Computer Education Training Topics
Computer Education provides classes and consultations to staff, faculty, and students on a variety of software and technology topics. Staff and faculty classes are coordinated through Computer Education directly while student classes are done through the PASS (Professional and Academic Skills for Students) program, which also features classes from the Writing Center and the Library.
To view currently listed classes and register, please go to brown.edu/learningpoint (click Technical Skills for our in-person and online training). To request a training for your department on one of these topics, please fill out the Training Request form.
The chart below lists most of the topics we encompass, and what resources are available for each.
| Software | Class | Handout | Video |
| Access | No | Yes | No |
| Acrobat Pro | No | No | Yes |
| Contribute | No | Yes | Yes |
| Dreamweaver | No | Yes | Yes |
| Entourage | Yes | Yes | No |
| Excel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FileMaker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fireworks | PLS Only | Yes | No |
| Flash | PLS Only | Yes | No |
| GoogleApps | Yes | Yes | No |
| Illustrator | PLS Only | Yes | No |
| InDesign | PLS Only | Yes | No |
| PowerPoint | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Photoshop | Yes | Yes | No |
| Word | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Access
Database software. Part of Microsoft's suite of office productivity applications.
Acrobat Pro
Create, edit, view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
Contribute
Contribute is a web publishing environment. Part of Adobe Creative Suite.
Contribute Introduction - Many departmental websites at Brown are updated with Contribute. This class will introduce you to Contribute basics. During the second half of the class you will have an opportunity to work on your website and ask questions. If you are planning to access your website during the class, you must have already been given access to your site.
Dreamweaver
Visual web authoring software. Part of Adobe Creative Suite.
Dreamweaver Introduction - Adobe Dreamweaver is a full-featured web authoring program. This class will introduce you to the basics of using this powerful tool to create and edit web pages.
Entourage
Email client. Part of Microsoft's suite of office productivity applications.
Entourage Introduction - Entourage is the premier email & calendar program for the Macintosh at Brown. This class will help you get started with Entourage and walk through using it for email and calendar to get things done faster and more efficiently.
Excel
Spreadsheet software. Part of Microsoft's suite of office productivity applications.
Excel Series - Basics - Does Excel make you panic? Let us help! In this session for beginners, we learn our way around the Excel interface and discuss what is possible in the program. For beginners - no experience necessary.
Excel Series - Displaying Your Data - In this second session of the Excel series, we explore ways to display our data such as charts, tables and conditional formatting. A basic knowledge of Excel is required - such as attendance of the Excel Basics session or having used Excel in the past.
Excel Series - Formulas - In this third session of the Excel series, we learn what formulas are and the basics of how to use them. A basic knowledge of Excel is required - such as attendance of the Excel Basics session or having used Excel in the past.
Excel Series - Pivot Tables - In this fourth session of the Excel series, explore Pivot Tables, which are used to summarize and analyze data. A basic knowledge of Excel is required - such as attendance of the Excel Basics session or having used Excel in the past.
Excel Series - Final Workshop - In this final installment of the Excel series, attendees are encouraged to bring a file to work on and receive help as they apply the skills they learned in earlier workshops. A basic knowledge of Excel is required - such as attendance of the Excel Basics session or having used Excel in the past.
Excel 2007 Introduction - (Starting to offer the series instead - this is very general). This class covers the basics of working in Excel. What will be covered is an overview of the Excel environment, basic spreadsheet concepts such as columns and rows, updating spreadsheets, and how to enter and sort data as well as how to navigate a worksheet.
FileMaker
Database development and management application.
FileMaker Series - Basics - Learn the basics of Filemaker - how to create and set up your database and start entering information.
FileMaker Series - Layouts - FileMaker layouts let us streamline data entry and create reports. Learn how to create and modify layouts. We will learn how to prevent the editing of a field, add a drop-down menu, and change the tab order.
FileMaker Series - Scripts - Scripts can automate some of the tedious tasks we do in FileMaker. In this intermediate FileMaker course, we will discuss what scripts can do and write one together. You should have some knowledge of FileMaker before taking this course.
FileMaker Series - Relational Database Design - This is an advanced class on FileMaker. We will be designing a database with multiple tables, creating a relationship between those tables, importing data and creating layouts that show data from more than one table using a layout control that FileMaker calls a portal. You should have some knowledge of FileMaker before taking this course.
FileMaker Series - Searches, Import and Export - We will start this session by practicing various techniques for searching a FileMaker database. Then, we will discuss importing and exporting data between FileMaker and Excel.
Filemaker Introduction - (Starting to offer the series instead - this is very general). This class is ideal for people who want to learn how to use FileMaker. We will cover topics including how to find information in a database, tweak the look and feel of layouts in an existing database, add and define fields, and make a database from scratch.
Fireworks
Fireworks is a graphic image development tool that is part of Adobe Creative Suite.
Flash
Flash is a multimedia development tool. Part of Adobe Creative Suite.
GoogleApps@Brown
Google Apps for Education is Brown's email and calendaring system. It includes additional applications such as Google Docs and Sites.
Mail and Calendar Basics - This overview includes use of both Google Mail and Calendar. First, we will tour the Google Mail interface and explore basic searching, composing messages, chat features, conversation threads, labels, handling attachments, and user settings. Then we will discuss Google Calendars, including basic searching, calendar views and navigation, creating new events (3 ways), populating events with details, adding guests and checking free/busy availability.
Optimize Your Gmail - In this hands-on session, we will look at some of the ways you can use settings, labs, and other Gmail features to make your email easier to manage. If you have any specific questions or needs, please type them in the "Notes to the instructor" field when registering for the class and we will do our best to address them during the class.
Google Documents Basics - What are Google Docs and how can you leverage them for collaborative editing and data sharing in your department? In this session, we will demonstrate basic use of Google Docs, go through the types of documents, and discuss best practices.
Google Forms - Easy Data Collection - Did you know that you can easily collect data using Google Forms? Put forms in emails or on a website, and when people fill them out, data will be automatically deposited into an easy-to-access spreadsheet to share with others. This session is most appropriate for participants who already have some familiarity with Google Apps.
Google Sites - Thinking of creating a website or an intranet for a department or group? Google Sites are an easy way to make information accessible on the web. Learn how you can use Sites to keep your department organized - centralize Google documents, organize links, share news, and more. No coding required.
Illustrator
For creation of vector graphics. Part of Adobe Creative Suite.
InDesign
Page layout and publication software. Replaced PageMaker. Part of Adobe Creative Suite.
PowerPoint
Presentation software. Part of Microsoft's suite of office productivity applications.
PowerPoint Series - Basics - New to PowerPoint? In this session for beginners, we learn our way around the PowerPoint interface and discuss what is possible in the program. For beginners - no experience necessary.
PowerPoint Series - Design and Animation - In this second installment of the PowerPoint series, we explore ways to make your slideshow more dynamic with themes, animations, and graphics. A basic knowledge of PowerPoint is required - such as attendance of the PowerPoint Basics session or having used PowerPoint in the past.
PowerPoint Series - Slide Master - In this third installment of the PowerPoint series, we learn how to create our own design template using the Slide Master. The Slide Master can help you achieve consistency in your own presentations or create a branded template for your department. A basic knowledge of PowerPoint is required - such as attendance of the PowerPoint Basics session or having used PowerPoint in the past.
PowerPoint Series - Final Workshop - In this final installment of the PowerPoint series, attendees are encouraged to bring a project to work on and receive help as they apply the skills they learned in earlier workshops. A basic knowledge of PowerPoint is required - such as attendance of the PowerPoint Basics session or having used PowerPoint in the past.
PowerPoint Introduction - (Starting to offer the series instead - this is very general). This class will introduce you to the PowerPoint environment, its views, menus and toolbars. By the end of class, you will be able to create, print and display a presentation. This class covers all the basics, and is primarily aimed at beginning or new PowerPoint users.
Photoshop
Image editing software. Part of Adobe Creative Suite.
Photoshop Series - Basics - Are you new to Photoshop? See what Photoshop can do, and learn the fundamentals: creating and saving images, using colors, working with layers, adding text, and basic selection techniques.
Photoshop Series - Selections - Selecting parts of an image is an important Photoshop skill. Selections can be used to remove or change the background of an image, create a collage, selectively adjust parts of a photograph, and more. In this class, we will explore different tools for selections, including the marquee, lasso, magic wand, quick selection tool, and quick mask.
Photoshop Series - Adjustment Basics - Are your photos too dark, too light, or just the wrong colors? Explore basic photo adjustments as well as toning tools that let us bring out parts of an image.
Photoshop Series - Retouching Images - Learn to use retouching tools such as the healing brush, patch tool, stamp tool and red eye removal. Second hour is an optional time for you to bring your own photos and apply your new skills.
Photoshop Introduction - (Starting to offer the series instead - this is very general). This class will serve as an introduction to the popular and complex graphics software program, Adobe Photoshop. It will cover Photoshop's environment, its menus and toolbars, and introduces you to its terminology and basic tools.
Word
Word processing software. Part of Microsoft's suite of office productivity applications.
Word 2007: Advanced Mail Merges - Do you need to generate letters or documents based on the content of an Excel spreadsheet? In this class, we will use Mail Merges to accomplish tasks from simple name insertions to complicated conditionals (if...then rules). Experience with mail merges is not necessary, but you should be comfortable with using Word and willing to dive in!
Word Workshop: Creating a Flyer - The new version of Word allows us to create attractive flyers and brochures without a graphic design degree. After seeing a demonstration of Word's design tools, you'll have time to create a flyer and ask questions.