Computer Science Technology Department
Houston Community College System
Department website: http://csci.hccs.edu
Course: ITSC 1301 Introduction to Computers
Semester: Fall , 2012
Prerequisite: None
Professor: Vivian Lu
Home Contact: 281-493-1053 (leave a voice message) OR
Email Address: Vivian.lu@hccs.edu
Office Hours: I will be available in office by appointment, or you can always send questions to my email.
We can schedule a meeting via phone or in person, if it is necessary.
The complete syllabus:
1. Textbook (specific to this course)
2. Course Content
3. Standard Department Syllabus
Required Materials:
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Access to PC running Windows 7 (Microsoft) new operating system with Internet access
Word processing software (either Microsoft Word or WordPad)
Note 1: WordPad is included with Window 7
Note 2: Microsoft Word in Microsoft Office 2007 (Works will not be accepted)
PC should have a sound card and speaker
Real Player software (free download link provided)
Students should have a working email address to use
Students must have access to a printer
Students must purchase textbook(s) (HCC Bookstore)
Other Information
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Textbooks: 1. Windows 7 and Discovering Computers Fundamentals 11 Edition
Assignments, Projects, Quizzes, Exams:
Assignments: Chapter assignments are completed at the end of each chapter as instructed in the
textbook and will be submitted upon request.
Projects: You will have one project in this course. The first project will be shopping for a PC and is due
two weeks prior to the final exam.
Quiz: You will have a short quiz at the start of this course. The quiz will be available for the week of the
course. The quiz is to be used as a study guide and to help refresh the textbook material prior to the
final exam.
Exams:
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Midterm: Closed book exam (will be T/F or Multiple Choice)
Exam: Final Exam and closed book exam – on campus
No make-up for final exam but I can make arrangements ahead of time for you to take the
exam in my office.
Detailed Course Evaluation:
There will be a 1000 point system used to determine the grade for this course per the following:
Percent
20% or 200 points
40% or 400 points
5% or 50 points
35% or 350 points
Total 100% or 1000 points
Item
Midterm Exam
Homework/Quizzes
Project
Final Exam (Exam #2)
The grading system is as follows: A=900-1000, B=800-899, C=700-799, D=600-699, F= below 600
Late Assignments: No late assignments will be accepted
Final Grade: Your final grade will be posted online. The official grades are provided to students by the
Registrar and available shortly after the end of the semester. Final grades will not be given over the
telephone. If you need a transcript, see the Registrar.
Course Goals: Students will be able to:
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Apply knowledge of information systems and personal computing applications.
Recognize and apply the concepts of critical thinking.
Appreciate and gain benefits of time management by learning to do group tasks.
Communicate with others through use of electronic mail.
Develop organizational skills and manage information from one central application.
Proficiently use file management techniques with the Windows Vista operating system.
You must have the Windows Vista system and the word processor on your personal computer to be able
to work from home or your office and do the required exercises and assignments.
Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty is taken seriously. All work must be done independently.
You may always ask the instructor for help. You can even ask a friend or family member for help in
order to gain a better understanding of certain concepts. However, you must start and finish the work
independently. Copying a file from another student and making minor changes to the file is cheating.
You will receive and “F” on the assignment.
Student attendance/participation is mandatory (Course Withdrawal Policy)
A student will fail the course due to excessive absence and/or poor academic performance. If you
decide to quit participating in the course before the last day for administrative/student withdrawal, you
should see the Registrar and properly withdraw so that you will receive a “W”. If you quit participating
in the course after the last day for administrative/student withdrawal, you will receive a “F”. This will
apply to ALL students. Thus, you need to be in regular contact with your professor during the semester.
Most items will be sent via email. If you run into difficulty, I can help you get back on track. I am
concerned with students’ success rather than failure. Do not have more than 3 absence/semester
For the final withdrawal deadline for regular and second start terms contact the Admissions Office,
Counselors’ Office, or refer to the course schedule. You can also visit the online registration calendar or
contact the HCC Registrar’s Office to determine the class withdrawal deadline.
Students with Disabilities: Any students with a documented disability who needs to arrange
accommodations must contact a DSS counselor at the beginning of the semester. Faculty is authorized
to provide accommodations only as requested by the DSS office.
Rules to submit assignments: Save the file on a storage device (USB flash drive), then the instructor will
make a copy of the file.
Assignment for Windows 7: Go online to www.scsite.com
Click on Chapter Reinforcement (True/False, multiple choice, short answer), complete the answer and
save the file on your flash drive by the last name of the student. Assignments are due on Thursday of
each week.
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Course Calendar: The tentative schedule is outlined below. Any necessary changes will be emailed to
students on the weekend before the new week begins. The instructor reserves the right to make
changes or alter the content of this syllabus.
Date
Contents
Week 1
Course Overview:
Syllabus & Topic Outline
Week 1
Fundamentals of using
Windows7
Week 2
Discovering Computers
Week 2
Windows7, the
components of the
system unit, discovering
computers
Week 3
Windows7,
fundamentals of
computers
Windows 7,
fundamentals of
computers
Windows7,
fundamentals of
computers
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Chapter 1: Discovering
Computer
Fundamentals
Chapter 1: concept &
techniques,
fundamentals of using
Windows Vista
Chapter 2: Application
Software
Chapter 2: working on
the Windows Vista
desktop
Chapter 3: Application
Software
Chapter 3: file and
folder management
Assignments
Checkpoint Exercises
(end of chapter)
Checkpoint Exercises
(reinforcement
exercise)
Chapter Checkpoint
Exercise
Learn Online Section,
Checkpoint Exercises
Quiz: Chapters 1 & 2
Chapter 4: Components Learn Online,
of the system unit
Checkpoint Exercises
Quiz chapters 3 & 4
Chapter 5: personal
Learn Online,
information
Checkpoint Exercises
management &
Quiz ch5
communication
Input and output
Quiz chapter 6
Windows 7 concept
Week 7
Chapter 6 storage
Research
Chapter 7: Operating
Systems & Utility
Programs
Chapter 8:
Communications &
Networks
Chapter 9: Database
Management
Chapter 10: Computer
security, ethics, &
privacy
Checkpoint, Quiz,
Project Due
Windows 7 concepts
Week 8
Windows 7 concepts
Week 9
Midterm
Week 10
Fundamentals of
Windows 7
Fundamentals of
Windows 7
Week 11
4
Checkpoint, Quiz,
Project
Quiz 7
Checkpoint, Research
Quiz 8
Checkpoint, Research,
Quiz 9
Week 12
Fundamentals of
Windows 7
Week 13
Fundamentals of
Windows7
Fundamentals of
Windows 7
Chapter review
review
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Chapter 11:
Information System
Development &
programming language
Chapter 12: Enterprise
Computing
Project due
Final exam
5
Checkpoint, Web
research
Quiz 10
Checkpoint
Quiz 11
In the lab
Quiz 12