How to take the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification at CCSD

For the most part, the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications are built into specific courses. Here is a list of courses that the MOS certifications are built into:

APP101 Computer Fundaments: Word Certification

APP103 Word Processing and Presentations: PowerPoint Certification

APP104 Spreadsheet Applications: Excel Certification

If for whatever reason you were not able to take the certification exam during the course that it is offered in, then there are a couple different options for you. But before we discuss how and when to take the certification exam, let’s discuss the requirements that qualify you to take it.

Requirements:

• A score of 85% in the course that the certification exam was offered in.
  • If you did not get an 85% in the course that the certification exam was offered in, you must get approval from education management (Mr. Dru, Mr. Jean Pierre, or any Deans).
• A screenshot of passing scores of the GMetrix Practice Exam 1, 2, 3 (testing versions) for the certification you want to take (see image below).
  • Screenshot must have your name, exam titles, testing version, passing scores, and dates clearly visible.
  • The dates of the GMetrix Practice Exam 1, 2, & 3 (testing verions) should NOT be longer than 30 days from the day you will take the Certification Exam.

Here is an example of a screenshot that includes the student’s name, exam title, score, and date. Remember, you must pass all three practice exams in order to take the corresponding certification.

How to schedule the certification exam:

1. Gather all required documents
2. Scheudle the certification exam appointment by e-mailing CCSD IT at help@ccsdit.on.spiceworks.com. Give them the days and times you are available to take the exam. Students will need to reserve about an hour and half for the certification exam process:
   • The exam takes about 20 minutes to set up (this includes registering for Certiport if unregistered and for the proctor to go over rules before the exam)
   • Then, students are given 50 minutes to complete the certification exam.
   • After the exam, students have 20 minutes to review the results.

The best times to take the certification exam are on Fridays at 8:00am. You will need to contact CCSD IT to schedule the certification exam so that a qualified proctor can be present.

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How To Use The Writing Center

Did you know that California College San Diego has a writing center where students can submit written assignments that will be proofread, annotated with suggested corrections, and a summarized feedback?

To access the writing center:

1. From Canvas’ home page, Enter the Study Hall Academic Resource Center (SHARC)
2. Click on “Writing Center”
3. Enter your student credentials
   1. *If you have trouble with your student credentials contact the librarian (Patricia.Bermel@cc-sd.edu)
4. You can choose to Make an Appointment or Submit a Paper
   1. An Appointment provides you with one-on-one help with writing assignments, perfect for students who need help getting started.
   2. Submit a Paper is for students who have already written a paper and want feedback before the final submission to the instructor. Follow the instructions on how to submit a paper and agree to the terms of service,  then click “Submit Work.”
5. According to the terms of service, if students submit on Saturday after 9am MST, feedback may not be received with the 24-48 hour window.
   

   Update (06/01/2018): You must save your document using a unique name such as CourseCode_Assignmnt#_FirstLastname (example: CSS101_Assignment2_DruMacasieb). If you try and upload it using “Assignment 1” or a generic file name that others may use, you will get that it cannot be submitted.

6. After submitting a paper, students must come back to the writing center to see if their document has been completed. Students will not receive an email or notification that their paper has been worked on. Instead, students must re-visit the writing center to check on the status of their paper.

Update (06/01/2018): If you have any questions or concerns about using the Writing Center, please contact the Writing Center Supervisor: Angela Sweeney–angela.sweeney@independence.edu  and CC your instructor.

From personal experience, I have found that the writing center, no matter what reason for the feedback you chose,  does an awesome job of providing feedback on the entire paper (APA formatting, grammar, sentence structure, ideas, organization etc.).

I have also found that the earlier I submit papers during the week, the faster the turned around time is.  I submitted a paper on Tuesday around 6:00pm PST and got feedback on it 10:00am PST the next morning. I have also noticed that paper submitted toward the end of the week (Friday and Saturday) takes longer to get back, and the feedback is not as detailed as one turned in earlier (probably because they get a ton of submissions during the end of the week).

Another best practice is to submit both the Writing Center feedback and the final draft (with improvements) to your instructor. I’ve done this, and thus far have received full credit in all my written submissions.

When I was doing my Master’s, I advertised on Craigslist proofreading services. I basically would charge $5-$10 a page to proofread written papers. So having this service free to students just blows my mind.

The Writing Center is a valuable tool for all students. In my opinion, it is crucial to submit papers to the Writing Center before submitting final drafts as it almost guarantees full credit if the feedback is applied.

Volunteer Opportunities with Junior Achievement

California College San Diego is teaming up with Junior Achievement to provide students with an opportunity to gain volunteer experience.

All students who volunteer at least 20 hours receive a certificate/letter of appreciation that can be added to their resume and portfolio. 

It’s an excellent opportunity to give back to the community, develop new or existing skills, and to network with others.

This volunteer opportunity is with Junior Achievement (JA). JA is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement’s programs—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

There are three different types of volunteer opportunities for Junior Achievement:

Biztown– Volunteer in one of the 21 businesses in JA BizTown with 4-8 students, assisting the students with their business/job tasks throughout the day while sharing personal stories of work experience. 

 

Finance Park– Volunteers guide groups of 8-12 students through the adult life simulation, where students learn to budget, save, and spend for themselves and their virtual families. 

JA Days– Volunteers delivers a full grade program to students during a classroom visit.  Typically from the time instruction begins to the grades’ lunch time. 

• South County JA Days
• East County/San Diego City JA Days

For more information regarding this fantastic opportunity contact Dru at Dru.Macasieb@cc-sd.edu or Tamara Ferguson at tferguson@jasandiego.org 

Professional Development 2019

California College San Diego presents the 2019 professional development workshops that are designed to provide you with the skills and tools necessary to be a successful professional upon graduating from CCSD.  The faculty and staff at California College San Diego encourage continued personal and social growth, and these workshops will aid in your development.  Please join us at for each workshop at the San Diego main campus at 11:00 am in the auditorium.

Location:

San Diego Main Campus
6602 Convoy Court #100
San Diego,  CA 92111

Friday, January 25, 2019	Career Services
Friday,  February 22, 2019	APA format
Friday, March 22, 2019	Social Media/ Networking
Friday, April 19, 2019	Soft Skills/Work Environment
Friday, May 17, 2019	Basic Computer Skills
Friday, June 21, 2019	Microsoft Office
Friday, July 19 , 2019	Self-Reliance/ Attendance
Friday, August 16, 2019	Time Management
Friday, September 13, 2019	Writing Skills
Friday, October 11, 2019	Public Speaking
Friday, November 15, 2019	Professionalism
Friday, December 13, 2019	Conflict Resolution

Upon completion of all 12 workshops, each student will receive a blue cord at the time of graduation as recognition of professional development.

*If you have any questions, please see Student Services*