Introduction to Information Technology
Syllabus
All Semesters
All Non-Online Sections
Course:
Computer Science (CSCI 1305)
Introduction to Information Technology
Instructor:
Tim van den Meiracker (SCI-232)
B.S. – Computer Science –University of South Carolina
M.S. – Computer Science – Clemson University
Ph.D. - Computer Science (in progress) – Clemson University
18+ years of experience as Software Engineer
Email: tvandenmeiracker@ngu.edu
Phone: 864.977.7133
Mr. Paul Garrett (ADM-208)
B.S. – Computer Science – University of South Carolina
M.S. – Business Administration – North Greenville University
Email: Paul.Garrett@ngu.edu
Phone 864.977.7035
Mrs. Deborah Batson (SCI-231)
MCP - Microsoft Certified Professional
Member Microsoft Teaching with Technology
Microsoft Partner in Learning for Educators
North Greenville University – Business Administration
Email: Deborah.Batson@ngu.edu
Phone 864.977.2188
Paul A. Seibert, Ph.D., CCP (FOSTE-19)
A.A. – Math / Science – Hagerstown Jr. College
B.S – Math – Shepherd University
M.C.S. – Computer Science – Texas A&M University
Ph.D. – Mgmt. Info. Systems – Kennedy Western University
Email: pseibert@ngu.edu
Phone 864.977.2084
Office & Hours:
Office: Crain (Science) Room 230, 231 or 232
Posted or by appointment.
Web Page: http://ngu.blackboard.com/ and choose
“INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY”
Textbook:
Microsoft Office 2013 (Carol M. Cram)
The textbook, based on academic research, has been carefully chosen to
best meet the course objective(s) of the discipline. It should not be
assumed that everything written or implied in the textbook is endorsed by
NGU faculty or administrators. Any material that is sensitive in nature
will be presented from a Christian worldview.
Software License:
SAM2013 – testing and practice software.
Failure to acquire SAM2013 in time to load it on the assigned
day will result in dismissal from the class.
Other Materials:
Thumb/Flash/Jump drive to store projects (can buy
any brand, but recommend going to the bookstore and using your book
voucher if you have one). You will need a thumb/flash drive your entire
college career.
A high speed internet connection.
Required Material ISBN Breakdown:
Bookstore Bundled ISBN: 978-1-305-61848-0 consists of:
SAM 2013 ATP Printed Access Card: 978-1-285-42749-2
Cram, MS Office 2013 Illustrated Projects: 978-1-285-17032-9
Course Description:
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of and experience in the operation of a computer, the Internet, and
word processing.
This course provides the student with hands-on experience with some of the most current
applications and systems software available. The applications software used will provide the
student with the skill set required to create professional documents, spreadsheets, databases, and
graphical presentations. Further study will cover the available operating systems, web resources,
security software, as well as other specialized software that is available to the student in today’s
open source environment. The student will gain practical knowledge of computer components
and peripherals, input/output concepts, storage concepts and computer purchasing strategies.
Three class hours per week. Three semester hours credit.
In addition, the student will learn specifics about computers, operating systems, computer
networks, and the Internet.
Learner Outcomes
1. Increased knowledge of computer hardware and software
2. Increased knowledge of basic computer networking and the Internet
3. Increased knowledge of Microsoft Windows and its Usage
4. Increased knowledge of third-party and Open-Source software
5. Ability to create and edit documents using Microsoft Word
6. Ability to create and edit spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel
7. Ability to store and access data using Microsoft Access
8. Ability to create and edit presentations using Microsoft Power Point
Class Procedures:
1. As mentioned in the course description this class is hands-on – meaning there will be
mostly lab with some lecture - primarily to introduce the labs. Scan the chapter(s)
pertaining to the lab exercises you will be working on that day, before coming to
class. BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK TO CLASS! If you fail to bring it, you will
need to leave class to get it, costing you a tardy. It is your only guide to completing
the lab exercises.
2. Any graded material that you hand in, will need to be emailed to the above email
address. You must format the subject line of your email exactly as:
CSCI-1305-NN Your Name Project ID
(e.g. CSCI-1305-01 John Doe Unit A Project 1)
* Replace NN with your section number.
Course Requirements:
Tests: There will be a pretest to help NGU assess the strengths and weaknesses of this course.
The pretest does not count toward your final grade but is required. Failure to take the pretest
within the first week will result in a 10% reduction on the grade received for the first unit
exam.
There will be four unit/online exams (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint) during the
semester as listed in the tentative schedule. There also will be two lecture (scantron) tests: The
first will be on the review of computers, the second will be on the review of computer
networking and the Internet. These six tests will make up 60% of your final grade. Training
exercises (see Training below) will be posted to SAM prior to the assigned date of the online
exams. This training will help immensely in preparation for the actual test.
Final Exam: The final exam is a cumulative online exam. The final exam will count as 10% of
your final grade. The exam will only be given during the school-assigned date and time.
Unit Projects: There will be 24+ unit projects that you will work in the book. Do not start
working on them before the class that they are assigned. The scheduled unit projects are to be
completed before the beginning of the class period which starts the next, new unit project. I will
come around and check that you have completed them on time and correctly. These unit projects
will make up 15% of your final grade.
Online Projects You will have up to 25 weekly online projects assigned and scheduled in the
SAM2013 online system. They will enhance your skills learned in the unit projects portion of the
course. These scheduled online projects are to be completed by 11:59pm on Sunday of the week
on which they are assigned and scheduled in the SAM2013 online system. Your weekly projects
are 15% of your final grade.
Evaluation: Student Evaluation of instructor and course by the student must be completed
online for the successful completion of this course.
Class: You are here as adults, and I would like to treat you accordingly. So, please act like one
and show some consideration in class. I will start out the class with instructions on what you will
be working on that day. I expect you to be attentive, not conversing with others, and not to be
using the computer at this time. Use of cell phones, text messaging, pagers, beepers, mp3
players, etc. will not be permitted during class time. In other words, turn them OFF and put
them away. If you fail to do so, you will be asked to leave the class, receive an absence. While
you are in class, you must work on the assignment for that day - failure to do so will result in an
absence.
Computer Labs: As a student of NGU you have access to Microsoft Office 365 thru the student
portal, so if you do not complete your assignments during class, this license will allow you to
complete them on your own computer outside of class. If you don’t have a computer or don’t
have Microsoft Office 2013 Professional you may use the computers in the labs (Crain/Science
229 – next to our offices or Foster/Education 4A) The Crain (Science) building is CELLPHONE-FREE, so please turn your cell phones off and put them away. Please remember the
labs follow the same policy as the library - work quietly and be considerate of others. If you need
to use one of these two labs and the door is closed, please check the room schedule located by
the door before entering. If there is a non-CSCI-1305 class in progress, do NOT enter the lab.
There is also a discounted academic version available for MS Office. Be forewarned, with an
academic version of Microsoft Office, you usually don’t get Microsoft Office Access Database.
You are responsible for finding a computer with MS Office installed so that you can complete
the unit and online projects listed above.
Getting Help: Carefully follow the instructions as they are sequentially presented in the
textbook. When a problem arises you should 1) backtrack - make sure that you have followed all
of the steps carefully and completely. I suggest checking off each step in your book as you
proceed through the project. 2) If the problem still persists, then ask your fellow students if they
know how to solve the problem. An important component in the learning process is the ability to
show comprehension (explaining how to do something to others). 3) If the problem still persists
then you should ask me for help.
Cancelled Classes: Since this is a hands-on course, course work will not be rescheduled or
delayed due to a cancelled class. You will be expected to complete the assigned work even if the
class does not meet on a particular day. If you miss a class, you are responsible for completing
the work in your absence…
Student User ID/Name and Password: Each student is assigned a user id/name and a password
for the campus email system and for the campus network system. You should have received a
packet of information from NGU’s IT group regarding your login. If you can’t log into any of th
NGU computing resource (Network/Email/Blackboard/Student Portal, etc.), please contact the
NGU IT helpdesk at helpdesk@ngu.edu, or visit them on the second floor of Donnan next to the
ADM-211 computer lab.
Student Work Files from Course Technology: Some of the projects in the book require files
which have already been created. These files will be located in blackboard in the “Student Data
Files” folder under the “Documents” tab. If you are still unable to obtain these files as in the
above instruction, they can be obtained by following the instructions on page xii of the textbook.
Training: SAM2013 Training sessions will be scheduled for each of the four unit (online)
exams. The training demonstrates how each task is completed. The student should read the
Overview, click on Practice and follow the steps. The student can move to the next task by
clicking on “View All”. Completing the training is part of the assigned work for the course.
Training will be posted to SAM prior to the assigned date of the exams.
Cheating: No cheating will be tolerated. Guidelines in the university catalog and handbook
will be followed. This will result in expulsion from class with a failing grade and possible
expulsion from NGU.
Plagiarism: No plagiarism will be tolerated. Plagiarism is cheating.
Destruction of School Property will not be tolerated: This includes defacing desks, breaking
computer equipment, etc.
Sleeping in class will not be tolerated. If asked to leave class, it counts as an absence.
Grading and Evaluation:
Grades will be determined on a
10-point scale:
A:
90-100
B:
80-89
C:
70-79
D:
60-69
F:
< 60
Grade distribution
4 Unit Exams (4 x 10)
2 Blackboard Tests (2 x 10)
Final Exam
Unit Projects (24+)
Online Projects (up to 25)
40%
20%
10%
15%
15%
100%
Attendance Requirements:
“Since class attendance is an important ingredient in university success, all
students at North Greenville University are expected to attend class regularly. Specific
regulations governing class attendance will be made by the instructor and issued in
writing with thorough explanation to the students in each class during the first week of
the semester
Students who miss class for any reason will be marked absent. Any student who is
absent from class because of university business (examples: Joyful Sound, Impact Teams,
athletic teams) or because of foreseeable personal circumstances must inform the
instructors whose classes are involved prior to the absence. … The student is responsible for seeing that all assignments are completed as arranged with the instructor.
… If students are missing class excessively to represent the university, faculty should
contact university personnel responsible to see if other arrangements can be made. …”
(NGU University Catalog 2009-2011 pp. 48 – 49)
You are required to attend class. If must miss class due to an emergency, you are allowed
to miss as many classes equal to the number of times your section meets in two weeks. If
your class meets 3 times a week you are allowed to miss 6 classes, if your class meets 2
times a week you are allowed to miss 4 classes, and if your class meets once a week, you
may only miss 2 classes. I am required to give you an XF warning, and I will try to do so
after your next-to-last allowed absence but it may be after your last allowed absence. This
XF warning will be delivered to your campus mail box (everyone has one). If you
exceed the number of allowed absences, you will receive an “XF” - a grade of “F” and
dropped from the course. Remember, you are required to attend class and absences are
for emergencies only.
Tardies:
3 tardies = 1 absence (Leaving class will be treated the same as a tardy.)
No leaving class during exams or testing of any type!
If you miss a test, it must be an emergency! You must call (or have someone call for
you) and leave a message PRIOR to the beginning time for the test. If you do not call
prior to the beginning of the test, you will receive a zero on the test. NO EXCUSES
WILL BE ACCEPTED. If you call prior to the test, arrangements will be made to make
up the test ASAP and certainly no later than one week from the scheduled test date. This
includes university business, university sponsored programs and athletic events.
Instructor must be notified in advance of any absences due to university business,
university sponsored programs and athletic events. (Pg. 48-49 of the NGU 2009-2011
Catalog). If you are late for a test, you will be allowed to take the test PROVIDED
That no one else has finished the test and exited the class. If you arrive after
someone has finished the test and left the classroom, you will NOT be allowed to
take the test.
You are responsible for reading and understanding this syllabus. If you have questions
about it, please ask.
Highlights…
1. Instructor’s Office is in the following building(s):
a. Mrs. Deborah Batson SCI-231
ext: 2188
864.977.2188
b. Mr. Paul Garrett
ADM-208
ext: 7035
864.977.7035
c. Dr. Paul Seibert
FOSTE-19
ext: 2084
864.977.2084
ext: 7133
864.977.7133
d. Mr. Tim van den Meiracker
SCI-232
2. Course website:
http://ngu.blackboard.com/ - “INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY”
3. Turn off all cell phones, mp3 players, Ipods, etc.
4. You must get a flash/thumb drive for this course and you must bring your book to
class
5. Do not start working on your projects before class
6. Class is NEVER cancelled
7. The computer labs are in the administration (Donnan) building (ADM-211) and
the science (Crain) building (SCI-229) – follow the same rules as in the library –
work quietly and considerately.
8. You must attend class and if you must miss, it must be due to an emergency. You
are not allowed to miss more classes than the number of times it meets in two
weeks (MWF – 6, MW – 4, TTH – 4, Weekly – 2)
9. 3 tardies = an absence
If you miss a test, it MUST be an emergency, and you MUST contact me PRIOR to the
test.