Using SAM Training to Improve MOS Scores Mary Jo Geise & Helen Schneider The University of Findlay

Agenda  Use of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification Exams  Initial Results  Addition of SAM Training  Outcomes from SAM Training  Recommendations for additional SAM Training 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference2

Use of the MOS Certification Exam  CSCI 149 – Computer Concepts for Business  Discovering Computers (11 chapters)  Access 2013 (6 chapters from NP Series)  Excel 2013 (6 chapters from NP Series)  CSCI 155 – Spreadsheet Design  Excel 2013 (12 chapters from NP Series)  CSCI 157 – Database Applications  Access 2013 (12 chapters from NP Series) 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference3

MOS Objectives for Excel 2013 Exam  Create and Manage Worksheets and Workbooks  Create Cells and Ranges  Create Tables  Apply Formulas and Functions  Create Charts and Objects 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference4

Fall 2013 Excel 2013 Exam Results  CSCI 149  13 students took the exam  Scores ranged from  ONE student passed the exam (7%)  Average score was 433  CSCI 155  14 students took the exam  Scores ranged from  9 students passed the exam (64%) 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference5

What to Do?  Purchase tests with retest option for $13.50 per student more?  When would I re-test students??  Already over $50 course fee with SAM and MOS Certification Exam (one take)  Construct SAM Training based on MOS Exam Objectives  Already available at no extra cost ! 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference6

Excel 2013 SAM Training for MOS  Create and Manage Worksheets and Workbooks  49 training tasks  Create Cells and Ranges  31 training tasks  Create Tables  12 training tasks  Apply Formulas and Functions  10 training tasks  Create Charts and Objects  45 training tasks 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference7

CSCI 149 Certification Pass/Fail Rates 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference8

CSCI 149 Certification Score Comparisons 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference9

CSCI 155 Certification Pass/Fail Rate 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference10

CSCI 155 Certification Score Comparisons 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference11

Potential Excel Task Additions to SAM  Searching for data within a workbook  Using Go To  Inserting watermarks  Customizing the Quick Access toolbar  Customizing the Ribbon  Changing workbook views  Freezing panes  Assigning shortcut keys 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference12

Potential Excel Task Additions to SAM 2  Printing individual worksheets  Repeating headers and footers  Maintaining backward compatibility  Configuring workbooks to print  Saving files to remote locations  Appending data to worksheets  Modifying cell alignment and indentation  Transposing columns and rows 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference13

Potential Excel Task Additions to SAM 3  Creating named ranges  Creating outlines  Collapsing groups of data in outlines  Defining table titles  Banding table rows and columns  Removing styles from tables  Removing duplicate table rows  Utilizing mixed cell referencing 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference14

Potential Excel Task Additions to SAM 4  Defining order of operations  Referencing cell ranges in formulas  Utilizing the COUNT function  Utilizing RIGHT, LEFT, MID, TRIM, UPPER, LOWER, and CONCATENATE functions  Adding chart legends  Inserting text boxes  Modifying object properties 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference15

MOS Objectives for Access Exam Access 2010 Exam Objectives  Managing the Access Environment  Building Tables  Building Forms  Creating and Managing Queries  Designing Reports Access 2013 Exam Objectives  Create and Manage a Database  Build Tables  Create Queries  Create Forms  Create Reports 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference16

Access 2013 SAM Training for MOS  Create and Manage a Database  36 training tasks  Build Tables  37 training tasks  Create Queries  36 training tasks  Create Forms  43 training tasks  Create Reports  33 training tasks 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference17

CSCI 157 Certification Pass/Fail Rates 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference18

CSCI 157 Certification Score Comparisons 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference19

Potential Access Task Additions to SAM  Saving databases in older formats  Creating databases using wizards  Merging databases  Recovering data from a backup  Maintaining backward compatibility  Saving databases as templates  Importing tables from other databases  Hiding fields in tables 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference20

Potential Access Task Additions to SAM 2  Adding table descriptions  Sorting records in tables  Configuring fields to auto-increment  Deleting/renaming queries  Creating forms/reports with application parts  Deleting forms/reports  Formatting form print layouts  Applying form themes 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference21

Potential Access Task Additions to SAM 3  Inserting form/report backgrounds  Auto-ordering forms  Setting report margins  Changing report orientation  Changing report sort order  Inserting report images  Inserting report page numbers 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference22

Questions?? 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference23

Contact Information  Dr. Mary Jo Geise The University of Findlay Computer Science Department  Dr. Helen Schneider The University of Findlay Computer Science Department Cengage Learning Computing Conference24