CISY 102 Computer Literacy

Course Syllabus - Version 1.0

Section 03x - CRN 30316 - Summer 2010

Versions

• Version 1.0 - 5/24/2010 - First Release
• Version 0.1 - 5/15/2010 - Good Draft
• Version 0.0 - 5/14/2010 - First Draft 

Course Overview

Catalog Description:

Prerequisite: Recommend student know how to type. A computer literate person is referred to as one who understands how computers work, uses them, and identifies the role of computers in society. Students should have a basic understanding of computers and how to access information on the World Wide Web. Emphasis is placed on the application of microcomputers; the use of productivity software (word processing, spreadsheet management, presentation management, and data base management, search tools, and multimedia) to gather, analyze, and present information; and the social, ethical, and privacy aspects of the impact of computers on society. Students may not enroll for credit in this course if they have earned credit for a higher level computer science course. Open lab time required. (RVCC Catalog)

Lecture: 2.00 Lab: 2.00

Section 03X Special Text:

“This section of the course is specially designed for students inexperienced or lacking in confidence with Windows, Email, the Internet and Microsoft Office.”

Message from the Instructor:

One of the changes that I am doing is that the class will meet three times a week as opposed to twice a week for a regular section.  In a regular section that meets twice a week over the summer each meeting covers 1.2 weeks of material.  This special section at 3 times a week will cover .7 weeks of material in each meeting.

Also, my approach to the presentation of the material will be different.  Normally when I teach Computer Literacy I give a brief lecture and then Lab Time is for students to work independently on the assignments.  For this special section I will give longer more detailed lectures and I will have the students follow along.  I will walk around the room to make sure all students are at the same point.  By the end of the six-week session we will cover the same material as a regular section but the material will be covered at a slower pace.  

Software/Computer Requirements

There is lab time built into the course, but there may be a need to work on a computer outside of class.

The "open lab", which is on the second floor of the West Building, will be open 5 days a week over the summer and the computers have the software used for the course.

If you want to work on the projects from home, you will need Office 2007 (Word 2007, Excel 2007, Access 2007 and PowerPoint 2007) running on a PC compatible computer.  The instructor will describe that further in class.

The computers at RVCC are configured in a way that the files you create will be removed when you logoff.  You are expected to either use a USB Flash Drive to backup your work or e-mail the files to yourself.  The instructor will describe those methods the first week of class.

Course Routine

12 of the 17 class meetings will have a similar structure and are noted on the class schedule with the letters L, C, H, and L. 

The first L stands for the First Lab and will be 9:00 - 9:30.  This is time to explore the computer, work on the projects, and a brief time to ask the instructor for help.

The C stands for "Concepts Lecture" and will 9:30 - 10:00.  This will be a brief lecture on some Computer Concepts and will usually not be hands-on the computer.  The instructor will ask you to fold down the monitor during that time.

The H stands for "Hands on Lecture" and will be 10:00 - ~11:30.  This will be an instructor led lesson using the computer and you will be expected to follow along on the computer.  At times the instructor may freeze the machine so you can see what he is doing and then he will unfreeze the machine and have you perform the same steps.  During this time the instructor will walk around to help people along.  Please feel free to ask for help!

The last L stands for the Second Lab and will be ~11:30 - 12:10.  This is time to explore the computer, work on the projects, and a brief time to ask the instructor for help.

Three of the class meetings are Lab time only

The second to last day will be the PowerPoint presentations when you will give a brief presentation using the computer and presenting to the whole class.

The first class meeting is atypical and should not be used as a baromoter for how the semester will progress.

Grade Determinates (What everything is worth)

Item	Percent
Labs	40%
Lion's Den Message Board	20%
Final Project	40%

Grade	%Range
A	89.5% +
B+	86.5% - 89.4%
B	79.5% - 86.4%
C+	76.5% - 79.4%
C	69.5% - 76.4%
D	59.5% - 69.4%
F	< 59.4%

 

Labs

Each "Hands on Lecture" will result in one or more files being created.  You will e-mail those files to the instructor. 

If you are absent from class, for 10 out of 13 of the classes, the detailed instructions are in book (Word 1, Word 2, Word 3, Excel 1, Excel 2, Excel 3[2 meetings], Access 2, PowerPoint 1, PowerPoint 2).

For the classes the first week, see the instructor for the labs.

Lion's Den Message Board

About twice a week, the instructor will post a Question in the Lion's Den Message Board.  You are required to answer each of the instructor's questions by posting your response to the Lion's Den Message Board. (Note: If the instructor posts 3 questions in one of the topics, you must give an answer for each of the 3 questions in the appropriate place [the appropriate place means do not 'post a topic', you should 'post a message' that responds to the topic.]) If you do not respond, it's a zero. Just saying "yeah" or "I agree" or "good point" is a zero.

Final Project

In lieu of a Final Exam there will be a final project for the course.  The Final Project will be posted online by June 1st and you will be able to work on parts of it as the semester progresses.

You must work alone on the project.  You have to be carefull about asking a neighbor for assistance.  If it's a question like "how to I bold this sentence" that would be ok because an instruction on a task was given.  But if the question was "what formula do I use here?" the "formula" is considered "intelectual property" and it should be your own.  If the question was "How do I enter a formula?" and the answer was "start by typing the equals sign =' that would be ok because that is an instructor for a task.  The safest thing is to work alone and only ask the instructor for assistance.

Please see the cheating policy.

Classroom Behavior Policy

When we are in "Lab Time", feel free to take as many as breaks as you need. 

When the instructor is lecturing on "Concepts" he usually will ask you to not use the computer.  Please refrain from using the computer during this time.  You are also expected to not talk during this time.

When the instructor is doing the "Hands on Lecture" you are to use the computer and you are expected to follow allong.  You are also expected to not talk during this time.

During the "Concepts Lecture" and "Hands on Lecture", if you need a bathroom break please leave discretely and re-enter discretely. 

During the "Concepts Lecture" and "Hands on Lecture", please silence your cell phones. 

Attendance Policy

You are allowed up to 20% absences.  Since we meet 17 times, 3 absences are "ok" but 4 absences is grounds for removal or receiving an F for the class.

If an item was due on the day absent you are still responsible for submission of that item and every day late is subject to a late penalty.

The Final Project is due on 7/1 and may not be submitted late.

Cheating Policy

Do not cheat.

Please read the policy in the student handbook.

Copying a file from someone is considered cheating and both parties will receive a 0 on the assignment.  Repeated cheating may result in an F for the class.

Class Schedule

Please see the Class Schedule for the order of topics as well as links to assignments.