PLS 110, Computer Literacy for LS, PLS

Spring 2008

Palomar College

Professor:

Jackie Martin-Klement

Office Hours: by appointment

Phone: 744-1150 x2965 Voice Message (E-mail is best!!!)

E-mail Address: jmartinklement@palomar.edu

Web Site: www.palomar.edu/legal/schedule.htm

CLASS MEETING DATES & TIMES:

PLS 110: Advanced Computer Literacy for Paralegals (2 units)

Class #33774 meets 6-9:50 p.m. Thursdays, from 6-9:50 p.m. in Room B-21.

TEXTBOOK: Using Computers in the Law Office. Fifth Edition, Brent Roper. ISBN: ISBN 13: 9781418033125 or ISBN 10: 141803312X. Thomson, Del Mar Learning. www.thomson.com/learning or www.delmarlearning.com or www.westlegalstudies.com or www.cengage.com or Palomar College bookstore.

SUPPLIES: 1 or 2 GB flash drive. www.newegg.com Great Prices.

ADDITIONAL LAB HOURS IN ROOM B8:

You may come to already scheduled ROP computer classes from 9:00-2:00 pm Monday –Thursday, and evenings from 6:30-9:30 in Room B8, based on computer availability.

BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

Appropriate language and computational skills.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Computer literacy and keyboarding skills of 20 wpm, working knowledge of Windows recommended.

SCOPE OF COURSE:

This course goes beyond a fundamental knowledge of Windows XP and Microsoft Office (to include Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint) into advanced functions of each element and also incorporates current legal software, Internet applications and multimedia. Building on a fundamental knowledge of Windows and MSOffice, students will learn intermediate and advanced functions and techniques such as integration among each application, Internet integration, extensive formatting, use of macros and templates, shortcuts, printing techniques, networking and advanced file management. Course also incorporates: basic system maintenance and troubleshooting, scanning of documents in graphic and OCR format, integration of multimedia into documents, applications and use of software related to the legal environment such as Abacus Law, Summation and TimeSlips; Internet applications for the legal environment and web site design. Students will create a hard copy and electronic portfolio demonstrating their computer expertise.

SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Using the Windows environment:

A. System configuration.

B. System maintenance.

C. Using Windows environment efficiently by multitasking (running several programs simultaneously) and exchanging data between different programs.

D. Selecting print drivers in a stand-alone and networked environment.

E. File management

F. Integration

2. Use of Microsoft Word word processing package

A. Report preparation

1. Title Page

2. Tables

3. Calculations in Tables

4. Footnotes/Endnotes

5. Page/Section Breaks

6. Custom Tab Stops

7. Borders

8. Headers

9. Customizing Bullets

B. Generating Form Letters, Mailing Labels, and Envelopes

1. Creating the main document

2. Creating the data source

3. Editing the data source

4. Using an IF Field to conditionally print text

5. Displaying field codes

6. Printing field codes

7. Selecting data records to merge and print

8. Merging main letter and data document

9. Viewing merged data

10. Printing merged data

11. Addressing and printing mailing envelopes

12. Addressing and printing mailing labels

C. Creating newsletters

1. Desktop Publishing Terminology

2. Various techniques for changing margin settings

3. Working with the Draw toolbar

a. Text boxes

b. Formatting text boxes

c. Borders and shading

d. WordArt

e. Text and shape rotation

f. Adding shapes to the document

4. Working with columns

a. Determining number and size of columns

b. Changing width of columns

c. Placing graphics in columns

5. Editing and formatting a graphic

6. Using the format painter button

7. Using a macro to automate a task

8. Ordering and grouping objects and layers

9. Text, object and background color

10. Fonts and drop caps

11. Applying "styles"

D. Creating and using Templates

E. Creating web pages with Word

Microsoft Excel spreadsheet package.

A. Creating Templates

1. Formatting Templates

2. Alternative Uses of Templates

3. Creating a workbook from a template

a. Drilling down through worksheets

b. Modifying and saving a workbook from a template

c. Referencing cells in other sheets

d. Entering a sheet reference

B. Adding chart titles using WordArt

C. Adding a header and changing the margins

D. Creating a web page from an Excel worksheet

E. Viewing the web page using the web toolbar

F. Data tables

G. Visual Basic for applications

H. Macros, planning, adding a button for and executing

I. Playing back a recorded macro

J. Goal Seeking

K. Adding Hyperlinks to a worksheet

L. Using Scenario Manager to analyze Data

M. Protecting the worksheet

N. Creating a database with Excel

O. Sorting a database

P. Displaying automatic subtotals in database

Q. Finding Records in a data form

R. Filtering a database

S. Criteria ranges and filtering

T. Extract ranges

U. Comparison criteria

V. Lookup functions

W. Data Maps

X. Creating a Pivot Table to Analyze Data

Y. Integration feature: embedding an Excel worksheet into a Word document using drag and drop

4. Microsoft Access database package

A. Creating and changing properties of reports

1. Grouping in a report

2. Removing unwanted controls

3. Enlarging the page heading of the report

4. Report design considerations

B. Creating and using custom forms

1. Creating, modifying and adding records to the form

2. Placing a combo box

3. Adding a title

4. Form design considerations

5. Publishing an object to the web

6. Viewing a web page

C. Enhancing forms with OLE

1. Date, memo and OLE and hyperlink fields

2. Adding fields to a table

3. Updating memo and hyperlink fields

D. Advanced form techniques

1. Sub forms

2. Resizing fields

3. Changing contents of label and resizing

4. Changing special effects, color and resizing graphics in a form

E. Creating and using macros

F. Creating and using Command Buttons

G. Creating and using combo boxes

H. Creating and using a switchboard

I. Integration: Linking Excel worksheets to an Access database

5. Microsoft PowerPoint for the Legal Environment

A. Changing the font color and design template of the existing presentation

B. Creating a custom background

C. Embedding and editing an Excel chart

D. Creating and Embedding a Microsoft organizational chart

E. Inserting, scaling and ungrouping Clip Art objects

F. Adding slide transition and text preset animation effects

G. Creating a logo

H. Adding special text effects with WordArt

I. Adding an object and pasting to the slide master

J. Creating an interactive document

K. Editing the slide title and editing a bulleted list

L. Replacing a picture

M. Ending a presentation with a black slide

N. Applying slide transition effects

O. Hiding a slide

P. Animating text and an object

Q. Integration: saving the presentation as a web page

R. Viewing the web page

S. Running a slide show with hidden slide and interactive animation

Use of Microsoft PowerPoint for presentation graphics.

a. Principles of presentation software

b. Building a slide presentation

c. Creating the master slide information

d. Slide sorter view

e. Creating a presentation in outline view

f. Adding clip art and graphic objects and sound to the presentation

g. Fill colors and sealing objects

h. Enhancing a presentation

i. Adding graphs to a presentation

j. Adding tables to a presentation

k. Adding special effects

l. Setting slide timings for an automatic slide show

6. Scanning of documents:

A. OCR and object oriented scanning techniques

B. Save scanned file

C. Incorporate scanned file into other documents

D. Display scanned files

7. Front Page Electronic Portfolio Design

A. Create web site in Front Page

B. Upload portfolio web to public server

8. Internet Applications in the Legal Environment

A. Legal Timekeeping and Billing Software

a. Timeslips

B. Case Management and Docket Control Software

a. Amicus Attorney

C. Litigation Support Software

a. Summation Blaze

b. CaseMap

c. TimeMap

D. Legal Research and CD-ROM Legal Databasees

a. WestLaw

b. Lexis-Nexis

9. Hard copy portfolio development

SUGGESTED READING:

Books, journals, and other computer related reading. Online help in software programs, online tutorials.

REQUIRED WRITING:

Original writing is required for the Powerpoint presentation and integrated throughout various labs, particularly within the Word module.

OUTSIDE ASSIGNMENTS:

Students will be expected to read material from textbook, BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS MEETING. Students prefer the hands-on teaching techniques used in these classes, but it is much more meaningful if the chapter that the instructor is presenting has been browsed through first. Students may be asked to choose real-life projects relating to an area of the class and complete at home or at work.

SAVING/DISPLAYING LAB ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS:

Labs will be saved in a student folder bearing your first and last name, on the Paralegal Drive in B21. Please take responsibility for organizing and backing up student work to Drive A, a 100 or 250 MB capacity zip disk, memory stick or writable CD.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:

Lecture to explain concepts using a whiteboard as an aid and an overhead projector connected to a computer display for demonstrations, plus “hands-on” experience. Guided student labs, independent student labs, student discussion, question/answer, group participation, a final student presentation; and quizzes and exams when appropriate.

GRADING POLICY:

Exams/presentations 1-5: 45%

Class labs: 40%

Classroom participation/attendance: 15%

GRADING NOTATIONS:

ü + = Skill mastered

ü = Satisfactorily developing skill

ü - = Skill not mastered; repeat exercise

90-100% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

WITHDRAWAL OF A CLASS TAKEN FOR COLLEGE CREDIT:

Please see the college catalog for withdrawal dates. If student does not officially withdraw by the date in the catalog, an F will be received for the class and will become part of the student transcript of record.

Number of times course may be taken for credit: _1__

DISABILITIES:

Please see me if you have special situations that may require certain accommodations.

STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Academic Integrity Code of Conduct

Academic Integrity is a code of conduct for students that requires honest and ethical academic endeavor.

Violations of the Academic Integrity Code include:

· Cheating, plagiarism or false representation of another’s work as one’s own.

· Forgery, alteration, or misuses of college documents or records.

· Use of false identification.

· Knowingly furnishing false information to the District.

· Unauthorized use or misuse of District equipment.

· Unauthorized access, use or alteration of computer hardware, software, or data.

· Obstruction or disruption of the educational process.

· Soliciting or assisting another to do any of the above.

Consequences:

Consequences for violating this code may result in any or all of the following:

A. At the discretion of the instructor the student may receive:

1. A failing grade for the assignment

2. A failing grade for the course

3. Short-term suspension as described in section IV A of the Rules and Regulations for Student Behavior

B. Long-term suspension or expulsion may be applied following the procedures described in the Rules and Regulations for Student Behavior.

IMPORTANT CAMPUS PHONE NUMBERS:

Palomar College has excellent career and counseling services available to all students who are enrolled.

Transfer Center x2552 (For students transferring to a 4 year college)

Career Center x2194 (Resume writing, personal career counseling appts.)

Counseling Center x2179 (Personal counseling services)

JOB SEARCH:

We will spend one class session in the Career Center. You will be introduced to a variety of job search tools such as resume templates, online databases with extensive information on schools and careers, jobtrak.com, a nationwide online resume building and job search database, and much more. The center is open to you and the public, and is a fine state of the art resource.

Students who are ready to go into active job search are encouraged to enroll in the one unit INTERNET JOB SEARCH class, RCSIS 186, during their last semester at Palomar College or any time thereafter.