HSC 055 - Basic Communications & Technology

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 5
This course is designed for students at all levels of literacy competency. This e-learning course familiarizes beginners with the basic operation and navigation of the computer, utilizes office programs for college writing and occupational applications, enhances basic communication skills using e-mail, helps students gain basic keyboarding skills, and become competent using work-related computer applications. Students will be prepared to use the computer as a tool to continue their education and obtain, or retain, employment. All students under 19 years of age must have a signed release from the last school they attended. Students 16-17 years of age must first be admitted to the College following the Alternative Education Program (AEP)/Open Doors Youth Re-Engagement Program eligibility or Underage Admissions Policy, which is available in the High School Programs office.
Course Outcomes:

Evaluate information presented in diverse media formats. (CCRS R5-9)
Comprehend a variety of texts, summarizing key supporting details, and citing specific textual evidence. (CCRS R1, 2, and 10)
Create logical arguments and cite evidence using logical and valid reasoning. (CCRS W1 and 9)
Produce clear and coherent writing in which development, organization, and style is appropriate to the task while using an academic writing process. (CCRS W2, 3, 4, and 5)
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects, assessing the credibility of sources, integrating information, and citing relevant sources. (CCRS W7, 8, and 9)
Perform basic mathematical computations.
Understand the purpose of word processing.
Improve keyboarding skills by 20%.
Use various software applications at a beginning level of competence.
Critically determine which software application is best suited to a particular task.
Use the various applications to accomplish tasks, including word processing, file management systems, and LMS.
Use WWW for communication and completing tasks.
Assemble various tasks into a file managed system.
Demonstrate appropriate use of WWCC LMS, e-mail, and other communication applications to effectively communicate with instructors.
Students will show proficiency at level C in Reading based on the Career and College Readiness standards anchors 1,2,5,6,7,9, and 10 (use reading rubric to determine competency).
Students will show proficiency at level C in Writing based on the Career and College Readiness standards anchors 1,2,4,5,6,7,8, and 9 (use writing rubric to determine competency).
Students will show proficiency at level B in Math based on the Career and College Readiness standards anchors 1,2,3,4,5,6 (Use math rubric to determine competency).

Course Topics:

Communication: communication in work environments to enhance the ability in: Using appropriate language for greeting and communicating with clients, sales representatives, and co-workers Understand directions Using e-mail; writing and sending messages Using email calendar to make appointments
Technology Skills: development of basic office skills and computer operations: Using company programs for inputting data Navigate within Microsoft programs Perform basic work processing tasks Open Microsoft EXCEL and enter data into a table Familiarity with INTERNET through receiving and sending e-mail using Outlook Perform INTERNET searches for equipment parts and maps (map quest) Basic keyboarding skills
Mathematics: enhance math skills within a work environment: Basic operations such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and choosing the correct operation Understand ratios, proportions, and measuring units that would be used in various work environments (e.g. agricultural environment where knowledge is necessary for mixing chemicals, fertilizers, watering, or load weights.)
Special Topics: as needed to address within specific work environments (e.g. safety in the workplace)