INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Instructor:
Email:
Gail McGlynn
mcglynngailm@jccmi.edu
OVERVIEW
This course is designed to make the student computer literate. Systems concepts are
introduced with an emphasis on software utilization. This course is divided into two sections: a
lecture section and a lab section. Each of these sections is described below.
COURSE GOALS
 To familiarize the student with current computer terminology
 To develop a basic understanding of computer hardware and software
 To become familiar with multiple software packages: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access
COURSE OBJECTIVES
 Students will receive "hands on" computer experience with word processing, electronic
spreadsheet, and presentation software.
 Students will create, save, modify, and print documents created in Microsoft Word, Excel,
and PowerPoint.
 Students will be expected to create and present a project using Microsoft Office
applications.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:

0133901394 (printed books and e-text & digital content)
o Skills for Success with Office 2013 Vol. 1, 1ed +
o Visualizing Technology, 3e +
o MyITLab with both e-texts
OR

0133881016 (all Digital)
o MyITLab with both e-texts
REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY: This is a COMPUTER CLASS. You must have access to an Internet
connected Computer. You are also expected to have "backup computer" plans; at a friend's
computer, a relative's computer, JCC, or at a library. Establish computer plans in case your
usual computer access is disrupted during the semester. The course will continue to move
along regardless of whether your computer works or not. I provide instructional support, not
computer support. It is your responsibility to establish and maintain technical connections. If
your computer does not work for any period of time, you are expected to find a way to do the
work.
CONCEPTS SECTION DESCRIPTION
This portion of the course is designed to make the student computer literate. Systems concepts
are introduced with an emphasis on software utilization. Students will be tested on the material
in the VISUALIZING TECHNOLOGY book.
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APPLICATION SECTION DESCRIPTION
This portion of the course is designed to help the student utilize productivity software and be
more efficient. Applications are introduced with an emphasis on computer software utilization.
Students use microcomputers to learn word processing (Word 2013), presentation software
(PowerPoint 2013), electronic spreadsheets (Excel 2013), and databases (Access 2013).
Students will complete unit assignments, projects, and exams based on the material in the
SKILLS FOR SUCCESS WITH OFFICE 2013 book.
ASSOCIATE DEGREE OUTCOMES
The Jackson Community College Board of Trustees has developed a list of essential skills which
all of its associate degree graduates will enhance during their college experience. The Board has
said:
JCC's goal is to prepare students to live productive and meaningful lives. Implicit in this goal
are efforts to prepare students to: (a) live and work in the twenty-first century, (b) be
employed in situations which will require retraining several times during a productive life, and
(c) function in a rapidly changing informational society (ADO2, ADO1A, ADO1B ADO4, ADO7,
ADO15). Click here to view specific ADO descriptions: ADO Descriptions
The highest priority skills include, among others:
1) The ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and intelligibly, using oral skills
2) Use critical thinking and problem solving skills
3) Use computers and other technologies appropriate to the program of study
HOMEWORK/COMPUTER ASSIGNMENTS
All of the course assignments are posted in MyItLab on the Assignment calendar as a series of
“clocks”. Clicking on the clock will show a list of the assignments due for a specific day.
Assignments should be completed using techniques outlined in the book and instructions given
in class. Due dates are firm, please do not ask me for an extension as it is not fair to those who
get their work done on time to give special favors to those who do not. In special circumstances
an extension may be given on a case by case basis for very good reasons such as death in the
family or extreme illness.
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES AND LATE PENALTIES
Assignments are due as indicated on the Assignment Calendar in MyItLab.
Late assignments will be accepted with penalties. One week late incurs a 10% penalty.
After one week a 50% penalty is applied until week 13, at which time no more late
assignments will be accepted. It is very important to submit assignments on time to get full
credit, but even if they are late submit them anyway. Sometimes students do not bother to
submit assignments if they are late due to the 50% penalty, but a partial credit is better than
zero, so go ahead and submit them for at least some points if they are late!
GRADING PROCEDURE
The assignments in this course can be classified into five categories:
1) Trainings (10 pts Skills for Success Book) – These assignments will require you to work
with the Microsoft Office applications. You will practice and demonstrate your skills with
these applications. These assignments will be completed in MyItLab.
2) Projects (100 pts Skills for Success) – There will be projects given out of the Skills for
Success book. For these projects, you will have to use the actual version of Office 2013 to
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complete your work and submit files for these projects by uploading to MyItLab.
3) Exams (100 pts Skills for Success Book) – There will be tests on each of the applications
in Microsoft Office. You will be required to demonstrate your skills using the application as
well as answer questions relating to the concepts of the applications using the actual
program and uploading completed files to MyItLab.
4) Quizzes (30 pts. Visualizing Technology Book) – You will have an End of Chapter quiz on
the chapters in the Visualizing Technology. You will be required to read the chapters and
answer questions on them.
5) Final Project – You will complete a final project that is a culmination of the skills and
concepts that you’ve learned in the course. This should be turned into drop box by the
due date. Details are available in JetNet.
6) Final Exam – Visualizing Technology: Cumulative exam over all nine chapters in
Visualizing Technology. This is a timed, 1 hour, open-book exam due at the end of the
semester.
Visualizing Technology
(concepts lecture section)
Quizzes =
20%
Final Exam = 15%
Subtotal =
35%
Skills for Success (application lab section)
14 Trainings = 10%
14 Projects = 20%
4 Exams =
20%
Subtotal =
65%
Scale:
Percentage
94-100
88-93
82-87
76-81
70-75
64-69
58-63
52-57
Below 52
Grade
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Final Course Project 15%
Total =
100%
PARTICIPATION and ATTENDANCE POLICY
Your success will depend greatly on your participation in class, time spent completing
assignments, and time practicing on the computer. Attendance will be reported periodically to
the Registrar’s Office. Definitions include: “H”—the student is not doing acceptable work and
needs “help” to be successful, “Q”—the student has not participated/attended, and “V”—the
instructor “verifies” that the student is participating/attending and doing acceptable work. It is
ultimately the responsibility of the student to withdraw from the course. You should also
contact your instructor when considering a withdrawal.
DROP-IN COMPUTER LAB
The open computer labs are located in William Atkinson Hall library area. Please call for
available times and locations (517) 796-8639. Please contact the extension centers directly for
their open lab hours.
EXTRA HELP
Tutors (plus additional services for academic success) can be accessed by calling 796-8415 or
by stopping by the Center for Student Success, Bert Walker Hall Room 123. Students requiring
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special assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act) should
contact the Center for Student Success. This is the first step in acquiring the appropriate
accommodations to facilitate your learning.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The student is responsible for the material covered in a missed class. Notify your instructor in
advance if you are going to miss an exam and make arrangements to take that exam another
time. Details on tests will be posted as the course progresses.
COLLABORATION
While JCC encourages students to collaborate in study groups, work teams, and with lab
partners, each student should take responsibility for accurately representing his/her own
contribution. File sharing is NOT collaborating; it is cheating and violates academic
honesty policy!
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic honesty is expected of all students. It is the ethical behavior that includes producing
their own work and not representing others’ work as their own, either by plagiarism, by
cheating, or by helping others to do so. Please refer to the Student Handbook for Student
Rights and Responsibilities.
CONSEQUENCES
Anyone caught cheating on an assignment or exam will receive a zero for that project. If caught
cheating more than once, the student will receive a zero for the class. All academic dishonesty
violations will be reported to the Dean of Occupational Education.
Please realize that there is an automatic Integrity Violation detector built into the software.
What this means is that if you upload another person’s project the software will detect this and
flag your instructor. Both students with receive zero for the project (first time). Second offense
will result in failure for the class, as stated above.
Sharing a computer with another student is not sufficient reason to trigger the Integrity Violation
detector and will not be accepted as reason for excusing a violation. Be sure to use your own
downloaded files for grader projects and capstone exams as this may cause you problems with
the Integrity Violation detector, but will still count against you (your instructions require you to
use your own files) and result in a grade of zero and notification to the Dean’s office.
CLASSROOM POLICY
Be respectful of your instructor and your peers. This is a learning community – and we all will
learn something – so be positive and encouraging of those around you. Any behavior
considered being disruptive, disrespectful, inappropriate, or threatening will be addressed by
the instructor and/or security and/or the Dean of Students. Consequences may involve
deduction of points/grade and/or may include removal from class.
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