Course number: CIS 1103
Credit/Contact hours: 3
Term: Spring, January 12 - May 7, 2004
Course title: Introduction to Microcomputers
College website: www.mansfield.edu
Instructor name: John Phillips
Instructor office location: Elliott 205 A
Instructor office hours: online at http://faculty.mansfield.edu/jphillip/
Instructor telephone: 570-662-4704 (however, it is best to contact me via e-mail)
Instructor e-mail address: jphillip@mansfield.edu
Introduces the Windows XP disk operating system for microcomputers and the use of word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and database management software.
Prerequisite: none
Computer Concepts, Fourth Edition--Illustrated Introductory, Enhanced, June Parsons and Dan Oja , 2003, Course Technology, ISBN 0-619-11039-2.
There are many different software packages out there. Mansfield University has standardized on the Microsoft XP operating system and Microsoft Office XP (2002) which contains Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access. If you are unable to use a computer at the school then you might consider buying the educational version of this software. However, even the educational price is rather expensive. Therefore, I will also accept assignments completed using a free software package called Open Office which is available at http://www.openoffice.org/. Other software may also be acceptable if you can save your work in RTF or PDF format. However, I will not be able to offer you much support with these other programs.
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 at least 2 backup copies of all work you do on diskettes or CDs.
http://faculty.mansfield.edu/jphillip/ for this syllabus and course information
Blackboard for class announcements and discussion ( http://cde.sshe.edu:8092 )
Section 02 meets in Elliott Hall room 206 MWF 10:00 - 10:50
Section 190 is an online course. Log onto Blackboard daily if possible.
In general the following policy will be used on subjectively graded work such as essays and projects. 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 B- to a B grade. Work that is very good and exceeds the instructor's expectations will in general earn a B+ or A- 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 differentiate final grades with plus and minus subdivisions as outlined in the catalog.
| Course Grade | % of Grade |
| Assignments | 50 |
| Tests | 50 |
This course places an emphasis on hands-on experimentation. You will need to spend a large amount of time exploring the course topics in a hands-on environment, either on your own computer or in the computer lab. Please allocate plenty of time in your schedule for this course.
Feel free to help each other solve problems encountered as much as possible in this class on the assignments. Browse other students' posted work, on-line web sites, and other books for ideas. However, do be careful; if you copy another's work and you do not give credit for it, that is plagiarism. In general, any computer files you submit should contain your own work and not someone else's. It would be especially bad to copy another student's work and then make a few changes to it and submit it as your own. Please do not do this. If you are in doubt then discuss the situation with your instructor.
The last day to withdraw from a College course with a "W" grade is published in the Academic Calendar. 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.
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus and course timeline as the course progresses.
| Week |
Week Of
|
Outline |
| 1 | 01/12 | Unit A - computer and Internet basics |
| 2 | 01/19 | Windows XP and utility programs |
| 3 | 01/26 | Unit B - computer hardware |
| 4 | 02/2 | Word processing software |
| 5 | 02/9 | Unit C - computer software |
| 6 | 02/16 | Presentation software; Test 1 |
| 7 | 02/23 | Unit D - digital electronics and file management |
| 8 | 03/01 | Online presentation peer review |
| 9 | 03/08 | Spring Break 3/4 - 3/14 |
| 10 | 03/15 | Unit E - network technology and the Internet |
| 11 | 03/22 | Spreadsheet software |
| 12 | 03/29 | Unit F - data security |
| 13 | 04/5 | Database software; Test 2 |
| 14 | 04/12 | Unit G - the web and e-commerce |
| 15 | 04/19 | Web site design |
| 16 | 04/26 | Unit H - digital media |
| 17 | 05/03 | Finals Week - peer review of websites due 5/3 |