Syllabus
Course Title / Catalog NumberMicroComputer Applications / CIS130
Semester / Year
Fall / 2010
Course Campus Location / Room Number
Technology Drive / TDC202
Meeting Day(s) / Meeting Times
Varies per class / Varies per class
Instructor’s Name / Instructor’s Campus Location
Shawn M. Brown / Technology Drive Campus
Instructor’s Office Number / Instructor’s Telephone Number
TDC201E / (606) 326-2091
Instructor’s Email / Instructor’s Webpage Address
/ http://webs.ashlandctc.org/sbrown0003/
Course Descriptions and Policies
Course Description
Students use a microcomputer and current word processing, database, spreadsheet and presentation software. The requirements, capabilities, limitations and applications of these software packages are included. Lecture: 3 hours. Laboratory: 0 hours. Lecture: 3 hours.
Course Requisites
Keyboarding skills very highly recommended. This course is exceedingly difficult if you lack any keyboarding skills. CIS 100 or consent of instructor.
Course Text(s)
Microsoft Office 2007: Windows XP Edition, Rutkosky & Rutkosky, Paradigm Publishing, 2008., MyITLab. Please note, once this is open, there are no returns! The bookstore can be found online at: http://ashlandctcstore.bncollege.com/ or at either campus.
Course Materials
Ø USB Flash – 1 GB or larger, a microphone, and home PC with internet access is recommended. Each of these items can be found at most department or office supply stores for a relatively low cost.
Ø We do not require that you purchase Microsoft Office 2007. Microsoft Office 2007 is installed on every computer on campus that is available for student use.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course the student will:
Ø Use word processing software to create, format, save, print and retrieve a simple document.
Ø Use spreadsheet software to create, save, and modify a simple spreadsheet containing formulas.
Ø Use database package to create, organize, modify, save and print a simple database file.
Ø Use presentation package to create and format simple presentations.
Ø Use email and the internet form communications and research.
Grading Criteria
CIS100: Introduction to Computers Page 8
The Instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to the syllabus during the semester.
Grade distribution:
Service Learning Project 5%
Blackboard Participation 10%
Integrated Book Project 10%
Final Exam 10%
Quizzes 10%
Exams 15%
PowerPoint Presentation 15%
My IT Lab 25%
Total: 100%
Grading Scale:
Above90% = A
80 -89% = B
70 -79% = C
60 -69% = D
Below60% = E
CIS100: Introduction to Computers Page 8
The Instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to the syllabus during the semester.
Exam coverage
Ø Exam 1 – Microsoft Word
Ø Exam 2 – Microsoft PowerPoint
Ø Exam 3 – Microsoft Excel
Ø Exam 4 – Microsoft Access
Ø Final Exam – Comprehensive (includes all of the above)
Classroom Behavior
It is important that students pay attention in class. In my classes, I do not allow cell phones. Please have them put away at the start of class. If there is an emergency, please let me know beforehand and arrangements can be made to keep your phone on vibrate. I reserve the right to remove a student as needed for improper behavior.
Service Learning Project
This semester it will be required for everyone to complete a service learning activity. As the semester goes along, more details will be provided.
Blackboard Participation
Multiple discussions worth 10 points each will occur using the Blackboard threaded discussion board. A question related to course readings will be posted on the discussion board. Each participant will be expected to engage in significant discussion on the boards. This means you need to participate beyond your initial posting with more 2 discussions for at least 3 total postings at a minimum. Also you will need to post more than 1-2 sentence comments of agreement on a discussion response.
Grading Criteria
Criteria / 0 Points / 2 Points / 5 Points / 8 Points / 10 Points / Amount ScoredParticipation in the discussion / No participation / Answers the discussion question / Answers the discussion question and responds to one other person / Answers the discussion question and engages in discussion with two-three discussions / Answers the discussion question and engages in multiple discussions
Book Project
As part of our on-going reading initiative at ACTC, we will be reading “What Should I Do with My Life” by Po Bronson. (ISBN-13: 9780345485922). The assignments for this project include a variety of Web 2.0 technological tools that are freely available. If you would rather listen to the Audio CD or read the eBook, that is perfectly acceptable.
Final Exam
The final exam will be comprehensive. More information will be available before the Final Exam Week.
Section Quizzes
Each week there will be quizzes to take over the course content being covered. These will consist of multiple choice questions, short-answer, and/or true/false. This quiz will be taken on Blackboard or My IT Lab and will be announced in class when it is due.
Homework Assignments and Pop Quizzes
From time to time, students will be given assignments to complete. Assignments are to be turned in using the Assignment Links (which will be explained in class) and may not be emailed as an attachment. IMPORTANT: Homework MUST be done using MSOFFICE 2007 – NOT MSWorks, Open Office or WordPerfect. It must be completed on a WINDOWS-based PC. Any assignment submitted using a format other than Microsoft Office 2007 will not be accepted and will be assigned a grade of 0 (zero). The instructor will also occasionally give pop quizzes at the beginning of select classes due to poor attendance.
Section Exams
The four section exams will consist of three parts. Part one will either be taken on My IT Lab or Blackboard depending on the exam being taken. Part two will be a practical exercise based on Office 2007 skills. Part three will be a short discussion question. Your total grade for each exam will be the average of your scores on each part.
PowerPoint Presentation
During this semester you will turn in a Power Point presentation on the topic of your instructor’s choice. The presentation details will be available in the Assignments section of Blackboard at a later date.
My IT Lab Lessons
The My IT Lab lessons are mandatory. Fully 25% of your final grade will be completion of the My IT Lab lesson assignments. All My IT Lab tasks must be completed by the assigned deadline; otherwise students will earn a grade of zero for the missed lessons. There will be no makeup opportunities or extensions granted for any reason.
“W” – Withdrawal
A“W” represents a withdrawal from class without completing course requirements. A student may officially withdraw from any class up to and including the date of mid-term with a “W” grade. After the date of mid-term and through the last class of the semester or session, the student may officially request a “W” grade which may be given at the discretion of the instructor. Each instructor shall state on the first or second class meeting the factors to be used in determining the assignment of a “W” grade during the discretionary period. An instructor shall not assign a student a “W” grade for a class unless the student has officially withdrawn from that class in a manner prescribed by the college. The grade of “W” may be assigned by the Community College Appeals Board in cases involving a violation of student academic rights. It may not be assigned to a student found guilty of an academic offense without permission of the instructor in whose class the offense occurred. The student must initiate the official withdrawal with the Office of Admissions at THEIR home school. No grade will be reported for a student who fails to pay registration fees in accordance with established policy or who withdraws by the last day to drop without a grade.
“I” – Incomplete
An incomplete grade represents that part of the required coursework remains unfinished. It shall be given only when there is a reasonable possibility that a passing grade will result from completion of the work. The instructor shall not give an “I” grade when the reason for incompleteness is unsatisfactory. The instructor and student will contract requirements for completion of course with the time limit for completion not to exceed a maximum of one year; failure to do so will result in a change of grade from “I” to “E”.
Each college maintains a record of incomplete grades recorded in courses of that college. This record, completed by the instructor at the time the grade “I” is reported, shall include: (1) the name and number of the student; (2) the course number and hours of credit; (3) semester or session and year of enrollment; (4) signature of the instructor; (5) a brief statement of the reason(s) for recording the incomplete grade; and, (6) an adequate guide for removal of the incomplete grade. In the instructor’s absence, the division chairperson or the designee shall forward to the president (or designee) the appropriate letter grade to replace the incomplete grade.
Attendance/Participation Policy
Regular attendance is expected of all students and is a necessary factor in achieving success. Work missed can never be made up in a completely satisfactory manner because the value of class activities is missed forever. Any quizzes or other point-earning opportunities will be missed if class is missed. Attendance will be taken and counted as a quiz grade. The value of this grade will completely depend on the attendance rate.
MY Withdrawal/Incomplete Policy
It is known that from the end of the drop/add period through midterm of the session, a student may withdraw from a course and receive a “W”. From the first day after midterm until the last day of course work of the session, a student may, at the instructor’s discretion, withdraw from a course and the instructor will assign a grade of “W” at withdrawal. This means, it becomes my choice as to whether or not you are able to drop my class with a grade of “W”. The last date (NO EXCEPTIONS) that I will allow a grade of “W” is the Friday before Thanksgiving which is November 19th.
I rarely give an “I”. You must have an extreme situation and see me personally, well before the end of the semester. Do not wait until the last week of class to do this. I will not grant an “I” during this time. I might also add that if I catch you cheating at any time in the semester, you will not be granted either an “I” or “W” after mid-term. Additionally, I reserve the right to grant or deny an incomplete based solely on my judgment of the student’s situation.
Ashland Community and Technical College Read Right Program
Do you read your textbook chapters then have trouble remembering what you have read? Would you like to be able to read your college textbook assignments in a shorter amount of time? Do you often say, “I hate to read”? Even if you are already a “good reader,” would you like to be able to read your assignments more efficiently?
If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions, ACTC has a reading program called Read Right that can help you become an EXCELLENT READER. For more information about the program or to sign up for a consultation (no charge), contact Barbara Nicholls in the Read Right classroom, CDC 318 or e-mail her at:
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This program can help you with ALL of your college courses and improve your reading skills for life. Please consider using it if you feel the need!
Ashland Community and Technical College Homepage
If you are trying to reach the Homepage for ACTC, you can find it here: http://www.ashland.kctcs.edu
Use this link to check your email, get grades, get school closing info, class schedules, final schedules, student events, etc. It is the student’s responsibility to check his/her KCTCS e-mail at least every other day.
Failure to check your e-mail on a regular basis (at least every other night) may result in missing an assignment or other graded activity, resulting in a grade of 0 (zero).
Blackboard
You are taking this class as Blackboard web-enhanced. This means that assignments, announcements, course syllabus, handouts, etc. are readily accessible by going online. You should get in the habit of checking Blackboard often! Please use your Ashland Community and Technical College/KCTCS user ID and password to access the website. The address for the Blackboard is: http://www.elearning.kctcs.edu
KCTCS Webmail (direct address)
Your email can be found here: https://webmail.kctcs.edu/exchange/
The above link takes you directly to your Ashland Community and Technical College/KCTC email account. Again, please check your school email per the rule in the previous section! Due to federal confidentiality regulations, I will ONLY send messages concerning your grade or class status to your KCTCS e-mail account. Unfortunately, some accounts like hotmail, for example, may get accidentally filtered out, and your instructor may not receive your message and/or homework.
Also, please make sure that your e-mail account does not get full. Once you exceed your quota, you will be unable to receive e-mail messages. Missed assignments due to a full mailbox will NOT be excused. You can avoid a full mailbox by regularly deleting unnecessary e-mail messages.