CIS 101: Computer Literacy (2 credits)
Course Description
This course is designed to provide non-Computer Science majors with an introductory- level
course in computer usage. It is a hands-on lab based course intended to introduce the student to
the Windows operating system, word processing, spreadsheet
processing, and Power Point presentations.
PLEASE NOTE: Students will only receive credit toward graduation for either CIS 101
Computer Literacy or CSCI 116 Business Use of Computers. If you have had one of these
classes, you are advised not to take the other as it will not count toward graduation.
Textbooks and Software
Custom Program for CIS bundled with MyITlab
Publisher: Pearson, 2012
The NDSCS Bookstore carries the custom text (Custom Program for CIS) bundled with MyITlab,
ISBN # 1269046985 (spring 2013).
The all digital package is also available at
Myitlab.com. Students will be required to have one or the other of these two packages, not
both.
Required software: Microsoft Office 2010 including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The
Microsoft website <http://www.theultimatesteal.com> has a good deal for students to purchase
the software. This is also found at the MS Office 2010 Software link under Course Home along
with more details.
Along with the required text and software, please have a CD or USB drive (preferable) available
so that you may copy your work in order to have a backup of your work (in the event of a
computer crash).
Learning Outcomes
Windows Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to use the Windows operating system to perform basic operating system
tasks
 Identify the functions of an Operating System
 Perform the basic mouse operations: point, click, right-click, double-click, drag, and
right drag
 Display the Start menu and start an application program
 Open, minimize, maximize, restore, move, size, scroll, and close a window
 Display drive and folder contents
 Create a folder using Windows Explorer
 Download data files from website
 Copy, move, rename, and delete files
 Search for files using a word or phrase in the file or by name
 Use Help and Support
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Word Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
 Use Word to create, save and print documents that include graphical images
 Use Word to create a resumé, cover letter
 Create multiple page documents including a research paper, newsletter and
merged mailing labels
Excel Learning Outcomes
 Use Excel to create, save and print financial reports including embedded column, line
and pie charts
 Enter formulas and functions
 Analyze inventory by applying statistical and logical calculations to data
 Sort and filter data
 Make projections by completing what-if-analyses
PowerPoint Learning Outcomes
 Use Power Point to create, edit, save and print slide shows
 Add pictures and transitions to the Power Point slide show
 Add visual interest and clarity with WordArt and diagrams
 Customize presentations with video, animations, tables and charts
Course Policies and Procedures
Access Policy: Computer Failures and Viruses
Online students must maintain computer access at all times to the online course. Lack of
computer access as an excuse for late work or missed exam/quiz will NOT be accepted. Print
and review the Access Policy (Appendix A) to learn how you can take a proactive approach to
your online success.
Student Attendance
Regular “attendance” and completion of all assignments, on time and as scheduled, is a
requirement to be successful in this course.
You are expected to submit assignments on or before due dates, take tests within the range of
dates allowed for each test, and inform me of any difficulties you might have in meeting the
expectations of the class.
As your instructor, if I am unexpectedly unavailable and may be delayed in reviewing or correcting
assignments, I will notify the class of this as a sign of courtesy and respect.
Online Student Participation and Conduct Guidelines
The practices of courtesy and respect that apply in the traditional classroom also apply online.
However, the expectations and practice differ in the online classroom to greater extent. Print and
review the Online Student Participation and Conduct Guidelines (Appendix B – in the course shell
the appendices are linked to the document) for future reference.
Failure to abide by such codes of conduct and etiquette may result in my asking you to withdraw
from the class and the assignment of a failing grade.
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Assignments
Please follow the order of units as listed within the Course Navigation area (located at the
left.) Each unit will build onto the next one and will be accessible according to the posted
Schedule.
Due Dates and Assignments
Assignments and quizzes within each chapter are due within specified time frames. Refer
to the Due Date content item under Course Home for specific dates.
1. The student is expected to complete all the course material within the time allotted and is
responsible for all material covered during any absence.
2. Each student is expected to participate in all discussions, complete all assignments and
exams by the posted due date. No credit will be given for partially completed assignments.
3. Late assignments will not be accepted.
 In very extenuating circumstances, the instructor might accept late work with prior
approval. Than three points for each day late will be deducted on accepted late work.
The final day to turn in accepted late work for a chapter is on the scheduled due date.
No lab assignments will be accepted or will be given credit after the due date for a
chapter.
Be prepared to spend at least six (6) hours per week in the online class, studying, and
completing assignments.
Submitting Assignments
Most assignments will be completed online using MyITlab. At the first sign of any
technical problems, immediately contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
It is your responsibility to access the class on another computer in the event of hardware or
software problems. If your problems are not cleared up within 12 hours, contact the
instructor by telephone to make other arrangements.
Online Discussions
The online discussions are required activities, and full participation is essential for your
success of this course. Refer to the specific Discussion expectations under Discussion
Grading Criteria.
Student-Instructor Communications
While an online class is available 24 hours a day and offers greater flexibility for the student and
instructor, keep in mind that your instructor will not be available 24 hours a day. I will check my
email, voicemail, and online Office messages on a regular basis, but there may be times when I
am unavailable due to other commitments and job responsibilities. I will respond to email,
voicemail, or online Office messages as time allows. As a general rule, you can expect your direct
question to be answered within 24 hours during week days. Since our communication will be
written, I expect you will write with courtesy
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When sending an email, please include your full name so I know to whom I'm responding. Often,
the email addresses do not indicate who is sending the message.
Help Desk
eCollege: For technical problems such as not being able to view a page, slowness issues, problems
viewing video or hearing audio, things not working as they should, please contact the 24/7 eCollege
helpdesk at (877) 740-2213, or email them at helpdesk@ndscsonline.org. They do not answer
homework questions; send those to me.
MyITlab issues: see 24/7 help at www.pearson.com
Grading Policies
Grading Criteria
Evaluation will be done by using grades from all or a combination of the following:
Proficiency Exam(s) (see explanation below).
Textbook Assignments /Projects
150 pts..
Quizzes
155 pts
Application Final Examinations
330 pts.
Discussions
U 40 pts.
Total points possible (subject to revision)
675 pts
Final grades will be determined from proficiency test(s), textbook assignments, exercises, projects
and/or final examinations(s) for all applications. The final examinations for Word, Excel and
PowerPoint will consist of online exams. These exams will need to be proctored. (see Proctor Form
link online).
Letter grades will be awarded as follows:
100.00% to 90.00% = A
89.99% to 80.00% = B
79.99% to 70.00% = C
69.99% to 60.00% = D
Below 60.00% = F
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Proficiency Exam Policy
Students will have the opportunity to take a proficiency test to demonstrate knowledge and skills of
each application EXCEPT Windows. These tests must be proctored. If the student successfully
achieves a grade of 80 % or greater, he/she will not be required to complete the daily work for that
application.
There are three exceptions to this:
1) ALL students must complete the Syllabus quiz available on the first day of class.
2) ALL students must complete downloading files assignment
3) Students who score 80 % or greater on the Word proficiency test are required to complete a
personal Resumé and Cover Letter. Computer skills should be listed in the
resume
Each application not challenged successfully will require daily work and the final examination. The
grade/grades achieved on the proficiency test(s) successfully completed will be averaged together
with other assignments/finals.
Students who have experience using Word 2010, Excel 2010 and PowerPoint 2010 are encouraged
to take advantage of proficiency exam opportunity. Testing schedules for each proficiency test can be
found on the Schedule link.
Practice Exams- Practice exams will be offered for all applications. Practice exams may be taken any
time within the scheduled time and repeated as desired.
Quizzes and Final examinations must be taken within the scheduled dates/times. If a student misses
a quiz or examination for any reason other than illness (instructor must be notified) he/she may take
it but will be penalized one letter grade.
In either case, the quiz/examination must be taken within one week of the scheduled examination
date. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor to schedule a date and time to
accomplish this task. If the examination is not taken within one week, the student may receive a grade
of zero.
If a student knows in advance that he/she will be gone the day of an examination, he/she must make
arrangements to take the examination before the scheduled test date.
Taking a Final Exam online
Before you take an exam, you should have the following information from your instructor and
proctor:
 The scheduled exam time
 The exam name
Do not attempt to launch a final exam until you are ready to take it and be graded on it.
Discussion Grading Criteria
Correct grammar and spelling is essential; including punctuation and capitalization. It is the
intent of NDSCS to develop employable skills in students, and to prepare them for the
workplace. Written communication is one of those skills. If this isn't your strength, develop a
habit of performing a spell check in MS Word before submitting your work, or posting to a
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threaded discussion.
Points will be earned in the Gradebook for your participation in the assigned discussions.
Points will be assigned using the following method and may be computed on a combination of
columns 1 and 2:
Each discussion is worth 10-20 points, depending on the topic.
20 pt. Scale
(GOOD)
Pts
You respond with an opinion or information that is
pertinent to the topic but in only one sentence.
10
max
You not only post your thoughts, but also post
reaction to another student as described above.
Limited to 2-3 spelling or grammar errors
Total Possible Points Rubric #1
(MINIMAL)
Pts
You respond with an opinion or
information not pertinent to the
topic/and or not complete.
7
max
5 max No response to another student
0
max
5
max
4 or more spelling or grammar
errors
3
max
20 max Total Possible Points Rubric #2
10
max
Tie to Program Assessment Outcomes
Students will use technology to successfully complete their program outcomes.
Academic Integrity
Integrity is an NDSCS core value and there is an expectation that all students, as members of
the college community, adhere to the highest levels of academic integrity.
Dishonesty in class, laboratory, shop work or tests is regarded as a serious offense and is
subject to disciplinary action by the instructor and dean of the respective division.
For more information, refer to the NDSCS Student Planner or College Catalog under College
Policies and Basic Regulations of Conduct.
All your assignments must be done independently. General advice and interaction are
encouraged. You may request suggestions from others on how to complete an assignment
when the instructions are vague but you are not to copy another student's work.
Types of Misconduct
Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in
any academic exercise.
Fabrication: Intentionally and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in
an academic exercise.
Facilitating academic dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another
to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
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Plagiarism: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s
own in any academic exercise.
Disabilities and Special Needs
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are
encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Student Accessibility Coordinator, 215
Mildred Johnson Library (phone 671-2623, or toll-free 1-800-342-4325 ext. 3-2623) as early as
possible in the term.
APPENDIX A
ACCESS POLICY: COMPUTER FAILURES AND VIRUSES
Online students must maintain access at all times. The responsibility to maintain Web access rests
with each individual student. Please read carefully the following course policy.




Each student must maintain consistent access to Web based course materials via a well
operating computer and reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP).
As an online student you are committed to have regular access, or if your service is
interrupted, to have an alternate available.
If service is interrupted for any reason for more than 24 hours (power outage, Virus attack) or
during an exam, assignment submission period, or other, each student must have a back-up
plan in place.
Work with your computer support to resolve problems specific to your computer.
Make sure to have the correct telephone number or email address to contact them BEFORE the
course begins.

The NDSCS Help Desk may be able to help you identify and correct a virus: 1-800-342-4325
ext. 3-2523.

Report other technical problems to the eCollege Help Desk, making sure you have a copy of
all error messages and information about the specific problem to provide the technician. Keep
a log of the date, time, and technician.

eCollege Help Desk (24/7 support)
helpdesk@ndscsonline.org or call (303) 873-0005


Realize that your instructor is NOT going to accept lack of access as an excuse for late work
or missed exam/quiz access.
Online active learners are proactive. Before class begins,

Make arrangements with a friend to use their computer as a back-up.

Check out Internet access at your nearest library and find out the hours.


Inquire at a public school for access to their computer lab or library.
Complete and submit your work early.

Don't wait until the deadline to submit your work in case you do have a problem (technical or
other).
Complete Bits & Bytes for Online Success, a guide to student achievement in the online
classroom and beyond. Alternatively, complete the Student Orientation Tutorial
*Adapted with permission from Dr. C. A. Keller, San Antonio College

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APPENDIX B
ONLINE STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND CONDUCT GUIDELINES
Online courses are based on the premise that students learn best in a community. The instructor
plays an important role, but this is a different role than most instructors play in the traditional,
face-to-face classroom. While you may see a shift in the way classes work, you'll also notice that
some things don't change: the practices of courtesy and respect that apply in the ordinary
classroom also apply online, and may actually require more attention in this venue. Here are
some guidelines:
1. Get involved. In the online environment, it's not enough to show up! Your voice must be
heard in order to show your presence. Your comments are needed to add to the
information, the shared learning, and the sense of community in each class.
2. Be persistent. Remember that for many this is a fairly new environment. Each instructor
still sets the rules, and you need to abide by them; however, if you run into any difficulties,
don't wait! Send your instructor an email immediately or post in the Discussion Area. Most
problems are easily solved, but your instructor and your fellow students need to hear from
you before they can help.
3. Share tips, helps, and questions. For many, taking online courses is a new
experience. There are no dumb questions, and even if you think your solution is
obvious, please share it by posting it in the Office Discussion Area. For every student
who asks a question, there are 10 others wanting to know the MyITlabe thing.
4. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you meant? How will
the person on the other end read the words? While you can't anticipate all reactions,
do read over what you've written before you send it.
5. Consider the context. Remember that we can't see the grin on your face when you
make a sarcastic comment, we can't see the concern on your face if you only say a
couple of words, and we can't read your mind and fill in the gaps if you abbreviate your
comments. So: help us "see" you by explaining your ideas fully.
6. Ask for feedback. Not sure how your ideas and comments will be taken? Remember
there's a person on the other side. If you disagree with what someone has said, practice all
your communication skills as you express that disagreement. "Flaming," or flying off the
handle and ranting at someone is unacceptable; it is the equivalent of having a tantrum,
something most of us wouldn't do in an onsite, face to face classroom.
7. Act with respect. Any discriminatory, derogatory or inappropriate comments are
unacceptable and subject to the MyITlabe disciplinary action that they would receive if they
occurred in the face to face classroom. If you have concerns about something that has
been said, please contact your instructor.
8. Exercise integrity. Plagiarism, cheating, and other violations of ethical student behavior
are serious actions in a learning community. See Academic Integrity Policy in the course
syllabus.
9. Recognize the consequences. Consequences of online student behavior that
contradicts the NDSCS Academic Integrity policy will be addressed on an individual basis
and in accordance with NDSCS Academic Integrity policy. Refer to the NDSCS Student
Planner or College Catalog for more information.
*Adapted with permission from Dr. C. A. Keller, San Antonio College
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