Personal Computers and Their Uses

Resources:

Text: Grauer, Robert T., and Maryann Barber. Microsoft Office 2003, Volume 1, Second Edition. Prentice Hall, 2007.

Software: Microsoft Office 2003

Class Web Page: http://www.esu.edu/~mjochen/Teaching/CPSC100/s08/

WebCT

Course Overview:

This course is designed to familiarize you with the organization/parts of a computer and how computers work. The majority of the course will focus on building skills within word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software.

Course Objectives:

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

1. Work within a window-oriented operating system to create, modify, copy, move, and delete files, to manipulate windows, to send/read/manage electronic mail, and to access information on the Internet.

2. Create a variety of documents, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations within the Microsoft Office 2003 suite.

3. Understand the basic components of a computer system, and the jargon associated with computers.

4. Understand the general concepts of data storage, computer security, operating systems, and application software.

Instructional Approach:

I encourage an open dialogue during class and view my role as that of a facilitator toward your gaining a deeper understanding of the course material. We will utilize an active learning based style for the class, with the following techniques:

Small group discussion and problem solving
In-class question and answer sessions
Daily assignments (in-class and homework)
Quizzes (announced and unannounced)
Exams

Schedule:

The schedule for the class will be posted online and is subject to change. Please refer to the class calendar frequently.

Week	Dates	Topic	Reading	Activity
1	1/14, 16, 17	Introductions XP Word I	XP: Chpt 1 Word: Chpt 1	Syllabus/email
2	1/23, 24	Word II / III	Word: Chpt 2, 3	(No Class: 1/21)
3	1/28, 30 31	Word III / IV	Word: Chpt 3, 4	Word Quiz
4	2/4, 6, 7	Word IV	Word: Chpt 4	Word Exam
5	2/11, 13, 14	Excel I / II	Excel: Chpt 1, 2
6	2/20, 21	Excel II / III	Excel: Chpt 2, 3	(No Class: 2/18-19 Switch Day: 2/20)
7	2/25, 27, 28	Excel III / IV	Excel: Chpt 3, 4	Excel Quiz
8	3/3, 5, 6	Excel IV	Excel: Chpt 4	Excel Exam (Spring Break 3/10-14)
9	3/17, 19, 20	PowerPoint I / II	PowerPoint: Chpt 1, 2	PowerPoint Quiz
10	3/24, 26, 27	PowerPoint II	PowerPoint: Chpt 2	PowerPoint Exam
11	3/31, 4/2, 3	Access I / II	Access: Chpt 1, 2
12	4/7, 9	Access II / III	Acess: Chpt 2, 3	Access Quiz (No Class: 4/10-11)
13	4/14, 16, 17	Access III / IV	Acess: Chpt 3, 4
14	4/21, 23, 24	Access IV Internet	Access: Chpt 4 Internet	(Last Day of Classes: 5/2)
15	4/28, 30, 5/1	Internet	Internet	Internet Quiz
				Final/Access/Internet Exam

Requirements:

The following work will be required of you throughout the semester:
Hands-on exercises
Practice exercises and case studies
Quizzes
Exams

Each week, you will have hands-on and practice exercises to complete. You are required to submit all assignments for review. You may work with other students to complete the hands-on exercises. Hands-on exercises will not be graded however, you are still required to complete and turn in all hands-on exercises. Practice exercises and case studies will be graded. Your work on practice exercises and case studies is to be that of your own. You may receive no help from others on these assignments.

During the semester you will have the opportunity to take several quizzes (some announced, some unannounced).

There will be four exams in this course – one on each major module of the course (i.e., Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint).

Grading:

All work is due at the time and day specified when the assignment is given. Class-work and homework (hands-on and practice exercises) will be assigned and submitted for evaluation via WebCT. Hands-on assignments will not be graded individually however, failure to submit hands-on assignments will result in zero points for class participation.

If you miss a class when a quiz was given, you will be given a score of zero for that quiz. You will be allowed to drop your lowest quiz grade when it comes time for the final grade. In the event where you miss a quiz, you will be able to drop a zero for the missed quiz. For more information, see the section on class attendance below.

All exams count towards your final grade. No exam grades will be dropped. If you miss an exam the day an exam is given, you will receive a grade of zero for that exam, unless you made prior arrangements with me to make up the exam. “Prior arrangements” does not include coming to me the day of or after an exam. “Prior arrangements” means coming to me well before the exam date to make arrangements for an excused absence on exam day.

The make-up of your total number of points for your final grade breaks down as follows:

10% Class participation

15% Quizzes (announced and unannounced)

15% Homework

15% Microsoft Word Exam

15% Microsoft Excel Exam

15% Microsoft Access Exam

15% Microsoft PowerPoint Exam

Grading Policy:

I frequently feel that all too often, we artificially focus on the end of term grade rather than the content of a course. Nothing would please me more than to have a class full of students concerned solely with course material. I do realize however, that the pressure to maintain good grades for scholarships, awards, and applications for jobs and schools does indeed cause one to pay some attention to the end of term grade. A grade is the application of some arbitrary scale to reflect the amount and quality of work you, the student, accomplish during the semester. To that end, I do not assign your grade, you earn your grade.

The grading scheme for each assignment will be provided to you at the time the assignment is given. In this way, you will know exactly what I am looking for in terms of quality, focus, depth, and breadth of work. I do not believe in hidden agendas or surprising you with your grade on an assignment.

Rather than grading on a competitive, curve-based grading scheme, I use a criterion-based grade scale. Thus, if every student works sufficiently hard, and earns a letter grade of “A”, then all students will receive “A”s. Keep in mind, I generally view letter grades in the following light:

A – Excellent

B – Good

C – Fair

D – Poor

E – Failure

This means, to receive an “A”, you must perform excellent work. Excellent work is that work which is marked with distinction, going above and beyond that of merely meeting the requirements for an assignment. Your final grades will be decided based on the following scale:

A 90.0-100%

B 80.0-89.9%

C 70.0-79.9%

D 60.0-69.9%

E 0-59.9%

Assignment Lateness Policy:

I strongly encourage you to keep up with the pace of the class and all associated work. Getting into the habit of turning in work after the due date will put you at a distinct disadvantage in learning the material. However, I do recognize that unforeseen events happen in life and I will accept late assignments with the following provisions: For each day late (n being the number of days late), you lose 2ⁿ points on your assignment. For example, if you turn in an assignment one day late, you will lose 2¹ or 2 points, two days late will cost 2² or 4 points, three days late will cost 2³ or 8 points. In essence, the number of points deducted for lateness doubles each day. Late assignments will not be accepted after the sixth late day. Weekends and holidays count as late days.

Class Attendance/Participation Policy:

Class attendance is required. As such, attendance will be taken each class. If you are absent for four or more unexcused absences, you will receive a final grade of E (failure) for the class. I expect you to participate constructively in each class. When you fail to come to class, not only do you miss out on the material for the day, but you disadvantage your fellow students as your unique perspective is absent from class discussion and problem sessions.

If you are absent the day a quiz is given or an assignment is due, you will receive a grade of zero for the quiz or incur one day late for the assignment. If you know you must miss a class, please speak with me ahead of time so that we can try to make a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Academic Honesty Policy:

All work submitted is to be completed individually (unless indicated as a group assignment), and is to be the sole product of your own efforts. Group work is to be the sole product of members of the group. Any perception of anything to the contrary or that violates the spirit of the Student Code of Conduct will be handled accordingly. This policy is very specific on what constitutes Academic Misconduct and provides a range of very unpleasant possible outcomes, should a violation be suspected. I encourage you to become familiar with this policy. Please refer to the relevant sections of the Student Code of Conduct for more information.

Ten Tips for Success:

1. Come to class & arrive on time

2. Actively participate in class discussion & activities

3. Do the assigned reading

4. Do the assigned homework

5. Review your notes/assignments daily

6. Ask questions when you are unsure of something

7. Ask questions when you would like to know more about something

8. Accept points of view that differ from your own

9. Respect the other members of your class

10. Come see me as soon as you have difficulty with any of the material we cover in class

Statement of Understanding

CPSC 100

Spring 2008

By signing below, I indicate that I have read and understand all policies and provisions described in this syllabus. I further indicate that I have familiarized myself with the Student Code of Conduct and that I will abide by this code.

___________________________________________ _______________________

Printed Name Date

Signature