SYLLABUS FOR BUSINESS MICROCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Term: Spring, 2005-2006 (052) (January 9 – April 22, 2006)

Course Number: CIS 225X

Instructor: Mr. Darren Henderson

Office: Room 508

Office Phone: (219) 473-4346

E-mail: dhenderson@ccsj.edu

Office Hours: Monday 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

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

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 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 Business Microcomputer Applications, Web Page Design, 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 4^th 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: Tuesdays 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Room 420

Course Description: This survey course provides the student with an introduction to microcomputers with an emphasis on business applications. Application package under review will be Microsoft Office.

Prerequisite: CIS 115 and/or permission of program director.

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

Students in this course will:

· 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

· Perform common file management tasks

o work with files during a single computer work session and over multiple work sessions (e.g. open and save files)

o use utility software to compress and package multiple files as a single zip file

o use utility software to decompress files

· Use the Blackboard e-learning environment including

o access CCSJ's Blackboard login page using a WWW browser and successfully login

o navigate the Blackboard e-learning environment as required

o change their “Personal Information” (e.g. change the default password, modify the e-mail address)

o access course content (e.g. announcements, homework, class exercises, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, Access databases, Adobe PDF files) as needed

o use Blackboard’s communication capabilities (e.g. e-mail) to communicate with the instructor

o use Blackboard’s “Digital Dropbox” feature to “send” a file (e.g. Word document, Excel spreadsheet, Zip file, etc.) to the course instructor

o terminate a Blackboard session by logging out properly

· Use word processing software at an intermediate to advanced level mastery to

o create headers and footers (e.g. page numbers in footer)

o apply formatting using shortcut keys (e.g. CTRL + B to toggle BOLD)

o work with styles

o insert manual page breaks

o determine the number of words in a document

o indent paragraphs

o create hanging indents

o use the Find and/or Find and Replace feature

o work with clip art (e.g. inserting, moving, resizing)

o set and use “custom” tab stops

o work with border formatting

o work with tables (e.g. create a table with the desired dimensions, enter text into table cells, add and delete rows and columns, merge cells)

o work with bulleted lists

o display and remove non-printing symbols (e.g. spaces, tabs, paragraph marks)

o use the zoom feature (e.g. text width)

o insert a line break

o apply and remove color text formatting

o create a main document form letter with the desired merge fields

o create a data source (e.g. table, comma-delimited file)

o use an If field to conditionally print text in a form letter

o insert a Fill-in field

o display and hide field codes

o perform a mail merge to generate the individual form letters

· Use presentation graphics software at an intermediate level mastery to

o change formatting on the slide master

o add a header and footer to presentation slides

o add animation and slide transition effects

o insert clipart on a slide without a clip art region

· Use spreadsheet software at an intermediate level mastery to

o color the characters and background of a cell

o add conditional formatting to a range of cells

o display and print the formulas version of a worksheet

o rename sheets

o enter formulas using the Point mode

o use the average, max, and min functions

o verify formulas (e.g. using range finder)

o import external stock data using a Web query

· Use relational database management software at a basic to intermediate level mastery to

o implement a properly normalized database design

o create a database table by defining the appropriate database fields and their properties (e.g. data type and field size)

o add data records to a table using the datasheet view and/or the form view

o set, modify, and print table relationships

o create a report that includes the desired fields

o create and run queries that extract the desired records from a database

o create and run queries that join separate tables, include calculated fields, compound conditions (e.g. AND and OR criteria), and use wildcards

· Use personal information management software at a basic level mastery to

o create personal subfolders (e.g. in Calendar , Tasks, and Contact views)

o distinguish between appointments, events, and tasks

o enter one-time and recurring appointments

o move, edit, and delete appointments as needed

o create events

o use tasks lists

o create and maintain contacts

o export, delete, and import subfolders

Textbook:

Microsoft Office 2003: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, 2^nd ed., Shelly, Cashman, and Vermaat, Course Technology, Boston, MA, 2006. (ISBN: 0-619-25477-7)

Storage Media:

Students will need to use some form of portable read/write storage (e.g. USB flash memory and/or several floppy disks) to work in-class on the assigned class exercises and/or to transport files between the CCSJ laboratory computers and their personal computer. Regularly using a portable storage device will exercise and may improve the student’s file management skills. In addition, students may use the Blackboard Digital Dropbox’s “Add File” feature to save a file for later use if no portable storage device is available.

Learning Strategies:

The course material is presented mainly through instructor-led software demonstrations. Students develop software proficiency through collaborative learning laboratory experiences and through the completion of hands-on assignments and projects.

Assessment:

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

Exam #1 (Computer Literacy Basics/Word) 25%

Exam #2 (PowerPoint/Excel) 25%

Exam #3 (Access/Advanced Word) 25%

Class Exercises/Homework Assignments 25%

------

100%

Class Policy for Assignments/Exams:

Homework will be assigned throughout the duration of the term. Homework assignments and due dates will be posted on the Blackboard supplement to the course. Homework will be collected generally two weeks from the date assigned unless directed otherwise. Students are required to submit homework in both hardcopy and electronic form. Students will submit electronic versions to the instructor via Blackboard’s Digital Dropbox. Homework that is submitted (<= 7 days late) is subject to an automatic deduction to be determined by the instructor. Homework that is more than one week late will NOT be accepted for credit and will result in an assigned score of zero. Homework received after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 (i.e. Week #14) will NOT be considered for credit and will result in an assigned score of zero.

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.

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) one alternate make-up time.

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 exam will be assigned a score of zero.

Exams are performance-based or “hands-on” which are administered open book and open notes.

The function of the homework assignments and class/laboratory exercises is that they serve as exam preparation. The function of the exams is to confirm that the student has achieved the required level of proficiency.

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/Class Exercises:

Attendance will be taken for administrative purposes. Although class attendance does NOT account for a percentage of the assigned semester grade, 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.

However, class/lab attendance and participation is used as a factor in deciding borderline cases (if applicable).

Periodically throughout the term, class exercises will be given during the class session to reinforce the course concepts and material. The class exercises are intended as a formative learning experience for the student and are to be completed and reviewed by the instructor in-class. Students missing a class session in which a class exercise is assigned may complete the class exercise and have it reviewed by the instructor at the start of the next class session only. Therefore, frequent absences may result in the student failing to receive credit for the class exercise component of the course.

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	1/10/2006	Course Policies/Syllabus Class Exercise - Computer Literacy Skills Assessment Computer Skills Remediation (Individual and/or Small Groups)
WEEK 2	1/17	Blackboard 6 Introduction/Accounts/Digital Dropbox WD-1 (Creating and Editing a Word Document) WD-2 (Creating a Research Paper)
WEEK 3	1/24	WD-3 (Creating a Resume Using a Wizard and a Cover Letter with a Table) WinZip (i.e. file compression/decompression utility) Introduction
WEEK 4	1/31	PPT-1 (Using a Design Template and Text Slide Layout to Create a Presentation) PPT-2 (Using the Outline Tab and Clip Art to Create a Slide Show) Class Exercise – PowerPoint
WEEK 5	2/07	EXAM #1 (Computer Literacy Basics/Word)
WEEK 6	2/14	Exam #1 Results EX-1 (Creating a Worksheet and an Embedded Chart) Class Exercise – Cubs Baseball
WEEK 7	2/21	EX-2 (Formulas, Functions, Formatting, and Web Queries) Class Exercise – Excel 2
WEEK 8	2/28	AC-1 (Creating and Using a Database)
WEEK 9	3/07	EXAM #2 (PowerPoint/Excel)
WEEK 10	3/14	Exam #2 Results Class Exercise – Access 1 AC-2 (Querying a Database Using the Select Query Window)
WEEK 11	3/21	Handout (Word Mail Merge) Class Exercise – Word Mail Merge
WEEK 12	3/28	Handout (Schedule and Contact Management Using Outlook) Class Exercise – Outlook
WEEK 13	4/04	Handout (Word Forms) or AC-3 (Maintaining a Database) Class Exercise
WEEK 14	4/11	OPEN LAB
WEEK 15	4/18	EXAM #3 (Access/Advanced Word)

Class Participation:

See "Class Policy on Attendance" above

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 5^th and 10^th weeks of the semester (Fall and Spring) for any students performing below “C” average work. The current practice is to have the instructor hand-deliver the alert to the student if possible otherwise the alert is forwarded to the CCSJ Academic Advising office where it is then delivered to the student via the U.S Postal Service. The intent of the academic alert system is to notify the student of substandard performance so that they may take steps to rectify the situation (e.g. tutoring through the Center for Academic Excellence). However, students should realize that NOT receiving an Academic Alert on week #5 or week #10 is NOT a guarantee of NOT receiving a grade below a “C” for the semester since a student’s assigned semester grade depends on the student’s performance during all 15 weeks of 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 the CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances.

Please note: Calumet College of St. Joseph subscribes to Turnitin.com and all papers can and may be submitted for checks on plagiarism from the Internet/Electronic sources/Databases.

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