DEPARTMENT
Course Title: Introduction to Computer Applications and Hardware
COURSE TERM: SPRING 2015
Instructor Contact Information:
NAME
ASHLEY RUSSELL
IVANA TATE
I.
EMAIL
ARUSSELL@YEARUP.ORG
ITATE@YEARUP.ORG
Course Description: This course provides an introduction to Computer Hardware, Operating
Systems, Microsoft Office Suite (Professional), Computer Programming, and Customer Service
Skills. It also introduces students to the collaborative academic environment while maintaining the
high expectations of Year Up and Harold Washington College. Students will also develop critical
thinking skills, learn terminology and problem solving techniques which are critical to solve
Information Technology (IT) problems. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on
performing tasks that simulate professional work situations.
YearUp has a partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago which allow students enrolled in the Year Up
program to potentially earn credit from Harold Washington College for the following courses*:
 CIS 101, “Introduction to Computer Information Systems” (3 Credits)
 CIS 120, “Introduction to Microcomputers” (3 Credits)
 CIS 122, “Introduction to Word Processing on Microcomputers” (3 Credits)
 CIS 158, “Beginning Internet” (3 Credits)
* Earning the college credits is dependent upon the student’s academic and financial status with the City
Colleges of Chicago.
II.
Course Outcomes
 Applying the fundamentals of information systems used in business, the student
demonstrates appropriate use of computers (hardware) and software applications (e.g.
Microsoft Office Suite, Word processing, Cloud services, etc.) in a professional
business environment.
 When required to give oral presentations in a business environment, the student
verbally organizes and communicates computer technology and technical concepts,
processes, thoughts, ideas, and information effectively.
 The student is able to identify, repair, and upgrade computer technology systems.
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III.
IV.
Asked to solve an IT-related problem, the student applies critical thinking and
problem-solving skills using experience gained from research assignments, individual
and group projects, and troubleshooting processes and practices.
Course Objectives::
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Gain a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite through assignments and daily use
Understand and apply troubleshooting methodology to solve problems with technology
Understand how software and hardware work together to perform computing tasks
Understand and apply fundamentals of software and programming languages
Develop an understanding of different technologies to determine short and long term
career and educational goals
Required Texts and Materials:
Andrews, J. (2010). A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC. Boston: Cengage
Learning .
Shelly, G. A. (2011). Microsoft Office 2010 Introductory. Boston: Cengage Learning .
V.
Supplementary (Optional) Texts and Materials:
VI.
Year Up Grading System:
This grading schematic is designed to give each student the best opportunity to succeed in
this class. Your instructor realizes that different students have different “strengths” and
wants to give every student the opportunity to excel.
Topic
Hardware
Microsoft Office
Tech Lab
IRA
Math Review
Method of Evaluation
Homework
Quizzes and Tests
Microsoft Office
Project
Module 3 Project
Percentage
30%
25%
20%
20%
5%
Criteria of Evaluation
Assignments used to assess a student’s skill in
a particular area (specific homework
assignments, Schoology posts,etc.)
Pop quizzes, quizzes, and tests. Tests will
carry a higher percentage weight than quizzes.
Demonstrate knowledge of the Microsoft
Office Suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Access
and Project)
Demonstrate technical and business
communication skills learned throughout
Learning and Development.
Points
5
10
20
100
2
VII.
Grading Scale: Insert grading scale
A:100%-90%
B:89%-80%
C:79%-70%
D:69%-60%
F: Below 59%
VIII. Course Policies and Requirements:
 Late Work Policy:
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All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period unless otherwise stated. The Late
Assignment Policy is as follows:
 1 day late = Incur 15 point infraction
 2 days late = Grade drops 1 letter grade + incur 15 point contract infraction
 3 days late = Grade drops 2 letter grades + incur 15 point contract infraction
 Assignments 4 or more days late will not be accepted. The grade will be recorded as “0”.
 In-class work can only be made up if you have notified your instructor of an absence ahead of
time or if your absence is excused because of an emergency.
Grades of "Incomplete": Grades of “Incomplete” will be issued on a case-by-case basis.
Incompletes will only be issued after all avenues for work submission have been
exhausted and there has been a meeting with the student, instructor and academic
director. Other staff members (i.e., advisor, program manager/director) will be included
in the meeting as deemed necessary.
Group Work Policy: From time to time, and in an effort to mimic the work
environment, students will be assigned to groups for group projects. These groups may
be chosen by the students or assigned by the instructor. During these group projects, it is
expected that members of the work will distribute the work. If it is reported that any of
the group members has not completed their portion of the pre-determined work, the
student(s), at a minimum, could risk earning infractions for not submitting assignments
on time and/or received a grade lower than the grade that is given to the group.
Email: Students are encouraged to communicate with instructors while they are on the
Year Up premises. If questions should arise after normal business and instructors are not
available, the student is encouraged to email the instructor. It is the expectation that the
instructor will answer the email by the end of the next business day. The instructor may
choose to respond to the emails during evenings, weekends and holidays, but is not
obligated to adhere to the next business day norm.
Disability Access: Access for disabilities will follow the standards and policies
established by Year Up. The academic staff will consider these standards and policies
when handling issue of accommodations for students with disabilities.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend class regularly and participate in class
discussions. Students who miss work due to absences are responsible for determining what
was missed and submitting completed work in a timely fashion upon their return.
Professionalism Policy: Any acts of classroom disruption that go beyond the normal rights
of students to question and discuss with instructors technology and the educational process
relative to subject content will not be tolerated. In accordance with the Academic Code of
Conduct & Contract, described in the Student Handbook and the Student Contract,
infractions will be recorded when necessary. Food and liquids (other than water in your
water bottle) are not allowed in tech classroom. If you have bottled and sealed fluids they
must remain closed, in your bag and out of sight.
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IX.
Academic Conduct Policy: (See Plagiarism section below)
Religious Observances: All class meetings and academic due dates will follow Year
Up’s guidelines for religious observances. During these time of religious observances,
students are not obligated to submit assignments that may be due on that day. The
student is encouraged to arrange for alternate due dates with the instructor PRIOR to the
religious observance.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism occurs when a student misrepresents the work of another as his or
her own. There is nothing wrong with presenting someone else’s words and ideas in your
own writing. The key to properly using others’ ideas in your work is acknowledgement
and citation. To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use another
person’s ideas, opinions, or theory, including facts, statistics, graphs, and drawings. Any
piece of information that is not common knowledge must be cited. If you are concerned
about whether or not you are giving credit when it is due, please feel free to come talk to
your instructors. We’ll be more than happy to help you.
Learning Management System (Schoology.): Schoology will be used as the primary
LMS for this class. All grades will be kept in the Gradebook option of the LMS. Most of
the assignments will be submitted for grading into Schoology, but from time to time,
paper copies of assignments will be submitted to the instructor. Students are encouraged
to check Schoology daily for updates that may be posted by the instructor. Students will
be held responsible for all updates and announcements posted in Schoology.
4
MODULE 1
Orientation
Orientation
Orientation
Week 2
Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook
A+ Chapter 2
Outlook
Chapter 2: Working Inside a Computer
Outlook HW 1 & 2
Chapter 2/ Homework
Week 3
HTML
Outlook continued
A+ Chapter 1
Outlook Calendar, CSS
Introduction to HTML
Chapter 1: First Look at Computer Parts and Tools
Outlook
Chapter 1/ Homework
Week 4
Outlook continued
Intro MS Word
A+ Chapter 4
Introduction to MS Word
Mail Merge,
All about Motherboards
Outlook HW 3
Word HW 1 & 2
Chapter 4/ Homework
Week 5
Readings and Assignments
Word continued
PowerPoint
A+ Chapter 5
PowerPoint - Creating presentations
Chapter 5: Supporting Processor and Upgrading Memory
PPT HW 1
Chapter 5/ Homework
Week 6
Topics Covered
Microsoft Office Suite: Excel
A+ Chapter 6
Excel - Creating worksheets, formulas, and using functions
Chapter 6: Supporting Hard Drives
Excel HW 1, 2, 3 & 4
Word Quiz
Chapter 6/ Homework
Week 7
Week 1
Subjects
Excel continued
A+ Chapter 8
Excel - Working with datasheets and formulas
Chapter 8: Supporting I/O and Storage Devices
Excel HW 5, 6, & 7
Chapter 8/ Homework
MODULE 2
Week 1
Access – creating tables, queries, form and reports
Integrated Project
Chapter 3: Introduction to Windows Operating System
Access HW
Chapter 3 Homework
Week 2
Access continued
A+ Chapter 10
Access – creating tables, queries, form and reports
Maintaining Windows OS
Access HW
Chapter 10/ Homework
Excel Quiz
Microsoft Office Suite: Project
A+ Chapter 11
HTML
Chapter 11: Optimizing Windows
Chapter 11/Homework
Access Quiz
Project continued
Printers
CSS
Laser and Inkjet Printers
CSS and Overview
Chapter 15 /Homework
Hardware Quiz #2
Integrated Project
Connecting and Setting up a Network
Presentation of cases/
Take STRATA prep test
Project Quiz
IRA PREP
IRA PREP
TBD
INTERNSHIP BOOTCAMP
Hardware, Coding, Software,
Assignments vary according to
group assignment
Week 5
Week 4
Microsoft Office Suite: Access
Integrated project
A+ Chapter 3
Week 3
Readings and Assignments
Week 6
Topics Covered
Week 7
Subjects
6
MODULE 3
Week 1
Subjects
Topics Covered
Internship Readiness Assessment
Communicating with customers
Satisfying Customer Needs
Networking Devices, Cable Types
Week 2
Printers and Scanners
Week 3
Laptops
Week 4
Microsoft Office Suite
Week 5
Case Study/STRATA PREP
Week 6
Case Study/STRATA PREP
Week 7
Networking
INTERNSHIP BOOTCAMP
Readings and Assignments
Chapter 9/ Homework
Chapter 16/Homework/Quiz
Types of Printers and Scanners, features
Chapter 21/Homework
Mobile Devices
Smartphones, Tablets
Chapter 20/Homework
Similarities and differences to desktops
Chapter 19/Homework
Security
Firewalls, encryption, data protection
Chapter 18/Homework/Quiz
Refresh of EXCEL, OUTLOOK and WORD
Microsoft Office Book
Data Analysis
Summarizing, analyzing and presenting data
TBD
Researching topic, summarizing, analyzing data
Presentation of cases/
Reviewing topics that will be on STRATA exam
Take STRATA prep test
Researching topic, summarizing, analyzing data
Presentation of cases/
Reviewing topics that will be on STRATA exam
Take STRATA prep test
Hardware, Coding, EXCEL,
Assignments vary according to
group assignment
7