COURSE OUTLINE

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

School of Business

Fall, 2001

CMIS 108 - Computer Concepts and Applications - 3 Semester Credit Hours

Dr. Bijoy Bordoloi, Founder's Hall, Room 2328, Office Phone: 618-650-3947 Office Hours: M 9-10:00 AM, W 6-7 PM and by appointment. E-mail: ; World Wide Web: GTA: Onur Sarikas; E-mail:

PREREQUISITE: One year of high school algebra and high school geometry or the equivalent.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Concepts, programming, and software packages on the computer for skill development plus the exploration of societal implications.

Computer technology is dramatically changing the way we find information today. In addition to our regular library resources, we can, in a wink of the eye, search libraries, government and corporate databases, museums, and organization documents around the world. With just a few mouse clicks, we can compare selected art exhibits at Le Louvre with those at the Luxembourg’s Musee National D’ Histoire ed D’Art, read about and listen to excerpts from different composers, and walk through a guided tour of a dinosaur museum. Literally, computer technology is putting the world at our fingertips. Even traditional libraries, including Lovejoy Library, are changing their focus from acquiring hard copy documents to providing access to information through on-line databases, the Internet, CD-ROM databases, and national and regional on-line library catalogs tied to interlibrary loan services. A good part of CMIS 108 helps you become aware of these vast digital information resources and skilled at locating the information you want using a variety of search strategies.

Computer technology is also dramatically changing the way we present information. Traditional word processing technology has yielded to compound document technology, offering documents that include words, static and live images, and sound. Oral presentations are frequently supported with presentation graphics technology. This technology allows you to produce slides containing text, static and animated images, and sound. Another major part of the CMIS 108 course helps you learn to use computer technology to present your ideas in an exciting manner.

Skills in finding and presenting information have long been hallmarks of a collegiate education. Today, these traditional skills have been enhanced through the use of computer technology. The CMIS 108 course seeks to prepare you in these enhanced skills to improve your opportunities for learning and achieving at SIUE and after graduation.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

  • Shelly, Cashman, and Vermaat, Microsoft Office 2000: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, Course Technology Publishers, 2000.
  • Hofstetter, Internet Literacy, Irwin/McGraw-Hill Publishers, 1998.

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS: None.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Understanding Basic Computer Technologies - Introduction to Computers
  • Identify and explain the information processing cycle components.
  • Differentiate between data and information.
  • Compare and contrast computer storage media.
  • Differentiate between system software and application software.
  • Describe uses for basic application software as productivity tools.
  • Distinguish among computer communication channels and equipment.
  • Evaluate Personal Computers.
  • Describe the Microsoft Windows user interface; Open, minimize, maximize, restore, scroll, and close a window; Identify the three desktop views: classic, web, and custom style; Create, expand, and collapse a folder; Select, copy, and move files and folders; Rename and delete a folder or file.
  • Use the Internet to send and receive electronic mail.

Using Computer Systems to Find and Access Information
  • Use the Internet, bulletin boards, on-line libraries, and on-line databases to obtain information pertinent to research questions in multiple disciplines, including the sciences, education, business, humanities, and arts.
  • Describe the major Internet tools and explain how these tools can be used in your disciplinary area.
  • Understand and use database and information resource search strategies to find information efficiently.

Using Computer Systems to Present Your Information
  • Use word processing software to create letters, memos, and reports containing text, graphics, and objects from other application programs.
  • Use query tools to obtain data from databases.
  • Use presentation graphics software to prepare and present an oral report.
  • Use spreadsheet software to create and display models of real world situations.
  • Use software to create your own World Wide Web site.

Understanding the Impact of Computer Technology on Individuals and Society
  • Understand the impact of computer technology on society including individuals, organizations, education, trade and business, the sciences, the arts, the humanities, and governments.
  • Understand the ethical issues posed by computer technology pertaining to privacy, property, access, and accuracy.
  • Understand the legal issues and practices associated with computer technology including computer crime, fraud, and abuse.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:

Your performance in this course will be evaluated in the following areas. Each will be weighted as follows:

Class Participation (attendance, attitude, in-class demeanor, etc.) 6 points

Personal Computer Comparison Project 15 points

Home Page Web Site Creation Project 15 points

Power Point Presentation Project (group Project)15 points

Laboratory Exercises (13 @ 3 points) 39 points

Midterm 150 points

Midterm 250 points

Final Exam50 points

Total240 points

GRADING SCALE: Straight scale; 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D, below 60% is failing; will be applied in this course.

EXAMINATIONS AND QUIZZES: Examination and quiz questions will be taken from lectures (which may cover material not in the text), assigned readings, and computer laboratory assignments. Examination questions on computer concepts will tend to be short answer (requiring from one sentence to a paragraph), multiple choice, and true-false. Examination questions on computer skills will require you to use the computer during the examination to perform tasks like those you practice in class and for assignments. There will be three examinations (worth 50 points each) for a total of 150 points.

Scheduled or unannounced quizzes are not planned; however, you are expected to attend class every day. If the class as a whole requires motivation to study assigned material, unannounced quizzes will be given and the quiz points will be added to the course total of available points.

PROJECTS, LABORATORY EXERCISES, AND LATE SUBMISSION POLICY: There are two types of written work for you to submit for grading: Projects and Laboratory Exercises. Projects are graded work that requires a significant effort on your part to complete. Project points will be added to your examination scores to arrive at your course grade. Each project due date is shown on the class schedule. Projects submitted after the due date/time will receive a deduction of 10% for each weekday that the project is late (weekends and holidays do not count). After 5 weekdays, the project will receive no credit. Extensions may be granted due to illness, injury, or other personal problems. Severe illness, injury, or other personal problems may require you to withdraw from the course in accordance with published University policy. There are three projects for this class. The requirements for each project are specified at the end of this syllabus. These are:

  • Personal Computer Comparison Project (10 points).
  • Home Page Web Site Creation Project (15 points).
  • Power Point Presentation Project (15 points).

Laboratory exercises are graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. The exercises are to be completed as scheduled in the detailed course outline. You receive one point for submitting a satisfactory laboratory exercise on time. Late and unsatisfactory exercises receive no points. There are a total of twelve laboratory exercises for a total possible of 36 points.

All written assignments must be typed using a word-processor and computer printer, with 1-inch margins on all sides, and are limited to the number of pages indicated in the assignment/syllabus. Material submitted beyond the page limit will not be considered for grading. The assignments should be neatly organized, stapled, and multifold printer pages separated.

PLAGIARISM POLICY: The university policy on plagiarism will be enforced to the fullest extent. A copy of this policy is available at the office of the Dean for Academic Affairs in Rendleman Hall.

INCOMPLETE POLICY: Grades of Incomplete will not be given unless some act beyond your control takes place which materially affects your ability to complete the course, for example, severe illness, emotional trauma due to a death in the family, or accident.

COURSE SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS:

KEY:

  • DO - These are exercises for you to do on your own. They are not graded.
  • SUBMIT - These are projects and exercises for you to do and submit for grading.
  • READ - These are assigned readings for you to complete prior to class.

Week 1 – Introduction to Computers - Windows Operating System

  • READ: COM 1-29.
  • READ: INT 1.4-1.74.
  • START: Personal Computer Comparison Project

Week 2 – Windows Operating System (Continued) and Microsoft Office 2000

  • READ: INT 1.4-1.74.
  • DO: INT 1.76-1.80, In the Lab Exercises 1, 3, and 4.
  • DO In Class: Use Windows Accessory Programs - creating a Microsoft Paint image; clipping Paint images to the Clipboard; inserting Paint images into WordPad; exploring Notepad; using Calculator.

Week 3 – Windows Operating System Accessories - SIUE Web Email (webmail.siue.edu).

  • SUBMIT(September 5): Personal Computer Comparison Project (10 points).
  • SUBMIT: Create and send an email message (+3 points).
  • READ: Computer Virus handout article
  • In-class demonstration of Virus Protection Software detecting viruses on floppy disks.

Week 4 – WORD, Project 1 and 2

  • READ and DO: WD 1.6-1.56.
  • SUBMIT: WD 1.62, In the Lab Exercise #3 (+3 points).
  • READ and DO: WD 2.4-2.54.

Week 5 – WORD, Project 2 and 3

  • SUBMIT: WD 2.57-2.58, In the Lab Exercise #1 (+3 points).
  • READ and DO: WD 3.4-3.60.
  • SUBMIT: WD 3.62, Apply Your Knowledge #1 (+3 points).
  • SUBMIT: WD 3.65, Cases and Places #2 (+3 points).

Week 6 – Exam #1 - Computer Concepts, Microsoft Windows, and WORD

  • Practice for the exam.
  • Take the exam.

Week 7 – PowerPoint, Project 1

  • READ and DO: PP 1.6-1.70.
  • SUBMIT: PP1.76, In the Lab Exercise #3 (+3 points).
  • START: Form groups for Power Point Presentation Project

Week 8 – PowerPoint, Project 2

  • READ and DO: PP 2.4-2.57.
  • SUBMIT: PP 2.63, In the Lab Exercise #3 (+3 points) (DO NOT email the presentation to Bernice as is indicated in the assignment - instead submit it to your instructor in class).
  • START: Power Point Presentation Project

Week 9 – Excel, Project 1

  • READ and DO: E 1.6-1.56.
  • SUBMIT: E 1.64, Cases and Places Exercise #3 (+3 points).

Week 10 – Excel, Project 2

  • READ and DO: E 2.4-2.64.
  • SUBMIT: E 2.68-2.69, In the Lab Exercise #1 (+3 points).

Week 11 – Excel, Project 3

  • READ and DO: E 3.4-3.67.
  • SUBMIT: E 3.76-3.78, In the Lab Exercise #3 (+3 points).

Week 12 – Exam #2 -PowerPoint and Excel

  • Complete Exam #2.
  • READ and DO: Internet Literacy, Chapters 1-5.
  • DO: Exercises on page 57.

Week 13 – Internet Literacy

  • READ WDW 1.1-1.14 (Creating Web Pages Using Word).
  • DO: In the Lab, Exercise #1 (+3 points).
  • START: Create Your Personal Web Page Project.
  • READ: Chapters 7-10.
  • SUBMIT: Exercises 1-3, p 94. Submit a one-page printout that describes the listserv you joined and that shows you as a member of the list and that shows who the owner of the list is (+3 points).
  • DO: Exercises 2-3, p 118.

Week 14 – Internet Literacy

  • READ: Chapters 11-14.
  • SUBMIT: Exercises 2, 4, 5, and 8, p 132. Submit typed answers to the questions posed in the exercises for grading (+3 points).
  • DO: Exercises 2, 3, and 4, p 143 (ungraded exercises).

Week 15 – Power Point Presentations

  • READ: Chapters 15-20.
  • FTP - Study the handout on my web page to learn how to use file transfer protocols.
  • SUBMIT: Create Your Personal Web Page Project (+15 points).

Week 16 - Final Exam - Internet Literacy

PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS:

Personal Computer Comparison Project

For this project you will assume that you are faced with the task of purchasing a new microcomputer for your personal use. You may assume that you have up to $2500 to spend on the computer and associated peripheral products. Your task is to use the Internet to research available personal computers and computer peripherals. Several web sites are provided in your textbook readings.

As you conduct your research consider the following criteria:

  • Processor speed.
  • Memory type and size.
  • Storage devices (hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip disk)
  • Input and output devices such as the computer mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, sound card, and video card.
  • Communications devices.
  • Software you require.
  • Overall system cost.

Write a one-page report describing the computer you plan to purchase. In your report you need to justify the components you are purchasing and why you need the particular components. For example, if you plan to use your computer to publish a newsletter for your college club or organization, you might wish to purchase a scanner. In this case, you would explain how you planned to use the scanner.

Various computer sites will allow you to print out a copy of the computer specifications that you select. Print out a copy of the specifications for the computer and peripherals you plan to purchase and attach the print out to your report.

Home Page Web Site Creation Project

I will grade this assignment by actually viewing your home page. You pick the topic for your home page. It might be a home page about your favorite sports, a home page about your favorite hobby, or a home page about yourself and/or your family. You must keep the page tasteful and you will avoid any materials or linkages to other sites which might be deemed to be socially unacceptable. Your home page must include the following at a minimum:

  • At least one image file (use .gif or .jpg files) of some sort to dress the page up.
  • Include a text link to another document you created. This document must also be copied to your html subdirectory.
  • Include an external link to an interesting web site elsewhere in the country (perhaps a spring-break vacation site). Include an image link object as part of this external link by including a link to an image file as part of the link.
  • Make the background color of one of your pages some color other than the default (for example you might use a yellow background).
  • Include a mailto link to your email address (so I can forward your home page assignment grade).
  • Use several types of text (bold, italics, etc.)
  • Comply with the SIUE Rules listed in the section given below.

SIUE Rules.

SIUE has published Campus-Wide Information System Guidelines. Your home page must comply with these projects. Your home page will be considered to be an "Individual Personal Home Page" under the SIUE guidelines. The following elements
must be present on your personal home page.

  • Name and e-mail address of the page owner (you).
  • Date of creation or last update.
  • Page URL (this is: where you replace the word account name with your accountname on the server)
  • Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by SIUE.

Power Point Presentation Project (Group Project)

  • Create a 7-10 PowerPoint slide presentation on the assigned topic to your group.
  • The slide show will be presented to your peers.
  • Include a title slide and an end slide.
  • Use a footer on all slides except for the first slide.
  • Use color, graphics, animation, transitions, etc.

NOTES;