Introduction to Computing

CIS 101

 

Pace University

Seidenberg School of Computer Science

& Information Systems

Academic Year 2008-2009

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

Welcome to CIS 101! This course introduces students to the essential knowledge required to achieve a well-rounded understanding of the explosive impact of the Internet and technology in all aspects of modern society. Computers are now the primary means of information retrieval, analysis and communication among individuals and organizations throughout the world. CIS101 provides students with the understanding of computer terminology, hardware, and software necessary to explore the resources of the Internet and exploit technology to its fullest on both a personal and professional level.

 

Learning Pods or Learning Community?

Your CIS 101 class is either part of a Learning Community, where you are paired with another course such as English, economics or business, or you are part of a Learning Pod, a group of classes that, while meeting separately with their instructor, share a themed content area that enriches their study of computing. This semesters themes include Downtown New York (NYC Only), Computer Forensics, Computers and Social Responsibility and Computers and Environmental Science (PLV only). Because computers are ubiquitous, they are needed in every academic discipline and will be an important tool for you in your academic major. Likewise, computing skills will be an important part of your career.

You have registered for two components of this course; a Learning Pod topic such as Downtown New York, Computer Forensics, Computers and Social Responsibility or Computers and Environmental Science, As well as a lab section.

 

Or you have registered for a Learning Community course where CIS 101 is combined with another course. In this case you will not have a Learning Pod topic.

 

In either case your lab time will be where you meet face-to-face with your professor and classmates to work on the course material each week.

 

CIS 101-Introduction to Computing is a three-credit course with two hours held in a computer classroom combined with a required online portion equivalent to one hour of classroom instruction. Time in the computer classroom will be spent learning Application Software (Excel 2007), Introduction to Web Page Design (HTML), Introduction to Programming (JavaScript) and Introduction to Security. The online site for this course (found at http://blackboard.pace.edu ) will contain readings, interactive exercises, and supplemental material covering the organization and structure of the computer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXTBOOKS AND SUPPLIES

  1. Excel: Parsons, Oja, Ageloff, Carey, New Perspectives on Microsoft Office Excel 2007 Brief, Course Technology, 2007, ISBN-10 # 1-4239-0583-0. ISBN -13# 978-1-4239-0583-7
  2. HTML: Shelly, Cashman, Woods, HTML Complete Concepts and Techniques, 4th ed., Course Technology, 2007, ISBN -10 # 1-4188-5936-2 ISBN -13# 978-1-4188-5936-7
  3. JavaScript: Dwyer, Murthy, Sachs, and Gaylord, JavaScript 101, Version 3.0, Thomson Custom Publishing, 2003, ISBN # 0-7593-1887-5.
  4. Security: Mark Ciampa, Security Awareness: Applying practical security in your world, Course Technology, 2nd Edition 2006, ISBN# 1-4188-0969-1.

 COURSE GOALS

 

§         Introduce, develop, and strengthen the computer skills that you need to achieve success in college and in your careers.

§         Describe the pervasive and dramatic impact of technology on every aspect of modern society.

§         Provide you with an understanding of the structure of the Internet, and introduce you to tools and techniques useful for exploiting its resources.

§         Provide a basic understanding of the internal organization of the computer, including the systems unit, memory, input/output, network communications and peripheral devices.

§         Introduce you to fundamental programming concepts, data representation, and systems development.

§         Familiarize you with potential use of technology in the workplace, and career paths in technology.

§         Get an understanding of personal computer security, network security and trust and privacy issues in computing and technology

CIS 101 Grading Point System

All work completed in the class will be assigned a point system. The maximum number of points you can earn during the semester is 1000.

The breakdown is as follows:
                                    Category                                              Points              Weighted %

Attendance & Participation

100

10%

Homework/Assignments (assigned throughout the semester)

200

20%

Participation in Discussion Board (participation required throughout the semester)

200

20%

One hour Excel exam

100

10%

Online Common Final Exam: HTML, JavaScript & Security

100

10%

Two hour HTML, JavaScript & Security Exam

100

10%

Term Group Project

200

                     20%

Total

1000

100%


Grades will be based on the following points and percentages:

Points

0 - 599

600 - 649

650 - 699

700 - 729

730 - 769

770 - 799

800 - 829

830 - 869

870 - 899

900 - 929

930 - 1000

Grade Points

0.0

1.0

1.3

1.7

2.0

2.3

2.7

3.0

3.3

3.7

4.0

Letter Grade

F

D

D+

C-

C

C+

B-

B

B+

A-

A

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

Attendance at all scheduled class sessions is mandatory. In addition, you are expected to come to class prepared with the correct text for that week’s lab work. Please consult the assignments section of Blackboard for information on what text is required in class.

It is expected that you access the Blackboard site on a regular basis, to participate in the discussion board and access the Assignments, and the Course Documents for each week in a timely manner.

It is expected that you will participate actively by maintaining communication with the instructor via e-mail, submitting assignments according to due dates listed on the syllabus / assignment list, completing assigned readings as listed on the syllabus / assignment list, and responding promptly to requests/questions by your instructor.  You will also be expected to participate regularly by posting messages and questions in the Discussion Board area of the online site.

THE GROUP TERM PROJECT

You will work with a team of your classmates on a semester long project designed to help you to use the skills that you learn and develop in this course. As a result, a significant part of your course work and final grade will depend on the contributions of other people – as their grades and experience will depend on you. It is important that you conduct yourselves in a collegial and professional manner with your team mates to make sure that everyone will get the most out the team experience.

COURSE POLICIES

 

Student Conduct in Class Policy

Any acts of classroom disruption that go beyond the normal rights of students to question and discuss with instructors the educational process relative to subject content will not tolerated.

 

Electronic Devices in Class Policy

Cellular phones, pagers, CD Players, radios, and similar devices are prohibited in the laboratory facilities. Calculators and computers are prohibited during examinations and quizzes, unless otherwise specified. 

 

 Examination Policy

There will be 2 in-class exams; a one hour Excel exam (week 05) and a two hour HTML and JavaScript exam (week 13).  No make-up exams will be allowed without prior arrangements being made. Make-up examinations must be taken when scheduled.

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

 

  • If a student believes that he/she has a disability that may affect academic performance, that student should notify Pace University’s Counseling Center for assessment and advisement.  If a student tells the instructor that he/she has a disability, the instructor is bound by University policy to notify the appropriate University representative of such disability.

 

  • Secondly, students must accept the responsibility to be honest and to request ethical standards in meeting their academic requirements.  The Academic Integrity policy of Pace University states that it is unethical to plagiarize, to cheat on and examination, or to turn in work that is not yours.  That means you CANNOT COPY WORK FROM SOMEONE ELSE’S DISK TO YOUR OWN OR PRINT TWO COPIES OF THE SAME ASSSIGNMENT TO BE HANDED IN BY TWO INDIVIDUALS. Each student must do his/her own work.  Students who fail to meet the responsibility for academic integrity subject themselves to sanctions ranging from a reduction in grade or failure in the assignment in which the offense occurred to suspension or dismissal fro the University.

 

  • It is easy for an instructor to tell when data has been duplicated between students.  All instructors reserve the right to challenge work they feel has not been completed independently

 

 

BLACKBOARD

The Blackboard online site has a button marked Assignments. Under this button you will find weekly folders that lay out each week of the course. It is your responsibility to access the Assignment information on a weekly basis and to keep up to date with all the course requirements.

 

Here is an overview of the material you will find in the Blackboard site:

COURSE DOCUMENTS

The Course Document button has weekly folders that contain lecture notes and additional reading material. It is your responsibility to access the Course Documents material on a weekly basis.

ASSIGNMENTS

In each weekly folder in the Assignments button you will find descriptions of all reading and required assignments for the week. Here is an overview of the types of assignments given during the semester:

·         Reading
Readings will be assigned on a weekly basis. Refer to the weekly folder under the Assignments button for the current week’s readings.

·         Homework
All homework will be graded on the following scale:

§         Excellent receives 20 points

§         Good receives from 17 points

§         Adequate receives from 15 points

§         No assignments submitted for the week is 0 points


In order for an assignment to be considered excellent, it must be of outstanding quality. Late or Missing assignments may be accepted at your instructors discretion and are subject to a penalty!   (Please see the CIS 101 Handbook for details.)

If you are experiencing any emergency or other situation that prevents you from handing in work on time, your instructor needs to know about the problem prior to the due date for the homework or project. Please notify your instructor via e-mail or voice mail.

Projects

You will be creating two projects during the semester:
- You will create a personal Web page according to your professor’s instructions.
- Working with your team, you will produce a Web site that features the elements of HTML and JavaScript that you have learned during the semester. This will be the final project for the course, and will be graded on the A, B, and C grading scale.

Examinations

There will be a one hour test in class during week 06 covering Application Software (Excel).
In addition, there will be a two hour examination in class during week 13 covering Web Page Development (HTML), and Introduction to Programming (JavaScript) and Internet Security. Details on the format and topics for these exams will be distributed later in the semester.




DISCUSSION BOARD

The Discussion Board is the area where the class will meet to discuss material introduced in class and online. Discussion Board Questions will be posted weekly. Discussion questions must be answered during the assigned week. Discussion questions answered after midnight on the date due will not receive any credit. (Please read the CIS 101 Handbook for details.)

LEARNING POD

The material for the Learning Pod topic that you are covering will be found here. This includes your term group project and the readings that will be due in weeks 2, 3, 4 and 8.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance in class is required as is participation in class discussion and activities. Regular online participation in the course is also required.

COMMUNICATION

·         Discussion Board: Questions will be posted weekly. You are expected to maintain weekly, active participation.

·         Your Pace Stmail account: You must use your Pace Stmail account to communicate with your Pace instructors. Your CIS101 instructor will communicate with you via your Pace Stmail account. It is your responsibility as a student to regularly read your Stmail account and respond promptly to communications from your instructor. You also have the option of forwarding all e-mail sent to your Stmail account to a different e-mail account, for example, you can forward your Stmail messages to a hotmail or aol account that you read on a regular basis.

·         Email: You are welcome but not required to e-mail the instructor with problems and comments. All e-mail will be responded to promptly. Please be sure to include your full name in any e-mail you send your instructor. It is usually impossible to identify students solely based on their return e-mail addresses.