School & Family Magazine Newstand Northwest ISD Winter 2017-18 | Page 10

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. 10 “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