AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER STUDIES AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOG
Course Syllabus: COSC 1301 – Introduction to
Computing
FALL 2016 Synonym #13604/13605 Section #012/028 –12 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 |
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
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. 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. 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, review what you got wrong and also go back and do the practice
tests if you haven’t already.
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 (12-Week)
|
Week |
Textbook
Chapters |
Due
Date |
|
1 |
Chapter
1 Chapter
7 Chapter
2 |
|
|
2 |
Chapter
8 Chapter
9 Chapter
10 |
Test
1 Due Last
day to test is Tueday, October 11 |
|
3 |
Chapter
11 |
|
|
4 |
Chapter
3 Chapter
4 |
Lab
Project Word Due Last
day to submit is Monday, October 24 |
|
5 |
Chapter
13 Chapter
14 |
Test
2 Due Last
day to test is Tuesday, November 1, 2016 |
|
6 |
Chapter
15 Chapter
16 |
|
|
7 |
Chapter
5 Chapter
6 |
Lab
Project Excel Due Last
day to submit is Monday, November 14, 2016 |
|
8 |
Chapter
17 Chapter
18 |
Test
3 Due Last
day to test is Tuesday, November 22 |
|
9 |
Chapter
19 |
|
|
10 |
Chapter
20 Chapter
21 |
Lab
Project Access Due Last
day to submit is Monday,
December 5, 2016 |
|
11 |
Review
Chapters for Test 4 Chapter
22 |
|
|
12 |
|
Test
4 Due Last
day to test is Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Lab
Project Powerpoint Due Friday, December 16, 2016 |