Office Skills Academy

Spring 2008

The Computer Applications/Business Technology Office Skills Academy includes CABT 100, CABT 110A, and CABT 110B. The Spring 2008 courses are scheduled as follows:

Course No.	Section No.	Course Name	Days/Times	Location
CABT 100	57094	Business Technology & Procedures	TTh 5:30 p.m.	Wat 4106
CABT 110A	55274	Computer Keyboarding - Alpha Keys	W 5:30 p.m.	Wat 4510
CABT 110B	55278	Computer Keyboarding - Numbers/Sym.	W 5:30 p.m.	Wat 4510
Note: If you are a high school student and you have submitted an application with a release form, you will be contacted by Cabrillo and told your registration time.

Basic Concepts of the Office Skills Academy

This course of study will involve far more than learning how to use office machines and computers in isolated courses. The central concept is that students will learn office procedures, computer technology, and office culture in a simulated office environment. Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on learning the non-technical skills such as problem solving, communication, conflict resolution, how to learn new skills, and how to deal with socio-cultural issues in the workplace.

This Office Skills Academy is potentially a two-semester, part-time program, which lays a strong foundation for vocational and academic success. Students will earn college credits, which can be applied toward a CABT Skills Certificate: Computer Skills for the Office.

Features of the Office Skills Academy

1. Students can build on the courses taken in one semester by taking additional courses in subsequent semesters and earn more certificates if desired, even after they leave the Academy
2. Participants will be part of a cohort group for a large part of the one or two semesters that they are in the program. The group will work in an authentic environment that values their life experiences and at the same time introduces them to the culture of the workplace. Examples include:
   • Repetition of routine, daily activities typical in the workplace such as creating to-do lists, attending staff meetings, and performing individual and group tasks.
   • Focus on an office technology curriculum in which students practice how to learn new tasks in unfamiliar work situations.
   • Immersion in the daily problems, tasks, and interpersonal relationships encountered in the workplace. Participants deal with socio-cultural issues such as courtesy, self-reliance, appropriate assertiveness, etc.
   • Inclusion of activities to help students recognize and understand the labels, meanings, and subtle codes of behavior used to communicate in a workplace.
   • Use of simulations to enhance learning about the “culture” of business.

Benefits of the Office Skills Academy

1. Students will receive the training and education that will enable them to be successful in the workplace because they will learn both technical and non-technical skills in a simulated office environment.
2. Students will receive college credits, which will apply to a Cabrillo skills certificate.
3. Students who are working part time, in high school, or who have family responsibilities can be part of this program since it is part time.
4. Students who want to take additional classes outside the program can do so in either the first or second semesters.
5. Businesses that hire the students will get more fully trained employees.

Office Skills Academy: Semester One

The cohort course, CABT 100, will cover business/office procedures, computer technology, and office culture in a simulated office environment. Many of the assignments will require students to work on projects in which they will prepare a product for use in a real organization such as compiling and merging mailing lists and designing and producing brochures.

Students will be required to attend the cohort class, which meets for 3 1/2 hours, two days each week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) from 5:30-9:10 p.m. This will provide more instructor-guided learning than standard lecture/lab classes.

Also, students will take CABT 110A and CABT 110B — Computer Keyboarding Alphabet, Numbers, and Symbols — in a supervised lab for one hour each week plus another two hours in Cabrillo’s open-entry lab during hours of their own choosing.

Students may enroll in a three-unit English class depending on the student’s placement assessment score. The class would be at a time scheduled by the college.

Course	Total Hours/Week	Total Units
CABT 100	7	3.0
CABT 110A	1.5	.5
CABT 110B	1.5	.5
Total	10.0*	4.0*
*Students who enroll in an English course will spend a total of 13 hours in class and earn a total of 7 units.

Office Skills Academy: Semester Two

If students want to continue expanding their skills, they can complete a second semester. The total hours a week will be 13, and the total units earned will be 7. These courses include:

1. The cohort course, CABT 101, which provides computer proficiency skills for beginning computer users including the use of Word, Excel, Windows file management, e-mail, Internet research, and creating a simple Web page. It includes a diverse set of computer skills used in business and college. Topics focus on fundamental computer employability standards identified by Santa Cruz County educators and employers. Students will be required to attend three hours of lecture and four hours of lab as a cohort group.
2. Also, if students have not already taken CABT 110A and CABT 110B (Computer Keyboarding Alphabet, Numbers, and Symbols) for one hour each week under instructor supervision and two hours each week at a time of their own choosing in Cabrillo’s open lab.

Students may take another three-unit English course.

Note: Students who complete this second semester will earn the Skills Certificate: Computer Skills for the Office.

How to Enroll in Office Skills Academy Courses

To enroll in the Office Skills Academy classes:

1. Complete an Application for Admission for the Spring 2008 semester, which is available in the Schedule of Classes and at the Cabrillo website, www.cabrillo.edu, or submit the application in the Schedule of Classes.
   
   If you are a high school student, along with the Application for Admission, you must also submit a High School Release form signed by your principal or designee and your parent. Your school should have this form.
2. Register for classes by calling 831-479-4295 (HawkTalk) or going to Cabrillo's Webadvisor.
   
   
3. Sign up for Office Skills Academy classes. These are:
   

   Course No.	Section No.	Course Name	Days/Times	Location
   CABT_100	57094	Business Technology & Procedures	TTh 5:30 p.m.	Wat 4106
   CABT_110A	55274	Computer Keyboarding - Alpha Keys	W 5:30 p.m.	Wat 4510
   CABT_110B	55278	Computer Keyboarding - Numbers/Sym.	W 5:30 p.m.	Wat 4510
   Note: If you are a high school student and you have submitted an application with a release form, you will be contacted by Cabrillo and told your registration time.

4. You can also register at the beginning of the Spring semester. The Spring semester begins on February 11. Late registration is February 11-23. To register during the late registration period, do the following:
   • Attend the first class meeting (February 12) and obtain an add slip from the instructor.
   • Turn the add slip in to the Admissions Office in the Watsonville Center.