AUSTIN
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT
OF COMPUTER STUDIES AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Course
Syllabus: COSC 1301 – Introduction to
Computing
FALL 2016
(Synonym #13624/13637 Section #029/054 –16 Week)
Instructor: Mary Kohls
Office
Telephone: 223-3185
Fax: 223-3192
Office: Rio Grande
Campus 113.2
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday - 9:30 am
-12:00 pm
E-mail: kohls@austincc.edu
Home page: http://www.austincc.edu/kohls/
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
Pinard and Romer, Course
Technology;
BUNDLED (click to see more information)
Instructional Methodology: The course will use the blackboard
system, http://acconline.austincc.edu and a publisher
supplied web-based course management system.
Course materials are located at the Blackboard, and include but are not
limited to PowerPoints, Practice Tests, Schedule, Gradebook, et.
al. Information
about the publisher supplied system SAM can also be found in Blackboard.
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/Desktop Support
Associate of
Applied Science – Game programming
Associate of
Applied Science – Microcomputer Application Support
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:
The instructor
will assign grades based both on concepts (including Computer Literacy
terminology) and practical application skills.
There will be
four lab project sets and four Tests.
The lab project sets are worth 100 points each for a total of 400
points. The tests are worth 100 points
each for a total of 400 points.
Therefore there is a maximum of 800 points total.
Your grade is
based on the following grading scale:
Total Points |
Grade |
720 and above |
A |
640 up thru
719 |
B |
560 up thru
639 |
C |
480 up thru
559 |
D |
479 and below |
F |
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
policy.
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”.
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.
Testing
Center Policy
The tests for this course have to be taken at a
testing center. See the following link
for more information about testing center locations, hours and procedures: http://www.austincc.edu/support-and-services/services-for-students/testing-services/instructional-testing . You
may retest once and only once on each exam.
There are two sets of questions for each exam: Form A and Form B. If
you retest you must take a different form of the exam. When you go to retest,
state that you are retesting and the form which you have previously taken. You
may retest on an exam on or before the deadline to take the exam, although you
are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. If you miss the test deadline you
will be able to test but not retest. You
must take the exam that you missed at the Rio Grande testing center. The
testing centers will not allow you to test and then retest on the same
day. You MUST show your Student ID and a
picture ID at a Testing Center in order to take an exam. In order to make the retesting option more
beneficial, it is recommended that you come by and go over the initial test
before retesting.
Attendance /
Withdrawal
Students are expected to work (read and
study the textbook and spend time on computer assignments) each week. Regular work helps ensure satisfactorily
progression towards completion of the course.
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 the student fails to stay current with the tests and lab
projects. The last date to withdraw for
this semester is November 28, 2016. It is not the responsibility of the
instructor to withdraw the students from their class even though the instructor
has the prerogative to do so under the above listed circumstances. 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.
Student Files –
Privacy
If you wish to
use the Computer Studies labs to complete your lab projects, you will need to be assigned a separate
login for those labs (see the lab staff on the campus you wish to use for more
information). The information that a
student stores in his/her account 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 Student Accessibility Services
Office 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
SAS Web Site for more information).
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 and ACCmail please visit the
following sites: http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/StudentSupport.php and http://www.austincc.edu/google/.
COSC
1301 Introduction to Computing
Course
Schedule (16-Week)
Week |
Textbook Chapters |
Due Date |
1 |
Chapter 1 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 |
|
2 |
Chapter 2 Chapter 9 |
|
3 |
Chapter 10 Chapter 11 |
Test 1 Due |
4 |
Chapter 12 |
|
5 |
Chapter 3 |
Lab Project Set 1 Due |
6 |
Chapter 13 Chapter 4 |
|
7 |
Chapter 14 |
Test 2 Due |
8 |
Chapter 15 Chapter 16 |
|
9 |
Chapter 5 |
Lab Project Set 2 Due |
10 |
Chapter 6 |
|
11 |
Chapter 17 |
Test 3 Due |
12 |
Chapter 18 Chapter 19 |
|
13 |
Chapter 20 |
Lab Project Set 3 Due |
14 |
Chapter 21 Review
Chapters for Test 4 |
|
15 |
Chapter 22 |
Test 4 Due |
16 |
Lab Project Set 4 Due |