Computer Workshops

The following computer workshops are offered on a regular basis by the UMD Center for Economic Development. Check our online registration for dates and times of upcoming workshops.

If your computer knowledge is limited, we strongly recommend Computers 101 and Computers 102 as a prerequisite. We request that you have a good working knowledge of computers prior to taking any software specific workshops.

Computers 101 - Computer Basics
Designed for individuals who have never used a computer. Covers what computers do, basic computer terminology, the proper way to turn on and off the computer, how to use the mouse and keyboard, the basics of moving around in Windows and how to save and open files.

Computers 102 - Desktop Productivity
Know the very basics of working on a computer but want to know more? This workshop covers how to operate a computer, manage the computer desktop, save, delete, store, copy, and move files. Get an introduction to the Microsoft Office Products.

Access I- Basics of Database Management
Create databases, save to editing, format, create basic tables, forms, queries and reports to manage data and retrieve information quickly.

Access II- Beyond the Basics of Database Management
Go beyond the basics of database management - import data from a spreadsheet, export a table from an existing database and merge a table from a database into a document. Create and use customized forms, reports and a switchboard.

Access III- Database Relationships and Queries
(Prerequisite: experience using Access on a daily basis) Covers database terms and concepts. Build a relational database from scratch and create tables. Define relationships between tables and understand some rules for building a relational database. Write queries using the design view, SQL view, and query wizard. Create and understand indexes. Understand the basics of data model normalization and build a relational database from scratch.

Access IV- Visual Basic in Access
Manipulate data in your database using Visual Basic. Covers elements, dealing with datasets, higher-level error checking (checking against multiple items), and basic programming structures (statements, loop, and logicals). Programming experience is not required.

Excel I - Basics of Spreadsheets
Create data-rich, professional-looking spreadsheets. Covers the very basics of spreadsheets, from creating and saving to editing and formatting. Create easy-to-understand charts.

Excel II - Beyond the Basics of Spreadsheets
Use comments, create conditional formatting, work with IF statements, link workbooks, insert headers & footers, sort lists, do more with charts, and create mailing lists.

Excel III - Macros and Functions
Delve deep into the power of Excel. Use powerful functions (countif, trim, ceiling, lookup, subtotals, and more) to extend your functions, create macros by recording keystrokes and then updating the Visual Basic code. Information on Pivot Tables, screen layout, Excel Options, and best practices.

Dreamweaver - Web Page Design I
Create you own web page using Macromedia Dreamweaver MX. This workshop covers Web development application, including the Dreamweaver environment, managing HTML code, working with links, creating a basic web page and defining a site. Bring your information and ideas for your web page to the workshop.

Dreamweaver-Web Page Design II
(Prerequisite: Web Page Design I) Explore the next steps in Macromedia Dreamweaver MX to work with images, tables and text, with an emphasis on page layout and design techniques using tables.

Dreamweaver-Web Page Design III
(Prerequisite: Web Page Design II) Work with advan ced web site creation features available in Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, including libraries, behaviors and advan ced site management techniques.

Dreamweaver - Web Page design IV
(Prerequisite: Web Page Design III) Build a sample web site in this hands-on workshop for an opportunity to apply your acquired skills in a "real world" situation.

FLASH - Basics of Website Animation Make attention grabbing animations for your website. Also make vectored graphics on multiple layers and use them with motion and shape tweens to make some eye catching effects.  Use the built in effects to take a lot of the work out of making simple effects. Make a splash with Flash!

Illustrator I – Basics of Graphic Design
Illustrator is a vector based drawing program developed by Adobe.  This workshop covers creating basic primitive shapes and how to manipulate and transform them.  With these shapes, the workshop then adds grouping to make manipulations easier.  Concepts like stroke, fill, z-order, duplications, alignments, distribution, and text are also covered.

Illustrator II – Beyond the Basics of Graphic Design
This workshop builds on the skills taught in Illustrator I.  This workshop starts by drawing freehand and regular paths, editing paths and combining nodes together to make a path.  The workshop goes into all Boolean operations for shapes (union, difference, intersection, etc.), insets and outsets, and simplification.

InDesign I – Basics of Desktop Publishing
Design and produce professional page layouts. This workshop covers how to set up a master page and use the document presents along with inserting and modifying graphics.  It will also cover linking and modifying textboxes to create different flows for the documents and importing text documents from a word processing program to lay out in InDesign.  At the completion of this hands-on workshop you will have a final document with a master look, graphics, and text.

InDesign II – Beyond the Basics of Desktop Publishing
This workshop builds on the skills learned in InDesign I going more in-depth. The workshop will cover layers: how they are used, and how to create different ones in the program. It also covers using tables in the document along with creating a Table of Contents automatically using defined text styles.  There will also be discussion about different publishing decisions for the document.

Microsoft Project
Keep a handle on the big projects. This workshop goes through a simulated project building the schedule, time costing, resource scheduling, and actual project length. Use the Gantt chart to build dependences, view progress, and schedule concurrent tasks. Get useful reports on projects and build a template.

Organize your Business/Life with Google
Google has free tools for business and personal use.  If you have considered using these free tools but haven't taken the time to figure them out, this is the perfect opportunity. This workshop will show you how to use Google Docs, Google Calendar, Books, Picasa, Sketchup, Google Earth, Maps and Directions, and Google's Browser Chrome.  Find out how to create your own personal Google page that has its own custom look and the most current information from the sites you frequent.

Optimize your Business/Website with Google
Do you know how people find your website? Do you need to optimize? Tell Google about your company so that others can find it. Learn how to create a Google Profile and submit your website's URL to Google to be spidered.  Use Google analytics to see how people find your website using Google.  Use Google to complete online purchases more quickly and securely.  Use Google Calendar to show your company's open times.  Use Google adWords to bring people to your website by keying in on a few words.

Photoshop I – Basics of Digital Images
One of the most popular photo editing software programs, this workshop goes through selections, crop and slice, burn and dodge (selective lightening and darkening), retouching, reducing the picture size, the different types of graphic files, and improving digital photos.  The workshop also covers selection, cutting and pasting pieces of one photo and using it in another or the same photo and will give an introduction to layers.

Photoshop II – Beyond the Basics of Digital Images
This workshop builds on the skills learned in Photoshop I.  It covers layers, how they are used and how to create different ones in the program.  Using layers, you can create effects such as drop shadow and glow.  Using layers with painting tools and with different filters and effects will also be covered.

PowerPoint I- Basics of Creating Presentations
Create professional, powerful and effective computerized presentations. Organize and format your material easily, and illustrate your points with images, clip art, and sound. This is a very basic hands-on workshop.

PowerPoint II - Beyond the Basics of Creating Presentations -
(Prerequisite: experience using Microsoft PowerPoint) Go beyond the basics to create customized professional presentations. Work with design templates, create organization and flow charts and much more for a positive impression and appearance. This is a hands-on workshop.

QuickBooks
Covers the basic functions of this number one selling small business accounting program. In addition to this day-long workshop, receive the QuickBooks learning guide.

Advanced QuickBooks
Covers import/export of data including software that facilitates the process, tracking costs, how to handle bulk inventory, NSF checks, modifying reports, add-on software, vendor statement reports, customized letter writing using QuickBooks data, discussion and exploration of specific issues brought to the workshop by participants.

Word I - Basics of Word Processing
Create professional-looking documents. Covers the very basics of word processing, from creating and saving to editing and formatting a document. 

Word II - Beyond the Basics of Word Processing
Go beyond the basics of word processing - create templates, forms, columns, and work with tables. Improve you efficiency by using mail merge to send the same letter to a list of people.

Wordpress I
Create a professional looking website using the free software Wordpress.  This workshop will include getting a theme, adding pages, adding pictures and movies, and the ability to add text to your websites.  Learn to adds “widgets” to the site to make your site active such as having an up-to-date events calendar.

Wordpress II
Once you have created your website in Wordpress, this workshop will walk you through how to install a test Wordpress site on your computer (whether Mac or PC).  This is a great way to test ideas before actually doing them on an internet site.  Then learn about 10 widget that help organize your work on the website and with other people.

Wordpress III
Do you want to sell products from your Wordpress website? This workshop will cover how to connect a Wordpress site to Paypal for people to purchase individual items or to use free shopping cart programs to allow people to buy multiple items at a time.  Do you want to have multiple people be able to update your site? This workshop will cover how to give different employees/users of your site different rights to modify the webpages. This workshop will also cover useing Wordpress' cousin (Wikimedia) to create a body of information about everything from your family to any products you may have.

Wordpress IV
Do you want to create a Wordpress theme?  Learn the pages you need to create and how they tie together.  Learn about the functions built into Wordpress that allow a user to get the maximum out of their website. This workshop is designed to put the final touches on your website to give you a professional, well laid out Wordpress website.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

• Cancellations received more than 24 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop will be honored with a full refund.
• Participants failing to cancel their registration more than 24 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop will be charged the full registration fee.
• The UMD Center for Economic Development reserves the right to cancel any program not meeting minimum enrollment requirements. A full refund will be given if a workshop has been cancelled. Cancellations are made 24 hours prior to the beginning of each workshop.

The Minnesota Small Business Development Center program is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and the sponsors of regional and local centers. SBA's funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. Small Business Development Center services are provided without discrimination as to race, gender, color, creed, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, or sexual orientation. Upon prior request to the Small Business Development Center office from which services are sought, arrangements will be made to reasonably accommodate persons with disabilities.