Syllabus COSC 1301 Personal Computing

Course Catalog
Description:

Course Catalog Description: COSC 1301 PERSONAL COMPUTING (3-2-2). A hands-on course for the development of skills needed to use personal computer systems for business, individual, and educational applications. Learn word processing, database management, spreadsheet development, and how to use the operating system. Keyboarding skills are not required, but are helpful. May not be applied toward a CSC degree. Fee: $12 Skills: R ()Course Type: T

Required
Text:

Book
Purchase

Course
Objectives/
Outcomes:

The COSC 1301 Personal Computing course is intended to help students develop personal productivity skills with the use of microcomputers for the following applications: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Access.
The course material is intended to integrate information across applications, develop computer literacy with an increased knowledge of computing concepts and terminology, and to develop skills in disk and file management using a graphical user interface (Microsoft Windows).

Scans
Competencies:

C8	Uses computers to process information.
C19	Applies Technology to Task:Understands overall intent and proper procedures for setup and operation of equipment.
F5	Listening: Receives, attends to, interprets, and responds to verbal messages and other cues.
F10	Seeing Things in the Mind"s Eye: Organizes and processes symbols, pictures, graphs, objects, and other information.
F11	Knowing How to Learn: Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills.
F16	Self-Management: Assesses self accurately, sets personal goals, monitors progress, and exhibits self-control.

Requirements:

There are class assignments and a major exam for each of the applications listed in the course objectives.
Assignments are to be compared by the student against an instructor notebook. If the assignments exactly match and are turned in the class period before the exam (or earlier) extra credit of 10 points will be added to your exam. NO partial extra credit is given. NO late assignments are accepted because this is extra credit.
Students are expected to budget their time so that they can complete their assignments and take their tests on the date specified on the attached schedule.

Method of
Determining
Final
Course
Grade:

Incomplete:

A grade of "I" will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor only for extreme emergencies. The instructor will not consider assigning an "I" if the student is not current or if the circumstances are not compelling. If you are required to be a full-time student for any reason, then it is your responsibility to remain current to keep from being dropped.

Withdrawal:

A grade of "W" will be assigned if the student initiates a withdrawal through the Admissions and Records office, in accordance with the requirements of that office. Although the instructor has the prerogative to withdraw students for excessive absences or lack of progress, she is under no obligation to do so. It is the responsibility of the student and not the responsibility of the instructor to initiate all withdrawal proceedings. If a student fails to complete the work and also fails to properly withdraw, a grade of A,B,C,D, or F will be assigned in accordance with the work which is completed. Generally those students who simply stop completing assignments or do not take exams without proper withdrawal will be assigned an F.

Course/
Class
Policies:

In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the instructor. It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students should be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework (Current Student Handbook).
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester (Current Student Handbook).

Class Preparation

This course has a hands-on approach to learning the software packages. The course is not difficult, but it is time consuming. To do well in this course, you must schedule your work time to include at least the time scheduled for lecture and lab. Some students may need additional time. You are to schedule yourself for the time that you need. The open lab is available to you for any additional time that you may need. If you attempt to complete all of the assignments and take the exam on the same day you will not gain the skills, experience, and understanding that is expected from completing this class.
Read and work through each unit as assigned - working along as your read. (Or, read the unit first, and then work the unit.) Then you are ready for the homework assignment for that unit.
After completing all units in each package, you should be ready for the exam. Exams must be taken in class on or before the due date without penalty.
Remember: Learn how to use the Help screen for those times that you are "stuck" on a question. It is better if you have already learned how to do each action, but you should at least be familiar with how Help works.

Course
Schedules