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CSC 105 Fall 2018 Sections 001 & 002

Computing Competencies for College and the Workplace Syllabus

Requirements:

·       An access code for Cengage Unlimited ISBN: 9780357700037. This code includes all course material and eBooks and is available for purchase online through the MindTaps link in Canvas or at the UNCW bookstore. Students may create and use an account with a two-week grace period before purchasing the code. If you have purchased a Cengage Unlimited subscription for another course this semester, you do not need to purchase another one. A single Cengage Unlimited subscription will work for all courses using Cengage material.

·       Reliable access to the Internet:

·       A two-button mouse or track-pad configured to right-click (Mac users see: check how to enable this at www.macinstruct.com/node/66 or look up what your computer needs.)

·       Microsoft Office 365/2016 (The University provides this software to students free of charge. See uncw.edu/itsd/help/office365.html for details. You may also use any campus computer.)

Important notes:

·       It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand the syllabus, assignment instructions, and all emails correspondence. A lack of understanding, or worse, not fully engaging in the course material by not reading, does not qualify students for make-up work.

·       All assignments and due dates will be found on the course calendar at people.uncw.edu/ricanekk/teaching/fall18/csc105/calendar.htm

·       Any announcements or reminders will be sent to students’ UNCW email.

 

Pre-requisites:

·       Although this is an introductory course, online students should be able to access and navigate the Internet, use e-mail, attach/download files, and work independently.

Course Description:

A modern approach to college-level computing education for all majors. Software skills employers most frequently seek; technology-related social, legal and ethical issues fostering sound decision-making; foundational understanding of current digital technologies for efficient organization and effective communication; students will choose one additional skill-track for specialization: business, graphic design, or programming.

Course Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1.    Demonstrate efficient organization of digital material using current technologies for storing and sharing work and differentiate among the choices.

2.    Discuss technology-related social, legal and ethical issues.

3.    Select the correct technological tool(s) to apply to a given problem by discerning various functionalities of each.

4.    Demonstrate proficiency with a selection of typical college and workplace computer applications by effectively disseminating information relevant to that application.

5.    Develop an ability to evaluate feedback and apply it appropriately to one’s own work through a series of submit/revise cycles.

 

Coursework:

Your final grade consists of the following units described below:

1.    Unit 1: Orientation, Organization, Foundations: Understanding current digital technologies, when to use them, and how to use them optimally; technology-related social, legal, and ethical issues

2.    Unit 2: Features of Current Word Processing Software: Exploration, understanding, and practice; modern word-processors do much more than basic text formatting and spell-checking, this module introduces students to the full set of tools available in workplace-dominant software, currently Microsoft Word

3.    Unit 3: Spreadsheets: Fundamental skills most employers expect: formulas and functions, proper data formatting; sorting, filtering, using series, controlling chart layouts and printing options, analyzing data

4.    Unit 4: Communicating to a Group: Professional Presentations: As Microsoft Word is a robust word-processor, Microsoft PowerPoint is an equally robust presentation tool. Students learn the many advanced features of this software application as well as equally robust presentation tools such as Adobe Spark.

5.    Unit 5: Specialization (choose one)

o   5A Business: This module covers advanced topics in Excel including Macros, advanced functions, organizing and preparing data, array functions, statistical analysis, and interactive dashboards.

o   5B Digital Graphic Design: This module introduces students to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite which is now provided to university students at no cost. Applications include Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

o   5C Programming: An introduction to a programming using the Python language.

Each of the units described above will consist of all or some of the following activities:

·       Reading: Read the assigned chapter in the e-text.

·       Quizzes: untimed, multiple-choice self-tests to be completed by 11:59 pm on the due date. Quizzes are set to provide three attempts per question. After all questions have been answered and submitted, any incorrect questions will be presented a second (and possibly third) time with the incorrect answer selected. Students are welcome to work ahead on these as they become available.

·       A SAM Path: A SAM Path is a learning environment customized for each student. A SAM Path determines what skills, if any, you already understand. A customized training is then created for any or all of the skills you need to work on. You then take a test to demonstrate you have learned those skills. A SAM Path consists of three parts described below:

1.    Pre-Test: At the beginning of each unit, a pre-test will be available for students to determine which skills, if any, they are able to perform accurately and which skills require better understanding. Pre-test questions are completed in a simulated Windows/Microsoft Office 365/2016 environment. It is not required that you have the Office software installed to complete a SAM Path. Each task or question has three attempts available. If the student can’t perform the task accurately in three attempts, the task is marked incorrect. Students may skip questions and return to them later, but the three attempts will not be reset. Note: Try not to think of this part as a test. There is no expectation that students score high or even above zero. These merely determine what training skills each student needs on an individual basis. A low score on a pre-test does not mean a low score for the unit!

2.    Training: For any pre-test questions the student misses, a training lesson will be available.

3.    Post-Test: A post-test will be available based on the questions missed on the pretest. The score for the SAM Path will be the sum of the questions answered correctly in the pre-test and the post-test together as described below.

 

Some possible SAM Path scenarios:

o A student misses 20 out of 30 tasks on a pre-test scoring 10/30. The student completes training for the 20 missed tasks and takes the post-test. This student’s post-test will contain only 20 tasks corresponding to the ones missed on the pre-test. Suppose the student misses 2 of the 20 tasks on the post-test scoring 18/20. The score for the SAM Path is 10 (from the pre-test) + 18 (from the post-test) out of 30 original tasks: 28/30 or 93%

o Another student has no knowledge of any of the tasks on the same pre-test, and exits the test without completing any tasks (this is FINE). The pre-test score for this student is 0. All 30 tasks in the SAM Path are presented for training, and then all 30 are in the post-test for this student. Suppose this student also misses two questions on his/her post-test, the student’s score is (0+28)/30 or 93%, the same as the other student.

o Another student only misses two questions on the same pre-test, scoring 28/30 or 93%. This student forgets to finish the training and post-test, so the student’s score for the SAM Path is 93%.

o A student scores 30/30 on a pre-test. No training or post-test is available (proficiency was demonstrated in the pre-test), and the SAM Path score is 100%

o The important take-away: It does not matter how well you do on the pre-test, as long as you complete the training and take the post-test.

·       Capstone Projects: After completion of the individual units for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, a SAM Capstone Project will be assigned: These include instruction files and one or more downloadable files that the student edits in the actual application according to the instructions. Students then upload the finished file and submit it for grading. SAM will grade the student submission and will provide feedback on any incorrect items. Students then have four additional opportunities to correct the file and resubmit for grading. (Five attempts total.) The highest grade will be used in calculations. Project scoring is based on exact matches to the solution file. If a word is misspelled or a period is missing, the task will be counted wrong. That is easy to fix and is why you have 5 attempts. Be sure you retrieve the detailed grading report which will clearly show you where any errors were found. Please also be aware that the SAM Project grading system encodes the downloadable files and compares the submitted work with the original. If the encoding does not match, the software flags the submission as a possible integrity violation. Both parties are identified even if students are in different sections, courses, or even schools. In such a case, both parties will receive a grade of zero. “Borrowing a friend’s computer” and accidently submitting your friend’s project file instead of your own is not an excuse. You and your friend will both receive grades of zero. Leaving a file available for others to access, even inadvertently, can result in a zero for the project. SAM Projects must be completed in Microsoft Office 365/2016. If you don’t already have this version of Office, UNCW now offers it for FREE to the campus community for both Windows and Mac platforms. (See Requirements section above.) Projects completed in Office 2007, 2010, 2013 or Office 2011 for Mac may not receive full credit as not all required features will be available.

·       Lastly, a final research project will be due on Wednesday, 12/12 (11:59 pm.) Assignment details will be in Canvas.

Grades:

Disregard any point totals or averages which show in MindTap. Accurate grade averages will be displayed throughout the semester in Canvas.

Course averages will be calculated using the following weights:

Module 1:	10%
Module 2:	20%
Module 3:	20%
Module 4:	20%
Module 5:	20%
Final Project:	10%
TOTAL	100%

Scores for Units 1 and 4 will be the weighted average of each assignment based on the total number of items in each assignment.

The scores for Units 2,3, and 5 will be calculated as follows:

Weighted average of unit quizzes:	15%
Weighted average of SAM Paths/other assignments:	35%
Capstone Project:	50%

Course grades will then be determined using the scale below:

93 – 100	A	70 – 72	C-
90 – 92	A-	73 – 76	C
87 – 89	B+	67 – 69	D+
83 – 86	B	63 – 66	D
80 – 82	B-	60 – 62	D-
77 – 79	C+	0 - 59	F

Late policy:

You may work ahead on most of the course. If an assignment is open, you are welcome to submit it early. If you miss the deadline for an assignment, or score below 80%, you may still complete the assignment through the last day of classes for 80% maximum credit. The Final Project due date is firm and will not be available for late submissions.

Expectations:

·       All members of UNCW’s community are expected to follow the academic Honor Code. Please read the UNCW Honor Code carefully (as covered in the UNCW Student Handbook and available at: uncw.edu/odos/honorcode/). Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this class.

·       Please be especially familiar with UNCW’s position on plagiarism as outlined in the UNCW Student Handbook. Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty in which you take someone else’s ideas and represent them as your own. Here are some examples of plagiarism:

1.    You write about someone else’s work in your paper and do not give them credit for it by referencing them.

2.    You give a presentation and use someone else’s ideas and do not state that the ideas are the other person’s.

3.    You get facts from your textbook or some other reference material and do not reference that material.

·       The University’s policy on the responsible use of electronic resources also applies to all work for this course. See uncw.edu/policies/documents/07.100_Resp_Use_of_Elec_Resources0807.pdf.

University Assessment:

This course and section have been selected to participate in the campus-wide General Education Assessment process. Existing assignment(s) for this course have been chosen for this purpose. The separate scoring of the selected assignment(s) and/or assessment(s) for the purposes of General Education Assessment WILL NOT affect your grade in this course or any other coursework at UNCW. It will, however, help the university to identify potential ways to improve student learning in general. All identifying information will be removed from your work, so your confidentiality will be maintained during the scoring and tabulation processes. You can learn more about the General Education Assessment process by visiting: uncw.edu/assessment/general/students.html.

General Advice:

·       Many assignments have several steps (such as a SAM Path) or provide multiple attempts. If you wait until the evening of the due date to begin, it is unlikely that you will finish, and last-minute help may not be available. Lack of planning, lack of Internet connectivity, hard drive crashes, family emergencies, car trouble, etc., etc., etc., will not be accepted as excuses to waive late penalties. Due dates are firm and final. Plan for disasters, and plan ahead. If you tend to procrastinate or lose track of deadlines, you should not take this course online. As with gainful employment, you are expected to meet commitments in this course without excuses. Failing to meet your commitments in this course, or on the job, carry meaningful consequences.

·       There are no extra credit assignments.

·       While I do check email several times every day, please do not expect a reply after 10:00 pm. If you have a problem with an assignment and are only beginning it at the last minute, you are responsible for any issues that arise.

·       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.

Title IX:

UNCW takes all forms of interpersonal violence very seriously. When students disclose, first- or third-hand to faculty or staff about sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking, this information must be reported to the administration in order to ensure that students' rights are protected, appropriate resources are offered, and the need for further investigation is explored to maintain campus safety. There are three confidential resources who do not need to report interpersonal violence: UNCW CARE, the Student Health Center, and the Counseling Center. If you want to speak to someone in confidence, these resources are available, including CARE's 24-hour crisis line (910-512-4821). For more information visit uncw.edu/titleix and uncw.edu/care.

Tips for Success:

1.    Plan ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin an assignment.

2.    Read all e-mail from me thoroughly. If you don’t, it could adversely affect your grade. All requirements and due dates will be posted on the course calendar, and reminders will be sent via e-mail. Knowing due dates is your responsibility.

3.    Please use UNCW e-mail to contact me. I don’t regularly check or respond to voice mail.

4.    Check your UNCW e-mail account daily.

5.    Seek help when you need it and as soon as you need it. I am happy to answer questions and lend assistance on any and all of the coursework, but I have no way of knowing you are confused if you don’t contact me.

6.    Don’t worry about sending me too many e-mails: it is important to get your questions answered, no matter how many there are.

7.    Feel free to drop in during office hours - no appointment is needed. I am also happy to make an appointment to meet with you if office hours conflict with your schedule.

8.    Plan ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin an assignment.