MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY
CIS 303 COURSE SYLLABUS

revised 8/23/2001

GENERAL INFORMATION

Course number: CIS 303
Credit/Contact hours: 3
Term: Fall, August 27 - December 14, 2001
Course title: Networking
College website: www.mansfield.edu

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor name: John Phillips
Instructor office location: Elliott 209B
Instructor office hours: 9:00 - 11:00 MWF
Instructor telephone: 570-662-4704
Instructor e-mail address: jphillip@mnsfld.edu
Instructor website: www.programbetter.com

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Description

Introduction to the concepts of telecommunications, including transmission of voice, data, and images. Network principles will be introduced along with networking protocols. Local area networks and Internet will be the focus of the course. TCP/IP principles will be taught. In addition, the course will cover HTML web page design.

Prerequisites: none

Textbooks

Networking Basics, Ciampa, 2000, South-Western, ISBN: 0-538-69410-6.

Macromedia Dreamweaver 4 Illustrated Introductory, Sherry Bishop, 2002, Course Technology, ISBN: 0-619-01819-4.

Macromedia Fireworks 4 Illustrated Essentials, Steven Johnson, 2001, Course Technology, ISBN: 0-619-05657-6.

Course Websites

www.programbetter.com for the syllabus and course information

www.coursenotebook.com for the class discussion board

Course Outline

  1. Tech checkup - individualized assessment of technical background and knowledge
  2. Web page design fundamentals: audience, aesthetics, maintainability, accessibility
  3. Creating web pages using HTML and Windows NotePad
  4. Basic HTML commands: <html>, <head>, <title>, <body>, <br>, <p>, <h1> .. <h6>, <hr>, <i>, <u>, <b>, <div>
  5. Intermediate HTML commands: <a>, <img>, <font>, hexadecimal colors, special symbol codes
  6. Advanced HTML commands: <table>, <tr>, <td>, attributes, layouts
  7. Web design tools: Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks
  8. Develop professional quality web site
  9. Presentation and review of student web site
  10. Introduction to networking
  11. Network building blocks: topologies
  12. Network cabling and hardware
  13. Network models and standards
  14. Protocols and software
  15. Microsoft Windows 2000 and Novell Netware 5
  16. Managing the network
  17. Wide area networks

Class schedule

MWF 3:00 - 3:50 PM

Equipment and supplies

Access to the Internet is required either using your own computer or by using a computer in the school's computer lab. You should keep a backup copy of all work you do on one or more diskettes.

Grading scale and policy

Work that meets the stated requirements will in general earn a C grade. Work that goes beyond the basic requirements will in general earn anywhere from a C+ to a B- grade. Work that is very good and exceeds the instructor's expectations will in general earn a B grade. Only the most outstanding work will earn an A grade.

(Refer to the Mansfield University Catalog for grades that can be awarded.)

A >= 90%
B >= 80%
C >= 70%
D >= 60%
F < 60%

In addition, the instructor may choose to further differentiate grades with plus and minus subdivisions as outlined in the catalog.

Course Grade % of Grade
Quizzes 40
Homework and participation 15
Web Project and presentation 15
Final Exam 30

Quizzes are closed book and timed. Neither early quizzes nor makeup quizzes will be given, however, a single missing quiz grade, if an excused absence, will be replaced by the score you receive on the final exam.

The final exam will be closed book and closed notes. However, you will be allowed a one-page (8.5 x 11 inch) handwritten and non-photocopied original note sheet that you yourself have created, i.e. it may not be copied from another student in any way. The exam will be comprehensive.

Late assignment policy

Work that is late will lose one letter grade for each day late. No excuses. Computer, server, ftp, and Internet problems will happen, therefore, make it a point to complete all assignments at least one day before the deadline.

Make-up exam policy

No make-up exam will be allowed without prior arrangements being made. A make-up exam must be taken when scheduled.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all courses and course activities for which they are registered. Any class meeting missed, regardless of cause, reduces the opportunity of learning and may adversely affect a student's achievement in the course.

Academic Integrity

As stated in the MU catalog, "students are expected to do their own academic work. Dishonesty in academic work, including cheating, academic misconduct, fabrication, or plagiarism is unacceptable. Faculty are expected to instruct students in ways of avoiding these forms of academic dishonesty. Faculty are also responsible for assessing and reporting all charges of academic dishonesty to the Office of the Provost. The student handbook, The Password, outlines the procedures faculty will use to initiate disciplinary action in cases of academic dishonesty."

It may be tempting to cheat in this class. Do not do it! You will be posting some of your work for all to view. Feel free to browse other students' posted work, on-line web sites, and other books for ideas. However, if you copy that work and you do not give credit for it, that is plagiarism. Likewise, if you discuss a quiz you have taken with another student before they take it, that is cheating. You may not do anything that gives you or another student an unfair advantage. If you are in doubt then discuss the situation with your instructor.

All violations of academic integrity will be referred directly to the Office of the Provost no matter how small the incident.

Withdrawal Policy for Individual Courses

The last day to withdraw from a College course with a "W" grade is October 26th. It is the responsibility of the student to complete and submit the necessary forms to the Registrar's Office. An official withdrawal would entitle the student to a grade of "W" in the course.

Syllabus Change Policy

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as the course progresses.

COURSE TIMELINE

Week Date Topics
1 08/27
  • Class begins
  • Introduction to the course
  • HTML basics: <html>, <head>, <title>, <body>, <Br>, <p>, <h1> .. <h6>, <hr>, <i>, <u>, <b>, <div>
2 09/03
  • more HTML: <a>, <img>, <font>, hexadecimal colors, special symbol codes, <table>, <tr>, <td>, attributes, layouts
3 09/10
  • Quiz #1
  • Dreamweaver - chapters A - D
4 09/17
  • Dreamweaver - chapters E - G
5 09/24
  • Fireworks - work through book
6 10/01
  • Quiz #2
  • Networking Lesson 1: Introduction to Networking
7 10/08
  • Networking Lesson 2: Network Building Blocks
8 10/15
  • Quiz #3
  • Networking Lesson 3: Network Cabling and Hardware
9 10/22
  • Networking Lesson 4: Network Models and Standards
10 10/29
  • Networking Lesson 5: Protocols and Software
11 11/05
  • Quiz #4
  • Networking Lesson 6: Microsoft Windows 2000
12 11/12
  • Networking Lesson 7: Novell Netware 5
13 11/19
  • Quiz #5
  • Networking Lesson 8: Managing the Network
14 11/26
  • Networking Lesson 9: Larger Networks, the Internet and Tomorrow
15 12/03
  • Web site project presentations
16 12/10
  • Final Exam is Wednesday, 12/12 beginning at 3:15 PM