Job Training & Education   

Copilot Chat is a hands on, practical course designed for adults who want to save time, work more efficiently, and feel confident using AI at work and in everyday projects. You'll learn how to use Copilot Chat to analyze files, write and refine content, generate presentations, create images, and automate common tasks - without needing technical or AI experience. Through real world examples and guided practice, you'll discover how to ask better questions, get more useful results, and use Copilot in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Whether you're new to AI or already experimenting, this course helps you turn curiosity into confidence and productivity.

This will be a live, online class offered via Zoom. It is a combination of demonstration and hands-on learning.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Use Copilot Chat to create effective prompts and extract meaningful insights from documents and messages.
• Apply Copilot in Word to generate, revise, and summarize professional documents.
• Use Copilot in Excel to analyze data, identify trends, and create visual summaries using natural language instructions.
• Build presentations in PowerPoint by generating slides, improving structure, and creating speaker notes with Copilot.
• Improve communication in Outlook by drafting messages, summarizing conversations, and preparing meeting follow ups with Copilot.
• Create and use Copilot agents to automate tasks and support common workflows.
• Generate and refine AI images to support documents, presentations, and creative projects.

This class prepares students to receive a Flagger Certification card, which is valid for three years in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Students must be at least 18 years old and bring a valid State ID card or Driver's License to the class. There is an open-book test at the end of class, in which you must have a passing score of 80% to receive your certification.

Course Details:

• The class is full-day for full certification and partial-day for recertification. We do not offer shorter recertification classes at this time unless you request Customized Training for a full class of recertifications. Contact communityed@pencol.edu or 360-417-5683 for more information.
• Students receive a Traffic Control Flagger Certification Handbook (yours to keep and reference on the job).
• Students take an open-book test at the end of the class.
• Successful completers receive a Flagger Certification Card.
• Students must be at least 18 years of age.

This class prepares students to receive a Flagger Certification card, which is valid for three years in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Students must be at least 18 years old and bring a valid State ID card or Driver's License to the class. There is an open-book test at the end of class, in which you must have a passing score of 80% to receive your certification.

Course Details:

• The class is full-day for full certification and partial-day for recertification. We do not offer shorter recertification classes at this time unless you request Customized Training for a full class of recertifications. Contact communityed@pencol.edu or 360-417-5683 for more information.
• Students receive a Traffic Control Flagger Certification Handbook (yours to keep and reference on the job).
• Students take an open-book test at the end of the class.
• Successful completers receive a Flagger Certification Card.
• Students must be at least 18 years of age.

How do you grab and maintain an audience's focus when you're asked to present important information? By being clear, organized, and engaging. Today's audiences are tech savvy, accustomed to high-impact multimedia content, and stretched for time. By learning how to use the vast array of features and functionality contained within PowerPoint 365, you will gain the ability to organize your content, enhance it with high-impact visuals, and deliver it with a punch. In this course, you will use PowerPoint 365 to begin creating engaging, dynamic multimedia presentations.

Required: 

• Access to Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft PowerPoint for Office 365 (Desktop or Online): Part 1 (appx $22.82)

Please see CEU procedure and Student Learning Outcomes.

Continue learning the third most commonly used language in the United States, American Sign Language! Build on the basics in this continuation class. This is a great class if you've taken ASL for Beginners 1 with us, or if you have some foundational knowledge of ASL including the alphabet, numbers and greetings. 

Open to students 16 years of age and up. 

Please see Student Learning Outcomes and CEU Process. 

Build on your existing Spanish skills to reach an intermediate level of comprehension, vocabulary, and idioms. This course strengthens your ability to understand and speak through practical scenarios, encouraging you to apply your skills in real-life contexts. You’ll also enjoy virtual travel experiences that showcase the rich cultures of Spain, Central America, and South America. This course now includes access to Canvas for easy reference to learning documents!

Prerequisite: Spanish Language 2 or equivalent experience. Students with a background who are able to hold a conversation in Spanish are welcome and encouraged to sign up for this class. Students will be taught to negotiate, persuade, request and express themselves effectively. 

Open to students 16 years of age and up, or by permission by instructor. Students taking this class for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) must attend 80% of classes. Email communityed@pencol.edu for your CEU Verification Letter at the completion of class.

Learning Outcomes:

• Enhanced vocabulary 
• Improved communication skills 
• Cultural exploration 
• Develop effective sentence structures
• Practical application scenarios  

Learn the third most commonly used language in the United States, American Sign Language! We will start at the beginning and build a foundation in the language and culture of the Deaf in the United States and most of Canada. No previous knowledge of ASL or Deaf culture needed, we will provide you with the basics and build upon those skills.

Open to students 16 years of age and up. 

Please see Student Learning Outcomes and CEU Process.

This level focuses on increasing Spanish vocabulary and using interactive practice of pronunciation through dialogue and role-play. Students develop meaningful appreciation and an understanding of grammatical concepts. To complement the language skills, the student will acquire survival key points for traveling and knowledge about the cuisine of Spanish-speaking cultures. This course now includes access to Canvas for easy reference to learning documents!

Prerequisite: Spanish Language 1 or equivalent experience. Students with some basic Spanish speaking experience are welcome and encouraged to sign up for this class. Students will learn how to express opinions and have basic casual conversations, understand familiar topics, and hold conversations about routines, travels, experiences and hobbies.

Open to students 16 years of age and up, or by permission by instructor. Students taking this class for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) must attend 80% of classes. Email communityed@pencol.edu for your CEU Verification Letter at the completion of class.

Learning Outcomes:

• Build on basic sentence structure 
• Emphasis on conversation 
• Grammar and vocabulary 
• Cultural immersion 
• Practical application scenarios  

As an HR Generalist you are expected to be an expert in every human resource function including hiring, compensation, payroll, performance management, employment laws (FMLA, ADA, COBRA, etc.) and much more. Through lecture, discussion and activities, this program will help prepare you to effectively serve in an HR Generalist role. Additionally, you will be equipped with tools to assist you as you encounter situations in today's workplace. This class is offered in partnership with Green River College.

See course requirements and outline.

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping our world? Join us for this engaging and accessible community education course designed to demystify AI and help you understand its impact on everyday life. From smart assistants and recommendation systems to powerful tools like ChatGPT, we'll explore how AI works, where it shows up, and how to use it responsibly.

No technical background is required! Discover the history, opportunities, and challenges of AI and gain hands-on experience with practical tools that can improve your personal and professional life. Empower yourself with knowledge in this fascinating field that's changing the world.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

•  Understand the history, foundations, and evolution of AI.
• Define and explain common AI terms and concepts.
• Identify where AI appears in everyday life.
• Understand the ethical considerations, standards, and risks associated with AI.
• Confidently use AI tools (like ChatGPT) for personal, educational, and professional purposes.
• Develop a personal strategy for engaging with AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

Your Project Management Plan is approved and accepted. What's next? This course shares best practices for implementing and controlling the project to success. Learn how to manage quality, develop and manage a project team, effectively communicate, manage risk and engage stakeholders. Key tools and techniques and valuable tips will be introduced, shared and applied - all to ensure that your project is successful. This class is offered in partnership with Green River College.

Prerequisite: Project Management Basics: Initiating the Project

TEXTBOOKS (available through Amazon)

• Required The PMBOK® Guide - 7th Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2021, ISBN-13: 978-1628256642
• Recommended Project Management Made Simple and Effective, Yeomans, 2016, ISBN-13: 978-1457549816

This is the third required course in the Project Management Certificate Part A (3 Class Series). For complete details about our Project Management Certificate Program, visit our Project Management Certificate overview.

PMBOK® is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

The evolution of technology has changed the way that HR manages many of its functions, including payroll. In this course you will learn the basics of the payroll process, how using HR technology can save time and money for your organization and the growing demand and importance of HR metrics. You will also discover state and federal recordkeeping requirements, what to keep in a personnel file and important HR technology terminology. This class is offered in partnership with Green River College.

This course is part of the HR Generalist Certificate Program (8 Class Series).