Our goal is to offer you hands-on training in the most commonly used software for today’s workforce environment. Rather than holding lecture style classes as a group, we utilize a lab-type, individual—study program, enabling us to work to meet your exact needs.

Our lab is a quiet and stress free environment where you can work at your own pace with the assistance of on site instructors.

Our courses work with your schedule because we know how hard it can be to find time to come to a class. No appointments to schedule, no mandatory times to come, we will be here when YOU need us.

Most of our courses take approximately 15 hours to complete. However, there is no limit to the time you may spend in our computer lab.

WHAT IS SELF-PACED STUDY?

Learning in a self-paced study environment is probably different from what you are used to in a traditional classroom. Especially in the computer classes, you are teaching yourself, with guidance from instructors when you get stuck. We have found this method to be very successful with adult learners because you control what you learn, how well you learn, and at what pace you learn.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

You will receive a book for each software course or you may be loaned a book to use. The materials have been custom designed for you to use them in our self-paced classrooms. They are broken into two parts: "Concepts," which introduce a subject, and "Tasks," which give you hands-on experience using the concepts that were described. Each book should take approximately 20 hours to complete.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN OUR SELF-PACED CLASSROOM

1. READ AHEAD

Read a few PC lessons ahead at home, or in class before starting. Pay special attention to the "Concepts" sections of the materials. Even though much of the computer "lingo" may sound foreign to you, it will be much easier to understand when you are reading it for the second time once you actually sit in front of the computer.

2. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING

When you are working in the classroom and following instructions, remember to look at the screen and to sit back and understand what you are doing. Carefully read the explanation at the beginning of each exercise, and stop after each exercise. Ask yourself "What did I just do? Why did I do it?" and if you are unsure, try repeating the exercise until the purpose of the exercise is clear.

3. TAKE BREAKS

Please take a break every 50 minutes. We strongly urge you to take advantage of those breaks to rest your eyes, stretch your legs, and become more focused. A clear head can do wonders for absorbing information.

4. TEST YOURSELF

Do all of the "Optional" exercises in the books, as well as the "Practice Units" at the end of the Lessons. You may also request written self-tests when you have completed each lesson of a book.

5. WORK THROUGH YOUR PROBLEMS

Any time your feel an exercise isn't working or sinking in, go back to the beginning of the exercise, take a deep breath, slow down and repeat it at lease once before you ask an instructor for help. You will learn best if you are able to work through your frustrations on your own.

Ask an instructor for help when you get really stuck (for example, if you've tried to complete an exercise a number oftimes and you are still frustrated, don't wait until an hour has passed to ask an instructor for help). Raise your hand high and an instructor will get to you as soon as possible.

How mnch time shonld it take to complete a software application?

You decide how quickly you get through each software application, although as a guide you may want to pace yourself to complete about I 112 to 2 lessons per 2-hour class. At this rate, long-term students will still have plenty of time to use production time to complete exams or go on to other software applications. Remember, you can proceed faster and learn more applications if you wish, or you may proceed slower and master a few - it's all up to you!

What should I do when I have completed a software application book?

Tell an instructor you are finished, and you are ready to continue to another book or software application, or you are ready to take a test (long-term students are required to take tests).