Computer Skills

This workshop will help those new to computers learn the basics about the Microsoft Windows operating system. Additional topics include basic hardware, like the monitor, keyboard, mouse and peripherals.

This workshop will help those new to computers learn the basics about the Microsoft Windows operating system. Additional topics include basic hardware, like the monitor, keyboard, mouse and peripherals.

Organize and retrieve your data with Access 2010.

Topics: planning, creating and modifying a database; creating tables and using data types and other features to control data input; creating simple forms; locating, organizing and extracting information using simple queries; and producing reports

Prerequisites: basic keyboard and mouse skills and a basic understanding of any Windows environment; no database experience required

Get more out of Access by learning how to import, manipulate and summarize data using Access 2010.

Topics: understanding database relationships; using primary keys; importing data; creating different kinds of queries to select, update, calculate, delete and capture information; and adding calculated values to reports and forms

Prerequisites: completion of Access Part I or equivalent knowledge of Access

Explore advanced features of Access including automating tasks, using forms to control the userís experience, creating charts and graphs, understanding basic database maintenance and creating advanced queries. This workshop is appropriate for users of Microsoft Office 97,  2000, XP, 2003, 2007 and 2010.

Topics: designing data validation rules; learning to use macros to run a set of tasks in sequence; creating forms that allow users to easily run reports, queries and other open forms; conducting data analysis using pivot tables and pivot charts; creating graphs to include in reports or on forms; and limiting the ability of users to make changes to data or to database objects

Prerequisites: completion of Access Part II or equivalent knowledge of Access

Designed for first-time users, these free, 90-minute workshops offer basic instructions for Microsoft Office 2010: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Learn the basics of each program and how to create simple files.

All three below Microsoft Basics workshops cover features that are similar within each program. These topics include: functionalities of the ribbon; learning common keyboard shortcuts; creating a document from a new file, existing file, and a template; saving a new file versus saving changes to an existing file; and using spell check, and help functions.

Basic Excel 2010
Learn how Excel can easily help you organize basic information and perform simple calculations. View examples of useful spreadsheets. Hands-on instruction will quickly get you comfortable working with data!

Topics : Navigate in Excel. Use the Help feature. Format numbers, text, alignment, styles, etc. Sort data sets alphabetically and chronologically. Use the mathematical “order of operations” in basic formulas to make simple calculations. Save, name and print spreadsheets. .

Basic PowerPoint 2010
Learn to create, edit and format a PowerPoint document in order to become familiar with common functions and features. 

Topics: learning the different tab groups: Home, Insert, Design, Transitions, Animations, Slide Show, Review and View;; creating and deleting new slides; applying themes, theme color, font, size and effects; applying animations or transition effects; adding comments to slides; changing document view; previewing entire presentation

Basic Word 2010
Learn key functions to format, save changes and use help functions within a Word document.

Topics:  inserting fonts, size, and bullets/numbering; paragraph formatting; inserting a table; inserting and formatting pictures; inserting columns, headers, footers, and page numbers; learning to preview document; changing document view, using keyboard short-cuts and word count

APA and MLA style formatting is not covered in this workshop, for more information please click here for useful documentation links.

Create and edit spreadsheets and work with large or multiple worksheets at once with Excel 2010.

Topics: exploring different ways of performing the same operations, including shortcuts; inserting, deleting, cutting, copying and pasting data, rows and columns; working with multiple worksheets and cell ranges; saving and using AutoSave; using the fill-series feature and numeric formatting; sizing, wrapping and orienting text; managing cell number formats, borders and shading; creating headers and footers; and freezing rows and columns.

Prerequisites: basic understanding of Microsoft programs or equivalent knowledge. Completing the above Excel Basics program would be helpful but it is not required.

Expand your knowledge of Excel 2010. Generate charts and graphs, perform calculations using formulas and functions, create data series and add hyperlinks.

Topics: shortcuts for navigating sheets; sorting data; creating a series using formulas and functions; copying and pasting formulas; mastering AutoCalculate and AutoSum, using absolute and relative cell references; creating charts, graphs and hyperlinks; learning pivot tables and charts; ; exporting charts to other programs; and relating worksheets

Prerequisites: completion of Excel Part I or equivalent knowledge of Excel.

Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. Understand how to manage large spreadsheets, analyze data with advanced charts and conditional formatting, utilize functions, manage and protect workbooks and create simple macros.

Topics: filtering data; creating named ranges and constants; learning advanced chart design (dual-axis, area charts, editing labels, and adding trend lines); using conditional formatting; functions (textual, date, lookup);  removing duplicates in data; protecting workbooks with passwords; and creating basic macros.

Prerequisites: completion of Excel Part II or equivalent knowledge of Excel


If your major or intended profession is criminal justice, psychology, or public administration, SPSS can be a particularly useful software tool for investigating a research question. SPSS can help you recognize patterns in large amounts of data, understand complex relationships, describe risks and trends, and make better informed decisions. In this free workshop, youíll learn how to use SPSS to perform basic statistical analyses using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.

Topics: entering data; opening and saving input and output; basic graphing; finding the mean, mode, standard deviation, and variance; frequency distributions; hypothesis testing; linear correlation; and regression analysis. 

Some sessions may be attended online and later viewed on demand. Call 410.837.5383 for more information.

If you are enrolled in any online or hybrid class at UB (including most sections of WRIT 300), you will use Sakai, UBís e-learning platform. Discover how to navigate Sakai effectively as an online student with this free, two-hour workshop. Learn how to submit assignments, manage your files, participate in online discussions and more. If you have any concerns about online learning at UB, this workshop is ideal for you.