CIT 105 - Introduction to Computers

CIT 105 - Introduction to Computers

CIT105-75M3(Hybrid) 3 credit hours

Instructor Nancy McClearn Semester Fall 2013

Office #260 JHG-Madisonville Classroom SEC 202

Phone (270) 824-1816 Meeting Times Tuesday-9:30-10:45

Email

(Since I teach on the Madisonville and Central City campus, the best way to contact me is through email. Please remember to utilize your college email account vs. personal email account. Personal email accounts do not always come through to my email account).

Office Hours

*Office hours available by appointment on Fridays.

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the computer and the convergence of technology as used in today’s global environment. It introduces topics including computer hardware and software, file management, the Internet, e-mail, the social web, green computing, security and computer ethics. This course also presents basic use of application, programming, systems, and utility software. Basic keyboarding skills are strongly recommended.

Prerequisite

Successful completion of RDG 20 or consent of instructor.

Classroom Materials/Supplies

Text:New Perspectives Microsoft Office 2013, bundled with Sam Registration Code and a trial version of Microsoft Office 365 software. (Valid for 180 days) Publisher: Cengage Learning. Your textbook bundle must be purchased through the Madisonville North campus bookstore. A used version is not available. This bundle is also not available through a third party source.

Software: Microsoft Office 365 Professional Suite (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint). A trial version (valid for 180 days) is included with your textbook bundle option). We will also be using the Windows 8 Operating System, as well as the Cengage Learning/Sam website. An access code to SAM is also included with your textbook bundle.

Software Disclaimer: This course is built around and follows the structure of Windows 8, IE 10, and Microsoft Office 2013 for PC/Windows-based computers

Storage Device: A 4 GB or larger flash drive will be needed for this class.

Course Competencies

Upon successful completion of this course, the student can:

1. Describe basic computer functions and use correct computer technology.
2. Use a course management system.
3. Utilize computer technology as a tool to access, manage, prepare, and present information.
4. Identify trends in information processing and new emerging technologies.
5. Explain the impact of computers upon society including effects of social technologies, green computing, dangers of excessive use, and disposal of obsolete equipment.
6. Identify and analyze ethical issues such as copyright, privacy, and security as related to computing.
7. Explain the difference between application, programming, system, and utility software.
8. Use a graphical user interface-based operating system to manage files, folders and disks.
9. Use application software packages to prepare basic documents, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations.
10. Describe and explain basic data communications and network technologies and functions.
11. Identify and use basic e-mail and Internet functions and understand their capabilities.
12. Describe globalization and challenges including technological barriers, electronic payments, and varying cultures.
13. Describe cloud computing and its impact on business and personal systems.

Critical Thinking

Beginning in school, and continuing at successively higher levels across their college studies, students should prepare for twenty-first-century challenges by gaining: Intellectual and Practical Skills, including critical and creative thinking.

Assessment: Students will apply newly developed technical skills when constructing research papers, resumes, graphs, presentations, and other documents for courses.Students will correctly construct Excel worksheets that compare and analyze data for decision-making. Students will also correctly complete the Problem Based Learning Integration Project.

Evaluation of Writing

“Instructors in all courses are expected to call attention to proper English usage and may penalize for errors and/or require the rewriting of papers which do not meet acceptable standards in English. Any instructor who finds the written work of any student seriously defective in English may recommend remedial work or refer the student for additional assistance from local resources.” (Faculty Senate Rules Section V, 2.33)

Grading

Grading Criteria Grading Scale

• Assignments30%A 90-100
• Examinations30%B80-89
• Quizzes10%C70-79
• Problem-Based
• Learning Integration D60-69

Project10%EBelow 60%

• Attendance 5%
• Comprehensive

Final Exam15%

Incomplete

An incomplete will only be given if the student completes every assignment other than the final exam, and because of extreme circumstances, cannot complete the semester.The final exam must be made up within one week of the original due date.

Withdrawal Policy

Friday, August 23, 2013 •Last day to drop a course without a grade and receive a full (100%) refund.

Monday, October 21, 2013(Midterm) •Last day to officially withdraw from course at your own discretion with a grade of “W”.

Friday, December 6, 2013 •Last day to withdraw from course at the

Instructor’s discretion with a grade of “W”.

A student officially withdrawing will receive a “W” if the student’s current class grade point average at the time of the withdrawal is 60% or greater. If current grade point average is less than 60%, withdrawal with a “W” will be denied.

Attendance, Late Work & Make-Up Policies

1. Regular attendance, participationand punctualityare expected for successful completion of thiscourse. Class continues even when you are not present, so please take personal ownership of your class. It is the student’s full responsibility to look on Blackboard or contact the instructor in reference to all missed work incurred while absent.

2. Assignments should be submitted at the beginning of class, before instruction begins, or by the deadline on Blackboard or Sam link, as applicable. Students are still responsible for assignments missed while absent. If students are absent on days that hard copies are due, those may be submitted at the beginning of the next class attended. Late Assignments will not be accepted and will result in a grade of “0”.

3. No make-up quizzes will be allowed. However, you may drop your lowest quiz grade, or one quiz missed.

4. There will be an exam after each chapter.No make-up exams will be allowed. However, you may drop your lowest exam grade, or one exam missed. The comprehensive final exam may not be included in the exam to be dropped.

Classroom Etiquette

*Maintain a positive, professional, respectful attitude within the classroom. Students will be asked to leave class if they become disruptive of other students’ learning.

*Finish all food and drink before entering the classroom. These should not bevisible.

*Tobacco products of any type are not to be used within the classroom.

*Silence all phones and pagers before class starts. Please refrain from texting during class.

*Please refrain from printing once instruction has started.

*Please make arrangements for your children vs. bringing them to class.

*Maintain punctuality and attendance. Attendance will be taken during each class with tardies documented.

*Please refrain from using the computer for personal use. Our class time is not intended for visiting Facebook, etc. Students will be asked to leave class if this continues to be a problem.

*Students are expected to bring their own textbook, flash drive and all necessary supplies to classeach day.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to uphold the KCTCS Student Code of Conduct relating to academic honesty. The KCTCS Student Code of Conduct may be found at the following website: assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the academic work they submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity shall be that a student’s submitted work, examinations, reports, and projects must be that of the student’s own work. Students shall be guilty of violating the honor code if they:

• Represent the work of others as their own.

• Use or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic work.

• Give unauthorized assistance to other students.

• Modify, without instructor approval, an examination, paper,

record, or report for the purpose ofobtaining additional credit.

• Misrepresent the content of submitted work.

The penalty for violating the code is severe. Any student violating the honor code is subject to receiving a failing grade for the course and will be reported to the Office of the Student Affairs. If a student is unclear about whether a particular situation may constitute an honor code violation, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss the situation.

For this class, it is permissible to assist classmates in general discussions of computing techniques. General advice and interaction are highly encouraged. Each person; however, must develop his or her own solutions to the assigned projects, assignments and tasks. In other words, students may not “worktogether”on graded assignments. A student may not use or copy (by any means) another’s work (or portions of it) and represent it as his/her own. If you need help on an assignment, contact your instructor vs. other classmates.

Inclement Weather Policy

In cases of inclement weather please listen to area radio and television stations for cancellations.

Madisonville Community College’s standard procedure during inclement weather is to remain open and hold classes as scheduled. Campus closures are rare; however, should the weather become severe enough to warrant closing the campus, we will contact local media as well as relay the information using SNAP to your phone, email, or text message. Please watch for a SNAP announcement and/or the local news or listen to local radio for the latest information. As always, use your own judgment when determining whether or not it is safe to travel in your area.

For more information, or to sign up for SNAP, visit

Student Safety Information

Madisonville Community College is concerned with the safety of the students attending classes at any of the four campuses. The following points are for your benefit as a student:

• In case any life threatening event, call 911. The local emergency responders are better equipped to take care of these situations.
• To sign up for the Safety Notification Alert Process (SNAP) go to the MCC webpage and click on the SNAP section. After completing this, you will receive notifications on school closings, inclement weather, and other safety notifications.
• To report a safety concern call the MCC Tip Line at (824-1900)to report safety concerns or suspicious behavior. This line is monitored once a day Monday through Friday.
• The MCC emergency number (824-1911)is answered by selected personnel during the day.
• There is a Maintenance number (836-5330) for students on the North campus for use after the switchboard closes at 4:30. This is a cell phone that is answered by one of the Maintenance & Operations personnel.

Distance Learning Resources

Library Information:

Online services for research can be located at the following web page:

Technical Support: If you have problems with Blackboard, please contact the Blackboard 24/ Help Desk toll free at 1-866-590-9238, or through the “Help” tab at:

If you have problems with Sam, please visit the support website (for 24/7 online chat or email) at you may contact them toll free at 1-800-648-7450 (press option #5), Monday – Thursday(8:30 AM to 9:00 PM, EST); Friday (8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, EST). The web address to log into Sam is:

(Instructor is not responsible for troubleshooting problems with Sam or Blackboard).

Course Technical Requirements: You will need reliable internet connection. High Speed is preferred. You will also need to make sure that Adobe Flash Player has been downloaded to your computer. You will need access to the following software: Microsoft Office 365 Professional Version, to include Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. Several other versions do not include Access, so please make sure that you do have the Professional version. The Microsoft Windows 8 Operating system will also be used.

Tentative Course Schedule – Fall2013

Disabilities Policy

“Students with documented disabilities that require individualized accommodations should do two things: contact the Disability Resource Coordinator at their Home College and inform their instructors. Once the student has contacted the Disability Resource Coordinator at the Home College, that Coordinator will communicate with the student's instructors and/or the Disability Resource Coordinator at the Delivering College in order to coordinate and/or provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations to the student.” If your home campus is Madisonville Community College, contact Valerie Wolfe, Disability Resource Manager, at 270-824-1708 or for additional information.

THIS SYLLABUS IS TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR TO MEET CLASS NEEDS.

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