Curious about the real story behind AI? This course offers a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence, explores its current and future applications and discusses how you might encounter it in your daily life.

Demystify artificial intelligence and understand how these tools can enhance your personal and professional life. Over the course of a single, focused three-hour session, you will get a practical overview of generative AI—what it is, how it works and how to use it safely. Through demonstrations and real-life examples, you will discover ways to streamline workflows, boost creativity and make informed decisions. Whether you are interested in improving daily routines or finding smarter ways to work, this class is your on-ramp to the AI-powered world. If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Adobe InDesign is the industry standard page-layout program that works with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop seamlessly. InDesign allows you to create simple to complex multi-page documents such as brochures, flyers, books and magazines. This course is a comprehensive exploration of InDesign tools and capabilities to create professional documents. Learn how to manage the InDesign environment, create, setup, design, enhance and finalize multi-page documents. Software Requirements: Adobe InDesign. More information on Adobe Creative Cloud software can be found at adobe.com This class can be taken on its own or as part of the Graphic Design Software Essentials Certificate Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ Class details: Unit 1: Getting to Know the Interface and Setting up a Document Interface menus Tools Panels Starting and setting up a multi-page document in InDesign Unit 2: Working with Objects and Color Learning to work with color panels Creating, managing and applying color to elements Inserting and managing images and illustrations into an InDesign document Unit 3: Working with Text Learning about insert and flow text to multiple pages Managing long text documents Text editing in InDesign documents Unit 4: Typography Advance typography tools and menus Character and paragraph settings and styles Creating print-ready PDF files.

This fundamental course covers Adobe Photoshop CC most commonly used tools, menus and panels. Learn all the basics of Photoshop to effectively work with selection and editing tools, layers, and masks to edit, retouch and enhance existing images or create your own composite digital art work. Impress your business organization, friends and family by enhancing their photos and create magazine cover quality enhanced images. Software Requirements: Adobe Photoshop. More information on Adobe Creative Cloud software can be found at adobe.com This class can be taken on its own or as part of the Graphic Design Software Essentials Certificate Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ Class details: Unit 1: Getting to know the Interface and Selection Tools Interface menus Tools Panels Working with the various Selection tools Unit 2: Working with Layers and Masks Layers and layer management Non- destructive editing using masks How to type and format text Using various type formatting and style tools and panels Unit 3: Image Correction & Enhancement Photo correction and enhancement tools Crop, dodge and burn Recoloring, retouching Healing brushes Unit 4: Using the Drawing Tools How to use the Pen tool Other drawing tools in Photoshop Advanced drawing and selection File formats How to save files for print or web

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has wide-ranging impacts on our lives and our planet. What are the costs of AI? Can it bring higher electricity prices? Does it further surveillance states? What can we do about it? Go beyond the hype and learn more of the negative use cases that we’re seeing now and may see in the future. If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Become a Microsoft Office Pro! Master Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to create stunning documents, analyze data, and captivate audiences. This hands-on course will boost your career and digital skills. Courses: Mastering Microsoft Excel Mastering Microsoft Word Mastering Microsoft PowerPoint Software requirement: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft PowerPoint Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ Class details: Excel Unit 1: Excel From The Ground Up Why businesses use Excel for spreadsheet management Technical requirements to use Excel (and all Office modules) Launch Excel and create your first Excel worksheet Discover how to protect and save your document Set your document’s Properties and Attributes including Subject, Title and Author Unit 2: Excel Document Creation Explore the different parts of the Excel worksheet and document navigation Understand cells and their makeup Learn how to populate, format and merge cells Create multiple worksheet “workbooks” Learn how to insert comments and check spelling Unit 3: Advanced Features and Functionality Create and manage formulas and functions Filter and sort tables and data Create “live” connections between multiple worksheets Create effective and informative table and charts Unit 4: Excel Management and Sharing Create meaningful file names and understand filing systems to manage Excel documents Organize your documents on your hard drive and learn how to copy and move documents Manage track changes when co-authoring documents Printing and PDF file creation including setting print areas Learn how to export Excel tables and charts to PowerPoint presentations and Word documents Use Outlook to send Excel worksheets and workbooks to other users Word Unit 1: Getting Started with Word Why businesses use Word for document creation Launch Word and create your first Word document Discover how to protect and save your documents. Set your document’s Properties and Attributes including Subject, Title, and Author Unit 2: Word Document Creation Explore the different features and functionality of Word Understand documents and their makeup Learn how to create, format, and present documents Create multiple documents and templates Learn how to insert comments and professionally edit Unit 3: Advanced Features and Functionality Create and manage documents Learn to organize documents into chapters and sections Create “live” connections between documents and Excel worksheets Create effective and informative documents with tables and charts Unit 4: Word Management and Sharing Create meaningful file names and understand filing systems to manage Word documents Organize your documents on your hard drive and learn how to copy and move documents Manage track changes when co-authoring documents Printing and PDF file creation including print settings PowerPoint Unit 1: PowerPoint Overview Why businesses use PowerPoint for presentations Launch PowerPoint and create your first PowerPoint presentation Discover how to protect and save your slides. Set your document’s Properties and Attributes including Subject, Title, and Author Unit 2: PowerPoint Document Creation Explore the different parts of the PowerPoint slide navigation Understand slides and templates, and their makeup Learn how to populate, format, and present slides Create multiple slides and templates Learn how to insert comments and professionally edit Unit 3: Advanced Features and Functionality Create and manage slides Learn to organize slides into sections Create “live” connections between slides and Excel worksheets Create effective and informative slides with tables and charts Unit 4: PowerPoint Management and Sharing Create meaningful file names and understand filing systems to manage PowerPoint documents Organize your documents on your hard drive and learn how to copy and move documents Manage track changes when co-authoring documents Printing and PDF file creation including print settings

Explore Google's free apps: web-based word processing, spreadsheets and slideshow tools. Learn to convert standard Microsoft Office documents to Google documents and share with others who can view and edit. Requirements: You must have a Gmail account and know your Gmail username and password If you have any questions, please contact Eliana Power at eliana.power@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612-668-3450.

Explore Google's free apps: web-based word processing, spreadsheets and slideshow tools. Learn to convert standard Microsoft Office documents to Google documents and share with others who can view and edit. Requirements: You must have a Gmail account and know your Gmail username and password. If you have any questions, please contact Eliana Power at eliana.power@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612-668-3450.

Learn how to navigate your Mac computer, how to adjust settings to customize your Mac, and how to set up folders and organize files. Learn how to find your files using Finder and Spotlight, to add programs to the Dock plus keyboard shortcuts. Learn the basics of using the Calendar, Contacts, Safari, and the Pages word processor and Numbers spreadsheet programs, two free downloads from the Apple store If you have any questions, please contact Eliana Power at eliana.power@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612-668-3450.

Bring your ideas to life and leave a lasting impression with Microsoft PowerPoint. Master the tools and techniques that turn humdrum slides into dynamic presentations that will captivate your audience. With hands-on practice and real-world examples, learn design principles and multimedia elements such as images, videos, and charts that elevate you to the next level. Acquire critical know-how to deliver your presentations with confidence and ease. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned user, you'll find new ways to work smarter, not harder. Leave class with in-demand skills and the ability to create professional, visually appealing presentations that will engage your audience and help you stand out. Software requirement: Microsoft PowerPoint This class may be taken alone or as part of the Certificate in Mastering Computer Skills for the Workplace. Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ Class details: Unit 1: PowerPoint Overview Why businesses use PowerPoint for presentations Launch PowerPoint and create your first PowerPoint presentation Discover how to protect and save your slides. Set your document’s Properties and Attributes including Subject, Title, and Author Unit 2: PowerPoint Document Creation Explore the different parts of the PowerPoint slide navigation Understand slides and templates, and their makeup Learn how to populate, format, and present slides Create multiple slides and templates Learn how to insert comments and professionally edit Unit 3: Advanced Features and Functionality Create and manage slides Learn to organize slides into sections Create “live” connections between slides and Excel worksheets Create effective and informative slides with tables and charts Unit 4: PowerPoint Management and Sharing Create meaningful file names and understand filing systems to manage PowerPoint documents Organize your documents on your hard drive and learn how to copy and move documents Manage track changes when co-authoring documents Printing and PDF file creation including print settings

Master the art of document creation and take your professional skills to the next level with Microsoft Word, which is essential for success in the modern business world. Discover how to format text, paragraphs, images, and pages with ease. Get hands-on experience creating professional-looking documents, from resumes and cover letters to reports and brochures. Find out how to use templates and themes to save time and streamline your workflow. Walk away equipped with the skills to create, edit and share polished documents that will impress employers and coworkers and give you a competitive edge in the workplace. Software requirement: Microsoft Word This class can be taken alone or as part of the Certificate in Mastering Computer Skills for the Workplace. Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ Class details: Unit 1: Getting Started with Word Why businesses use Word for document creation Launch Word and create your first Word document Discover how to protect and save your documents. Set your document’s Properties and Attributes including Subject, Title, and Author Unit 2: Word Document Creation Explore the different features and functionality of Word Understand documents and their makeup Learn how to create, format, and present documents Create multiple documents and templates Learn how to insert comments and professionally edit Unit 3: Advanced Features and Functionality Create and manage documents Learn to organize documents into chapters and sections Create “live” connections between documents and Excel worksheets Create effective and informative documents with tables and charts Unit 4: Word Management and Sharing Create meaningful file names and understand filing systems to manage Word documents Organize your documents on your hard drive and learn how to copy and move documents Manage track changes when co-authoring documents Printing and PDF file creation including print settings

Learn spreadsheet terminology; how to enter and edit data; modify and format a worksheet; use absolute references; copy and move data using functions and formulas; copying formulas and creating charts. Create, sort and filter a database as well If you have any questions, please contact Eliana Power at eliana.power@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612-668-3450.

Build on the skills you learned in Excel 1. Practice the PMT loan payment and lookup functions. Also learn how to set data validation rules to control errors, add subtotals to spreadsheets, import a database into Excel and “clean it up" and create and manipulate pivot tables and charts. If you have any questions, please contact Eliana Power at eliana.power@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612-668-3450.

Build on your Excel 2 skills, and learn how to set up your data to take full advantage of pivot tables and charts and avoid problems. Learn how to format data, work with more than one field in the values area, pivot fields, add simple and complex calculated fields, create calculated items, build and format a custom dashboard and add slicers. If you have any questions, please contact Eliana Power at eliana.power@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612-668-3450.

Structured Query Language (SQL) is the industry standard database programming language. It is one of the most in demand skills in occupations that require interaction with data and analyzing data. Through your knowledge of Structured Query Language, you will become more marketable in computer related career fields that pertain to database administration. Learning SQL can also lead to a job that is specific to analyzing data such as a data analyst, a quality assurance analyst, or a business analyst. You’ll first learn about relational database structures, the history and uses of Structured Query Language, and how to use Structured Query Language to create a database, add records to database tables, and how to use SQL queries to extract meaningful data from database tables. You will quickly progress from creating simple SQL queries that query a single table to querying multiple tables simultaneously. You’ll also learn how to alter data in a database and how to gather significant statistics from data stored in a database. Finally, you'll learn techniques that will enable you to write powerful queries that perform complicated searches and sorts on your data. This certificate will enhance your competitiveness in the field of database administration and data analyst jobs. Requirements: Windows 8 or later. Macs are not compatible. Necessary rights (local administrative rights) to install programs on the computer. This Certificate must be taken in the following order: Introduction Intermediate Advanced Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ Class Details: Introduction to SQL Unit 1: The Relational Database and Structured Query Language The relational database structure Structured Query Language Table creation and data insertion Defining datatypes and constraints Creating Indexes Unit 2: Table Management Table management Adding columns to a table Deleting columns from a table Deleting a table Unit 3: Selecting and Retrieving Data Creating a SELECT statement to retrieve data Using DISTINCT to display unique values in a column Using the AS keyword to create an alternate name for a column Merging columns Unit 4: Filtering Data Creating a WHERE clause Using comparison, character, and logical operators to match conditions Using the IN operator to match a condition Using the BETWEEN operator to match a condition Intermediate SQL Unit 1: The Relational Database and Structured Query Language The relational database structure Structured Query Language Table creation and data insertion Defining datatypes and constraints Creating Indexes Unit 2: Table Management Table management Adding columns to a table Deleting columns from a table Deleting a table Unit 3: Selecting and Retrieving Data Creating a SELECT statement to retrieve data Using DISTINCT to display unique values in a column Using the AS keyword to create an alternate name for a column Merging columns Unit 4: Filtering Data Creating a WHERE clause Using comparison, character, and logical operators to match conditions Using the IN operator to match a condition Using the BETWEEN operator to match a condition Advanced SQL Unit 1: Creating Advanced Subqueries Structured Query Language Review Using the IN keyword to link queries Using the EXISTS keyword to link queries Using the ANY keyword to link queries Using the ALL keyword to link queries Unit 2: Creating Advanced Joins Creating inner joins review Creating outer joins review Creating joins with aggregate functions Creating nested joins Unit 3: Creating Union Queries Creating UNION queries Creating UNION ALL queries Creating a WHERE clause and multiple UNION queries Unit 4: Transaction Processing, Stored Procedures, Triggers Implementing transaction processing Implementing stored procedures Implementing triggers