NCEA Level 3 Advanced Practical Computing Skills

This course also offers an Achievement Standards pathway for students who wish to use this as a University Entrance option.

This course will provide an opportunity for students who wish to enhance their understanding of digital literacy and computing software packages as a bridge to further secondary or tertiary study. Students will obtain basic computer competency for job skills, and recognised accreditation.

Students can take either a University Entrance or a Unit Standards pathway, or a combination of both. 

Most students will take between 16-24 Credits.

The course offers a range of Unit Standards or Achievement Standards across:

• Data Entry and Typing Skills
  •  (Students will learn to enter information efficiently)
    
    
• Word Processing:
  • You will learn about the features that enable you to create complex and professional documents with a consistent look and feel. You will control how text flows, and use section, page, and column breaks in your documents. You will also learn how to implement time-saving features such as document templates and automated mailings. This advanced course is designed to help users secure information. This course also covers techniques for creating complex documents, such as forms or documents that require reference pages. 
    • Using the various parts of the Microsoft Word interface
    • Getting help in Microsoft Word
    • Creating, opening, and saving a basic document
    • Applying formatting to text
    • Controlling text flow using the tools on the Home tab, Layout tab, and Page Setup dialog
    • Customizing document format using styles and themes
    • Using templates
    • Inserting and modifying tables, charts, text boxes, shapes, images, videos, and SmartArt
    • Proofing a document for errors
    • Customizing the Microsoft Word environment
    • Performing a mail merge
    • Using macros
      
      
• Desktop Publishing:
  • This course is intended to help all novice computer users get up to speed with Publisher quickly. We will cover different features of the interface, show users how to create a publication, cover some basic publication tasks, discuss how to manage graphics in Publisher, and show how to prepare a publication for printing and electronic sharing. 
    • Perform basic tasks in the Microsoft Publisher interface
    • Add content to a publication
    • Format text and paragraphs in a publication
    • Manage text in a publication
    • Work with graphics in a publication
    • Prepare a publication for printing and sharing
      
      
• Spreadsheets:   
  • This is intended to help all users become familiar with the more advanced selection of features of Excel. We will cover how to create and use advanced formulas, analyze data, organize worksheet data with tables, visualize data with charts, work with graphical objects, and enhance workbooks.
    • Creating Advanced Formulas
    • Analyzing Data with Logical and Lookup Functions
    • Organising Worksheet Data with Tables
    • Visualising Data with Basic Charts
    • Analysing Data with PivotTables, Slicers, and PivotCharts
    • Working with Graphical Objects
    • Enhancing Workbooks
      
      
• Computer Management Competencies
  • We will begin by covering basics, such as the best way to save files for later use and tips for searching for and retrieving the files you want. We will learn how to organize larger projects by arranging groups of files and folders and making the best use of libraries and archives. We will also look at different storage options open to Windows users, from removable storage devices to network storage and cloud storage on OneDrive and Google Docs.
     
• Effective Digital Communication in the Workplace Presentation Skills

The course also offers a range of Achievement Standards across:

• Creating a Digital Information based outcome
• Design and iteration
• Critical reflection