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

2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference 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 Conference

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 Conference

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 Conference

Fall 2013 Excel 2013 Exam Results CSCI 149 13 students took the exam Scores ranged from 233-880 ONE student passed the exam (7%) Average score was 433 CSCI 155 14 students took the exam Scores ranged from 233-980 9 students passed the exam (64%) 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference 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 Conference

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 Conference

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

CSCI 149 Certification Score Comparisons 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

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

CSCI 155 Certification Score Comparisons 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

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 Conference

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 Conference

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 Conference

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 Conference

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

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

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

CSCI 157 Certification Score Comparisons 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

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 Conference

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 Conference

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 Conference

2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference Questions?? 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference Contact Information Dr. Mary Jo Geise The University of Findlay Computer Science Department geise@findlay.edu Dr. Helen Schneider The University of Findlay Computer Science Department schneider@findlay.edu 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference