CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
Introduction
The enclosed information is required reading by the end of the first day of class. Hopefully it
will answer your questions and get you on the right track for successfully completing the
course.
• If you click the links in this document or on the class website and get a logon screen:
Just click the Cancel button. The document or Web page will open up on your screen.
Sometimes you will have to click the Cancel button more than once.
Also, if you have problems with the links in this document you can access the links to the
documents and Web pages directly from the class website.
To be completed by the end of the first day of class:
 Make sure your MyCerritos account and TalonNet account has your current email
address
 Go through the TalonNet Student Tutorials (see below), especially the Assignments
tutorial.
Class Website – the class website is located on TalonNet at http://talonnet.cerritos.edu/portal
At the above website you will find the Welcome page. Follow these steps to login to TalonNet
and find the course.
1. Go to http://talonnet.cerritos.edu/portal or www.cerritos.edu and click on the TalonNet
tab, located along the top of the page.
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
2. Log in using your student number and birth date.
The birth date should be in the
MMDDYY format. For example, if your birth date is July 7, 1979, then you would enter
070779.
3. Once logged in, you will see the My Workspace, courses, and My Sites tabs.
4. Next click the CIS 101 course tab. If you do not see the CIS 101 course tab, then click
the My Sites tab and then click the CIS 101 course link.
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
Please note that while viewing pages on the TalonNet website you should set your monitor
resolution to 1024 X 768 or higher. The steps are:
1. Display the Windows desktop
2. Right-click the desktop to get the shortcut menu:
3. Select the Properties menu option
4. Click on the Settings tab on the Display Properties dialogue box
5. Set the resolution to 1024 X 768 or higher
6. Click the OK button
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
After you have logged in and have found the class website your screen should look similar to
the following screen shot. (OK, not exactly. The screen shot is for the CIS 151 class. Your
class will have CIS 101 on it.)
On the class website you will find important information, resources and links for completing the
class. The first thing you should review is the course outline which is located on the Syllabus
page. Click the Syllabus link to view this important information.
If this is the first time using TalonNet, then you will want to go through the Student Tutorials
that are located on the My Workspace page. The steps are:
1. Click the My Workspace tab (upper left corner)
2. Click the Student Tutorials link to see the available tutorials
3. You will only need to go through the tutorials that we will be using in the class.
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
To get started you should review the following tutorials:
1. Home
2. Syllabus – which contains the course outline with important information such as the
textbooks, materials, office hours, and the class schedule
3. Assignments
4. Gradebook
5. Announcements – very important to read the announcements every time you log in
Objectives of this course
• Transferable to CSU/UC
• To become computer literate
• Computer terms
• How computers can be used in our world
• Computer assignments to introduce you to:
o Windows and File Management
o Excel - electronic spreadsheets
o Access - database management system
o Word – word processing
o PowerPoint – presentation management system
Prerequisites and Recommendations:
• Prerequisites: technically none
• Be self-disciplined – meaning you need to read and do your assignments
every week, read the website announcements and your email every day.
Also, please remember that this class is normally an 18 week class. If
you are in the 9 week class, then you are going to do twice the work
each week.
• What you should know:
o Windows
 How to name and save files
 Windows Explorer – file management: how to find, save, copy, rename,
and delete files & folders.
o Email
 Compose a simple email
 Attach a file to the email
o Internet browser
 Used to access the class website on TalonNet
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
Hardware and Software requirements:
You need a computer that has:
 An Internet connection – high speed is preferred such as DSL or Cable
 Windows XP
 Microsoft Office Professional 2007
 A browser such as IE 6.0 or Netscape 4.0, or later versions
 Microsoft Office Professional 2007 is cheap (around $89) at
http://www.foundationccc.org/Default.aspx?tabid=138 .
 Cerritos College has provided many computers in various labs with all
of the above.
Data files:
 Some assignments will require data files and some won’t. If a data file is
needed, then the directions for getting the files are in the instructions for each
lab assignment on the class website.
 Hmm. Not too many files needed. Well that means you will be creating your
lab assignments from scratch. So plan on spending from 1 – 3 hours on each
assignment. In most cases at least 3 hours.
An email account:
 Preferably a Hotmail email account
 Or, you may use your current email account
 Suggestion – create a new account just for this class
 Important reminder: please be sure to enter your email address in to your
MyCerritos student account and in TalonNet as well. They should match in
order for consistent communications from me. The steps in TalonNet:
MyWorkspace, Account, Modify Details button, make corrections, and then
click the Update Details button.
If you don’t have any of these things or you are having problems with your computer,
that’s OK. Use the computers in the CIS computer labs in the Liberal Arts building.
 Rooms LA3 – LA6, Fall & Spring hours are posted in the hallway.
o Summer Session Notice:
Please note that in the second six weeks of summer the CIS labs are not open.
Please use the computer labs in the Library. Also, the college is only open
Monday through Thursday including the Library.
 Plan ahead and work ahead. If you have problems with your computer you
should come to campus and use the computers here. My response to your
computer problems will typically be “Use the computers on campus.”
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
So how’s this class going to work?
Reading the Discovering Computers textbook:
 You will need to read 1-2 chapters each week depending on whether you are in the
18 week or 9 week section
 See the Class Schedule section on the Syllabus/Course Outline
 The exam questions will be taken from the Discovering Computers, Fundamentals
textbook
 Practice Tests are available @ http://www.scsite.com/dcf5e
Computer Assignments:
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
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The instructions and deadlines for each computer assignment will be posted
to the class website in TalonNet and on the Assignments page
You will do your computer assignment and then upload the file(s) to the
specific assignment in TalonNet.
The assignments have strict deadlines. See each assignment web page for
the due date and deadline date and time. The assignments must be submitted
by the due date and time, Pacific Standard Time.
Assignments will not be accepted late. It simply is not fair to those students
who submit and complete the assignments on time.
Grading process --- after the assignment has been graded please check your
score in the specific assignment from the Assignments page in TalonNet.
Make sure you scroll down to read any Instructor’s Comments I may have
written to give you feedback. Near the end of the course please be sure to
check all of the scores in the Gradebook. I try to do the grading at least once a
day, but I too have meetings, other classes and family obligations. So, don’t
panic if I have not graded your assignment right away. Please give it a couple
of days before you email me about a missing grade.
Important Note:
Please buy the books before the class starts. This is especially
important if you are in the 9 week section. I do not recommend buying
the books online. You may not get them in time for class which will
cause you to miss assignments. Remember, late assignments are not
accepted.
Tests:




Please check the Syllabus/Course Outline for the test dates.
As stated above the questions will be from the Discovering Computers,
Fundamentals textbook.
Practice Tests are available @ http://www.scsite.com/dcf5e
A good study habit would be to read a chapter, and then do practice tests for
that chapter.
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
Submitting Assignments:
 Please go through the Assignments tutorial found on the Welcome page on
TalonNet to learn how to submit assignments
 Important note:
o Carefully read and follow all instructions!
This is critical to your success in this class!
o When naming your files be sure to use the filenames in the lab
assignments.
 Checking Your Lab Assignments:
o Thoroughly check your lab assignments before submitting them.
It is your responsibility to correctly complete the assignments.
Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy
 Please be sure to read the college’s Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy found in
the catalog. A copy of the catalog is located at www.cerritos.edu .
 How does it apply to this class?
 For the homework assignments, make sure you create your own files from scratch
and do your own typing. I know some of you work together, share books and
computers. That’s OK. What is not OK is having one person type the assignment
and then submitting that file for multiple students. This is plagiarism! All parties
involved will receive no points for a plagiarized assignment.
Announcements
Please check the class website everyday for announcements.
Email Communication
 Please check your email everyday
 I may send you an email that is time sensitive and so you must check your
emails daily to be sure you don’t miss an important message
 It’s your responsibility to keep up with the email
 Don’t worry I don’t send out that many emails, but when I do my expectation is
that you have read it
 When sending an email to me:
o On the Subject line, be sure to put CIS 101 and the class number with
a brief description of your message.
o Make sure you put your name as it appears on the class roster and
student number in the email message
o Be sure to CC (courtesy copy) yourself on every email
 VERY IMPORTANT: Important messages will also be in the Announcements
section in the TalonNet class website. Be sure to read the Announcements
daily.
 Email problems could be due to the following:
o The email address is incorrect in your MyCerritos account. The email
address is incorrect in TalonNet. Verify that the email address is correct
in both accounts.
CIS 101 Introduction to Computers
About This Course and Getting Started with TalonNet
Instructor: Terri Negrete
(This document created by: Susan Fuschetto)
o Your email system thinks my email is spam and it is filtering it out.
o Check your settings and put my email address in your address book as
a “safe” address.
o Check your Junk email folder. Sometimes your email system will think
my email is junk mail.
Questions or need help?
 If you are having technical problems or need assistance with TalonNet, then
please contact the Academic Support Center at:
o During business hours: (562) 860-2451 x2404
o After hours: (866) 238-6774
o Email: TNStudentHelp@cerritos.edu
o cc me as well at tnegrete@cerritos.edu .
 Also, I suggest that you put the above email addresses in your list of contacts.
Contact Information:
 Email me at tnegrete@cerritos.edu