by: Mason Gentry
The Computer Technology Center (CTC) at Parkland offers students, who complete their courses, desirable certificates that stand out on resumes.
Leann McPike is the director for this program and is responsible for the CTC Lab in room D228. In a phone interview with her, she explained that her job is not only to teach students, but to also advise them.
“The CTC has been designed to provide students of all ages the abilities and needs for computer instruction,” McPike said.
McPike also said that the, “classes that we offer are keyboarding classes, beginning computer classes and we offer the entire Microsoft Suite including Access. We also offer Google and Windows.”
The Microsoft classes include Word, Excel, Access PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook, “all of the typical Microsoft Software that people use every day,” said McPike.
There are different levels to each platform. For example, the word processing class is offered in four levels: Microsoft Word, I, II, III, and IV. Each level is only one credit hour and can be completed by some individuals in just a few weeks.
Once the sequence of classes has been taken and completed, the student qualifies to test for a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certificate.
The test is only about 50 minutes, and when students are ready, they can go to the lab and inform one of the lab staff—Ann Blackman, Kelly Schumacher, or Leann McPike—that they wish to take the exam.
After taking the exam, students immediately see their results. If it is passed, then they are printed out a colored certificate and Microsoft will provide a badge to sit on their resume saying that they are a Microsoft Office Specialist.
McPike expressed that the best part about CTC is that it is open entry and open exit.
“Which means, if a student, in mid-semester, realizes they need to boost their computer skills, or they’re in a class that requires a lot of paper writing, or presentations or math or Excel, and they need a little boost, then they can sign up for one of our one-credit-hour classes. They can get it done on their own time and they could do it within a week,” said McPike.
Doing all the course work in one week would be a heavy load, but the point is that students are able to work at their own pace to complete the course. It is open all semester for the student, but if they complete it within a few weeks, they can take the exam and be MOS certified immediately.
CTC classes would prove to be flexible and accommodating of busy students who, perhaps, work part or full-time jobs, or are parents.
Some degrees demand that certain CTC classes be completed. For instance, the Business Administrative Technology (BAT) degree requires Microsoft classes along with Windows.
McPike said that “not only do we have the BAT degree, but we have stackable certificates. And with the certificates, certain pieces of the CTC courses are in the Certificate.”
She went on to explain that if a student wanted to work at the University of Illinois, they would take their Civil Service exam and they would be able to say that they have taken Microsoft classes at Parkland and that they’re MOS certified.
The U of I and countless other local employers are always more inclined to hire someone if they have that certificate.
For more information, you can contact McPike in her office outside of D228, the office phone (217) 351-2506, or her email lmcpike@parkland.edu.
You can also contact the Business Computer Science Technology office in B116; the office phone (217) 353-2156; or the office email bcst@parkland.edu.
You can also visit their website for more information.
