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Powerpoint and Excel

LardalishLardalish Registered User regular
edited April 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
Ok, so in my culinary degree theres this class that I have to take (or hopefully place out of) that is basically the basics of using a computer. Now, Im pretty good with a computer, but failing the placement test and having to take this class because Im a little rusty on a couple programs has gotten me a little paranoid. What it boils down to is Im a little worried Ill be put in a remedial class because I havent used Powerpoint and Excel in a little while. Does anyone know of anything that I could use as like a refresher or something? I really just need to remember what I learned back in middle and high school.

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Posts

  • The CatThe Cat Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2008
    Honestly, the best way is just to dick around in there. Go into powerpoint and make a presentation pitching a new cafe idea, go into excel and try and make a monthly budget for yourself, sort of thing. The help files on the newer versions aren't as crap as they used to be, and once you have a task you can ask us more specific questions.

    Two things to watch out for:
    1. check what version of Office they're testing you on, because 2007 is well different than the rest - the menus are all...funny...
    2. Check whether they just give you a list of tasks in class and watch you do them, or use specific assessment software. When I was temping in offices, the agencies used to test us with this software that wouldn't let you use keyboard shortcuts or the right-click menu and actually marked you down if you tried. Which, yes, astonishingly stupid, but there you go. Something to watch out for.

    The Cat on
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  • LaOsLaOs SaskatoonRegistered User regular
    edited April 2008
    The Cat wrote: »
    Honestly, the best way is just to dick around in there. Go into powerpoint and make a presentation pitching a new cafe idea, go into excel and try and make a monthly budget for yourself, sort of thing. The help files on the newer versions aren't as crap as they used to be, and once you have a task you can ask us more specific questions.

    Two things to watch out for:
    1. check what version of Office they're testing you on, because 2007 is well different than the rest - the menus are all...funny...
    2. Check whether they just give you a list of tasks in class and watch you do them, or use specific assessment software. When I was temping in offices, the agencies used to test us with this software that wouldn't let you use keyboard shortcuts or the right-click menu and actually marked you down if you tried. Which, yes, astonishingly stupid, but there you go. Something to watch out for.

    Just so you know, my advice is exactly the same as The Cat's, here... in case you thought, 'well, that's just one person's idea' or something like that.

    I also experienced the same thing with a Temp agency here and found it quite strange. Oh well.

    So yeah, just get in the programs and play around a lot. Try to do different things. Think of something you think you want to do and then try it in the programs. Take things that you do in other programs, or manually, or whatnot, and see if you can find better ways of doing them with the programs you want to practice--I've managed to build upon my already advanced Excel skills just by tracking Phalla games and mechanics while playing and hosting (See Critical Failures forum for what a Phalla is), for example.

    Also, don't stress about it. Really.

    LaOs on
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