Course Syllabus
IS 101
Course Information:
IS 101: Introduction to Information Systems (Links to an external site.)
Units (Credits): 3; Prerequisites: none
Introduces the student to the role of computers in today's technology-driven environment,
allowing for a hands-on lab experience. Students will be introduced to the Internet, distance
education, and the World Wide Web for research, along with operating systems, word
processing, spreadsheets, database and basic multi-media. Upon successful completion of this
course, the student will be able to demonstrate basic computer survival skills, understand
computer terminology, and create data using a variety of software.
Instructor Information:
Instructor Name - David Riske
Instructor Email - dave.riske@wnc.edu
Instructor Phone - 775-445-3255
Class Information:
Class Time - As this is an online course there is no official class time. However, this class will
be run on a Monday to Sunday timing. This means that, Class assignments will come active on
Monday morning and remain active throughout the week until 11:59 Sunday night.
Many of your assignments (including your SAM Projects and assessments) allow you to submit
multiple times. Plan accordingly so you can take advantage of that. Also as your weekly
discussion requires responses to your classmate's posts, I recommend that you have your initial
post done no later than Wednesday of each week. It is very frustrating to try to respond to a post
that hasn't been posted yet.
Class Location - https://wnc.instructure.com/
Text Book Requirements:
Microsoft® Office 2013: Introductory, 1st Edition &
Shelly Cashman Discovering Computers &
SAM 2013 Assessments/Training
ISBN 9781285995311 (This is a customized ISBN, "bundling" all three of the above listed items
through Cengage.)
Student Learning Outcomes:
•Students will demonstrate the ability to perform basic maintenance, configuration and backup
operations on a PC.
•Students will demonstrate the ability to use word processing software to create a professional
resume and format an academic research paper.
•Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and report data using spreadsheet software.
•Students will demonstrate the ability to create a database and use it to organize, report and query
data.
•Students will demonstrate the ability to prepare a professional slide presentation including a
variety of data and media.
•Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate computer configurations and select a computer
appropriate for a given task.
•Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate Internet connection services and perform basic
Internet connection troubleshooting.
•Students will demonstrate the ability to use current Web tools, safely and effectively.
Assignment Descriptions:
Class Discussions
Each week that a chapter from the Discovering Computers text is assigned there will be a
discussion forum posted on the WNC Canvas website for that chapter. These discussions will be
the basis for in-class discussions.
It is your assignment to participate in the discussion. Your participation will be to make a
meaningful discussion post, and two meaningful responses to the posts of your peers. Discussion
posts should be approximately 250-300 words in length minimum. Response posts may be
slightly less. However, your post must be relevant, and they must carry the conversation forward
in a positive way. That is not to say that you can't take an opposing view (that is encouraged as
well), but you must be polite in your discussions. Be respectful at all times, NO trashing people!
In all cases you are expected to site any sources or references. If there is a consistent problem
with post length and/or quality, I will institute a MANDATORY 400 word count minimum.
It is my recommendation that you try to post your original post by the end of the week prior to
the due date. This will give plenty of opportunities for everyone to post replies in the days
leading up to class. Additionally, the discussion forums will close midnight the night before the
class when we will discuss the material for the related chapter.
Reading Quizzes
Each week that a chapter from the Discovering Computers text is assigned there will be a quiz
posted on the WNC Canvas website for this course. The quiz will close at midnight the night
before the class when we will discuss the topics of the reading material. Yes, you read that right!
Read the material and take the quiz BEFORE we discuss the topic in class. I do not lecture you
on the material, we discuss it as a class!
MS Office assignments, SAM Projects and SAM Exams
THIS COURSE COVERS MICROSOFT OFFICE SUITE 2013. YOU NEED TO HAVE
THIS ON YOUR COMPUTER, OR HAVE ACCESS TO THIS VERSION OF MICROSOFT
OFFICE SUITE. Please be aware the computer labs on campus are available to you (you have
paid for this with your lab/tech fees). And they all have this software.
The work done in MS Office will be done from the Microsoft® Office 2013:
Introductorytext. You (notice the use of that word) will take responsibility for covering the
sections of the Microsoft® Office 2013: Introductory that cover Word 2013 (Chapters 1, 2, &
3); PowerPoint 2013 (Chapters 1, 2, & 3); Excel 2013 (Chapters 1, 2, & 3); and Access 2013
(Chapters 1, 2, & 3); Each chapter has several exercises that give you practice in the concepts
under study. The files needed to do those exercises are available on the class Canvas page at the
bottom of the Objectives page for that unit as well as on the SAM website. Those exercises are to
assist you in studying and learning the material. They do not need to be turned in, and you can
use your book, each other, YouTube, Google and of course me to get help with them. You will
be evaluated on your success at learning the material using SAM.
Microsoft suite Labs and Projects:
At the end of each chapter (i.e. Word Ch 1) there will be a "Lab" where you will create/modify a
document using the skills and objectives covered in that chapter. At the end of each section (i.e.
WORD Chapters 1,2,3) there will be a "project where you create/modify a document using the
collective skills for the three covered chapters.
SAM How to use SAM
The assessment manager provided by Cengage (http://sam.cengage.com/Login.aspx (Links to an
external site.)) will be the testing site for your taking your MS Office tests and doing the projects
that are keyed to the material in the Illustrated Fundamentals book. Each section (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint and Access) will have a test and a project.
Specific information for WNC involvement in SAM:
Login Information for SAM: http://sam.cengage.com/Login.aspx (Links to an external site.)
WNC School Code for SAM: T2094552
Course Research Project / Capstone:
You will be asked to do a mini research project. The first part of this usually this has to do with
the chapter on Systems Development and the video about Watson. The second half will ask you
to demonstrate the potential of Watson using a single (1) PowerPoint slide. The idea behind this
is being able to demonstrate an idea or concept using minimum text as well as alternate methods
of presentation.
Course Grading
Your overall grade percentage will be a composite of the six categories listed below. And your
overall course grade will be determined by the chart below.
Late work will be accepted, but may incur a 5% per day reduction in your grade for each 24 hour
period or part thereof.
Attendance and PARTICIPATION - 10%
"Discovering Computer" Canvas discussions - 30%
"Discovering Computers" reading quizzes - 10%
Microsoft Office chapter labs - 20%
Microsoft Office assessments - 20% (Half will come from section exams and half from section
project)
Course capstone project - 10%
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = Less than 60%
Academic Dishonesty:
I have a zero tolerance policy for any form of cheating. In today’s wired environment it is
getting increasingly easy to find information pertaining to any subject. If it is determined that a
student is attempting to cheat in any way or form recognized by the UCCSN or WNCC
disciplinary codes of conduct they will be recommended to the Dean of Instruction for
disciplinary action. Having said that I encourage group work on assignments and projects for
learning purposes BUT independent work must be handed in for grade.
Date
Sun Jan 25, 2015
Details
Introduce Yourself due by 11:59pm
Ch 1 Reading Quiz
Sun Feb 1, 2015
Discovering Chapter 1 Digital Literacy: Introducing a World of due by
Technology.
11:59pm
Word 2013; Chapter 1 assignment
Sun Feb 8, 2015
due by
11:59pm
due by
11:59pm
Ch 6 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Chapter 6 Inside Computers and Mobile Devices:
Exploring the Components
due by
11:59pm
Word 2013, Chapter 2 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Date
Sun Feb 15, 2015
Details
Ch 3 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Chapter 3 Computers and Mobile Devices:
Evaluating the Possibilities
due by
11:59pm
Word 2013, Chapter 3 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Ch 9 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Ch 9 Operating Systems: Managing, Coordinating, due by
and Monitoring Resources.
11:59pm
Sun Feb 22, 2015
Sun Mar 1, 2015
Word 2013 Project
due by
11:59pm
Word 2013 SAM Assessment exam
due by
11:59pm
CH 4 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Ch 4 - Programs and Apps: Using Software at
Work, School, and Home.
due by
11:59pm
PowerPoint 2013, Chapter 1 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Ch 7 Reading Quiz
Sun Mar 8, 2015
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Chapter 7 Input and Output: Examining Popular due by
Devices.
11:59pm
PowerPoint 2013, Chapter 2 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Date
Sun Mar 15, 2015
Details
Ch 8 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Chapter 8 Digital Storage: Preserving on Media
and in the Cloud.
due by
11:59pm
PowerPoint 2013, Chapter 3 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Ch 10 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
PowerPoint 2013 Project
due by
11:59pm
PowerPoint 2013 SAM assessment exam
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Ch 10 - Communications and Networks: Sending
and Receiving Digital Content.
due by
11:59pm
Ch 2 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Sun Mar 29, 2015
Sun Apr 5, 2015
Sun Apr 12, 2015
Discovering Ch 2 - The Internet: Accessing, Searching, Sharing due by
and Communicating.
11:59pm
Excel 2013, Chapter 1 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Ch 5 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Ch 5 - Digital Safety and Security: Identifying
Threats, Issues, and Defenses.
due by
11:59pm
Excel 2013, Chapter 2 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Date
Sun Apr 19, 2015
Sun Apr 26, 2015
Sun May 3, 2015
Details
Ch 11 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Ch 11 - Information and Data Management:
Organizing, Verifying, Maintaining, and Accessing.
due by
11:59pm
Excel 2013, Chapter 3 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Access 2013, Chapter 1 assignment
due by
11:59pm
Ch 12 Reading Quiz
due by
11:59pm
Discovering Ch 12 - Information Systems and Program
Development: Designing and Building Solutions.
due by
11:59pm
Excel 2013 Project
due by
11:59pm
Excel 2013 SAM assessment exam
due by
11:59pm
Access 2013, Chapter 2 assignment due by 11:59pm
IS 101 Course Capstone Project Part 1: Independent
Research Paper
due by
11:59pm
IS 101 Course Capstone Project Part 2: Power Point
due by
11:59pm
Fri May 8, 2015