PLS 110, Computer Literacy for LS, PLS
Spring 2009
Professor:
Office Hours: by appointment
Phone:
744-1150 x2965 Voice
Message
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)
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
SUPPLIES:
1 or 2 GB flash drive. www.newegg.com
Great Prices.
BASIC SKILLS
REQUIREMENTS:
Appropriate
language and computational skills.
ENTRANCE
REQUIREMENTS:
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
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
Create a 20 slide presentation
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
Portfolio Requirements:
Black binder, 3 ring holes, plastic cover sheets for documents, insert back to back ( 2 in a sleeve)
· Resume in 2003 format
· Business Card in Publisher
· Cover letter (3 paragraphs, to fit in an e-mail response)
· Documents:
· Transcripts, current
· Any certifications or awards (color copies)
· Three current letters of recommendation on letterhead stationery, signed
· Samples of work from our class, 2-3 from Word, Excel and your PPT CD
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
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
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:
JOB SEARCH:
We will
spend one class session in the
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