JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE:"CS 101"
COURSE NAME:"Introduction to Computer Science"
SEMESTER & YEAR:Spring 2014
INSTRUCTOR:Stefano Gazziano
EMAIL:
HOURS:MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:45
CREDITS:3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE AIMS:

The course introduces students to the modern, state-of-the-art Information Technology, and provides them the adequate skills in basic computer science to professionally use IT in the context of a traditional liberal arts education of critical thinking and problem-solving, and in a standard business environment.

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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

  1. Computers architecture and technology
  2. Software layers: operating systems and application software
  3. How to trouble shoot basic issues on computers (plugging in laptops to overheads etc.) and how to use a computer and do basic troubleshooting; how to move to another computer
  4. Organizing and managing your own data: file systems and file/folder management.
  5. Networks architecture and protocols. Data storage and backup Local Area Network, Intranet, Internet. Access to data at different locations
  6. Cloud computing: the new paradigm. Local application v/s cloud suites
  7. Introduction to Microsoft Office Package and how to use it. Ms Word. MS Excel. Power point
  8. Creating multimedia documents with advanced presentation tools (e.g. Prezi, Lucidpress) and copyright issues associated with digital sources
  9. Professional presentation of information and computer etiquette
  10. Searching with Google or gathering information from the website; being aware of the standard sources of information
  11. Databases v/s Search Engines searches
  12. Use of primary data to manipulate into usable and well-documented formats so as to be able to communicate this information to end users
  13. Privacy and personal data protection on the Internet. Mobile computing, location based services.
  14. Computer and network security : viruses, frauds, fishing, spoofing, scam, secure protocols, safe user behaviour.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will understand how a computer works and will be able to trouble shoot basic issues. Students will learnhow data, documents and files are stored and retrieved at different locations: personal laptops, office PC, internet "cloud".
At the end of the course the student will possess the basic required skills to make a professional use of Information Technology in a standard modern business and college environment: writing clear, well formatted papers and presentations; use basic data manipulation; use the internet as a source of information and be able to assess its reliability; care of personal security issues.

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment / Guidelines / Weight
Midterm / 30
Final exam / 30
Class tests / Multiple choices tests or practical exercises will be scheduled and are an integral part of student assessment. / 30
Class participation / Active participation in class, contribution to teaching by sharing experiences, workgroup / 10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cour
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory. There is no textbook, and assigned readings must be read before classes.Please refer to the university catalogfor the attendance and absence policy.ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

date / Class contents / slides / Homework / Syllabus section
13-gen / Intro
Prof presentation
Course goal: minimum qualifying standard of IT skills in students
Course requirements: none, this is for beginners, can be skipped by placement test
Program of classes, general rules in class
Computers architecture and technology , history Moore's law / Google spreadsheet user info practice / Computers architecture and technology
15-gen / How to trouble shoot basic issues on computers (plugging in laptops to overheads etc.) and how to use a computer and do basic troubleshooting; how to move to another computer, compressing file tools.
Troubleshooting basics
Pic of comp, pic pf back, explanations of ports and plugs in actual jcu pc
Troubkeshootign: first things first, start or not start, screen or not, network ok nok.
Not start / beep
Not screen
Not net
Others: common / ask the internet
Common: keyboard usage, language, output to overhead, volume, drivers what àre and how to install or detect issue.

/ Personal laptops correctly connected / How to trouble shoot basic issues on computers (plugging in laptops to overheads etc.) and how to use a computer and do basic troubleshooting; how to move to another computer
20-gen / Software Layers: operating systems and application software. Local applications. / Software layers: operating systems and application software
22-gen / Software Layers, File systems, file and folder management. Network storage of data. Data storage, local, intranet, extranet. / Organizing and managing your own data: file systems and file/folder management. Networks architecture and protocols. Data storage and backup Local Area Network, Intranet, Internet. Access to data at different locations
27-gen / Personal productivity software, cloud/local / Cloud computing: the new paradigm. Local application v/s cloud suites
29 gen / Google drive, Dropbox, Icloud
03-feb / MS Office intro. Word 1 / Introduction to Microsoft Office Package and how to use it. Ms Word
05-feb / MS Word 2 – Class exercise
10-feb / Excel 1 / Formulas – functions / MS Excel.
12-feb / Excel 2 - Class exercise
17-feb / Other personal productivity software: image, FTP, ZIP
19-feb / Powerpoint / Powerpoint presentation on Bhutan tourism / Publishing and editing Power point presentations.
24-feb / Powerpoint presentation rules, pp basics
26 feb / Powerpoint - presentation and speech rules -
/ Prezi presentation / Prezi Professional presentation of information and computer etiquette
3 mar / Recap and midterm rehearsal
5 mar / Midterm
10 mar / Intro servers and client – First web page / First personal web page / How the Web works: servers and browsers. Introduction to Web design: how to create a web site to express ideas graphically, writing for the web.
12 mar
24-mar / Intro to DB / Databases and Multimedia
26-mar
31-mar / / Use of primary data to manipulate into usable and well-documented formats so as to be able to communicate this information to end users
2 apr
04-apr / Creating multimedia documents and copyright issues associated with digital sources
07-apr / Privacy and personal data protection on the Internet. Mobile computing, location based services.
09-apr / Computer and network security : viruses, frauds, fishing, spoofing, scam, secure protocols, safe user behaviour
014-apr / Searching with Google or gathering information from the website; being aware of the standard sources of information
16 apr / Test
23-apr / Recap class
Recap class

SCHEDULE FOR SYLLABUS

Week / Class contents / Homework
1 / Intro - Prof presentation
Course goal and requirements:
Program of classes, general rules in class
File systems, file and folder management. Network storage of data. Data storage, local, intranet, extranet
Google drive, Dropbox, Icloud / Google spreadsheet common user info practice
2 / Computers architecture and technology , history Moore's law.
How to trouble shoot basic issues on computers (plugging in laptops to overheads etc.) and how to use a computer and do basic troubleshooting; how to move to another computer, compressing file tools. / Personal laptops correctly connected
3 / Software Layers: operating systems and application software. Local applications
Personal productivity software, cloud/local, Open Office, alternative suites
Other personal productivity software: image, ZIP.
4 / MS Office intro. Word 1
5 / MS Word 2 / Class test word
6 / Recap and Midterm week
7 / MS Excel 1 - basics
8 / MS Excel 2 – formulas and functions
9 / MS Excel 3 - charts / Class test Excel
10 / Presentation tools: Powerpoint / Powerpoint test
11 / Presentation tools: Prezi, Lucidpress, multimedia documents and copyright issues / Multimedia doc test
12 / Searching with Google or gathering information from the web; awareness of the standard sources of information
Databases v/s Search Engines searches
13 / Use of primary data to manipulate into usable and well-documented formats so as to be able to communicate this information to end users
Privacy and personal data protection on the Internet. Mobile computing, location based services.
Computer and network security : viruses, frauds, fishing, spoofing, scam, secure protocols, safe user behaviour. / Data presentation test
14 / Recap before finals