Spring 2003 AISL Report
Sharon Sciacca This student was given a pretest which was comprised of matching on terminology, true and false statements and complete the blanks, related to the operation of a computer and a 3 minute timed writing. At the end of the five week period, the same test was given as a post test.

Pre test: This student missed 10 vocabulary/matching, 2 true and false statements and 3 complete the blanks. On the 3 minute timed writing, he keyed 26 words with 5 errors, resulting in a gross words a minute(gwam) of 9.

Post test: Had a total score of 100%. Keyed 64 words with 5 errors for a total of 21 gwam.

 The result yielded a definite increase in speed and accuracy on the timed writing and the terminology was learned, as well as other details regarding the computer. The student learned the general techniques of keying the alphabet in a more accurate and time saving way, by using the software provided. This time, I stressed how important the vocabulary and statements which I discussed in class were to remember. I will continue to do this and strive to push the students into learning how important it is to learn the major parts of the computer. I believe that I made the student more aware of what he really needed to know and insisted that he keep his fingers on the home row of the keyboard.
Sharon Sciacca Students were given a pretest which was comprised of typing a business letter with date, address, body, complimentary close and reference initials. At the end of the semester, students were given the same format to use to type a business letter.
Description: All three students did not understand the parts of a letter, nor the order of format and how important proofreading can be at the beginning of class, but at the end they understood how a professional business letter is to look and that proof reading is extremely important. Post Test: Students applied the specific formats learned in typing a business letter and applied their knowledge of proofreading. 
Results:  Pre 75%	Post 100%
	  Pre  75%	Post 100%
  	  Pre   75%	Post 90%
A definite improvement was made in typing letters, etc with less errors and understanding that there is a specific format to follow when typing a business letter. I deleted three chapters, which will be taken in the continuing class, and focused more on proofreading. I required a 5' Timed Writing every day of the class to attempt to improve speed. The timed writings seemed to help students. I will keep this an ongoing requirement.
Sharon Sciacca Each student was given a 5 minute timed writing at the beginning of the semester and one at the end. The goal for this class was to type 50 gross words a minute (gwam). Two students enrolled in this class. On the pretest, one typed 109 words with 4 errors, resulting in a gwam of 22. On the post test, she typed 135 words with 5 errors and a gwam of 27. The other student typed 146 words, 3 errors, resulting in a gwam of 29 and on the post test, typed 206 words, 11 errors, resulting in a gwam of 41. Speed does not seem to be as important as accuracy. Projects completed in class were accurate and professional and done in a timely manner. Required a 5 minute timed writing every day to improve speed. I will continue to require the 5 minute timed writing every day.
Karen S. Carter

Questionnaires completed by students

Many students found Access to be difficult, especially queries.

Students continue to like the self-paced nature of the class.

Some students felt that additional topics should be added. One requested FrontPage and one requested an integration of the various topics.

An additional lesson on Access queries should be added.

The self-paced nature of the course will be retained.

A unit on integration of the various features will be added since it fits within the specifications of the course.

The above items will be implemented

The method of teaching PowerPoint remained the same. Some students commented that this was the easiest topic.

The lecture on Excel formulas and functions was extended and an additional lab was assigned. Only one student mentioned having difficulty with this topic.

The self-paced nature of the class was successfully retained.

Tests on Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access were added to the course. The basic features covered in the projects and labs were on the test. The few students who had probably copied the projects and labs of others performed poorly on the tests.
Sharon Sciacca Each student was given a test comprised of matching, true and false statements on terminology and general usage of the internet on the first day of class. The same test was given at the end of the class. A total of 20 students took the pretest missing from 1 to 14 questions. The students missed between zero and five on the posttest, with eleven students missing zero. The results yielded a definite increase in the knowledge of the students. Assignments were given in class for ways to search the internet in time saving ways to find data. I took my class to the Writing Center and many of my students used the Writing Center to work on the research papers which were required. Research papers showed an improvement.