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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 Conference

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. CSCI 149 Certification Score Comparisons
2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

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

11. CSCI 155 Certification Score Comparisons
2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. CSCI 157 Certification Score Comparisons
2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference
Questions??
2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference

24. 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference
Contact Information
Dr. Mary Jo Geise The University of Findlay Computer Science Department
Dr. Helen Schneider The University of Findlay Computer Science Department
2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference