All students are required to have certain computer competencies before entering the program. IS coursework will not provide remedial training. Instructors will assume that you have the following skills on the first day of class.
Basic Computer Operation, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Familiarity with a computer operating system (Windows or MacOS)
Ability to turn on and turn off computers properly
Ability to install, launch, close and uninstall programs on computers
Ability to create, copy, rename, move and delete folders/directories
Ability to save, copy, rename, move and delete files
Ability to find files and folders/directories
Ability to perform basic computer troubleshooting and maintenance, including virus scanning, disk cleanup and defragmentation, and system restore
Office Productivity
Familiarity with a word processing program, such as Microsoft Office Word
Familiarity with a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Office Excel
Familiarity with a presentation program, such as Microsoft Office PowerPoint
Ability to open and read PDF files using a tool like Adobe Acrobat Reader
Ability to create PDF files from office productivity tools
Ability to create and use multimedia, including digital images, audios and videos
Networking and Communication
Ability to connect and disconnect computers and cell phones to/from wired or wireless/Wi-Fi networks
Ability to navigate the web using a standard browser
Ability to send and receive email
Ability to use an Internet conferencing tool such as Zoom
Ability to use a cloud computing tool such as Google Docs for collaborative work
Ability to use a cloud storage tool like Box or Google Drive
UB-Specific Computing Tools
Familiarity with UBmail and UB Learns
Ability to search UB Library resources through its Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)
Familiarity with the HUB system and its functions, including course registration, drop off, withdrawal and resignation
Ability to locate UB IT and GSE IT Policies
Information Literacy
Ability to access UB Libraries databases related to information and library science
Ability to search databases efficiently and effectively
Ability to browse, navigate, and search resources on the web
Ability to evaluate the quality and authenticity of print and online resources
