Academic Experience

Non-Academic Experience

Publications

Other Activities

Courses Taught

STA/CIS Bulletin
- Winter '95

Textbooks: Package from Prentice-Hall, including:

Computing by Long and Long
Exploring Excel 97 by Grauer & Barber
Custom textbook including Pace University Software Exercises by Catherine Dwyer
Customized version of A Brief Course in Visual BASIC 5 by Schneider
Booklet on the Internet

Introduction & Overview (Long & Long, chapters 1, 2, & Schneider 2)
Hardware (Long & Long, chapters 3, 4,5)
Software, Multimedia Internet (Long & Long, chapters 6, 7, Internet guidebook)
Computers in Society (Long & Long, chapter 13, 14)

Procedural programming (Visual Basic)
Spreadsheet (Excel)
Web (Netscape)
Multimedia authoring (production of web pages using Word, HTML Assistant Pro and Paint Shop Pro). 

Requirements:
 
 

This class requires thinking. We aim to prepare you to apply concepts of computer information systems now and in the future. The equipment and products will always be changing! We all must keep learning.

There will be a short quiz, homework, and/or in-class group exercises EVERY CLASS. Attendance and class participation in Lecture and Lab counts. Over 3 absences means a 5 point deduction. A lateness counts as half an absence.

You must obtain an ID in order to use electronic mail (e-mail) for class assignments. YOU NEED THIS IMMEDIATELY to send Dr. Thomas the topic for the essay during the first two weeks of classes. Students may sign up in room W 202 during their first lab session. There will be a specific assignment using the Internet later in the semester.

A two-page essay on computers will be due Week 5. It should be done using a wordprocessing program, such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect. You should have at least two sources of information in a list of references. Current newspapers and magazines are the best source for computer industry information. You may write about the use of computers in movies or on television, issues affecting the computer industry as they apply to you, how computers are used in your major field, new or improved uses for computers in your daily life, etc. Reference titles should either be in bold-faced print, italics, or underlined. Students without word processing experience may go to the Electronic Learning Labs on the second floor of 41 Park Row or to the Academic Computing Center in room W202 for instruction and assistance. 

NOTE:

There will be homework and in-class exams in the Lab; and

There will be a group project using multimedia.

• Classwork/homework (10)
• Midterm  (10)
• Programming (15)
• Essay using word processing (10) 
• Spreadsheet work (10)
• Multimedia group work/project (15) 
• E-mail/Internet (10)
• Final (20)

CIS 101 SCHEDULE
Weekly Objectives

Week	Class Topic	Homework
1	Introduction Computers are programmed!
2	Programming languages, algorithms, flowcharts, conditionals, email	Schneider, chapter 1
3	The World of Computers Arithmetical and logical expressions, data representation, ASCII, repetition	L&L. chapter 1 Computers & Cars Assignment
4	Inside the Computer Binary numbers and arithmetic, arrays.	L & L chapter 2 History of Computers Assignment
5	Software: Telling Computers What to Do Databases and files	L&L chapter 3 ESSAY Assignment DUE
6	Storing and Retrieving Information Machine example, inside the computer, I/O devices	L&L chapter 4 Describe computer use (e.g., ATM, grocery scanner) in terms of I/O
7	Input/ Output: Computers in Action Spreadsheets and databases	L&L chapter 5 Year 2000 Assignment
8	Midterm	Review L&L appendix (Windows)
9	Networks and Networking: Linking the World, Communications and networks, The Internet	L&L chapters 6 Internet booklet
10	Going Online: The Net, Information Services and More Introduction to HTML	L&L chapter 7  Competency Assignment
11	Computers in Society: Today	L&L chapter 13  Internet Assignment
12	Computers in society: Tomorrow  Computers for the disabled, computer security, privacy	L & L chapter 14 Spreadsheet Lecture Assignment
13	Final	STUDY FOR FINAL!!!!!

CIS 101: How this class will operate

CIS 101 is a core course required for all Pace undergraduates. Students will acquire:

1. conceptual understanding and operational skill in the basics of computer hardware and software. This will include actual use of common application packages and introductory procedual programming. Fundamental concepts will be covered through classroom exercises, homework and lecture and discussion.
2. general problem-solving and communication skills, and experience in working in teams to solve problems. This will include the appropriate use of computers to accomplish tasks and the use of systematic , analytic thinking to address problems that may not be appropriate for automation.
3. awareness and insight into the pervasive presence of computer-based technology in working and everyday life. This will include discussion and analysis of current applications and potential trends.

• I expect you to come to class on time. It is a large class and late arrivals are disruptive.
• I expect you to come to class prepared to work. This means that you will have done the reading assigned along with any homework.
• The homework will be prepared in a professional manner--this includes thought in the creation process and proofreading and polishing for the final presentation.
• I welcome questions on the reading. Most of the time, I will not review the reading if there are no questions. I also welcome questions and observations relating to your experiences. This includes events covered in the news. 

 It is important to know when to talk and when not to talk. When you are working in groups, you will be talking and also listening to the people in your group concerning the task assigned. But before and after these activities, you must be quiet and await your turn at talking. Disruptive students will be asked to leave and it will have an adverse effect on their participation marks. It is especially important that you be quiet and attentive when a student is reporting from a group other than your own and I am responding to what that group is presenting. Apart from the fact that questions on quizzes and exams may be posed from these discussions, everyone can learn from these exchanges.

 Making effective use of computer technology requires a mixture of general understanding, discipline and a willingness to experiment and to ask questions to get specific information. The most important thing you can learn in university is learning how to learn. If you put in the effort, you will be rewarded, in CIS 101, your other courses, and your career and life after Pace!
 
 

Method of teaching in the lab is primarily helping individual or pairs of students when they have problems, but some ‘front of the room’ demonstrations would be appropriate. In addition, lab sessions are appropriate times to require students to give presentations to the whole class using the same projection equipment used by the instructor.