Introductory Computer Courses
Start here if the software is new — or if it was learned by trial and error and the gaps are starting to show.
There are two kinds of beginner and these courses are built for both. The first has genuinely not used the software. The second has used it for years, was never taught it, and has built a set of workarounds that mostly hold — until a colleague watches over their shoulder and asks why they are doing it that way.
The second kind is far more common and rarely books training, because "introductory" sounds like a step backwards. It usually is not. Most of the workarounds come from one or two missing concepts, and an introductory course is the fastest way to find which.
Courses cover Windows, Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams, and assume nothing. The pace is set by the room rather than a script, which is the practical benefit of capping public classes at 10 — nobody is carried and nobody is left behind.
Every introductory course includes 90 days of access to the video library with the class exercise files, and a free retake for a year. For a beginner the retake matters more than for anyone else: the second pass is where the material moves from "I followed along" to "I can do this without notes".
Dates, prices and registration for Introductory are handled in our booking system, which is always current. See the schedule and register. Prefer to talk it through? Contact us and we will help you pick the right level.
Introductory courses
Courses in this stream are scheduled through the booking system. The live Introductory schedule lists everything currently running, with dates and pricing. Course pages will appear here as the catalog is connected.
Where each course sits
Introductory courses feed the application ladders. Where you go next depends on the application.
Scroll the diagram sideways to see the full path.
If you are not sure which of these you are ready for, the skill assessment asks eight questions about what you already do and recommends one. It takes about five minutes and asks for nothing in return.
Who teaches this
Shawn May — PowerConcepts Instructor
Teaches Microsoft Office Productivity Suite. Read the full bio and meet the other instructors, including how the CAFE method structures a class.
What comes with the course
- 90 days of video-library access, with the exercise files from class.
- A free retake for one year — the same course again, at no charge.
- No more than 10 people in a public class.
- In person or live online, with the same hands-on format either way.
Training several people at once? Corporate training is scoped to your team's skill mix and built around your own files, which for a group is almost always the better format.
Introductory training questions
I have used Excel for years but never had training. Is this too basic?
Often it is exactly right. Self-taught users tend to have deep knowledge in the corner they use and gaps elsewhere, and those gaps are what the introductory course covers. If you are unsure, the self-assessment takes five minutes and will say so.
Do I need to be good with computers generally?
No. These courses assume no prior knowledge of the application, and the instructor sets the pace from the room. A class of 10 is small enough that "can you go back a step" is a normal thing to say.
What should I bring?
For in-person classes, nothing — machines are provided. For remote, a computer with the application installed and, if you have one, a real file you are stuck with. Working on something real is what makes it stick.
How big are the classes?
Public classes are capped at 10 participants. That cap is the reason the instructor can work with your file rather than only the sample file, and it is deliberate rather than a scheduling accident.
Is remote training the same course as in person?
The same course, the same instructor and the same exercise files. For remote delivery we use software that lets the instructor see every participant’s screen, so when you get stuck the instructor sees it rather than waiting for you to describe it.
What happens if I need to take the course again?
You can retake the same course at no charge any time in the next year, on every course in the catalog. People use it when a promotion changes what they need, or when they simply want the second pass.
What if I miss a session?
Tell us and we will move you onto a later run of the same course. You also keep 90 days of access to the video library covering the material, so a missed afternoon is recoverable rather than a write-off.