Heartland Community College
Technology Department
Course Syllabus for Students
Summer 2009
Course Prefix and
Number:
CSCI 101
Course Title:
Credit Hours:
Meeting Time and Place:
Introduction to Computer Information Science
4
Online
Catalog Description:
Concurrent enrollment in MATH 109 is suggested. This course presents concepts of
computer-based systems; computer hardware, software, and organization environments;
system categories, delivery modes; systems development methods; career opportunities
and responsibilities. This is a lecture course with hands-on experience with
microcomputers.
Textbooks:
Discovering Computers 2008; Shelly Cashman Vermaat; Course Technology.
Microsoft Office 2007 Windows XP Edition, Beskeen Cram Duffy Friedrichsen Reding,
Course Technology.
Instructor Information:
Name
Phone
E-mail address
Web site
Office
Office Hours
Todd Simeone
309.268.8857
todd.simeone@heartland.edu
http://technology.cs.hcc.cc.il.us/faculty/todds
WDC 1205
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. M (Virtual office hour in WebCT
chatroom)
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
This course was designed to meet the specific needs of a Certificate or an Associate of
Applied Science degree and not necessarily as a transfer course, particularly in relation to
the Illinois Articulation Initiative. CSCI 101 fulfills 4 hours of credit for the A.A.S.
degree. It should transfer to most colleges and universities as an elective course
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
After completing this course the student should be able to:
1. Explain the importance of computer literacy
2. Differentiate among the various types of software
3. Explain the purpose of a network
4. Describe categories of computers and their uses
5. Identify the various types of computer users
6. Discuss the uses of the Internet
7. Define application software
8. Understand how system software interacts with application software
9. Describe the components in the system unit
10. Describe and Identify the various types of peripheral devices
11. Explain the main functions of a computer and be able to identify devices
associated with each function.
12. Differentiate between storage and memory
13. Identify various types of storage media and storage devices
14. Describe the two types of software
15. Understand the startup process for a personal computer
16. Describe the term user interface
17. Explain features common to most operating systems
18. Be able to demonstrate knowledge in use of the Microsoft Office Applications at
an intermediate level
Course Outline:
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Overview of computers
Internet
Operating System overview
Application Software
System Components
I/O
Operating Systems
Other
Methods of Instruction:
All of the material in this course is delivered in an online format and posted in WebCT.
The weekly units will give the student the opportunity to learn the required content.
Students can use WebCT e-mail to ask questions and receive feedback on the skills and
concepts presented.Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Student grades are based on successful completion of homework, journals, and tests. The
point breakdown is as follows:
Assignments
Group Project
Book Tutorials
Quizzes
Discussion Posts
Regular Exams
Final Exam
Total
6 @ 25 points each
1 @ 50 points each
Many
8 @ 10 points each
7 @ 10 points each
2 @ 75 points each
1 @ 100 points
150 points
50 points
0 points
80 points
70 points
150 points
100 points
600 points
Note regarding exercises and exams:
Assignments: Unless otherwise noted, assignments are due on midnight of the Sunday
of the current Unit. Assignments will only be accepted late if there is an acceptable
reason. Assignments will not be accepted over one week late for any reason. Late
Assignments will be assessed a 4-point deduction.
Group Project: The group project will be assigned in the last unit of the semester.
Because the project will require quite a bit of communication among the group members,
it is imperative that you do not put this off. You will have all the necessary
communication resources at your disposal via WebCT, and the group projects will not be
accepted late for any reason.
Book Tutorials: The assigned book tutorials address the software applications that the
student is required to learn. Although the tutorials are not collected and have no points
assigned to them, it is imperative that the student completes the tutorials as they provide
the opportunity for the student to learn the the applications in a practical hands-on
environment. Even though no points are assigned to the tutorials, the concepts covered in
them will be assessed via the assignments and exams.
Quizzes: There will be a 8 quizzes over the chapter readings assigned from the
Discovering Computers 2007 book and one quiz over the syllabus. The lowest of these 9
quiz grades will be dropped. The quizzes will be administered in WebCT, and a
timeframe for taking the quizzes will be clearly posted. Students will be locked out of
the quiz if they do not take it during the posted time. If WebCT locks a student out of the
quiz, they will NOT be allowed to make-up the quiz. There is absolutely no make-up
of quizzes for any reason, excused or otherwise.
Discussion Posts: Discussion topics will be available in the WebCT bulletin board.
Each posting is required, and is worth 10 points. The points will be separated as follows:
5 points for a posting in response to the topic posted by me
5 points for a posting in response to another student's response to the topic posted by me.
Students will be locked out of the discussion board if they do not complete it during the
posted time. If WebCT locks a student out of a discussion board, they will NOT be
allowed to make-up it up. There is absolutely no make-up of discussion board posts
for any reason, excused or otherwise.
Regular Exams: Regular exams must be taken by the date determined (or earlier at a
time mutually agreed upon by the student and instructor). Make-up exams will rarely be
administered, and will only be administered in the case of an emergency. Full
documentation for any emergency is required - what constitutes 'documentation' and
'emergency' is up to the instructor. Make-up exams may be different than the regular
exam given to the rest of the class. There will be 2 regular exams administered during
the course of the semester.
Final Exam: The final exam is comprehensive. The final exam must be taken by the
date determined (or earlier at a time mutually agreed upon by the student and instructor).
Grading Scale:
90 – 100%
80 – 90%
70 – 80%
60 – 70%
Below 60%
A
B
C
D
F
Participation (or Attendance)
Students are expected to login to WebCT a number of times each week (as often as is
necessary) and participate meaningfully in each activity via WebCT. It is the responsibility
of the student to keep up with all posted materials.
Incompletes
An incomplete grade may be given to a student who, by the withdrawal date, can
reasonably by expected to pass the course. Incompletes may be granted only when
justified by extreme circumstances (e.g., serious illness, accident, death or serious illness
in the immediate family). Incomplete grades are not given for such reasons as unjustified
failure to appear for the final examination. A written agreement, outline the requirements
to be met, must be signed by the instructor and the student. The agreed upon
requirements must be completed no later than the end of the following semester. By the
agreed upon date, the instructor will assign a grade or the incomplete will be changed to
an ‘F’ if the requirements are not completed.
Required Writing and Reading:
There isquite a bit of reading associated with this class, especially in the
onlineversion.Students are expected keep up with all reading assignments, which will come
from various sources (the books, postings, the web, etc.).
Student Conduct
Please refer to the Student Conduct Policy in the Heartland Community College
CATALOG for specific policies concerning discipline. All persons associated with
Heartland Community College are expected to act responsibly and respect others.
Syllabus disclaimer
This syllabus is subject to change. Any changes will be posted in WebCT.