SYLLABUS FOR COMPUTER LITERACY

 

Term:  Fall, 2004-2005  (041)  (August 30 – December 11, 2004)

Course Number: CIS 115s

Instructor:   Mr. Darren Henderson

Office:  Room 508

Office Phone: (219) 473-4346

E-mail:   dhenderson@ccsj.edu

Office Hours:     Monday                                 12:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday                  3:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.

                                Thursday                 3:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.

                                Saturday                12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.

 

Instructor Background:

Darren Henderson earned a B. S. in Engineering from Purdue University Calumet and a M. S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University with a specialty in Communications and Signal Processing.  His undergraduate curriculum was characterized by a strong emphasis in mathematics and physics including courses in Advanced Calculus, Partial Differential Equations, Complex Analysis, Advanced Analysis, Electromagnetic Field Theory, Optics, and Quantum Mechanics.  As his undergraduate senior design team project, Darren worked on a prototype for a home security and convenience system that provided a speech synthesis capability.  His task was to write the assembly language software for the Motorola HC11 microcontroller and to work with the Texas Instruments speech synthesis chip.  Darren’s graduate coursework included courses in Digital Communications, Digital Signal Processing, Image Processing, Computer Networks, and Estimation Theory.

Darren joined the Computer Information Systems Program at Calumet College of St. Joseph in 1995.  He regularly teaches the courses C Programming I and II, Hardware and Software Concepts, and Data Communications and Networking Theory.  In addition to his teaching activities, Darren has worked for CCSJ's Computer Services Department.  He used his engineering background and skills to help lay the groundwork for the school's existing computer network and services.  He was responsible for initially creating the faculty and staff e-mail accounts and for making the school's computers (faculty, staff, and 4th floor computer labs) Internet accessible.  His duties involved Unix/Linux and Windows NT System Administration and TCP/IP Network Administration in support of DNS, DHCP, WWW, and e-mail services.  He was also responsible for implementing an early firewall to protect the school's Univers database system from unauthorized access.  He currently is working on ways of integrating the Blackboard 5 e-learning environment into his courses at CCSJ.

                Before his tenure at CCSJ, Darren was an adjunct instructor in the Electronics Technology Department at Ivy Tech State College in Valparaiso.  He taught a multitude of courses including: Circuits I and II, Solid State I and II, Digital Principals, Digital Applications, and Electricity for HVAC.

                His current research interests are in C++ programming, software engineering for Internet applications, and network security.

 

Course Time: Saturday                    9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.       Room 418

 

Course Description: The course introduces the student to computer and information systems.  Topics covered will include computer hardware, software and the Internet.  Microsoft Office will be used to introduce students to the fundamentals of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software.

 

Prerequisite:  NONE

 

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

Students in this course will:

·         Identify the major components of a computer and their functions

·         Use a personal computer and its Graphical User Interface (GUI) effectively

o        initiate and terminate a computer work session (e.g. "powering-on" a computer, successfully logging into a computer network, and shutting down a computer)

o        manage the desktop (e.g. starting and exiting application programs, manipulating windows)

o        multitask (e.g. switch between multiple concurrent application programs, transfer information between two documents and/or applications)

·         Use word processing software at a basic-level mastery including

o        use a computer keyboard to enter text into a document

o        use the appropriate commands to edit text (e.g. add new text to an existing document, delete text, move text)

o        apply and remove basic formatting (e.g. change margins, line spacing, character formatting)

o        produce a hard copy of a document

·         Use presentation graphics software at a basic-level mastery including

o        create a bulleted list presentation from an outline

o        edit a slide presentation (e.g. add new slides, edit slide text, delete slides, reorder or reposition slides) as needed

o        work with graphics, including inserting clipart or other graphic formats, resizing and repositioning images

o        animate presentation text and/or graphics

o        use the appropriate navigation controls to mechanically deliver a slide show

o        generate the appropriate hard copy printouts (i.e. presentation slides for the speaker and handouts for the audience)

·         Use spreadsheet software at a basic-level mastery including

o        enter text and numbers into a given spreadsheet cell

o        create spreadsheet formulas combining the appropriate mathematical formulas and/or built-in functions and the appropriate cell references.

o        apply and remove simple cell formatting (e.g. number styles, character formatting styles)

o        produce a hard copy of a spreadsheet

·         Use a WWW browser effectively

o        construct the appropriate URL using the WWW naming conventions (i.e. guess the correct URL)

o        display a web page given a specific URL

o        issue the commands to follow a graphical or textual hyperlink

o        use the browser's navigation controls to efficiently navigate

o        save a given URL for future reference

·         Use the Internet effectively as a source of information

o        select the appropriate keywords for an Internet search given a problem statement

o        use a search engine efficiently by performing advanced queries (e.g. Boolean AND searches and exact quote searches)

o        use the appropriate WWW browser commands to efficiently search for a keyword(s) in a lengthy multi-page document (e.g. Find in Page feature)

o        use the appropriate WWW browser commands to print a small select number of pages in a lengthy multi-page document (e.g. Print Preview and Print commands)

·         Perform common file management tasks

o        work with files during a single computer work session and over multiple work sessions

o        display a storage device’s hierarchical folder/directory structure and then navigate to a specific drive/folder and display the contents

o        create a given folder/directory structure on a 3.5" floppy disk

o        manipulate files and folders (e.g. copy files from an arbitrary drive/folder to an arbitrary drive folder, rename a given folder and/or file, delete a given file and/or folder)

o        erase and format a floppy disk as required

·         Use electronic forms of communication

o        create, send, and retrieve electronic mail

§         recognize a valid Internet e-mail address

§         create an e-mail message including both the message body and the subject line

§         send a given e-mail to a single recipient and/or to multiple recipients

§         send an e-mail attachment (e.g. word processed document, JPEG image)

o        use newsgroups/bulletin board systems (e.g. create messages, post and reply to messages)

 

Textbooks:

Microsoft Windows XP: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, Shelly, Cashman, and Forsythe, Course Technology, Cambridge, MA, 2002. (ISBN 0-7895-6418-1)

Microsoft Office 2003: Essential Concepts and Techniques, Shelly, Cashman, and Vermaat, Course Technology, Boston, MA, 2004. (ISBN: 0-619-20021-9)

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, Shelly, Cashman, and Forsythe, Course Technology, Cambridge, MA, 2002. (ISBN: 0-7895-6515-3)

 

Secondary Storage:

Students will be encouraged to bring some form of secondary storage (e.g. floppy disk, USB flash memory) regularly to class so that they may adequately practice their file management skills.

 

Learning Strategies:

The course material is presented mainly through a combination of lecturing and instructor-led software demonstrations.  Students develop software proficiency through the completion of in-class laboratory exercises and through supplemental homework assignments and projects as required.  The in-class exercises are intended as formative learning experiences where the student can interact collaboratively both with the instructor and with his/her fellow students.

 

Assessment:

The student’s grade is computed using the weights shown below:

 

Attendance/Class Exercises/Homework Assignments                                                25%

Semester Exam #1                                                                                             25%

Semester Exam #2                                                                                             25%

Semester Exam #3                                                                                             25%

                                                                                                                                                        ------

                                                                                                                                                        100%

 

Class Policy for Assignments/Exams:

The official class policy is that there is NO MAKE-UP EXAMS, however in recognition of the occasional personal and/or family emergency that may occur during the semester, a make-up exam may be granted provided all the following conditions are met:

1)      The instructor is notified via voice mail (preferably) or email of the make-up exam request by the student before or within 24 hours of the scheduled exam date/time.

2)      A suitable alternate time can be arranged.  Remember that make-up exams will generally require that a computer lab be reserved.  Therefore, make-up times are governed both by computer lab availability and instructor availability.  The general practice is to offer the student(s) usually a one or two alternate make-up times.

3)      The missed scheduled exam must be made-up within one-week of the scheduled exam date.

 

The granting of make-up exams is NOT an entitlement but is a courtesy granted to the student by the instructor.  If this courtesy is abused by a particular student or the class as a whole, then the privilege may be revoked.

 

A missed semester exam or final exam will be assigned a score of zero.

 

Exams will typically consist of two parts.  Part I (if present) will cover general concepts and terminology and will be administered closed book and closed notes.  Part II will be a “hands-on” portion which will be administered open book and open notes.

 

The FINAL EXAM is comprehensive!

 

Students are expected to submit their own independently created solutions to any and all exams, homework assignments, and class exercises.  Therefore, the sharing of computer solution files and/or the misrepresentation of someone else’s work as your own is prohibited.  Any student found violating this policy will be given a zero grade for that particular assignment or activity.  Repeated violators of this policy are subject to further consequences including receiving a failing grade for the course.

 

Grading Scale:

 

A: 93-100                A-: 90-92               B+:  87-89     B: 83-86         B-:  80-82    C+: 77-79

C: 73-76                 C-: 70-72              D+:  67-69     D: 63-66         D-:  60-62    F:  59 & below

 

Class Policy on Attendance:

Attendance and active participation in the in-class exercises is expected.  Absent this requirement, the instructor is unable to adequately assess the student’s learning.  Therefore, students who miss three or more class sessions and who fail to complete several class exercises are in jeopardy of failing the course and therefore may be asked to withdraw. 

 

In addition, it is vital that students attend the class sessions on a regular basis in order to be informed of any important class announcements, any deviations from the course outline below, and of any supplemental material presented. 

 

Class Policy on Electronic Devices:

As a matter of courtesy to the instructor and to fellow students, cell phones, beepers, pagers, etc. are generally NOT to be answered in class and should be switched off BEFORE class begins.  If it is absolutely necessary to receive a call during the class period, then the device should be placed in a “vibrate” mode and the student should answer the call outside the classroom so as to minimize disruptions to the learning environment.

 

Course Outline:

 

Class Dates:

Topics/Assignments:

WEEK 1

9/04/2004

Syllabus/Course Policies

Class Survey/Computer Literacy Skills Assessment

Computer Skills Remediation (Individual and/or Small Groups)

WEEK 2

9/11

Handout (Essential Introduction to Computers)

WIN-1 (Fundamentals of Using Microsoft Windows XP)

Computer Skills Remediation (Individual and/or Small Groups)

WEEK 3

9/18

WD-1 (Creating and Editing a Word Document)

Handouts - Word and MLA Style

Class Exercise – Word and MLA Style

WEEK 4

9/25

Storage Devices

WIN-3 (File, Document, and Folder Management and Windows XP Explorer)

Class Exercise – File Management

WEEK 5

10/02

EXAM #1 (Intro/WinXP/Word)

WEEK 6

10/09

Exam #1 Results

Networks/The Internet

IE-1 (Introduction to Internet Explorer)

WEEK 7

10/16

IE-2 (Web Research Techniques and Search Engines)

Class Exercise – WWW Browsers/Internet Searching

WEEK 8

10/23

Blackboard Basics

E-Mail Basics

Class Exercise – Blackboard and Electronic Communication

WEEK 9

10/30

EXAM #2 (File Management/IE/Internet Searching)

WEEK 10

11/06

Exam #2 Results

PPT-1 (Using a Design Template and Text Slide Layout to Create a Presentation)

Class Exercise – PowerPoint

WEEK 11

11/13

EX-1 (Creating a Worksheet and an Embedded Chart)

Class Exercise – Excel

WEEK 12

11/20

EXAM #3 (PowerPoint/Excel)

WEEK 13

11/27

No Class – Thanksgiving Recess

WEEK 14

12/04

Exam #3 Results

Computer Skills Remediation (Individual and/or Small Groups)

WEEK 15

12/11

Computer Skills Remediation (Individual and/or Small Groups)

 

Class Participation:

See "Class Policy on Attendance" above

 

Computer Skills Remediation:

Students scoring lower than 70% on the “hands-on” portions of semester exam #1, #2, and/or #3 will be required to perform additional computer skills remediation exercises during the term.  The course outline indicates several times, at which this remediation will occur if necessary, but the opportunities for this are not limited to these occasions.  This requirement may be satisfactorily met on other occasions that are convenient to both the instructor and the student.  This practice is designed to adequately ensure that students have attained the desired level of proficiency for the course.

 

Center for Academic Excellence:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph.  The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help students who are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to do better.  Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.  In addition to the face-to-face tutoring offered by the Center, online tutoring is available for students whose schedules do not permit them to meet with a tutor in person.  Call the Center for Academic Excellence at (219) 473-4287, to schedule a tutoring appointment or for additional information about how to access online tutoring assistance.

 

Academic Alerts:

In order to assist students to successfully persist towards course completion, Calumet College of St. Joseph asks instructors to give a written evaluation in the form of an Academic Alert at the end of the 5th and 10th weeks of the semester (Fall and Spring) for any students performing below “C” average work.  However, students NOT receiving an Academic Alert on week #5 or week #10 are NOT guaranteed of NOT receiving a grade below a “C” for the semester.

 

Statement of Plagiarism:

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. (Academic Planner 2001/2002 p.27)

 

Citation Guidelines:

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.).  All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore.  These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

 

 

School Closing Information:

 

                Internet:                                               http://www.ccsj.edu

               

http://www.EmergencyClosings.com

Facility: Calumet College of St. Joseph

Phone: 219.473.4770

 

                Radio:

 

WAKE – 1500 AM

WGN  - 720 AM

WIJE – 105.5 FM

WLS – 890 AM

WZVN – 107.1 FM

WBBM NEWS RADIO 78

 

                TV Channels:

 

2, 5, 7, 9 (WGN), 32 (WFLD)

 

 

 

Withdrawal from Classes Policy:

After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Division (DCD) students should consult the DCD Student Handbook for information on DCD withdrawals.

 

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).