FRESHMAN SKILLS

Computer Skills

Skills listed here are technical skills expected of all incoming Freshman and do not include the conceptual and critical thinking skills associated with some of these functions.

Keyboard/Mouse

Incoming Freshmen are expected to know how to:

use a keyboard to enter information into a computer, including special features such as caps lock, insert, delete, directional arrows, backspace, alt tab, print screen, etc.
use the right and left click functions of a mouse, including single and double clicking
combine mouse and keyboard activities for various applications

Windows

Incoming Freshmen are expected to know how to:

open and use multiple windows sessions
cut, copy and paste between windows sessions
minimize, maximize, and resize windows
use Start and Desktop to find desired applications
save files to desktop and to a: drive: or to their thumbdrive
use toolbars, and menu bars with pop down windows

Internet

Incoming Freshmen will need to learn how to:
(Skills learned through the IT Department during Academic Orientation)

determine if their Internet account at MMA and/or through local Internet service providers is working, properly
determine if their laptop is properly configured for wireless connection to the Internet while on the MMA campus
understand the reasons for network filters and the times during the day when filters are on/off

Incoming Freshmen will need to learn how to:
(Information Literacy Skills learned through the MMA Library)

use advanced search techniques for various search engines on the WWW
evaluate the search strategy and the search results
apply criteria to select and evaluate search engines

E-Mail

Incoming Freshmen are expected to know how to:

describe various e-mail applications
send, open, and append files
practice basic e-mail netiquette

Web Browser & Web 2.0 Applications

Incoming Freshmen are expected to know how to:

skim and scan for information on a web page by scrolling, using pop up windows, frames, icons, and clickable images and text (in at least one web browser)
navigate efficiently using toolbar and commands
set options and preferences to customize desktop download and use plug-ins such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and RealPlayer for digital Library collections
navigate within documents in pdf format
clear cache
select sites to bookmark
use mail function to send documents to email account
select and save images
download information to a floppy disk, flash drive or other portable media device
print selected text

Incoming Freshmen will need to learn how to:

subscribe to listservs, blogs, wikis, mashups, etc.
search archives of listservs, blogs, wikis, mashups, etc.

Database Structure (Information Literacy Skills learned through the MMA Library)

Incoming Freshmen will need to learn how to:

use databases of text, numeric data, and/or multimedia
develop efficient search strategies using field limits
identify fields in a record
interpret citations in index, abstract and full text records

Information Retrieval (Information Literacy Skills learned through the MMA Library)

Incoming Freshmen will need to learn how to:

select keywords and related terms for a search strategy
use truncation appropriately for more efficient searches
combine keywords using Boolean connectors
apply date, language, format and other types of limits to searches as appropriate
choose between keyword searching and use of controlled vocabulary
perform searches using controlled vocabulary
develop search strategies and perform searches in a wide variety of search engines
select records to download, print or email
use internal navigation for various information services (icons, pop-up windows, toolbars, etc)