Administrative Assistant

Your at-home learning course includes 11 Instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you’ll employ in your new career as an Administrative Assistant. Your first Instruction Set will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

In order to complete this program, students will be required to have access to an IBM-compatible computer with the following minimum specifications: Pentium II, 200 MHZ or better, Windows 2000 or XP, 128MB RAM (RAM requirements could be higher for some operating systems) plus an additional 8MB RAM to open each additional Office application; 250MB free hard disk space, SVGA monitor, 2X CD-ROM drive, mouse, Internet access.

Instruction Set 1

• Learning Strategies
  • Identifying and implementing a successful study method; planning when, where, and how you’ll study; creating effective and efficient study tools; using study tools to improve chances for success.
• The Secretarial Profession
  • Introduction to the field; the secretary’s role in the workplace; necessary skills and abilities; workplace trends and opportunities; professional organizations.

Instruction Set 2

• Your Professional Image
  • Dressing professionally; building a support network; developing skills and a career portfolio.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
  • Handling problems; relating to your supervisor; improving your reading skills; tips for reading technical or complex material.
• Time and Stress Management
  • Setting up a time-management program; handling work overload; setting priorities and goals; effective stress-management strategies.
• Supplement: Improve Your Communication Skills

Instruction Set 3

• Written Communication 1
  • Parts of speech; common grammatical errors; punctuation; capitalization.
• Written Communication 2
  • Qualities of effective correspondence; types of business correspondence; letter styles; common business letters; editing and proofreading.
• Written Communication 3
  • Writing and speaking vocabularies; common spelling errors; using a thesaurus; plural and possessive nouns; electronic spell checkers.
• Supplement: Winning with Words

Instruction Set 4

• Administrative Office Procedures, Parts 1 and 2
  • Communicating with your supervisor and coworkers; being professional; telephone communications; handling postal and electronic mail.
• Meeting and Travel Planning
  • Assessing your company’s travel needs; developing a working relationship with a travel agent; planning a meeting.

Instruction Set 5

• Technologies in the Office
  • LAN and WAN; wireless transmissions and image systems; cellular phones, pagers, and videophones; personal computers.
• Filing Techniques
  • Alphabetical and numerical filing systems; confidential files; financial files; filing equipment.
• Records Management
  • Updating records systems; controlling stored records; electronic records management; classification of records.

Instruction Set 6

• Resources and References
  • Policy manuals, procedure manuals, and job description manuals; emergency procedures; using zip code directories and libraries; using the Internet.
• Math for Office Professionals
  • Whole numbers; fractions; decimals; percents and percentages; calculating income; gross pay versus net pay;
    hourly wages.

Instruction Set 7

• Office Finances
  • Accounting and business concepts; income; expenses; the computer and office finances; banking procedures.
• Office Management, Parts 1 and 2
  • Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, evaluating, and terminating employees; legal and medical issues; privacy issues.

Instruction Set 8

• Introduction to Windows®
  • You will learn the purpose of Windows® in its role as an operating system, the most common commands, how to customize your PC, and troubleshooting with help screen and system tools.
• Using Windows®
  • You’ll learn to customize your computer display, create documents, shortcuts for Windows®, copy information using Clipboard, how to use the taskbar, and view and organize your files and folders using Windows® Explorer.
• Managing and Supporting Windows®
  • You’ll learn shortcuts for accessing files and programs with Windows® Explorer, customize your computer setup, defragment your hard drive, format a floppy disk, and use the recycle bin.

Instruction Set 9

• PC Basics
  • Personal computer basics; hardware devices and peripherals; types of software. Keyboarding and Word Processing;
    alphabetic and numeric keys; keying techniques; basic keyboarding skills; improving speed and accuracy.
• Textbook: Keyboarding and Formatting
• Study Guide: Keyboarding and Word Processing
• Software: Keyboarding Pro
• Microsoft® Office

Instruction Set 10

• Word Processing
  • Formatting common business documents; basic and advanced word processing functions.
• Internet Basics
  • Features of the Web; navigating the Web; accessing and sending email; basic research tools and search engines.
• Textbook: Word Processing

Instruction Set 11

• Integrated Applications, Parts 1 and 2
  • Using clip art, lines, borders, drawing tools, charting tools, and watermarks; applying effective design principles and desktop publishing techniques. Features of the Web; navigating the Web; accessing and sending email; basic research tools and search engines.
• Textbook: Integrated Applications
• Supplement: Work Experience Option

• Graduation Set
  • Reference Manual

Online Library and Librarian
Students in ICS Canada have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and assist students in research activities during their studies with ICS Canada.

Note: The graduation shipment will be sent when all program requirements and financial obligations have been met.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

Microsoft, Windows, and Outlook are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

IBM is a trademark of the IBM Corporation or its subsidiaries registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Pentium and Intel are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Career Pro is a trademark of Career Pro of NC, Inc.

Resume Maker is a trademark of Individual Software.