Course number: CIS 1103-191
Credit/Contact hours: 3
Term: Summer II, June 29 – July 31, 2009
Course title: Introduction to Microcomputers
College website: www.mansfield.edu
Instructor name: John Phillips
Instructor office location: Elliott 205-C
Instructor office hours: by appointment
Instructor cell phone: 570-807-6355 (however, it is best to contact me via e-mail)
Instructor e-mail address: jphillip@mansfield.edu
Introduction to Microcomputers introduces the Windows disk operating system for microcomputers and the use of word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and database management software. Computer concepts covered included hardware, software, networking, file management, data security, and E-commerce topics. In addition, various computing-related ethical, environmental, and current-event issues are discussed.
Prerequisite: none
Computer Concepts Illustrated Introductory, 7th ed., June Parsons and Dan Oja, 2009, Course Technology, ISBN 1-4239-9933-9
There are many different software packages out there. Mansfield University has standardized on the Microsoft XP operating system and Microsoft Office Professional 2007 which contains Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access. If you are unable to use a computer at the school then you might consider buying the educational version of the office software. However, even the educational price is rather expensive and we will only be doing a few assignments using this software. Therefore, I will also accept assignments completed using a free software package called Open Office which is available for download at http://www.openoffice.org/. Other software may also be acceptable if you can save your work in RTF or PDF format. However, I will not be able to offer you much support with these other programs.
Access to the Internet is required either using your own computer or by using a computer in the school's computer lab. The MU Doane computer lab is open 24x7. You should keep a backup copy of all work you do on diskettes or a CD or a USB drive.
Visit http://faculty.mansfield.edu/jphillip/ for this syllabus, office hours, and other course information.
Visit Blackboard for class announcements, assignments, and the discussion board where you will post most of your homework (http://www.mansfield.edu/blackboard.htm).
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
These learning outcomes directly support the following CIS program objectives:
· prepare the student for life-long learning so that he or she can stay current on hardware, software, and systems in this constantly changing field, and
· exhibit positive attitudes and values toward the discipline, so that he or she can contribute to an increasingly complex and dynamic society.
This course satisfies the Information Literacy component of the General Education requirements for your degree. This course might be considered a professional course to satisfy the General Education Elective, assuming you are not pursuing a CIS degree. Please consult with your advisor for specifics on how this course might be able to satisfy General Education requirements for your degree path.
Student work may be collected for assessment purposes. The following is a partial list of how various assignments in this course map to the General Education requirements:
Final grades will be calculated using the following standard scale (refer to the Mansfield University Catalog for grades that can be awarded).
A >= 90%, B >= 80%, C >= 70%, D >= 60%, F < 60%
In addition, the instructor may choose to further differentiate grades with plus and minus subdivisions as outlined in the catalog.
|
Course Item |
% of Grade |
|
Assignments |
50 |
|
2 Tests |
50 |
Assignments are posted well in advance. Late work will be severely penalized. No work will be accepted after the last day of classes. Please do not wait until the last minute as computer and network problems are very common and are not a very good excuse for being late. Count on having some problems and complete your work early so that you will not be penalized.
This is an online course. As such it requires a certain amount of self-discipline in order to be successful. If you have very limited computing experience and/or have a hard time following written directions, then you may find the on-campus sections of this course more to your liking. This online course places an emphasis on self-directed hands-on experimentation. You will need to spend time exploring the course topics in a hands-on environment, either on your own computer or on a computer in one of MU's computer labs.
Feel free to help each other solve problems encountered as much as possible in this class on the assignments. Browse other students' posted work, on-line web sites, and other books for ideas. However, do be careful; if you copy another's work and you do not give credit for it that is plagiarism. In general, any computer files you submit should contain your own work and not someone else's. It would be especially bad to copy another student's work and then make a few changes to it and submit it as your own. Please do not do this. If you are in doubt then discuss the situation with your instructor.
The last day to withdraw from this course with a "W" grade is published in the Academic Calendar. It is the responsibility of the student to complete and submit the necessary forms to the Registrar's Office. An official withdrawal would entitle the student to a grade of "W" in the course.
Any students with documented psychological or learning disorders or other significant medical conditions that may affect their learning should work through Mr. William Chabala in our Counseling Center (Phone: 662-4798; e-mail wchabala@mnsfld.edu) to provide me with the appropriate letter so that I may serve their particular needs more effectively. If you have an exceptionality that requires class or testing accommodations, Mr. Chabala will work with us to identify and implement appropriate interventions.
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus and course timeline as the course progresses.
|
Week |
Date |
Outline |
|
1 |
6/29 |
Unit A - computer and Internet basics Complete assignment 1 |
|
|
7/1 |
On-line Internet assignments Complete assignment 2 |
|
2 |
7/6 |
Unit B - computer hardware Complete assignment 3 |
|
|
7/8 |
Hands-on word processing assignment Complete assignment 4 |
|
|
7/10 |
Unit C - computer software Complete assignment 5 |
|
3 |
7/13 |
Test 1 over units A, B, and C |
|
|
7/15 |
Unit D - digital electronics and file management Complete assignment 6 |
|
|
7/17 |
Hands-on presentation software assignment Complete assignment 7 |
|
4 |
7/20 |
Unit E - networks and the Internet Complete assignment 8 |
|
|
7/22 |
Hands-on spreadsheet software assignment Complete assignment 9 |
|
|
7/24 |
Unit F - data security Complete assignment 10 |
|
5 |
7/27 |
Hands-on SQL database software assignment Complete assignment 11 |
|
|
7/29 |
Test 2 over units D, E, and F |
|
|
7/31 |
Last Day – Late Work Final Deadline |