Welcome to Introduction to Computers and Technology  Online  !

CGS-1100 Introduction to Computers and Technology    BACA 216 Fri     11:00PM-1:45 PM 01/07/02 to  05/03/02    Professor: Mrs. Dianne E. Haun

SCHEDULED Office Hours:  Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-9:30 A.M. and Tuesday and Thursday 1:45-2:45

 PREREQUISITES: None

This is an online course. A great deal of independence is required to succeed at an online course. You are committing to weekly contact through email to submit your assignments. Attendance weekly will be marked by your completion of activities and contact with the professor through email. You will also be assigned to a learning team and will be responsible for contacting them through email weekly. You must log onto the website at minimum twice weekly unless you have otherwise notified the instructor. Submissions will be graded by 9 p.m. on Sunday, so although there are suggested weekly dates, you may complete and submit your activities anytime during the week. After Sunday at 9 p.m. only assignments for the current week will be accepted. All assignments not emailed by Sunday night at 9 p.m. will not be graded. You will be responsible for completing the assigned readings on your own and completing the website activities and submitting them through email. At the end of this course we will come together to present and share our portfolios with each other. This will be the only other mandatory class meeting. Please click on the hotlinks below in order to visit the websites for each text. Visit the following website to reach the online syllabus and access current events in our class. View projects by classmates! http://teacher.27south.com/cgs.html

TEXT/MATERIALS

 a. Discovering Computers, Shelly Cashmen, 2002

Web Site: www.scsite.com/dc2002

Interactive Labs: http://www.scsite.com/dc2002/default.cfm?module=labs&chap=1

b. Introduction to Computers, Office XP, A Tutorial to Accompany Introduction to Computers,  Peter Norton, Glencoe-McGraw Hill, Third Edition, 2000.

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072471026/student_view0/chapter1/learning_objectives.html

AND

REQUIRED: Personal email.  If you don't have this, apply to hotmail, geocities or other free email service. Lab Techs in the computer lab can help you accomplish this. 

DISKETTE – as you may desire to save your projects over time. This is not a requirement, but a suggestion. 6 disks are recommended.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

·                    To introduce the microcomputer and its impact on the world.

·                    To understand the necessary criteria for the selection of microcomputer hardware as well as systems and applications software.

·                    To introduce the basic concepts and components of a microcomputer system and to the interaction between hardware and software.

·                    To introduce students to the application software in three major areas: word processing, database systems, and spreadsheets.

·                    To provide students with hands-on computer experience using the Microsoft Office XP (Word XP, Excel XP, Access XP, PowerPoint XP).

Computer Lab Assignments:   This course will require students to spend a minimum of three hours per week to complete the computer lab assignments. These may be completed from home or in the HCC computer lab. A schedule of room availability will be posted along with the hours when the lab is available. The reading for the course will take an additional 3 hours per week, so plan accordingly.

Course Requirements: Students will research two topics in computers. One must be a computer history issue and one must be a future trend in technology. The student will choose one of these papers to present in a PowerPoint presentation. The other PowerPoint presentation assignment will be to design a PowerPoint that introduces you to the class. This presentation must be a minimum of 5 slides and incorporate sound, animation and graphics. There is a mid-term and a final exam which will cover material presented in the text. Students will also interview an employer who hires workers who use technology. This interview may be conducted in person, online, over the telephone or through video conferencing. Students who fail to meet these requirements by the deadline will not be eligible to take the midterm or final.

Assessment and Attendance: The final letter grade will be determined objectively in terms of total points awarded for examination, presentation, and observation response paper.

A = 100+ B = 90-99 C = 80-89 D = 70-79

Exam (midterm 30 points, final exam 35 points)

Individual Presentation (possible 10 pts)

Computer History Paper (possible 10 pts)

Future Trend Paper (possible 5 pts)

Business Interview (possible 5 points)

Technology Portfolio (possible 10 pts)

Triple obligations fall upon students. One set is academic (opportunities), another
one administrative (attendance, withdraw), while behavioral functions comprise
the other obligations. "A Class Act" communicates expectations for behavior.
Points may be subtracted from your score based on infractions.

 A. Policies

1. We can become aware of ourselves, our behaviors, and our influence
    on others.
2. We will develop a greater trust in ourselves and others.
3. Instruction can be totally effective only if behaviors promote respect,
    trust, and order.

 B. Rules: There is only one rule:

. "I am 100% responsible for what I think, say, see in my mind, and feel." Express your ganas (desire) through your effort!
     

Cheating Policy:

Students are expected to uphold Hillsborough Community College’s standard of conduct relating to academic honesty. Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the academic work they submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity shall be that a student's submitted work, examinations, and projects must be that of the student's own work. Students shall be guilty of violating this policy if they:

1.      Represent the work of others as their own.

2.      Modify, without instructor approval, an examination, paper, record, or report for the purpose of obtaining additional credit.

3.      Misrepresent the content of submitted work.

Any student violating this policy is subject to receive a failing grade for the course. If a student is unclear about whether a particular situation may constitute a violation, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss the situation.

For this class, it is permissible to assist classmates in general information about computing techniques. General advice and interaction are encouraged. This can be accomplished through email. Each person, however, must develop his or her own solutions to the assigned projects, assignments, and tasks. In other words, students may not "work together" on graded assignments. Such collaboration constitutes cheating. A student may not use or copy (by any means) another's work (or portions of it) and represent it as his/her own. If you need help on an assignment, contact your instructor, not other classmates. Assignments and due dates are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

Portfolio

What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is “more than a compilation of student papers or materials stuffed into a manila folder or a collection of memorabilia pasted into a scrapbook.  To qualify as a portfolio, each piece of evidence must be collected or created and organized in a compelling manner to demonstrate proficiency in or progress toward a purpose”.  (Barton & Collins, 1993, p.203).

In other words, you collect evidence throughout the semester, but at the end of the semester you decide what to include which will show what you have learned and how you have learned it.  Much of the evidence you will collect will be responses to assignments you have completed for me (and for other instructors) throughout this semester.  The skill involved in the portfolio is organizing the evidence to demonstrate personal growth in the learning.

A Portfolio has a Focus!

The focus for the portfolio developed in this course is for you to show your evolving knowledge of technology.  Thus the portfolio will:

(i)            provide a forum for you to demonstrate your emerging understanding of the complexities of technology;

(ii)           help you link the theoretical with the world of practice.  Additionally, by completing this portfolio yourself, you will have a heightened awareness of the complexities involved in applying technology tools to solve problems in the real world setting.

How will you demonstrate your learning?

Remember that at the end of the semester you will sit down with all the evidence you have collected throughout the semester and you will use your portfolio to demonstrate your initial computer knowledge how this understanding has evolved throughout the semester.  You may have gathered evidence from such sources as: discussions with peers, teachers, methods instructor, students, assignments, observation of businesses, applying technology to solve problems at home, in your personal life, at work or in other classes. and video tapes, and other classroom experience.

Examples of Portfolios  and Types of Evidence from the Research Literature (some examples taken from Barton, J. & Collins, A (1993). 

Types of Evidence

Artifacts                  documents produced during                   a written paper, a note-

                                              the normal course work in                      book of field notes, video-

Reproductions                     documents about events in                         audio tape of a discussion

Attestations                            documents about the work of                 written comments from

                                              the student prepared by some-               an instructor, newspaper

...”although the word document, as a synonym for evidence, often conjures up the image of paper, the documents in a teacher education portfolio are not limited to formal paper.  Students can use notes, drafts, journals, and diary entries, and sketches as well as drawings, photographs, audio tapes, video tapes, models and computer discs.”   Note: Any audio or video recording of others must be done with their consent.

Organizing your Portfolio for Submission

1. Submit the evidence which clearly shows the evolution of your technology knowledge  Each piece of evidence must be captioned.   A caption is a statement attached to each piece of evidence which describes why it is included, what it is evidence of.

2. At the end of the portfolio include a reflective statement - written as you review your own portfolio and organize it.  You will summarize the documents included and “trace how they have captured and portray growth”.

3) Include a table of contents with two columns, with columns 1 and 2 completed .

An Example of Assessment of a Portfolio or

Questions Concerning the Substance of the Portfolio:

1.  Has the student met the stated purpose?  If no, what is missing?

2. Does each piece of evidence meet its intended purpose?

3.  Is the evidence organized in such a way that it helps to demonstrate the student’s

     growing knowledge?

4.  Is there evidence that the student has sought connections between theory and

     practice?

5. Is there evidence of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation; creativity; reflection?

6. Are all of the objectives of the course documentable through this portfolio?

Suggestions for Completing the Portfolio:

Start Now! (Day 1)

Ask Questions!

Think Creatively!

This assignment is a reflective portfolio, which integrates and describes your experiences with particular activities, demonstrations, presentations and reading.  I suggest that you keep a daily log which describes specifically your reaction, analysis, evaluation ... hence reflection on what transpires in class and do this as soon as possible after each class activity.  Some entries may only be a paragraph long.  Others (particularly when we encounter various activities) may be longer.  A summary statement that ties together several major themes in your portfolio will be required.. This is to be personally meaningful and reflective of your growing understanding of the joys and challenges in the field of technology and as such will be graded on its depth of reflection and not on the content of your personal opinions. This should be fun and useful, as well as a foundation to your permanent job hunting portfolio.

Attendance is crucial in this course; thus the instructor reserves the option to lower the final letter grade for unexcused absences which exceed two weeks for the semester, An excused absence must be arranged with the instructor before the week in which the student is not going to attend. In an emergency, a message should be left with the secretary at 813-253-7808. Participation in class activities are required for accomplishing grades C and higher. Since this is an introductory class, all efforts toward participation will be rewarded. Thorough reading of the text prior to attempting assignments is expected and will enhance your ability to participate fully in class activities. Rereading the text after completing activities will help you prepare for exams.

"I" (Incomplete grade) POLICY

Students sometimes fail to progress in courses because adequate prerequisite skills are not possessed or because adequate time management and study skills are not exercised. These are NOT appropriate bases for the issuance of an "Incomplete" grade. No "I" grades will be awarded in this course without extenuating, documented circumstances, such as death in the family or extended illness. If you should happen to arrive in such unfortunate circumstances, be sure to provide suitable documentation when you approach me about the "I". Three Fourths of the course must be completed in order to be eligible for the “I” according to HCC policy. Your "I" will buy you one more semester in which to finish your work. If you haven't earned a higher grade by that time, your grade will convert permanently to an "F" and there will be no way to complete the course. If you wish at that point to continue, you will have to start anew by re-registering (and re-paying) for the course.

DISABLED STUDENTS & RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:

 Please notify the instructor within the first week if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed for this course. A letter from the Office of Student Disability Services must accompany the request. Additional resource information is available through the Graduate Student Handbook. Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second class meeting.

Spring 2002 SESSION 16 WEEK COURSE SCHEDULE/CONTENT OUTLINE

*Absolute deadline for late submission of any Assignments

Professional Conduct:  Read assignments and display vigorous (and meaningful) positive participation in all class lessons and activities.

You may find it useful to contact your team members through email. If you do not have computer access at home, there are computers available in the library and also in the computer lab. Assignments are expected to be typed.

HCC Brandon Computer Lab

The Brandon Computer Lab is located in BTEC 203 (the north east corner of the campus, on the second floor).

The lab hours are: 

Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Occasionally the computer lab closes for maintenance or holiday weekends, etc.  

Start your work early, so that you don't miss the assignment deadlines because of lab closures.

Call the lab (253-7920) for more information.

Personal meetings with your instructional staff.

If you need help in any way with this course, first contact the professor via the course email listed at the top of this document.  You should, of course, frequently access the assistance of your team members, read the course text and complete all assignments. Individual and team help cannot replace effort  but rather are an assistance to supplement your work and careful study. Your success is highly valued.

WE NEED YOU TO SUCCEED. OUR FUTURE DEPENDS UPON YOU!