AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER STUDIES AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

 

Course Syllabus: COSC 1301 (3-2-2) – Introduction to Computing

Synonym 44251

 

 

Lecture/Lab:               RGC 112 M/W 10:55 am – 12:40 am

Instructor:                  Ken Peterson, Adjunct Professor, Computer Studies

Office Telephone:       (512) 223-3173

Office:                         RGC 113

Office Hours:              M/W  12:45pm – 1:15pm

T/Th  12:45pm – 1:45pm

E-mail:                        kenp@austincc.edu

Home page:                http://www.austincc.edu/kenp

 

Course Description: Overview of computer systems—hardware, operating systems, and microcomputer application software, including the Internet, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, and databases. Current issues such as the effect of computers on society, and the history and use of computers in business, educational, and other modern settings are also studied.

 

This course provides the required computer literacy core competencies that all students need to attain by graduation.

 

Pre-requisite: Reading – R.

Keyboarding and mouse operation skills recommended.

 

Approved Course Texts:

CMPTR, 1st Edition, Pinard/Romer, Course Technology, 2012.

NOTE: This textbook MUST be selected from one of two BUNDLES (the only difference is that one bundle provides a 180 day license to Microsoft Office 2010):

 

ISBN-13: 978-1133-22090-9 or ISBN-10: 1-133-22090-8 : (Textbook, CourseMate, and SAM Access)

ISBN-13: 978-0495-96549-7 or ISBN-10: 0-495-96549-9 : (Textbook, CourseMate, SAM Access, and 180 day Microsoft Office 2010 license)

 

Instructional Methodology: This course will have both 2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of lab each week. If the students are unable to finish the assigned lab work within the lab time, they will need to visit the CIS open labs to complete their assignments.

 

Course Rationale: This course meets the Computer Literacy course requirements as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This course is included in several degree plans and certificates including:

 

·         Associate of Applied Science – Computer Programming

·         Associate of Applied Science – Web Programming

·         Associate of Applied Science – Local Area Network Administration

·         Associate of Applied Science – User and Computer Support

·         Associate of Applied Science – Game and Visualization programming

·         Associate of Applied Science – Information Technology Application

·         Associate of Applied Science – Security Administration

·         Associate of Applied Science – Software Testing

 

Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

The students will learn to “use computer-based technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information. Students will have an “understanding of the limits, problems, and possibilities associated with the use of technology, and acquire the tools necessary to evaluate and learn new technologies as they become available. After successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

 

1.      Define and describe the hardware used in information technology (IT).

2.      Define and describe the types of software used in IT.

3.      Delineate and discuss societal issues involving the use of  IT and networks.

4.      Demonstrate the ability to create and use documents, spreadsheets, presentations and databases in order to communicate and store information as well as to support problem solving.

5.      Use IT to acquire, differentiate and evaluate information and technology.

 

SCANS (Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills):

Refer to http://www.austincc.edu/cit/courses/scans.pdf for a complete definition and explanation of SCANS. The following list summarizes the SCANS competencies addressed in this particular course:

 

 

RESOURCES

1.1 Manages Time

 

INTERPERSONAL

 

INFORMATION

3.1 Acquires and Evaluates Information

3.2 Organizes and Maintains Information

3.3 Uses Computers to Process Information

 

SYSTEMS

4.1 Understands Systems

4.2 Monitors and Corrects Performance

 

TECHNOLOGY

5.1 Selects Technology

5.2 Applies Technology to Task

 

BASIC SKILLS

6.1 Reading

6.5 Listening

 

THINKING SKILLS

7.2 Decision Making

7.3 Problem Solving

7.4 Mental Visualization

7.5 Knowing How to Learn

7.6 Reasoning

 

PERSONAL SKILLS

8.1 Responsibility

8.2 Self-Esteem

8.3 Sociability

8.4 Self-Management

8.5 Integrity/Honesty

 

Grade Policy:

    Concept Exams(3)               30%
    Lab Exams(3)                      30%

    Comprehensive Exam:         10%

    Lab assignments:                 20%

    Project presentation                         10%

 

Concept Exams: 

   Concept Exams will be multiple-choice/true-false/short answer.  You may bring 1 page of notes (both sides) to the exam.   You may not use the aid of another person.

 

·         Missed exams:  There will be no make-up exams. If you miss one exam, the Comprehensive Exam will count double.

 

Comprehensive Exam:

  The Comprehensive Exam will be multiple-choice. It will be closed book and no notes. There is no makeup for this exam.

 

Lab Exams:

  For the lab exams, you may use your notes and the Windows/Office “Help” feature as references. However, you may not seek or use the aid of another person.

 

Lab assignments:

  Labs will be assigned for each chapter starting with Chapter 7. Each Lab will be graded on a 100 point basis. Your lowest lab score will be discarded.

 

Important!!  You may not take any exam or hand in any lab after the last day of classes unless you apply for and receive an incomplete (“I”) in the course.

 

Grades:

 

  

Range

Grade

90 -100

A

80 - 89

B

70 - 79

C

60 - 69

D

Below 60

F

 

·         Incomplete (“I”) Grade:  A student may receive a temporary grade of “I”(incomplete) at the end of the semester only if the following conditions are satisfied:

1.      The student is unable to complete the course during the semester due to circumstances beyond her/his control.

2.      The student must have earned at least half of the grade points needed for a “C” by the end of the semester.

3.      The request for the grade must be made in person at the instructor’s office and necessary documents completed.

4.      To remove an “I”, the student must complete the course by two weeks before the end of the following semester.  Failure to do so will result in the grade automatically reverting to an “F”.

 

·         Withdrawal (“W”) Grade:  It is the student’s responsibility to complete a Withdrawal form in the Admissions Office if they wish to withdraw from this class.  The instructor may withdraw students from this class if their absences exceed 10% of the total class meetings. It is not the responsibility of the instructor to withdraw students from his class even though the instructor has the prerogative to do so under the above listed circumstances. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a withdrawal if he/she cannot successfully complete the course. According to the ACC academic calendar, the final withdrawal date is April 23, 2012.

 

·         ALERT:  New state law for new students.  No more than six course withdrawals throughout your undergraduate education, regardless of how many colleges you attend.  Students who entered college before fall 2007 are not affected.  Ask a counselor for details.

 

 

Course/Class Policies:

 

Academic Integrity

A student is expected to complete his or her own projects and tests. Students are responsible for observing the policy on academic integrity as described in the current ACC Student Handbook, under “Student Discipline Policy, Section C.”

 

The penalty accessed will be in accordance with the current ACC Student Handbook policy.

 

For this course, the penalty for scholastic dishonesty is a grade of  F” for the course.

 

Incomplete

A student may receive a temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) at the end of the semester only if ALL of the following conditions are satisfied:

 

1.      The student is unable to complete the course during the semester due to circumstances beyond their control.

2.      The student must have earned at least half of the grade points needed for a “C” by the end of the semester.

3.      The request for the grade must be made in person at the instructor‘s office and necessary documents completed.

4.      To remove an “I, the student must complete the course by two weeks before the end of the following semester. Failure to do so will result in the grade automatically reverting to an “F”.

 

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes and be on time. Excessive absences may result in being withdrawn from the class.

 

Freedom of Expression Policy

It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.

 

Tutoring

Free tutoring is provided for this course. For schedules and details please refer to http:://www.austincc.edu/cit .

 

Student Files – Privacy

The information that a student stores in his/her student volume in the Computer Studies Labs may be viewed, but not changed by his/her instructor for educational and academic reasons. Instructors have read-only access to the students’ files.

 

Students with Disabilities

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 make this request three weeks before the start of the semester. (Refer to the current ACC Student Handbook).

 

Communication

 

Instructors will use the ACC online Blackboard system http://acconline.austincc.edu and the ACCmail accounts as the official communication system during this semester. Instructors can post lecture notes, handouts, changes to course schedule or assignments and your grades on Blackboard and can send all email communication via the ACCmail accounts. Instructors will expect all students to check both Blackboard and their ACCmail accounts on a regular basis. For information on how to log onto Blackboard 8.0 and ACCmail please visit the following sites: http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/StudentSupport.php and http://www.austincc.edu/google/ . Instructors/Lab Technicians will conduct a brief lab orientation during the first class laboratory period.

 

This class will use Blackboard to post grades and the instructor’s web page to post assignments, test dates, and other relevant information.

 

Safety Statement

 

Each student is expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health, and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Emergency posters and Campus Safety Plans are posted in each classroom. Additional information about safety procedures and how to be signed up to be notified in case of an emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.

 

Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class and/or barred from attending future activities.

 

Use of Electronic Devices

 

The use of cell phones, pagers, and personal electronic devices are not allowed at any time in the class or lab. These devices should be put away with ringer off or on silent mode for the duration of the class. The use of a laptop computer in class or lab is restricted to instructor approved activities.

 

 

 


 

COSC 1301 Introduction to Computing

 

Class

#

Date

Concepts Lecture

Lab Session

Homework

 

1/16

Holiday –MLK Birthday – No Class

1

1/18

Course Orientation

Lab Orientation / SAM Logons

 

2

1/23

Chapter 1 (LO 1.1, 1.2)

Chapter 7 – Windows 7 (LO 7.1 - 7.6)

Practice It 7-1

3

1/25

Chapter 1 (LO 1.3, 1.4)

Chapter 8 – Managing Files (LO 8.1, 8.2, 8.3

Practice It 8-1

 

4

1/30

Chapter 2 (LO 2.1, 2.2)

Chapter 9 – Intro Office 2010(LO 9.1 -  9.6)

Practice It 9-1

 

5

2/1

Chapter 2 (LO 2.3, 2.4)

 

Chapter 10 – Creating a Document(LO 10.1 – 10.5)

 

6

2/6

Chapter 2 (LO 2.5, 2.6)

 

Chapter 10 – Creating a Document(LO 10.6 – 10.11)

SAM Practice It 10-1

 

7

2/8

Review for Exam 1

Chapter 11 – Formatting a Long Document(LO 11.1 – 11.5)

 

8

2/13

Concept Exam 1(CH 1-2)

Chapter 11 – Formatting a Long Document(LO 11.6 – 11.9)

SAM Practice It 11-1

 

9

2/15

Chapter 3(LO 3.1, 3.2)

Chapter 12 – Enhancing a Document(LO 12.1 – 12.5 only)

SAM Practice It 12-1

 

10

2/20

Word Lab Exam

11

2/22

Chapter 3(LO 3.3, 3.4)

Chapter 13 – Creating a Workbook (LO 13.1, 13.2, 13.3)

 

12

2/27

Chapter 3(LO 3.5, 3.6, 3.7)

Chapter 13 – Creating a Workbook (LO 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7)

SAM Practice It 13-1

 

13

2/29

Chapter 4(LO 4.1, 4.2)

Chapter 14 Formatting a Worksheet(LO 14.1 – 14.6)

SAM Practice It 14-1

 

14

3/5

Chapter 4(LO 4.3, 4.4)

Chapter 15 – Working with Formulas and Functions(LO 15.1 – 15.6)

SAM Practice It 15-1

 

15

3/7

Chapter 4(LO 4.5, 4.6)

Chapter 16 – Inserting and Formatting Charts(LO 16.1 – 16.4)

 

Spring Break 3/12 – 3/18

16

3/19

Review for Test 2

Chapter 16 – Inserting and Formatting Charts(LO 16.5 – 16.9)

SAM Practice It 16-1

 

17

3/21

Concept Exam 2(CH 3-4)

 

 

18

3/26

Excel Lab Exam

19

3/28

Chapter 5(LO 5.1, 5.2)

 

Chapter 20 – Creating a Presentation (LO 20.1 – 20.4)

 

20

4/2

Chapter 5(LO 5.3, 5.4)

Chapter 20 – Creating a Presentation (LO 20.5 – 20.7)

SAM Practice It 20-1

 

21

4/4

Chapter 6(LO 6.1, 6.2)

Chapter 21 – Enhancing a Presentation (LO 21.1 – 21.4)

 

22

4/9

Chapter 6(LO 6.3, 6.4)

Chapter 21 – Enhancing a Presentation (LO 21.5 – 21.7)

SAM Practice It 21-1

 

23

4/11

Chapter 6(LO 6.5, 6.6)

Chapter 17 – Creating a Database (LO 17.1 – 17.4)

 

 

24

4/16

Review for Test 3)

Chapter 17 – Creating a Database (LO 17.5 – 17.8)

SAM Practice It 17-1

25

4/18

Concept Exam 3(CH 5-6)

 

 

26

4/23

Database Handout

Chapter 18 – Maintaining and Querying a Database (LO 18.1 – 18.4)

SAM Practice It 18-1

27

4/25

Project Preparation

Chapter 19 – Creating Forms and Reports (LO 19.1 – 19.7)

SAM Practice It 19-1

28

4/30

Access Lab Exam

29

5/2

Present Projects

30

5/7

Review for Comprehensive Exam

Chapter 22 – Integrating Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint (LO 23.1)

Practice It 22-1 (Steps 1-15)

31

5/9

Comprehensive Exam

 

 

 

NOTE: The instructor has the prerogative to change the course schedule as required.

Students are expected to read and study the assigned material, per the course schedule,

BEFORE each class, this includes the lab assignments!!