Official TCC Course Syllabus
Discipline Prefix: AST
Course Number: 236
Course Section: O01C
Course Title: Specialized Software
Applications
Credit Hours: 4
Lecture Hours: 4
Clinical Hours:
Contact Hours: 4
Studio Hours:
Semester: Fall 2012
Lab Hours:
Meeting Days/Time/Location: Online
Instructor Information
Name: Pat Hathaway
Office Location: Off Campus
Office Hours: See contact information
Contact Information:
E-mail is the best way to contact Ms.Hathaway for questions and assistance. Ms.
Hathaway’s e-mail address is phathaway@email.vccs.edu .
Ms. Hathaway’s home phone number is 252-459-6597. If you want Ms. Hathaway to call
you -- send Ms. Hathaway an e-mail note with your phone number and a good time to
call. If you call Ms. Hathaway and she is not available – please send an email note. She
may be at work or another location where she can call you.
Course Website: http://faculty.tcc.edu/phathaway/
Blackboard site: http://learn.vccs.edu
Instructor email address (college or VCCS): phathaway@email.vccs.edu
Course Information
Course Description
Teaches specialized integrated software applications on the microcomputer. Emphasizes
document production to meet business and industry standards.
This course uses four of the Microsoft Office Applications, Word, Excel, Access and
PowerPoint. The student will learn to use the applications to enhance productivity in the
workplace. Throughout the course, the students are expected to complete assignments using
Office 2010. The student will create business documents using Word. Excel will be used for
solving numeric and mathematical problems. Access will be used to organize, query and
retrieve data. The student will write, create, and produce presentations using PowerPoint.
This course uses materials that map to some of the skills tested on the Microsoft Office
Specialist Certification (MOS) exams for Microsoft Word 2010, Excel 2010, Access 2010 and
PowerPoint 2010. This course does not fully cover all skills needed for each exam. The
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AST 236 O01C Course Syllabus
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Microsoft Office Specialist Certification exams can demonstrate the skill level of the student with
the Office 2010 applications to potential employers.
Prerequisites and/or Co-requisites
AST 101 or equivalent
Skills needed to be successful in the class include: should be comfortable using the Internet,
basic operation of pc’s, email (send and reply), ability to follow detailed directions, typing, saving
files, creating folders, and saving files to folders. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on
your computer or some browser plug-ins you will need to be able to download the software/plugins and follow the installation directions.
Required Course Texts and Supplementary Materials
Textbook: MARQUEE SERIES: MICROSOFT OFFICE 2010 - with Data CD and 180 day trial
of Office 2010: EMC Paradigm Publishing Inc., 2011. ISBN: 978-0-76384-273-4.
Authors: Nita Rutkosky,Denise Seguin, and Audrey Rutkosky Roggenkamp.
This ISBN includes
 textbook
 a student data files CD
 a trial version (180 day) of Microsoft Office 2010




Previous versions of the textbook such as 2007 CANNOT be used
You can purchase used books but they must be the 2010 version.
o If you purchase a used book and the student data CD is missing – this is OK. All
of the student data files are posted in Blackboard.
There may be some differences between the bundle/package for the Chesapeake
campus and VA Beach and Portsmouth. See details in our course in Blackboard.
o Some campuses do not include the trial software with the textbook. If you already
have ALL of the software needed for this class you can purchase the book
without the trial version of the software.
o Some campuses include SNAP (we will not use) with the textbook
See the Required Software and Textbook Section in Blackboard for more information
about purchasing the textbook.
Thumb/Flash Drives (optional): Students will need thumb/flash drives if you plan to work in the
college open computer labs.
Headphones (optional): There are two places in the course where you may need to use
headphones. One of the times will also require a headphone with a microphone. Headphones
with microphones are available from the bookstore.
1. There are some short videos in Blackboard throughout the course that reinforce the
textbook lessons. If you plan to work in the college open computer labs and want to
use the videos you will need headphones.
2. We will also have some optional “live” sessions. These sessions will be online. You
will need headphones with a microphone with listen and speak during the sessions. If
you do not have a microphone there is a chat window that can be used to ask
questions. The “live” sessions will provide an opportunity to ask questions. The
instructor can demo features of the software during these sessions.
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Internet Connection: Students need Internet access. If your Internet access is interrupted for
any reason, you can use any of the TCC computer labs. You will need a student ID to use the
labs. Lack of internet access will not be an acceptable reason for not submitting assignments on
time.
Software: Students must use Microsoft Office 2010 to complete the assignments for this
course.
 Assignments will NOT be accepted from other software applications such as Microsoft
Works.
 There are many differences with other versions of Office. You should NOT use older
versions of Office such as 2007, 2003, 2002, etc.
 See the Required Software and Textbook Section in Blackboard for more information
about purchasing Office 2010 and problems using older versions of Office.
 Students can use the software available on campus if they do not have the required
software at home.
Course Learning Outcomes

Analyze different types of businesses and apply technology tasks necessary in their
operation.
 Utilize and customize features in the operating systems for efficient use in a business
setting.
 Access the Internet to use the features of Web browsers, including browsing, searching,
and utilizing hyperlinks.
 Utilize the online help system to research features and functions in order to increase
efficiency in using the application.
 Prepare business documents and correspondence using Microsoft Word; Formatting,
styles, layouts, and functions will be applied in various business situations to create
memos, letters, announcements, newsletters, tables, envelopes, and labels.
 Analyze data using Excel, prepare worksheets, develop formulas and functions, and
generate charts in various business environments.
 Manage data using Microsoft Access to organize data into tables for storage, update and
extract information, generate reports to maintain accurate records in a business setting.
 Use Microsoft PowerPoint to prepare presentation of data and information in a colorful
and well-organized format using features like transitions and animations, applying
appropriate design templates and slide layout, master slides, printing operations, and
image editing.
• Integrate objects and data.
Topics Covered in the Course
• Introduction to Computers
• Word Processing Using Microsoft Word 2010
• Spreadsheets Using Microsoft Excel 2010
• Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
• Database Using Microsoft Access 2010
• Presentation Graphics using Microsoft PowerPoint 2010
• Browsing the World Wide Web
• Internet features- Home pages, Hypertext Links, Creating Home Pages with Hypertext
Links, Search engines, URL's, World Wide Web
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Description of Assignments/Assessments
All assignments, quizzes, exams, announcements, etc., will be posted to the course in
Blackboard. There are folders in the Assignments section in Blackboard for each week of the
course. There are multiple folders for each week. The folders contain details of each
assignment, directions for submitting the assignments, a detailed grading grid/rubric for each
assignment, and due dates. The student can view the grading grid/rubric prior to submitting the
assignment. A sample grading grid/rubric is shown at the end of this document.
The purpose of the assignments, assessments and technologies used in the class include the
following:

Tutorials (main portion of each chapter in textbook): You will complete the tutorials step
by step for each chapter. The tutorials will teach you how to use the application, features
and how to apply these skills to a project. The tutorials are ungraded (except for one
chapter).

End of Chapter Exercises: Some of the Skills Review, Assessments and Case Studies
at the end of the chapter will be assigned. These activities are graded. There is a
grading grid/rubric that can be viewed prior to submitting your work. The grid/rubric can
be used to see how the instructor will grade your assignment (this can be used as a selfcheck prior to submission). The graded exercises reinforce the tutorial and concepts
learned. The skills must be applied to successfully complete the assigned exercises.

Quizzes: There is a quiz in Blackboard for each main section (Windows, Word, Excel,
Access and PowerPoint). There are previews of each quiz. You can use the Preview to
look up the answers in the textbook prior to taking the "real" quiz. The quizzes are
designed to help you read and comprehend the concepts presented in the textbook.
There is a Course Overview quiz to reinforce the course outline. There is no preview of
this quiz. The quiz is graded automatically by Blackboard when the student submits the
quiz.

Midterm Exam and Final Exam: The exams require the student to apply the concepts
learned to a project.

Discussion Board:
o
The Discussion Board/Coffeehouse is used in Week 1 to introduce ourselves to
the class. A grading grid/rubric will be used for this project.
o
After the initial introduction, students may continue to use the Coffeehouse to
communicate with other students. Postings beyond the Week 1 introduction are
not required or graded.

Grade Book: Student grades will be posted to the student grade book in Blackboard.
Grading grids/rubrics will be posted to the grade book with instructor comments. Final
grades and averages will be posted to the grade book. Estimated final averages will be
available in the grade book part way through the semester for the student to get an idea
of how they are progressing in the course.

End of Chapter Knowledge Checks: Knowledge Checks at the end of each section of
the textbook are optional. They can be used to check your understanding of the
concepts in the chapter. The answers for these questions are provided in the Resources
folder for each Section in Blackboard/Assignments so you can check your answers.
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
Videos: Videos are provided in some chapters for the course. The videos reinforce
material covered in the chapter by demonstrating chapter concepts. Each video is five
minutes or less. The use of the videos is optional.

Word documents/guides: Word documents/guides will be found for some chapters in
the course. The documents reinforce material covered in the chapter by demonstrating
chapter concepts, providing definitions and tips. The use of the documents/guides is
optional.
Course Schedule:
The following course schedule may change due to the progression of the course. The course
schedule may change at the discretion of the instructor; however, students will be notified in
writing when any changes/additions are made to the schedule.
WEEK
1
2
3
DATE
ACTIVITIES
(the numbers in ( ) are the folder # in Assignments in
Blackboard)
Folder # in
Blackboard
Thursday,
August 23
Email to Instructor (details in Week 1)
Introduction to class on Discussion Board
Course Overview Quiz
1
September 3
Labor Day (College Closed)
Thursday,
August 30
Information Technology Essentials
Windows 7, Section 1: Exploring Windows 7
Windows 7, Section 2: Maintaining Files and Customizing
Windows
Internet Explorer 8.0, Section 1: Browsing the Internet
Using Internet Explorer 8.0
Windows Quiz
2A
Word, Section 1: Creating and Editing a Document
2B
September 10
Last Day to Drop for a Refund
Thursday,
September 6
Word, Section 2: Formatting Characters and Paragraphs
3A
Word, Section 3: Formatting and Enhancing a Document
3B
4
Thursday,
September 13
Word, Section 4: Formatting with Special Features
Word Concepts Quiz
5
Thursday,
September 20
6
Thursday,
September 27
Excel, Section 3: Using Functions, Setting Print Options, and
Adding Visual Elements
7
Thursday,
October 4
Excel, Section 4: Working with Multiple Worksheets,
Formatting Sheet Tabs
Excel Concepts Quiz
7A
Integrating Programs: Word and Excel
7B
DUE DATE
Thursday, August
30
Thursday,
September 6
Thursday,
September 13
4
Thursday,
September 20
Excel, Section 1: Analyzing Data Using Excel
5A
Excel Section 2: Editing and Formatting Worksheets
5B
Thursday,
September 27
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AST 236 O01C Course Syllabus
6
Thursday, October 4
Thursday, October
11
Page 5 of 15
WEEK
DATE
ACTIVITIES
(the numbers in ( ) are the folder # in Assignments in
Blackboard)
Folder # in
Blackboard
DUE DATE
October 18
8
Thursday,
October 11 –
October 18
Mid-Term –Exam. You will complete your exam online.
8
9
Thursday,
October 18
Access, Section 1: Maintaining Data in Access Tables
9
Thursday, October
25
November 1
Last Day to Withdraw without Academic Penalty
10
Thursday,
October 25
Access, Section 2: Creating Tables and Relationships
10
Thursday,
November 1
11
Thursday,
November 1
Access, Section 3: Creating Queries, Forms, and Reports
11
Thursday,
November 8
12
Thursday,
November 8
Access, Section 4: Summarizing Data and Calculating in
Forms and Reports
Access Concepts Quiz
12A
Thursday,
November 15
Integrating Programs: Word, Excel, and Access
12B
November 16 –
18
Blackboard outage for maintenance.
You should plan for Blackboard to be unavailable during this
time.
13
14/15
16
Thursday,
November 15
PowerPoint, Section 1: Preparing a Presentation
13A
PowerPoint, Section 2: Editing and Enhancing Slides
13B
November 22,
23, 24
Thanksgiving Holiday – College Closed
Monday,
November 26
PowerPoint, Section 3: Customizing a Presentation
PowerPoint Concepts Quiz
14A
Integrating Programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
14B
Monday,
December 3 –
December 12
Final –Exam. You will complete your exam online.
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AST 236 O01C Course Syllabus
16
**Wednesday**
November 21
**Monday**
December 3
December 12
Page 6 of 15
Blackboard and Course Communication
The course lessons will be delivered through textbook based tutorials, reading, homework
assignments, and quizzes. The primary method of communication will be email, Blackboard
announcements, and Discussion Board (in Blackboard).
All course announcements and individual e-mails sent by the instructor will be sent to your TCC
e-mail account. You should check your TCC e-mail account at least twice a week.
You may forward your incoming mail from your TCC e-mail account to a personal account. To
ensure that you are receiving all of your TCC e-mail it is suggested that you check your TCC
account occasionally to verify that all of your mail is being forwarded.
The student will be responsible for taking initiative when he/she has questions regarding course
material and content. The instructor can be contacted through e-mail or by phone. The instructor
will make every effort to respond to e-mail notes within 24 hours.
Ms. Hathaway’s e-mail address is phathaway@email.vccs.edu .
Ms. Hathaway’s home phone number is 252-459-6597. If you want Ms. Hathaway to call you -send Ms. Hathaway an e-mail note with your phone number and a good time to call. If you call
Ms. Hathaway and she is not available – please send an email note. She may be at work or
another location where she can call you.
Course Policies
1. Attendance Policy: All students are expected to submit assignments on time. A student
who adds a class or registers after the first day of classes is counted absent from all class
meetings missed.
Students are not required to come to campus. All assignments can be completed online. If a
student does not have the needed software they can use the computers on campus to
complete the assignments.
If a student is absent more than 15 percent of scheduled instructional time, attendance may
be defined as unsatisfactory. This calculation includes absences occurring during the
add/drop period. See also the Withdrawal Policy in this syllabus for more information. Per
the college’s attendance policy, faculty has the right to develop a more stringent policy as
well. Students who do not attend or participate in class by the deadline to drop for tuition
refund may be deleted from the course.
Assignments are required weekly. The student is responsible for completing assignments by
the due dates specified.
The student must login to Blackboard and check e-mail at least twice a week. Note:
Blackboard tracks student access to course materials. Note: Blackboard tracks student
access to course materials and assignment submission dates/times.
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Student submission of assignments is used in recording attendance in the course. If a
student does not submit assignments on a regular basis they may be withdrawn from
the course by the instructor due to lack of attendance.
If the student does not complete the Week 1 assignment (e-mail, course outline quiz
and discussion board introduction) by the stated deadline – they will be dropped from
the class due to lack of participation.
Students may not resubmit graded assignments for a higher grade. The instructor may
contact the student for corrupted/missing files and re-grade those portions of the
assignments. Only files requested by the instructor will be accepted for resubmission.
This is a very fast paced course. Your grade will be completely dependent on the work you
submit and its timeliness.
2. Late Work/Make-up Exam Policy:
The student is responsible for completing assignments by the due dates specified. Project
work submitted past the stated deadline will be penalized 10%. The student is responsible
for all course work from the first day of class.


There may be a "drop-dead" date for each assignment (after this date, the
assignment will no longer be accepted). These dates will be posted in Blackboard in
the Announcements section.
Many times students have challenges outside of class.
o A total of 30 points will be added to the assignment points total prior to
calculating the assignment average.
o The addition of these points would allow for three late assignments.
o All students will receive the extra points. A student without late assignments
will benefit by increasing the grade on submitted assignments.
If due to mitigating circumstances a student should miss a scheduled exam, a makeup test
may be administered at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor does not normally
schedule makeup tests. The test score on a late or makeup exams will be adjusted down by
two letter grades.
3. Statement on Classroom Behavior: TCC is committed to maintaining a social and physical
environment conducive to carrying out its education mission. Therefore, all members of the
TCC community are expected to demonstrate standards for civility.



Be moderate in speaking. Loud, obscene, argumentative, or threatening speech is
disruptive to teaching and learning and is offensive to others. It has no place in an
academic setting.
Resolve any disagreements in a positive, non-combative manner. Request the
assistance of college authorities if needed.
Show respect for the comfort of others in an educational setting by observing
acceptable standards for personal cleanliness and dress.
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4. Electronic Devices Policy: Cell phones, pagers, and other communication devices are
prohibited from use in classrooms, laboratories, and libraries, unless authorized by the
appropriate faculty or staff. Although soundless communication devices such as cell phones
and pagers are permissible in classrooms, college offices, and/or meeting rooms, they must
not be answered during class.
5. Disposition of Classes for Emergency Shutdown of the College:
In the event of an emergency shutdown of the college, the president and her
executive staff may elect to conclude the term in session if eighty-five percent or
more of that term has been completed. If the term in session is concluded, faculty
shall compute final grades of students based on coursework completed at that point.
Grade Policy
Grading grids/rubrics are used to grade assignments. A sample is shown at the end of this
document. The grid details each step in the assignment with the possible points. When a project
is graded the grid/rubric is posted to the student grade book in Blackboard. Each assignment is
worth 100 points.
Assignments are graded once a week, usually on the weekends. Ms. Hathaway sends an email
and posts an announcement when grading has been completed for the week.
Final grades will be posted within 24 hours of the last date for the final exam. An email will be
sent/announcement posted when final grades are posted to the student grade book.
Grading Scale: Final grades will be assigned based on the final average and the following
scale.
Final
Grade
Final Average
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
F
BELOW 60
Final course grades will be calculated based on the following:
Exams (Mid-term and Final Exam)
50%
45%
An average is calculated for the exams (Midterm + Final)/2.
Weekly Assignments, quizzes, introductory email, introduction
and discussion board.
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Grades for exams and assignments are calculated using a
grading grid (rubric)
5%
An average is calculated for the assignments (Assignment
grades + 30 points for late assignments)/total # of assignments
Course Participation:
Completing all assignments, quizzes and exams.
Students are expected to take an active approach to the course.
If you are having difficulty – you must communicate with the
instructor (e-mail or phone).
You may also post to the Discussion board. Other students you
may be able to help solve your problems through the discussion
board. Answering student problems on the discussion board
counts towards participation.
There is an estimated final grade in the Blackboard grade book that will be turned on part way
through the semester to help students see how they are progressing in the course. A detailed
announcement will be posted with additional guidance regarding these averages.
There is an Excel spreadsheet in the Course Outline Section of Blackboard that has the final
grade formulas. You can update the spreadsheet with your actual grades. You can also use it
for anticipated grades to forecast your final grade in the course.
When calculating the final grade, an average is calculated for the exams and an average for the
assignments. The final grade is then calculated using the averages with the following formula --final grade = (Exams average * .50) + (Assignment average *.45) + (Participation grade *.05).
All course work must be completed prior to 11.59 p.m. on December 12.
The instructor does not normally award grades of Incomplete except under special
circumstances. It is expected that the student has completed at least 75% of the course work
(through Week 12). It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor to express a
desire for a grade of Incomplete and agree upon a schedule of when the remaining course work
will be completed. The instructor then will determine if an incomplete grade may be awarded.
Final grades are made available to each student within the Student Information System (SIS)
now web delivered via MyTCC or SIS.
Based on the progression of the course, the grade distribution for each assignment may
change. However, if changes are made, I will notify students in a timely manner and in writing.
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Academic Policies
Students are responsible for being aware of the policies, procedures, and student
responsibilities contained within the current edition of the TCC Catalog and Student Handbook.
Students should familiarize themselves with the college's policies regarding misconduct and
inclement weather found in the Student Handbook. There are links to these items at the end of
this document.
Withdrawal Policy
Students who wish to withdraw without academic penalty should contact a counselor to
determine the appropriate procedure. Withdrawals through completion of 60 percent of a
session will result in a W grade. After 60 percent of a session is completed, a withdrawal will
result in a grade of F in a credit course or a grade of U in a developmental course, except under
mitigating circumstances that must be documented by the instructor and approved by the
academic dean. Dynamic session classes have unique refund and withdrawal dates. Contact a
campus
Enrollment
Services
Office
for
more
information,
or
visit
http://www.tcc.edu/students/calendar/academic/Dynamic.htm.
A student who drops after the last day to withdraw does not receive a "W." He/she receives an
"F," in which case there is both an academic and financial penalty. A student who withdraws by
the deadline faces a financial penalty, but not an academic penalty.
The student may be withdrawn by the instructor for lack of attendance.
September 10
November 1
Deadline to drop for tuition refund
Deadline to withdraw without academic penalty and to receive a
grade of W for the course
If you withdraw from the course prior to November 1, you will receive
a “W” grade. If you withdraw from the course after November 1, you
will receive an “F” grade.
Academic Integrity
TCC will expect students to demonstrate personal and academic integrity, to be open to new
ideas, and to share in a community where individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures
help one another grow intellectually, socially, and personally.
TCC expects students to achieve, not just to get by. And while many caring and talented faculty
and staff are here to help, students must take responsibility for their own learning. Students
should strive for a high level of academic performance and to be responsible, contributing
citizens within the college and in outside communities. Above all, TCC wants students to
develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime, along with a life-long interest in maintaining
emotional and physical wellness.
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Statement on Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following actions: cheating on an
examination or quiz—either giving or receiving information; copying information from another
person for graded assignments; using unauthorized materials during tests; collaboration during
examinations; buying, selling or stealing examinations; arranging a substitute for oneself during
examinations; substituting for another person, or arranging such a substitution; plagiarism—the
intentional or accidental presentation of another’s words or ideas; collusion with another person
or persons in submitting work for credit in class or lab, unless such collaboration is approved in
advance by the instructor.
Faculty members who have reliable evidence of academic misconduct will (1) investigate the
matter, and (2) review the facts of the matter and the proposed penalty with the appropriate
academic dean. They may then take one or more of the following actions:




Require the work to be accomplished again
Give no credit for the test, paper, or exercise
Assign a grade of F, U, or W for the course
Refer the matter to the campus Dean for Student Services or designee for possible
disciplinary sanction through the college’s disciplinary procedure
If the faculty member chooses to refer the matter to the campus Dean for Student Services or
designee for disposition, the Plenary Disciplinary Procedure shall be followed, and the student’s
dismissal from the college is a possibility.
Cheating in any form will not be tolerated and may result in a grade of “F” for the course for ALL
students involved in the activity. All work submitted should be your own.
Disability Services
Students who have documented, diagnosed disabilities, and who need special accommodations
for tests, etc., are advised to see the Disabilities Services staff in Student Services so that the
instructor may be notified of what accommodations are appropriate in each case. Requests for
accommodations should be made to the designated campus disability services counselor at
least 45 days before classes begin. Documentation must be provided to support the need for
accommodations.
For assistance with disabilities, contact the campus Disabilities Counselor/Provider or the
Coordinator
of
Learning
Disabilities
Services:
call
822-1213,
visit
Student
Services/Development,
or
visit
the
Disability
Services
webpage
at
http://www.tcc.edu/students/specialized/disabilityservices/index.htm
Emergency Procedures
In the event of a bomb threat, tornado, or fire, students and staff may be asked to evacuate the
building or move to a secure location within the building. Evacuation routes for movement to an
external location or to a shelter within the building are posted at the front of the room. Students
should review the maps and make sure that the exit route and assembly location for the building
are clearly understood. If assistance is required during an evacuation, please let the instructor
know at the end of the first class.
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Tidewater Community College uses TCC Alerts to immediately contact and inform faculty, staff
and students of a major crisis or emergency. TCC Alerts delivers important emergency alerts,
notifications, and updates via:




Email account (work, home, other)
Cell phone
Pager
Smartphone/PDA (BlackBerry, Treo & other handhelds)
When an incident or emergency occurs, authorized senders will be instantly notified via TCC
Alerts. TCC Alerts is a personal connection to real-time updates, instructions on where to go,
what to do, or what not to do, who to contact, and other important information. New users may
also register by sending a text message to 411911keyword: TIDEWATER.
Student Success Resources
The following resources are available to TCC students. See the Student Handbook or visit
http://www.tcc.edu/forms/handbook/ for more information about student services and locations.
Learning Resource Centers
Each campus houses a library and media resources in a Learning Resources Center (LRC). A
separate slide and print library is located at the Visual Arts Center. The Learning Resources
Centers contain research materials in both print and electronic format to support the courses,
curricula, and mission of the college. Library materials include books, newspapers, magazines,
journals and an extensive collection of indexes, abstracts and full text databases. Media
resources include videotapes, audiotapes, films, CD-ROM/DVD, computer files, and other
audiovisual materials. Visit this site for more information: www.tcc.edu/lrc/
Academic Support Services
Each campus provides various kinds of academic assistance. One-on-one tutoring, math and
computer labs, and other forms of individual and group assistance may be available. Students
can also find free help for writing, from short questions about commas and comma splices to a
comprehensive review of research papers in progress, in the Writing Centers.
Computer Labs
There are computers available in several locations on each campus for student use. Students
may use the computers during open lab hours and when computers are available.
A student ID or a Chesapeake address on a picture ID is required for lab use at the
Chesapeake campus open computer labs. Students are required to sign in and out of the lab.
NO food or drinks are allowed in the labs. Please refer to the lab at your preferred campus for
specific rules and lab hours. http://www.tcc.edu/students/resources/ocl/
All patrons of the Open Computer Labs are responsible for complying with VCCS policies and
guidelines regarding computers and information technology. The VCCS Computer Ethics
Guidelines (http://system.vccs.edu/its/InformationSecurityProgram/AcceptableUse.htm ) covers
all VCCNet usage, and the Student/Patron Ethics Agreement (http://www.vccs.edu/stuagr.htm)
relates directly to student and other patron access. All students and college patrons who use the
Tidewater Community College
AST 236 O01C Course Syllabus
Page 13 of 15
Virginia Community College's local and wide area computer systems must agree to abide by the
Information Technology Student / Patron Ethics Agreement presented on the next page:
Use of Personal Computers.
The student may use their own computer equipment for assignments, provided they own a copy
of the software that matches the software used in the course (Office 2010). Assignments
submitted from other software packages such as Microsoft Works will not be accepted.
The student is responsible for reconciling differences in how their system operates and the
textbook examples. It is the responsibility of the student to properly configure their system to
achieve the desired results and can be opened by the instructor.
Online Help Desk
Visit the following Distance Learning Resources for Students website for information about
computer skills, technical support, library services for online students, and much more:
http://www.tcc.edu/students/dtls/
Important Websites







College Website: www.tcc.edu
Blackboard and Student E-mail: https://tcc.my.vccs.edu/jsp/home.jsp
Student Handbook: http://www.tcc.edu/forms/handbook/
TCC Catalog: http://www.tcc.edu/forms/catalog/
Class Schedule: http://www.tcc.edu/schedule/
(or log-in to SIS for current course
offerings)
Academic Calendar: http://www.tcc.edu/students/calendar/academic/index.htm
Distance Learning Resources: http://www.tcc.edu/students/dtls/
This is a sample of a grading grid/rubric. The actual grids are found in the resources folder for
each chapter in the Assignments section of Blackboard. When a student project is graded the
student grading grid is posted to their Blackboard grade book with instructor comments.
Points
Assigned
Possible
Points
4
4
4
4
4
Activity
Files submitted through the Assignment Link
Skills Review 1 - FCTHawaiianSpecials.docx saved as WS1-R1FCTHawaiianSpecials.docx
Spectacular inserted between the Pacific in the first sentence
Delete "Depending on weather, marine conditions, and access, your" in
first paragraph White Sands Charters
4
Capitalize "G" in guides in first paragraph White Sands Charters
Add sentence at beginning of Air Adventures paragraph -- Experience
beautiful coastlines……
4
Delete "View untouched areas from the moonscapes of volcanic craters to
thundering waterfalls and rugged coastlines." - in Air Adventures (undo
and redo)
4
Delete bullet -- then Undo -- "• Vista dining" in Bicycle Safari
Tidewater Community College
AST 236 O01C Course Syllabus
Page 14 of 15
4
4
4
4
6
6
6
6
5
6
5
6
0
6
0
100
Spell and grammar checked
Type heading and paragraph at end -- HA is an autocorrect - that
translates to Hawaiian (4 times)
Thesaurus - change lavish to sumptuous, exceptional to extraordinary last paragraph
Skills Review 2 - WEIncentiveAgt.docx saved as WS1-R2WEIncentiveAgt.docx
Spell and grammar checked - ignore suggestion of revising between
Replace Employee with Carol Shepard - all occurrences
Replace Company with Worldwide Enterprises - all occurrences
Skills Review 3 - new document using Equity Fax template saved as
WS1-R3-WEAgtFax
Template used
Data filled in -To - Scott Drysdale
From - Student Name
Fax, Pages, Phone, Date - current date, Re
cc -- DELETED,
Checked Please Reply
Comment - Please review the sample….
Assessment 5 - new document saved as WS1-A5-IC-Membership
Download and use Membership Certificate
Member - YOUR NAME, Organization - First Choice Travel Advantage
Program
LATE
Total
Tidewater Community College
AST 236 O01C Course Syllabus
Page 15 of 15