Tom Rule Fall 2010
CSC 125.006 TR 0925-1040 CSB100
How to contact me - see the full syllabus inside myitalb
Facebook: Tom Rule, in the Mercer group (YOU MUST be in the Mercer network. Go make this happen now!)
Online form: http://www.tomrule.info/ or http://www.maconmacguy.com/
Mailbox in Computer Science office
Cell phone: ______________ (announced in class)
Office: I’m adjunct, and so do not have an office or office hours. Cell & Email are the best ways to contact me. You can also leave a message in my Computer Science Department mailbox.
Prerequisites: none
Handy URLS:
www.myitlab.com - you’ll be doing a lot of work here
csc125.blogspot.com - the class blog – announcements, tips, ideas, etc. SUBSCRIBE to it now!
MyItLab will be used for online training and testing. The blogspot address is a blog I setup for use with this class – I strongly suggest you subscribe to it. There is also a Facebook group for the class – you MUST be in the Mercer “network” to see it. Once you are, search for the group and request to join.
Essential knowledge, skills, abilities needed: common sense. Some computer experience is nice because it will make learning and doing the projects faster. Time and sweat will make up for lack of experience (just like in the “real world”). Yes, it’s nicer to have your own computer – but there are machines available all over campus where you can get your work done. Think of it as the computational equivalent of the Laundromat.
Course objectives: This course is designed to fill in some computing gaps you have (and probably don’t know you have). It is centered on Microsoft Office 2007, but will deal with a plethora of other computing and technology-related subjects. While no prior computing experience is required, students in CSC 125 are expected to read at the college level and also demonstrate math competency.
Upon completion of this course, a student will demonstrate competence in each of the following areas:
- Describe the hardware components of a computer system and be able to explain the role of each component in the integrated computer system,
- Describe the components of a computer network and explain how each piece functions in connecting one to other computers on the network and to the Internet and WWW,
- Use the WWW in a sophisticated manner to conduct research on a given topic,
- Use the Windows operating system,
- Use Office application software for word processing, spreadsheets, database systems, and (optionally) WWW page generation.
- Use Office application software to carry out common tasks in academic and business environments. This includes, but is not limited to, research papers, graphing, and financial calculations.
- Understand the very basic function and purpose of a high level programming language through the use of instructional tools used to teach object oriented programming.
What you’ll need:
- Exploring Microsoft Office 2007 volume one (by Grauer et al). [POSSIBLY OPTIONAL]
- A login code for myITlab [MANDATORY]
- Access to Office 2007 (Including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access). Available at a discount through Mercer University (mercer.edu/tss – click on “Student computer purchases”)
- A computer capable of running the above programs (Windows 2000SP4, XP SP2, Vista, Windows 7) – available oncampus, especially in the CS building, downstairs.
Ask me about Macs – YES, it’s possible - An Internet connection
- A thumb/flash/keychain/whatever-ya-wanna-call-em drive [ MANDATORY!]
the Windows OS through the Computer Science Department. DIRT CHEAP!
Electronic Submission of Assignments:
Students bear sole responsibility for ensuring that papers or assignments submitted electronically to a professor are received in a timely manner and in the electronic format(s) specified by the professor. Students are therefore obliged to have their e-mail client issue a receipt verifying that the document has been received. Students are also strongly advised to retain a copy of the dated submission on a separate disk. Faculty members are encouraged, but not required, to acknowledge receipt of the assignment.
Cell Phone and Pager Usage: The polite, official version:
Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event.
Cell Phone and Pager Usage: The real life, colloquial version:
Turn the flippin’ cell phone off, for pete’s sake. Your mother would be ashamed! Have more consideration for your teacher and fellow students.
Reasonable accommodation from students with disabilities will be welcomed.
Students requiring accommodations for a disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible. The instructor will refer you to the Disability Support Services Coordinator to document your disability, determine eligibility for accommodations under the ADAAA/Section 504 and to request a Faculty Accommodation Form. Disability accommodations or status will not be indicated on academic transcripts. In order to receive accommodations in a class, students with sensory, learning, psychological, physical or medical disabilities must provide their instructor with a Faculty Accommodation Form to sign. Students must return the signed form to the Disability Services Coordinator. A new form must be requested each semester. Students with a history of a disability, perceived as having a disability or with a current disability who do not wish to use academic accommodations are also strongly encouraged to register with the Disability Services Coordinator and request a Faculty Accommodation Form each semester. For further information, please contact Carole Burrowbridge, Disability Services Coordinator, at 301-2778 or visit the Disability Support Services website at http://www.mercer.edu/studentaffairs/disabilityservices
Grievances
“Students have the right to bring grievances against faculty members concerning academic or behavioral matters.”
You might try talking to me first when something bothers you – it’ll likely get resolved faster.
Grading:
Final Exam: 10%
Capstone Projects: 35% [Graded on a 4 point scale]
MyItLab projects/exams 35%
Misc Projects: 20%
I do NOT use the built-in gradebook on myITlab for calculating averages. Use it ONLY to see what your scores are for individual items. There is a downloadable Excel spreadsheet available in myITlab you can use to track your grades & average.
Grading Scale: 90-100 = A 87-89=B+ 80-86=B 77-79=C+ 70-76=C
Attendance policy: You are strongly encouraged to attend every class. Much of what you will learn in this course will be learned in class through lectures and hands-on experience with the computer. Some assignments will be completed and submitted in class. Changes to schedules and assignments will be announced in class [and probably on the facebook group and blog]. I will not give private lectures to students who miss class. At 6 unexcused absences, you will lose 10 points from your final grade. Each additional unexcused absence deducts an additional 2 points from your final grade. For example, if you had a 95 average in the coursework, with 6 absences it become an 85. With 7 absences your average becomes an 81.
If you are granted excused absences from Mercer University for university-related activities, please let me know ahead of time [a quick email is fine!] - especially if there's coursework due. Athletes: do NOT assume the Athletics Dept. has let me know about your excused absences. Let me know – a quick email is good!
Honor Code:
All suspected violations of the University Honor Code will be forwarded to the Honor Council.
Yes, I’ve done it.
YES- THEY LOST
Common Sense:
If you receive a failing grade during the course, contact me and discuss the work/assignment(s) in question.
Final notes, advice, and various miscellany:
1. It will ALWAYS take longer than you think. Plan ahead!
2. You are in this class to develop skills – this takes time. Make working on this stuff a regular part of your schedule.
3. The computer WILL crash – and it will be at the worst possible moment. The closer you are to a deadline, the more often it will crash – it can sense these things
You think I’m lying right now – but you’ll see the truth of these words about mid-semester, when you waited until the last minute and you lost everything at 11:59 pm.
Yes, it’s happened before.
Yes, the student lost points.
4. BACKUPS are critical. I have no compassion on people who can’t turn in an assignment because their only copy hosed.
5. MAKE MULTIPLE COPIES. Thumb drives are cheap. Even cheaper: Email a copy to yourself as a backup.
6. DO YOUR OWN WORK. NEVER give someone else access to your work. NEVER. This is not only dishonest and wrong – but will be referred to Honor Council. Do you really need the hassle?
If you turn in someone else’s work as your own, you will be assigned a grade of F for the entire module – i.e. you will receive an F for each myITlab test AND Capstone for that section of the class.
7. However – DO ask questions, confer with a fellow classmate on how to solve an issue, eyeball their work to doublecheck it. Ask me about the Fortran story involving me and my now-sister-in-law.
8. Re: MyITlab – there are 2 types of things to do in myITlab – training and exams. There are 2 paths you can take to get these done – Skill-based, and Project-based. Ask me about these if you still aren’t clear after I talk about it in class.
9. You CANNOT multitask, and have a snowball’s chance in Macon of getting what we’re covering in class. Stay out of Facebook/MySpace/Email/News/Sports/Chat/Shopping/fill-in-your-own-distraction-here while we’re in class. The stuff was online before you sat down, and it’ll be there when you leave.
List of assignments
All requisite files and instructions will be available for download in myITlab.
This list may change, but probably won’t.
myITlab tests:
PPT 3, 4, 5, 6
Excel 1,2,3,4
Access 1,2,3,4
Word 2, 3, 4, 5
Tests taken in myITlab
Capstones:
PPT 1, 2
Excel 2, 3
Access 1,2, 3
Word 1, 2, 3
Download the Doc, create the files
Misc Projects:
What’s in your Computer?
Useful Thing of the Day
Alice
Others may be added
Download the instructions and follow them
EXTRAORDINARILY Tentative schedule
Date Material Project Deadlines
Jan11 Get files off webpage, 1cl vs 2cl, facebook group, online virus scan, ram, os updates, malware updates, blog subscribe
13 Email org, attachments, zip, thumbdriveuse, search process PPT intro
18 Search cont. PPT intro
20 Measure Data, Moving Data PPT design, usage
25 Disks/format/eject PPT1
27 file formats PPT2
Feb 1 OS vs app, App types Alice Intro
3 PPT to Dev Graphics PPT 1,2, all myITlab PPT DEADLINE
8 Alice XL intro
10 Alice XL design, usage
15 Parts overview: Hw/Sw
17 Processor XL1
22 Alice XL2 EXCEL 2, myITlab Ch1&2 DEADLINE
24 Alice XL3
Mar 1 Cards/Busses
3 EXCEL 3, myITlab Ch 3&4 DEADLINE
SPRING BREAK
15 Network 1 DB intro
17 Network 2 DB intro
22 Alice DB1
24 Monitors/connections/graphics cards DB 1, myITlab Ch 1&2 DEADLINE
29 Alice DB2
31 Printers/Sharing/Types DB3
Apr 5 OS Compare
7 DB 2,3, myITlab Ch 3&4 DEADLINE
12 WP Intro, WP1, WP2
14 Mail Merge
19 WP 1,2 myItlab Ch 2&3 DEADLINE
21 Presentations WP3
26 Presentations
28 Presentation WP 3, myITlab Ch 4&5 DEADLINE
All Deadlines are listed in the myITlab calendar. Check there!
The Final Exam will NOT be a traditional exam taken during a specified time. It will be partly done online and partly on the computer using Office, and will be open book / open notes but MUST be done by yourself. It will be due to be turned in electronically no later than Saturday May 7 by Noon – NO EXCEPTIONS. More details as we get into the semester.
Important Dates
SPRING 2011
First Day of Class January 11
Late Registration & Drop/Add January 11-14
Last Day for Late Registration, Drop/Add, and to apply for the Georgia Tuition Grant January 14Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 17
Mid Term March 2
Spring Break March 7-11
Last Day for Course Withdrawal March 24
Deadline for submitting Graduation Applications (for Fall 2011) March 25
Advising/Priority Registration (for Summer & Fall 2011) March 30 - April 15
Holiday – Good Friday April 22
Request Grade Mailer via BearPort April 25 - May 15
Last Class Day April 29
Reading Days April 30, May 1, 4
Final Examinations May 2, 3, 5-7
Commencement Saturday, May 14
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