Courses
Business Software Skills
Taught by Laura Morefield
ages 14+ (or permission of instructor)
Full-Year 32-week Course
Course Overview:
Business Software Skills is a hands-on, practical class that builds real-world digital skills using the full Google Workspace suite. Students learn how to create professional documents, manage data, collaborate effectively, and communicate clearly in academic and business settings. The instructor will work with each student to improve their software skills.
Course Description:
This course is designed for high school students who wish to develop their business software skills in the Google Workspace suite. Over the course of the year, students will develop proficiency in Google Workspace tools while also learning how these tools compare to Microsoft 365 applications.
Students will gain practical skills in creating professional documents, analyzing data, designing presentations, collaborating online, and communicating effectively. Comparisons with Microsoft 365 will help students understand industry standards and workflows commonly used in workplaces and higher education. Weekly homework assignments and class exercises allow students to practice concepts during class with assistance from the instructor in real time through Google Classroom.
By the end of the course, students will have built a digital portfolio demonstrating professional-level business software skills and awareness of multiple platforms.
Schedule and Cost:
Tuesday 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. ET
Course Dates (click to download pdf)
For Tuition Fees, Code of Conduct, and all the details, see THE FINE PRINT
Your Student will Learn to:
• Develop advanced document formatting and collaboration skills in Google Docs
• Create and analyze spreadsheets using Google Sheets
• Design professional presentations in Google Slides
• Compose professional emails using Gmail
• Organize files and manage permissions in Google Drive
• Build and analyze surveys with Google Forms
• Schedule and trace events and tasks in Google Calendar
• Produce a digital portfolio demonstrating competency and platform awareness
• Make comparisons of Google Workspace to the Microsoft Office platform
• Apply Workspace skills
Why this Course is Important:
Digital fluency is critical in both academic and professional environments. Most workplaces and colleges use either Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, often interchangeably. This course equips students with hands-on Google Workspace skills while helping them understand some of the differences between Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. Students gain confidence, professionalism, and technological versatility, preparing them for internships, school projects, part-time jobs, and future careers.
Class Structure and Homework:
• Weekly Discussions & Assignments: Weekly homework assignments will be completed in Google Workspace. In class, students will actively participate in discussion and collaboration exercises. During class time, the instructor will give real-time feedback to student progress. Homework is expected to take between 1-3 hours per week, depending on student interest and engagement with the material.
• Parental Involvement: Parents are welcome to join Google Classroom as students to stay informed on assignments and support their teen’s progress throughout the course.
Upon registration, students and parents will be provided with a Google Classroom link to join. Class materials and assignments will be posted directly to Classroom, and students may communicate with each other through this platform. Students may communicate with the instructor through Classroom and student inquiries are usually addressed as quickly as possible between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET. Student inquiries made on the day of class may be addressed in class instead of through Classroom.
Course Materials:
• Students are required to have a Google account (Gmail), which provides access to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drive, and Calendar
• Other materials will be provided by the instructor and consist of videos, podcasts, websites, and PDFs