Steele students learn career-
focused software skills
MICROSOFT OFFICE CERTIFICATION PROVIDES
TOOLS FOR MANY PATHS
By Anthony Tosie
[email protected]
With technology becoming a rapidly growing aspect of all
jobs, working with computers is a necessity in most industries.
To meet the needs of technology literacy requirements in
the workforce, Northwest ISD high schools allow students
to earn certificates in leading Microsoft Office applications
as well as other software. At Steele Accelerated High School,
Patti Hayes’ classes have met the challenges of certification in
stride, with some students earning the distinguished title of
“Microsoft Master.”
In Ms. Hayes’ classes – as well as many similar classes at the
district’s other high schools – students learn at their own pace,
with an online service called Jasperactive allowing them to
progress, so long as they hit certain key points.
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“The system is about personalized learning for students, so
they can move at a pace that suits them – if you look around,
no screen is the same,” she explained. “It makes it a little crazy
at times, but not everyone works at the same speed. It makes
overseeing things a little crazy at times, but it’s always amazing
to see what each student can accomplish.”
In Microsoft Office classes, students can earn certifications in
each of the software suite’s individual programs: Access, Excel,
PowerPoint, Outlook and Word. That certification status –
recognized by Microsoft itself – is earned directly at the school,
as Steele and other Northwest ISD high schools are designated
testing centers through Certiport.
The certifications also require intricate knowledge of the