Computer ABC's 

• Some Background Information
• The Released Performance Test Files 
• Using Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98?  Step-by-Step Directions for Downloading the Released Performance Test Files
• Multiple-Choice Test - Released Form 
• North Carolina Public Schools - InfoWeb - Computer Skills Lesson Plans 
• Teachers' Lesson Plans
• Other Resources for Teaching Computer Skills 
• Share Your Teaching Ideas 
• Home

• In May 1991 the NC State Board of Education established a computer proficiency requirement for graduation beginning with the class of 2000.
• In October 1995 the board modified this requirement making it effective beginning with the class of 2001.
• This requirement is based on the Computer Skills Curriculum approved in July, 1992 by the State Board of Education, as defined in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
• This curriculum has been revised, and in May, 1998 the K-12 Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study was approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education.
• The Computer Skills Test was administered for the first time to eighth-grade students in the 1995-1996 school year as a local option.
• Eighth-grade students are tested in the fall and/or spring of each year.
• Students must demonstrate mastery of computer skills as evidenced by their achievement on both a multiple-choice test and performance test.
• The standard for proficiency will be set at a scale score of at least 49 on the performance test and a scale score of at least 47 on the multiple-choice test. Both tests must be passed.
• The multiple-choice test is 90 minutes long, has 70 test items, and assesses all nine curriculum strands in the computer skills curriculum. 
• The performance test consists of four parts:
• Keyboarding (10 minutes) - Students create a new file and key several paragraphs given to them in their test booklet.  Students are scored on spacing, typing accuracy, and length. 
• Word processing/editing (10 minutes) -  Students retrieve a file, make appropriate changes, and then print the file. An edit symbol reference table is provided with the test.  
• Database use (25 minutes) - Students retrieve and use a prepared database file to respond to questions. For some questions, students need to describe the steps (using database terms) used to find an answer
• Spreadsheet use (15 minutes) - Students use a prepared spreadsheet file to respond to questions.
• For more information, visit the NC Public Schools' InfoWeb - Test of Computer Skills site.

• The NC Dept. of Public Instruction has released three files for students to use as a practice test for wordprocessing, database, and spreadsheet skills.  These files are in compressed format and can be accessed at the NC Public School's InfoWeb - Test of Computer Skills website.  (Click on the Released Performance Test Files section.)
• The files are available in ClarisWorks for the Macintosh and Windows and Microsoft Works for the Macintosh, DOS, and Windows.
• The file names are:
• edit - wordprocessing - The Word Processing Editing Chart can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format. http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/testing/downloads/edit.pdf.  You need Acrobat Reader to access the file.
• nutrient - spreadsheet
• planets - database
• Be sure you download the released performance test questions for edit, nutrient and planets in Adobe Acrobat format.  http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/testing/downloads/perf.pdf  You will need Acrobat Reader to access the file. 
• Finally download the answer key for the Performance Test - Released Form in Microsoft Word format at http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/testing/downloads/pfanskey.doc. 

Using Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98?  Step-by-Step Directions for Downloading the Released Performance Test Files 

• You will need to have a utility program on your computer to expand or decompress the performance test files.  If you don't have a program such as PKZIP, follow these steps to download it:
• Access the PKWARE, Inc. website at  http://www.pkware.com to download a trial version of the PKZIP utility program to decompress your msww4 file.
• On the left side, click on the site's Shareware Download Quick Links for PKZIP for Windows.
• Scroll down and click on the 32-bit version - PK270WSP.EXE.
• When the File Download window appears, click on the button to save it to disk.
• Click on OK.
• Click on the down arrow in the Save in: box.  You may want to save your PK270WSP.EXE file on your C: drive in the Program Files folder.  Select the path where you want the download file to be saved.
• Click on Save.  (This may take about 5-10 minutes to download!)
• When the download is complete, minimize the Internet connection window.
• Click on Start, Programs, Windows Explorer.
• Locate the PK270WSP.EXE file.
• Double-click on it to begin the installation.
• At the PKSFX window, click on OK.
• At the Welcome to the PKZIP Installation window, click on Next.
• Select the Destination drive where you want the PKZIP files to be installed.
• Click on Finish.
• At the message to create the PKWARE/PKZIP directory, click on Yes.
• At the Authentic files Verified message, click on OK.
• At the Extraction completed message, click on OK.
• Close the PKware folder.
• Close the Exploring - Program Files window.
 
• Downloading the Released Performance Test Files
• Access the NC DPI website with the performance files.
• Insert a blank newly formatted diskette in your disk drive.
• Click on Microsoft Works for Windows 95 4.x (msww4.zip)
• Click in the button to select the option to Save this file to disk.
• When the Save As window appears, click on the arrow in the Save in:  box and click on 3 1/2 Floppy [A:].
• Notice the file name is msww4 and the Save as type is a .zip Document.  That is correct.
• Click on Save.
• When the download is completed, a message will appear, "Download Complete."
• Close or minimize your website connection.
 
• Extracting (Decompressing) the Released Performance Test Files with PKZIP
• At the Windows Desktop, double-click on My Computer.
• Double-click on 3 1/2 Floppy [A:].
• Double-click on msww4.
• The PKZIP program will open with the three performance test files listed.  The edit.wps file will be highlighted.
• Click on Extract.
• Click on Extract files.
• All files should be selected to Extract to Disk.
• Click on Extract.
• When all three files are extracted, click on Done.
• Close the PKZIP window.
• At the Please register window, click on Go online to register or OK to register later.
• Close the 3 1/2 Floppy [A:] window.
• The performance files on your disk can now be used with Microsoft Works 4.x. 

HTML Version - http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/testing/downloads/multiplechoice.html - Practice taking the multiple choice test right on the Web!  There are 70 practice test items.  Have a paper and pencil ready to write down your answers. 

Answer Key - http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/testing/downloads/mcanskey.doc - This file downloads in Microsoft Word format.  
 

• Societal Issues
• Ethics
• Keyboarding
• Word Processing
• Databases
• Spreadsheets
• Telecomputing

Windows Users:  It will only take you a few seconds to download each of the following files: 

• Microsoft Works Database Files - You will download a compressed file to your hard drive named csc_db.  Then you will need a utility program such as PKZIP to expand or decompress this file and get the following files:
• AFRICA.WDB
• COUNTIES.WDB
• EUROPE.WDB
• PLANETS.WDB
• USA.WDB
• WEATHER.WDB
Please see directions on how to do this in the section on Downloading the Released Performance Test Files for Microsoft Windows 95/98. 

Microsoft Works Spreadsheet Files - You will download a compressed file to your hard drive named csc_ss.  Then use the Windows Explorer program to locate this file.  When you double-click on csc_ss, it will automatically expand and give you the following files: 

• BASEBALL.WKS
• CALORIE.WKS
• GRADBK2.WKS
• NUTRIEN.WKS
• PLANETS.WKS
• SHRIMP.WKS
• SINGLEG.WKS
• TEMPCOM.WKS

• Microsoft Works Word Processing Files - You will download a compressed file to your hard drive named csc_wp.  Then use the Windows Explorer program to locate this file.  When you double-click on csc_wp, it will automatically expand and give you the following files:
• CHECKITO.WPS
• EYESONNC.WPS
• HALLOWEE.WPS
• HOMEROWR.WPS
• LEISUREL.WPS
• NC&THEAM.WPS
• REACHING.WPS
• SCHOOLLA.WPS
• STORYSTA.WPS
• WHAT'SWR.WPS

• Microsoft Works 7-11 Slips #1 - You will download a compressed file to your hard drive named Slip1.  Then use the Windows Explorer program to locate this file.  When you double-click on Slips1, it will automatically expand and give you the following files:
• ROCK.WDB
• POISON.WDB
• OLDMILLS.WDB
• OLDMILL.WDB
• LGHTSES.WDB
• LGHTHSE.WDB
• DEADBITE.WDB
• DEADBIT.WDB

• Microsoft Works 7-11 Slips #2 - You will download a compressed file to your hard drive named Slip2.  Then use the Windows Explorer program to locate this file.  When you double-click on Slips2, it will automatically expand and give you the following files:
• ACME.WKS
• AUTHOR.WDB
• POPCORN.WKS
• SLUDGE.WKS
• WTRFALLS.WDB

• BEANIES.ZIP - Database file,  Format:  Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98, Created by:  Karen D'Elia
• BEANIEDOC.ZIP - Questions for BEANIES database file,  Format:  Microsoft Works,  Created by:  Karen D'Elia
• POKEMON.ZIP - Format:  Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98,  Created by Karen D'Elia
• POKEMONDOC.ZIP - Questions for POKEMON database file,  Format:  Microsoft Works,  Created by:  Karen D'Elia

• KEYBOARD1.ZIP - Format:  Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98,  Created by Karen D'Elia
• KEYBOARD2.ZIP - Format:  Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98,  Created by Karen D'Elia

• BACKTOSCHOOL.ZIP - Format:  Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98,  Created by Karen D'Elia
• BACKTOSCHOOLDOC.ZIP - Questions for BACKTOSCHOOL spreadsheet file,  Format:  Microsoft Works,  Created by Karen D'Elia
• GROCERY.ZIP - Format:  Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98, Created by Karen D'Elia
• GROCERYDOC.ZIP - Questions for GROCERY spreadsheet file,  Format:  Microsoft Works for Windows 95/98,  Created by Karen D'Elia