly. The Coursemates section contains a listing of all students enrolled in the course with you. The Announcements section contains announcements posted by the instructors; monitor this section carefully. The Chat section allows synchronous chat sessions with instructors and/or coursemates. If your instructors designate an open chat time for your class, you will be able to ask questions and receive answers immediately; you may also use the chat room with your coursemates for discussion of any issues relating to the assignments. The chat room will be monitored.
   
    
3. Download and install the textbook project data files.
   
   Go to the Handouts section of the Web Portal. Download the Zip file labeled Word Data Files. Even though this is a compressed file, it is almost 2 MB large; it may take quite a bit of  time to download on a dial access line. Save the Zip file in a location on your hard drive that you can remember. It is probably a good idea to create a folder in the My Documents section of your computer for this class.
   
   After you have downloaded it, double-click the icon for the Zip file. A WinZip self-extracting utility program should engage, automatically decompressing the files within the Zip archive. You will be prompted to choose the location for the decompressed files; be sure to choose the same folder in which you saved the Zip file. If you have problems with this, try opening the Zip file with the Zip utility on your own PC (WinZip, PKZIP, etc.); there are also detailed instructions on the Thomson Learning website at this URL: http://www.course.com/support/download_instructions.cfm. If you have trouble with this, however, immediately contact the instructor at the email address above.
   
    
4. Explore the textbook.
   
   Read all preliminary material in the textbook (pp. i-xvi), so that you understand how the Certification Circle series works. It's a good idea to browse through the Glossary as well (pp. 337-340), so that you know where to look if you come across a term that is new to you.
   
   The actual sessions begin on page 1 with an introductory chapter entitled Getting Started; this first chapter is followed by thirteen chapters of Skill Sets (Skill Set 1, Skill Set 2, etc.); each Skill Set chapter consists of a set of particular skills that follow one another in a precise order. After mastering each skill, you will move on to the next, until you have mastered all the skills in the chapter.  Each Skill Set chapter begins with a brief summary. Each separate skill is then introduced in turn by means of  a series of Activity Steps  that you will do, using the data files you unzipped above; figures are provided to illustrate what your finished document(s) will look like after you carry out the Activity Steps. The Skill Set chapters end with a final hands-on exercise called Target Your Skills. Once again, you will use the data files you downloaded and unzipped in the preceding step above. Skill Sets 1 to 6 represent the MOS Core Level skills; Skill Sets 7 to 13 represent the MOS Expert Level skills.
   
   Finally, the Certification Circle textbook presents a series of Projects that correspond to the Skill Set chapters. Project 1 corresponds to Skill Set 1, Project 2 to Skill Set 2, etc. The Projects appendices begin on page 305 of the textbook. It is best to do each Project after you complete its corresponding Skill Set chapter. The Projects are merely mini-assignments that support the skill sets and provide extra hands-on experience.
   
    
5. Install the SAM XP software, and logon.
   
    SAM XP (Skills Assessment Manager) is a web-based testing product that measures proficiency in MS Office XP applications. TOM (Training Online Manager) provides computer-based training in those applications so that you can master them and pass the MOS certification exams. The SAM XP CD contains the software to install SAM XP on your PC, so that you can take practice tests. Once you install the SAM XP software, you will be able to log onto the Thomson Learning server and take practice tests corresponding to each chapter in the our Certification Circle textbook. The CD also contains the TOM program. You will use the TOM program to see demonstrations of all skills covered in the textbook and to engage in interactive practice of the activities associated with those skills. The SAM product does not run off the CD itself; it runs off the Thomson Learning server. Once you install the software and input your product key code, you will be able to use SAM and take practice tests repeatedly. The TOM product can be use directly from the CD itself, without an Internet connection; or, it can be used from the Thomson Learning server, which will keep track of your training progress.
   
   Installing the SAM XP CD on your PC is easy. Insert the CD in the CD-ROM drive. If the auto-start function engages, choose the Install SAM XP function, and follow the onscreen prompts for typical installation. If the auto-start function does not engage, click Start; click Run; type D:\setup.exe (where D is your CD-ROM drive); click OK; follow all onscreen installation instructions; when the Choose Destination location dialog box appears, it is recommended that you accept the default directory for the installation of SAM XP. A SAM XP icon will be created on your desktop.
   
   After you install the software, you can logon to the Thomson Server and use TOM and SAM online. First, connect to the Internet in your normal manner. Next, double-click the SAM XP icon on your desktop. A window will pop up asking for your username and password. The first time you log on, you must set up a profile for a new user. Click the New User button and when prompted, enter the Mount St. Mary's Institution Key: 591280; confirm that you have entered the institution key for Mt. St. Mary's College and Seminary by clicking the OK button. A new screen will appear, asking you to input your Key Code from your copy of the SAM XP CD, printed inside the CD packaging. Enter the Key Code and click the OK button. Follow all screen prompts to set up your own user account profile. After you have completed your account profile, click Sections; highlight the section called MOS Word 2002 [MOS Word 2002 Core and Expert]; click the Join Section button; and, follow all screen prompts to join the MOS Word 2002 section. The SAM XP program will respond to your request with a message indicating that you have been waitlisted for admission to the section. The course administrator will shortly approve your request for admission to the section. Only after approval by the instructor, will you be able to use TOM and SAM online. Your account in the Thomson server will be maintained several months after the conclusion of the course.
   
   For further help, click on this hyperlink to view a number of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) at the Thomson Learning website for TOM and SAM
    
6. Explore TOM and SAM
   
   Double-click the SAM XP icon,  logon to the Thomson Server, and choose Training from the menu; or, launch the TOM program from your CD. In the application drop down menu choose Microsoft Word 2002; in the category menu choose CT Series; and, in the CT Series menu choose Certification Circle. Highlight the training title Certification Circle: Microsoft Word 2002, and click the Launch button. Read the instructions on the initial welcome screen. Click the menu button at the lower left to see the training options. Note that the menu options correspond exactly to the skill sets in the Certification Circle book we will use. Choose one of the skill sets and work your way over to the right-hand side of the menu to choose a specific activity. Engage the training for that activity. There are four modes of training: prepare, observe, practice and apply. Prepare offers a brief explanation of the task; observe offers a demonstration of the task; practice allows the user to interactively carry out the task; and, apply allows the user to accomplish the task without help. Remember that you can use the TOM software even if you are not connected to the Internet, and that you can use it for a variety of training sequences; Certification Circle is only one option among many, but it is the one that we will use in this course.
   
   Explore the SAM software as well. Logon to the Thomson Learning server and choose Exams. There is an exam for each chapter in the Certification Circle textbook, and you may take each exam as often as you wish. The exams approximate the experience of taking the actual MOS Certification Exams. You can see your exam results by clicking Reports from the menu. The exam Reports function will allow you to see problem areas, so that you can go back to the textbook or link directly back to TOM and pinpoint the exact skill set activities you need to review.
   
    
7. Post any questions you have about this session in the appropriate Discussion Forum section on the Web Portal; or, email the Instructor by means of the email link above.
   
   Look over the various features of the classroom site on the Web Portal. Address any questions about portal access to our IT Department at 301-447-5220. NEVER SUFFER IN SILENCE! If you have difficulties of any sort related to this course, immediately post a message in the discussion Forums section of the web portal, and/or email the course instructor by means of the email link above.
   
    

© 2004 Bruce Yelovich