CSC 115  Perspectives on Technology

Syllabus  - Fall, 2007

 

Instructor:     Jennifer Michaels

Phone            294-6704 (home)

E-mail:           michaels@lrc.edu

 

OVERVIEW

This course offers a general overview of using a computer as a tool in a variety of work environments.   Four applications will be introduced and students will complete assignments in: MS-Word , MS -Excel, MS-Access, and PowerPoint. We are using Office XP/2003 in the class. If you have an earlier version, you can use it, but you will need to save your files into the earlier edition so you can work on them at home.

 

COURSE MATERIALS

TEXTBOOKS

Computers and Technology in a Changing Society by Morley

Office 2003 – Shelly Cashman Series – Essential Concepts and Techniques.

NOTE : The above are bundled together in bookstore

USB Flash Drive

 

GRADING POLICIES

Your performance will be determined by:

Tests (3):                                            9% Each (27% total)

Paper/Presentation:                         20%

Class Participation:                          3%

Homework:                                        35%

Final Exam:                                        15%

 

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+ 65-69, D 60-64, D- 55-59 F Below 55

 

TESTING: The tests will be objective, with true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank and short answer. The final exam will be cumulative.

 

CLASS POLICIES

This Syllabus is a Contact between me and you. You are expected to know the policies as set forth below.

 

CONTACTING THE PROFESSOR: You are expected to use your L-R electronic mail account. I will assume that you receive all my e-mails and therefore responsible for the content. Not reading your e-mail is not an excuse for not having something completed on time.  If you need to get an account or update your account, you need to get this done the first couple days of the semester. If you need to contact me, send me an email message through your account. That guarantees that we are not playing phone tag. I check my email at least 3 times a day. There will be no excuses accepted concerning the inability to reach me. You can get to your account to send mail any time the library is open if you do not have your own PC. If you have a PC in the dorm or at home, you can get on the account 24 hours a day. If e-mail isn’t available, you may call me at home (not after 9 pm please). I don’t keep office hours, but am on teaching on campus Monday, and Wednesday from 11:00-11:50, and 6:30-9:10.  I am typically available before and after class and can make arrangements to be available as needed.

MAKE-UPS OF EXAMS: Make-up exams are not ordinarily given. With exceptional circumstances (i.e. illness, college-related absences, or previous approval by the professor) exams may be made up if arrangements are made to take them before the next class period after the test has been administered. It is your responsibility to make the arrangements for the make-up. If arrangements are not made within the time allotted, you will receive a 0 for that exam.

 

CLASS ATTENDANCE: This class meets 2 days a week for 8 weeks.  You are expected to attend class. Attendance is taken. If you miss more than 3 class periods, you will automatically FAIL the course (this is the School of Computing Sciences and Math requirement!). This includes ALL absences except illness which means that scheduled school absences are counted as missed days toward the 3. In most cases, you are aware of school scheduled absences at the beginning of the class and must make sure you miss less than the 3

 

CLASS FORMAT: This course follows a lecture and discussion format. All classes will be given in Rhyne 162. A detailed schedule is provided for you (posted in Blackboard).  You are responsible for knowing what is going on in the class. Much of what you learn here you learn by doing.   You will perform a variety of activities to master the material. Be sure to check your schedule so you can keep up with the class format and assignments. IF THERE IS A CHANGE FROM THE SYLLABUS, I WILL SEND AN E-MAIL TO EVERYONE TO NOTE THE CHANGE. THE SCHEDULE WILL BE CORRECTLY MAINTAINED ON THE WEB SITE. YOU ARE EXPECTED TO REGULARLY CHECK YOUR E-MAIL.

 

HOMEWORK; All homework (unless otherwise specified) must be submitted using Blackboard. You must keep up with what you have submitted. I will keep a spreadsheet of the class material, but I will not be handing back corrected homework. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED –WORK IS LATE IF IT IS NOT TURNED IN BY THE END OF THE DAY IT WAS DUE!

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY: You are expected to complete your own work. I reserve the right to ask you to explain your work and adjust your grade accordingly. Assignments are NOT team projects. If your are found to have cheated by copying work from another student, you will be reported to the Dean of Academics, fail the assignment if it is the first infraction or fail the course if it is not.

 

OBJECTIVES/COMPETENCIES

1. The course will survey the use of computers in a variety of workplaces.

a. Students will demonstrate an understanding of microcomputer use in a variety of disciplines.

b. Students will demonstrate the use of a variety of application packages.

 

2. The course will study a networking environment.

a. Students demonstrate that they can find and use information from the Internet

b. Students will demonstrate how to use the web for a variety of tools.

 

3. The course will study microcomputer hardware.

a. Students will demonstrate the use of the different microcomputer components.

b. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the internal pieces of a microcomputer.

 

4. The course will introduce MS-EXCEL .

a. Students will demonstrate the use MS-Excel to create spreadsheets and charts.

5. The course will introduce the functions of PowerPoint.

a. Students will present a presentation to the class

 

6. The course will introduce Database concepts.

a. Students will demonstrate the ability to use MS-Access to create and manipulate a database.

 

7. The course will provide activities that support life-long learning.

a. Students will demonstrate the use of a variety of technical tutorials.