CSC 105 Online Sections 001 & 002
Spring 2011 Syllabus
Instructor: Jack Tompkins
E-mail: tompkinsj@uncw.edu
Office: CIS 2034
Phone: 962-7013
Instructor’s web page: http://people.uncw.edu/tompkinsj
Course-work web pages: WebCT/Blackboard (account provided by UNCW) and SimNet
(purchased account required)
Open Lab: CIS 2006 will be
open at night from Sunday - Thursday 7:00pm-10:00pm
Office Hours: Online & by appointment
1.
Text: Computing
Essentials 2011, Complete Edition, 21st Edition;
O'Leary/O'Leary; ISBN-13 9780073516783. Carried in our bookstore, but for those
that need to cut expenses there are 3 copies of the new edition of Computing
Essentials on reserve in the library and it available as an eText through
coursesmart.com for $55.50.
2.
SimNet
registration code: Bundled with books purchased
through UNCW bookstores or purchased separately from the publisher (http://uncw.simnetonline.com)
Be sure to signup for the section corresponding to
our class Intro to Computing/Computer Apps
section Sp11 Tompkins and purchase only SimNet for Office 2007 Office Suite
($47.95)
3.
Microsoft Office Professional
Edition 2007
(Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access - the Standard Edition does not have
Access). Note:
Earlier versions
of Microsoft Office are NOT compatible with this course.
You only need the Microsoft Office suite for the four application
unit projects described below. It is installed on all campus computers if
you prefer not to purchase it, and it is also available through TealWare. The Office lessons are done using SimNet with either Internet Explorer or Firefox (preferred), Office is not required for the lessons or tests. For Mac users, the Mac version of Office does not have
the database program called Access. For that project, you will need to
find a Windows machine (all campus computers have it.). Everything else
should be fully Mac compatible. Mac users must use the Firefox browser
which can be downloaded from http://www.mozilla.com. Safari is not a supported browser for SimNet.
4.
Reliable
access to the Internet
Pre-requisites
·
Students
should be able to access and navigate the Internet, use e-mail, attach/download
files, and work independently.
· It is advisable to learn how to use
the Timmy server to save your work. See http://uncw.edu/itsd/help/instructions/TimmyFileStorage.html for details.
· Please also see “Who Should or Should Not Take This Course?”
Course Description
Basic computer concepts for
non-CSC majors including elements of computing systems and organization;
computer communications including the Internet; applications such as word
processing, spreadsheets, data base management, and the rudiments of
programming in a current programming language; social and technical issues
including legal, ethical, and security considerations.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course,
the student should be able to:
Grades will be determined
using the scale below:
|
93
– 100 |
A |
|
90 – 92 |
A- |
|
87 – 89 |
B+ |
|
83 – 86 |
B |
|
80
– 82 |
B- |
|
77 – 79 |
C+ |
|
73
– 76 |
C |
|
70 – 72 |
C- |
|
67 – 69 |
D+ |
|
63
– 66 |
D |
|
60 – 62 |
D- |
|
0
- 59 |
F |
Your final grade consists of
2 parts: software applications and computer concepts. Each one counts one-half
of your final grade. They are described below:
I.
Computer Concepts:
Half of your grade for the course consists of material from the text, Computing Essentials. This work is required for all students regardless of placements on application units. There will be 4 units, each containing 3-4 assigned chapters from the text. All work for this part of the course will be found in Blackboard. Your grade for these units will be calculated as follows:
Chapter Quizzes
A short multiple choice, true/false quiz will be available to take in Blackboard for each chapter. Quizzes are open book and un-timed. They are designed to help you learn the material. They may be completed anytime before the last day of class, December 1st, but it is imperative to complete them by the due date for them to have meaning for their respective chapter tests. Your score and answers will be available before the unit test for your review provided you take the quiz when recommended.
Chapter Discussions
For each chapter in the Computing Essentials, text a discussion question will be assigned. Each student should read the issue in the text and then submit a reply to the appropriate Discussion forum in Blackboard. To receive full credit, responses must be a minimum of 5 sentences. Additionally, each response must use proper English, spelling, and grammar, and be appropriate. You may respond to either the posted question or to a particular student’s reply. It is assumed that students will respect the opinions of others and treat this forum with professionalism. You will receive full credit for fulfilling these requirements as described. You will not be graded on the opinion you present. Submissions involving inappropriate language or disrespectful comments, or submissions that are too short will receive no credit. Blackboard does not have a way for the instructor to provide feedback on discussion questions. If you receive grade below 5, it is because the response was late, because the response was too short, or a combination of those.
Computing Essentials Unit Tests
The tests on the text, Computing Essentials, Units 1-4, will be similar in format to the quizzes but will have a 48-hour window in which they can be completed. The tests will cover 3-4 chapters from the book and will be timed: i.e., once a test is started, is must be completed in the given amount of time and may not be re-started later. Students may not "test-out" of these units. All students do this work. Your score and answers will be available at the end of the availability period. There are no make-ups and no late submissions for these tests. These tests are what drive an otherwise open schedule.
II.
Software Applications:
The other half of this course is about four software applications. Students will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in the following computer applications:
You will receive one grade
for each of the four applications. Your
grade for this half of the course will be the average of those 4 application
grades or units.
If you think you already have
sufficient skills for any of the applications above, you may elect to take a
Pre-Test for each using SimNet. If you are satisfied with your score
on the Pre-Test, that will be your score for that unit. You do not need to do
the lessons, the project, or take the Post-Test as described next.
If you elect not to take the
Pre-Test or you would like to better your score for that unit, then you need to
do the following:
1.
Assigned
lessons in SimNet, AND
2.
A
project using the actual Office software.
The project requirements will be found in Blackboard AND
3.
Take
the Post-Test for that particular application in SimNet.
In this case, your score for
the module will be the higher of the Pre-Test OR the weighted
average of the lab exercises (10%), project (40%), and Post-Test (50%).
|
Word |
Excel |
Access |
PPT |
||
|
Project in Blackboard |
Word |
Excel |
Access |
PPT |
|
|
Word |
Excel |
Access |
PPT |
||
Pre-Tests (for individual Software Applications only)
The pre-test for each application is optional. If you do not take it, if you miss it, or if you take it, and want to improve the score, you will do the other work described below. After you take a pre-test, SimNet will ask if you want to create a custom lesson. Answer yes. There will be lessons created for you in the SimNet Self-Study area that correspond to the questions you missed. The self study questions are not required, but they will give you targeted help in preparing for the Post-Test. Pre-Tests for the Office applications will be found in Click here for details on completing tests in SimNet.
Students who do not place out of an applications module or who are trying to better their Pre-Test grade are required to complete the lessons for that unit. Lessons can be found in SimNet There will be 3-4 lessons to complete for each application. Click here for details on completing lessons in SimNet. Your grade for a lesson will be the percentage of tasks you complete by the due date. The lessons will be available after the due date. Please do not wait until the last minute to complete the lessons as these help with the project and post-tests.
Projects will count 40% of your unit score. The project requirements will be found and submitted through Blackboard. These projects are to be completed using the appropriate Microsoft Office application. This work should be done independently and is designed to demonstrate the skills you learned through the SimNet lessons. Projects should be submitted by midnight (actually 11:59 pm) on the due date.
The Post-Test for a unit will be similar to the Pre-Test. Post-Tests for the Office applications will be found in SimNet. You can use the lessons and the self-study material to review for the Post-Tests. Click here for details on completing tests in SimNet. Use campus email, not the SimNet email, as I only check my campus email for questions. Post-Tests become available once the Pre-Test window closes and remain available until the last day of class, Monday, May 2nd. The PPT Post-Test is part of your final if you do not test out of that module and may be taken anytime between the close of the PPT Pre-Test window and the close of the final exam.
Late policy
With the exception of Unit Tests, work may be submitted at any time during the semester PRIOR to midnight the last day of class, Monday, May 2nd. There are no late fees. But missing the suggested due dates will severely hamper ones ability to do well on the exams. There are no makeup exams. Unit Tests 1, 2, and 3 are available for 48 hours, Unit Test 4 serves as part of the final and is also available for only 48 hours. Application module pre-tests may not be made-up or taken late as missing that does not hurt your grade. It simply means you have to do the work for that application module.
Incomplete grades are given rarely and only in very specific situations. First, the student must be passing. Next, the student must be able to complete the work of the course entirely on his or her own. Finally, the student must be prevented from completing the course by verified, unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the student. These conditions must be documented and verified before an incomplete grade may be given.
Calendar
It is the student’s responsibility to check the online calendar (which is subject to change) and to complete the assignments as indicated. Failure to check the calendar daily is not an acceptable excuse for missing a due date. course calendar.
Handicapped Students
If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register at the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (ext. 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then arrange a meeting to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter.
Expectations
All work submitted must be your own. The UNCW Academic Honor Code applies to all work for this course. Please refer to the Student Handbook for details.