Course Syllabus
Computer Fundamentals & Applications
CGS 2100
Instructor: Jim Johnson
Office: Bldg. 7, Rm 127
Email: use Blackboard for all class email
Phone: 407-582-1517
Office Hours: see FrontDoor website:
http://frontdoor.valenciacollege.edu/?jjohnson
Prerequisite: None. Since this course has a significant online component, you are expected to be
familiar with using Windows and the Internet.
Textbook: We are not using a standard textbook in this class. We will be using SimNet, an online
product produced by McGraw-Hill Publishers. You will need to purchase an access code to the
web site, either from our bookstore (West campus only) or directly from the publisher’s web site,
with a credit card. You will receive detailed instructions on the first day of class. We will also use a
book of case problems from another publisher, Course Technology, created especially for Valencia
and only available from the West campus bookstore: CGS 2100 Microsoft Office 2010, Windows 7
Ed. New Perspectives Series: A First Course, ISBN: 1-1117-7761-6. You may be able to find
used copies on the Web.
.
Software: This course covers Office 2010. All students must use Office 2010 and all assignments
must be turned in stored in Office 2010 file formats. Note that you MAY NOT turn in assignments
that were created using earlier versions of Office including (but not limited to) Office XP, Office
2003 and Office 2007. Assignments turned in using any of these earlier versions will automatically
receive a grade of zero. No exceptions. If you do not have access to a computer with Office 2010
installed, you may use the Valencia CPA computer lab (7-120) to work on your assignments.
Failure to obtain this software or the use of it does not constitute a valid excuse for turning in late
homework.
Course Description: This course covers the fundamentals of computers and computer
nomenclature, particularly with respect to personal computer hardware and software used in
today’s business environment. Students will survey and use business application programs utilizing
pre-written programs that include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, spreadsheet
graphics, and web browsers. Students completing the course will have a solid understanding of
computer concepts, how to use computers in today’s business world, and how to access
information on the World Wide Web.
Disclaimer: The policies and requirements described in this syllabus may be changed at the
discretion of the instructor. Any changes will be announced in class and posted on the Blackboard
course site.
Attendance Policy: You are expected to attend class regularly. You are responsible for any
material covered, tests announced, and/or assignments given during any absence. Because this is
a hybrid class, with a significant portion presented online, you also must access the class on
Blackboard regularly between class meetings.
Withdrawal Policy: You must withdraw from class on or before Friday, March 23, 2012 in order
to receive a grade of W. You will not be permitted to withdraw after that date. Withdrawal is your
responsibility--you will not be automatically withdrawn from this class. See the college catalog for
further details on the withdrawal policy.
Evaluation: The grade in this class will be determined by student performance in the following
areas:
Grade Scale:
SimNet Exams
20%
90 - 100%
A
SimNet Lessons
10%
80 - 89
B
Hands-on Tests
30%
70 - 79
C
Case Problems
30%
60 - 69
D
Discussion
below 60
F
Participation
10%
Make-up Policy: Case Problems (see below) must be submitted via Blackboard by midnight on
the specified due date—no late submissions accepted for credit. SimNet lessons and exams must
be completed by the scheduled time—no makeups will be allowed. Arrangements must be made
immediately (before the next class) with the instructor to make up a missed hands-on test.
Academic Dishonesty: All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. This includes, but is not
limited to, plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of
documents, and misconduct during a testing situation. Any student cheating on an exam will
receive a zero on the exam and may be withdrawn from the class at the professor’s discretion.
Description of Requirements:
SimNet Exams: There will be five exams administered through SimNet, one each on Concepts,
Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. No makeup exams will be given. All exams must be
taken during the time period indicated on the Course Schedule posted in the Course Files folder on
the Blackboard course site. Once you start an exam, you must complete it within the specified time.
Missing an exam will result in a grade of zero for that exam.
SimNet Lessons: SimNet Lessons will be assigned for each application and for Computer
Concepts. These Lessons must be completed by the due date as indicated on the SimNet
Schedule document on the Blackboard site. Note that SimNet Lesson (and Exam) due dates
are NOT shown on the Blackboard Calendar. No late Lessons will be accepted. In order to
receive credit for a Lesson task, you must complete each step under the Teach Me tab, the Show
Me tab, and the Let Me Try tab. The Lesson grade will be the percentage of tasks completed
successfully. Once the grades are recorded, each Lesson will be made available again until the
end of the semester for review purposes. Tasks completed after the deadline will not count toward
the Lesson grade.
Hands-on Tests: Three hands-on tests will be given—one on Word, one on Excel, and one on
Access. Test dates will be announced in class at least one class in advance (the Access test will
be given during the regularly scheduled final exam period). If you miss a test, you must make
immediate (before the next class) arrangements for a makeup test. All tests will count equally and
will be graded on a percentage basis.
Case Problems: Case problems will be assigned from the text throughout the semester.
Requirements and due dates will be posted on the Blackboard course site. Each case problem can
receive a maximum score of 4 points. Case problems must be submitted via the Blackboard
Assignment tool by the specified date and time. Late labs or labs submitted via email will NOT
be accepted! It is your responsibility to ensure that your assignment is submitted successfully with
all required files attached. For those who do not have access to a computer or are having computer
problems, labs are available on West Campus in rooms 7-120/122/129 and the MAC Lab on the
first floor of the library. Problems with your computer at home will not serve as an excuse to
turn in work late. Be sure to keep backups of your work at all times to avoid losing points should
your computer suddenly fail to function or your storage device crash. The final grade for case
problems will be computed as a percentage by dividing the student's total points by the total
possible points.
Discussion Participation: Each student must post AT LEAST 10 posts over the course of the
semester. Each post short of the required 10 will reduce the Discussion Participation grade by
10%. These posts may be questions, answers to other students’ questions, or a combination of
questions and answers. At various times throughout the semester, the instructor may post topics
for discussion. Posts to these discussions will count toward the posting requirements. Posts that
are not substantive in the opinion of the instructor will not count towards this requirement. The
deadline for posting will be midnight on April 22, 2012.
Learning Community
The learning community consists of 4 elements: Professor, Student, Course Content and the
Physical Environment. As your professor I serve to introduce you to the material, give examples
and explanations, and serve as a helpful resource in my office hours. It is my job to empower you
to become a successful learner. As the student you must explore all resources available that are
needed to help you be successful. You must realize that the learning is ultimately your
responsibility through attending class lectures, reading the book, attempting homework and using
any other tools you feel might individually help you. Whether or not you feel the course content is
exciting or boring should not govern the amount of time and energy that you put into learning the
content. Keeping a positive attitude always helps, and thinking negatively will affect you mentally
by making you less motivated. The physical environment refers to the classroom in which the
content is presented. If you are respectful of your fellow students and keep the classroom as a
proper learning environment (without any unnecessary interruptions) then the maximum amount of
learning will take place in the environment.
Communication
I will communicate to you mainly during our contact in class. However, I will use Blackboard email
and discussion board as a means of communicating with you. It is your responsibility to check
Blackboard frequently. Claiming that “Blackboard was down” will not be considered a legitimate
excuse when ample time (at least 24 hours) is given to check your mail. If there is a problem with
your Blackboard account, it is your responsibility to contact Blackboard support and get the
problem fixed.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the
Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor during the
first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations
based on appropriate documentation of disabilities (West Campus SSB 102, ext. 1523). The
needs of students with appropriate documentation will always be supported in class.
Academic Honesty and Conduct
Each student is expected to behave appropriately in class. Any student caught cheating on an
exam will receive a grade of zero on that exam. In addition, a course grade of “F” may be assigned
at the instructor’s discretion.
Fairness Policy
Valencia is a great place for students with multiple obligations to pursue an education, as we offer
many different class scheduling options and we are committed as an institution to helping students
reach their goals. However, it is crucial to the success of our students after graduation (or upon
transfer) that we maintain the academic integrity of our classes. Please understand that all
students must earn grades using the same scale in order to maintain integrity and provide a level
of fairness to all students within a class. Unfortunately, it is not possible to grade students
based on what they are experiencing in their individual personal lives because many
students are working full time and supporting and raising families, often as single parents.
While I am always willing to talk to you and to advise you through difficult times, it would not be fair
to your fellow classmates, many of whom are going through or have gone through similar
situations, for me to make grading exceptions for one student based on his/her life situation.
Online Student Assessment of Instruction
As part of our continuing goal to provide the best possible instruction for Valencia Community
College students, the student evaluation of instructor form is now available online.
On a completely anonymous basis, all students are invited to complete this online form. To do
so, go into Atlas, click on My Courses then click on the box at the right that says ‘Assessment
Survey’. You will be able to submit one assessment form per class. After that, the form will no
longer be available to you.
Please set aside some time toward the end of the semester to complete the assessment. By
doing so, you will assist the instructor is assessing the effectiveness of his/her teaching
methods and techniques. Thank you for your feedback
VALENCIA STUDENT COMPETENCIES:
The following Valencia Student Competencies will be reinforced throughout the entire course.
THINK - Think clearly, critically, and creatively. Analyze, synthesize, integrate, and evaluate in
many domains of human inquiry.
To think, what must you do?
a) Analyze data, ideas, patterns, principles, and perspectives
b) Employ the facts, formulas, and procedures of the disciplines
c) Integrate ideas and values from different disciplines
d) Draw well supported conclusions
e) Revise conclusions consistently with new observations, interpretations, or reasons
How and where must you think?
 With curiosity and consistency
 Individually and in groups
VALUE - Make reasoned value judgments and responsible commitments.
To value, what must you do?
a) Recognize the values expressed in attitudes, choices, and commitments
b) Distinguish among personal, ethical, aesthetic, cultural, and scientific values
c) Employ values and standards of judgment from different disciplines
d) Evaluate your own and others' values from individual, cultural, and global perspectives
e) Articulate a considered and self determined set of values
How and where must you value?
 With empathy and fair mindedness
 Individually and in groups
COMMUNICATE – Communicate with different audiences using varied means.
To communicate, what must you do?
a) Identify your own strengths and need for improvement as communicator
b) Employ methods of communication appropriate to your audience and purpose
c) Evaluate the effectiveness of your own and other's communication
How and where must you communicate?
 By speaking, listening, reading and writing
 Verbally, non verbally, and visually
 With honesty and civility
ACT - Act purposefully, respectfully, and responsibly
To act, what must you do?
a) Apply disciplinary knowledge, skills, and values to educational and career goals
b) Implement effective problem solving, decision making, and goal setting strategies
c) Act effectively and appropriately in various personal and professional settings
d) Assess the effectiveness of personal behavior and choices
e) Respond appropriately to changing circumstances
How and where must you act?
 With courage and perseverance
 Individually and in groups
 In your personal, professional, and community life