CSI 101 – Understanding Computer Technology

							                        CSI 101 – Understanding Computer Technology
                                           Fall 2005
                                The New England Institute of Art


Instructor:     Leila Lee Mitchell
e-mail: llm411@fac.aii.edu or Leila@llmdesign.com
class website: www.llmdesign.com/teaching




Course Description

Technologies, such as the Internet, digital audio and video, multimedia, administrative software
and graphic design --- are just a few of the ways that computers are being used. Providing you
with basic knowledge and the skills to adapt computer skills to a rapidly changing workplace is
critical --- if not essential. During your course study, you will learn Windows and Macintosh
Operating Systems, computer hardware, the Internet, and productivity software including word
processing, spreadsheets and presentation applications. By the end of the course, you’ll be
prepared to use computers on a daily basis and will be able to enter other technically based
courses where computers are used as creative tools.

Instruction
Computers are multi-purpose business tools. To master any tool, practical hands-on experience is
required. We spend most of the time on the computers practicing the various computing
techniques discussed in the text or class. Special attention is given to the Mac OS, since most of
you will be using the MAC system in your future studies.

This course is designed to provide you with the basic computer skills needed to succeed both in
future classes and in your career. You use some of the skills that you learn in this course on a daily
basis, so those frequently used skills become automatic to you. There are other skills that you may
not use as frequently; therefore, you will tend to forget them. Because these skills are essential
to your success in future classes (and jobs), it is necessary that you take notes so that you
can refer to them in the future.


Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. Have a basic understanding of computer hardware and peripheral equipment
2. Have an appreciation of the history and future of computer hardware and software
   development
3. Successfully use and navigate the two main operating systems (Windows XP and Mac OS X),
   including (but not limited to) the following:
  Understanding how operating systems work
  Understanding file hierarchy
  Understanding and using directories
  Using the Find function
  Formatting various media
  Saving – hard drives, floppy disk, zip disk
  Understanding the various file formats and extensions
  Using the Help function
  Managing memory
  General desktop “housekeeping”

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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
4.   Use the NEIA web system for email, grades, etc. – stu.aii.edu
5.   Use and understand the Internet
6.   Use word-processing applications – Microsoft Word
7.   Use spreadsheets – Microsoft Excel
8.   Use presentation applications – Microsoft PowerPoint




Requirements

Texts:
     1.    Discovering Computers Shelly Cashman Vermaat Series, Second Edition, 2005.
     2.    Mac OS X – Panther Edition by Robin Williams, Peach Pit Press, 2004.
     3.    Overview Foldouts:
              Microsoft Windows XP Thomson Course Technologies, 2004.
              Word 2003 Thomson Course Technologies, 2004.
              Excel 2003 Thomson Course Technologies, 2004.
              Powerpoint 2003 Thomson Course Technologies, 2004.

Other materials:
      Various handouts may be posted on the website: www.llmdesign.com/teaching
      A flash memory disk (which can be purchased in the school bookstore)
   (Please bring memory media to every class otherwise you won’t be able to save material)

Technology – E-mail
    All students are provided an NEIA email account.
    You are expected to know how to use the email system and to check email regularly.
    NEIA Instructors use email as the primary method of communicating with you outside of class,
     so please check your e-mail daily.
    If you don’t have email access, you must obtain your username and password for your email
     account from the MIS department by the second meeting of this class because we will be
     using the email system in class.
    You are expected to use email responsibly and respectfully, so please refer to Student Code of
     Conduct’s “Policy on Computing Ethics” and “Acceptable Use Policy for Networks.”
This is critical information because you need to use this system to review your grades, register for
classes and communicate with your instructors.


Academic Integrity – Class Policies – Guidelines

Please make sure you read the facts below as they have been, and will be strictly
enforced in this class.

College guidelines for academic integrity are strictly enforced. Copying materials or otherwise
using the words, thoughts, audio, video, graphics files of others is plagiarism, which can lead to
severe academic actions, such as expulsion from school. This also includes submitting other class
work for assignments in this class.




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Attendance
The college does not distinguish between excused or unexcused absences, and if you must miss a
class for a pro-longed period of time you should officially withdraw.

          More than 3 absences (2 in the Summer!), your grade automatically drops one whole
           grade point, e.g. B > C
          More than 4 absences (3 in the Summer!) lowers your grade automatically to a “D”
          You are responsible for obtaining any information that you have missed from one of your
           classmates, so make a point of exchanging phone numbers or email addresses with
           someone as soon as possible.
          You must inform me about absences via email or phone.
          When you have missed class twice you must setup an appointment with me to discuss your
           status.

Tardiness
Both the school and I frown on late arrivals or early departures; both will be noted in your record.

          Late arrival or early departure is noted in the class roster
          4 late arrivals = 1 missed absence
          More than 30 minute late arrival or early departure will be marked as a “1/2 absence”
          2 “1/2” absences = 1 missed absence

Other Class Policies and Services
This section outlines other important class policies, such as care of equipment, care of lab areas
and class behavior. Please see the Student Code of Conduct Handbook for further explanation of
any of the following policies.

          Computers cannot be used for any pornographic, indecent or unacceptable displays – if
           you are caught doing this it may result in failure of the class or other more severe
           disciplinary rulings
          Cell phones, beepers and personal head sets will not be used within the classroom
          Respect for self, instructor and classmates are required at all times. This means that you will
           give your full attention to anyone who is addressing the class.
          This also includes:
                o Absolutely no downloading of any application not authorized by the MIS
                     department, this includes any mail service such as Hotmail, AOL, MSN, etc… to the
                     hard drive of any computer in this lab either during class time or outside of it.
                o Any instant messaging or emailing during class, or performing other class work will
                     not be tolerated. IM programs effect the working capabilities of the computers in
                     this lab, when found they should be reported and they will be removed from the
                     hard drive.

Academic Support Center and Services
Students with known and documented disabilities should advise the Student Services Office to
ensure that the disability is fully documented, and please remember that Academic Support, or
tutoring is available to all students.

Special Note: Please inform any instructor or MIS employee of computer problems as soon as
possible. If no one is around please fill out a Technology Request Form by going to the web space
http://stu.aii.edu/~mis411 and report the information online.




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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
Assignments – Projects – Testing

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
All assignments/projects MUST be submitted during or before the class in which it’s due. Late
assignments/projects are graded down one letter grade for each day that it’s late; therefore, at a
certain point, it makes no sense to submit a late assignment.

PLEASE NOTE: You must backup all assignments. In the event that you say you handed in an
assignment and I say I didn’t get it, I will want to check the date the file was created.
        For instance: Projects #1 and #2 MUST be submitted via e-mail as an attachment. As
        proof of sending the e-mail, send a copy to yourself at the same time you send it to me. If I
        do not receive the email with the correct attachment by the deadline, showing me the
        email you received in your account (when you sent it to yourself and me) is the only proof
        that you have that you turned in the project on time.

Project Summaries See Project Sheets for full description
Project #1 - Word - Cover Letter
This project will use on-line research tools to find a job posting, the MS Word interface and tutorials
to create a properly formatted cover letter, and the Merge functions of MS Word and Excel to
produce multiple cover letters.

Project #2 - Excel – Car Payment Calculator and Personal Budget
This project uses MS Excel to create a realistic Personal Budget. The spreadsheet will be in a 12-
month period for the current year with the student’s personal income and expense listings. The
addition of a payment calculator for a large expense purchase will be included. The use of relative
and absolute formulas will be utilized to produce totals.

Project #3 - PowerPoint - Presentation
This project will explore the MS Powerpoint program to produce a multimedia presentation. The
subject matter is at the discretion of the student and must be approved by the instructor. The 5-7
minute presentation will be delivered to the class and graded on specific requirements.

Quizzes
Quizzes will be administered at the beginning of the class with approximately 30 minutes allotted
for each quiz. If you arrive late to class during a quiz, you will not be given additional time to
complete the quiz. Quizzes cover all reading material, information discussed in class, information
from projects, and information from assigned videos, websites, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: There are no makeup quizzes.

Exams
The Midterm Exam covers all topics presented in the first half of the course.
PLEASE NOTE: There is only one sitting for the midterm --- there will be no makeup.

The Final Exam covers all topics presented in the second half (since the Midterm) of the course.
PLEASE NOTE: There is only one sitting for the final exam --- there will be no makeup.




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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
Homework
Throughout the semester as instructed in the syllabus, in class and online --- you must complete
homework assignments on time. In some cases these submissions are used to create quizzes, so for
full credit --- they cannot be late. Also, if I decide that I am going to drop your lowest grade, and
your homework becomes your lowest grade because you have not done it --- then you are
wasting a great opportunity.

Class Participation
Completing your homework on time, participation in class discussions and activities is important,
and attendance does count as participation, and is very much a part of your final grade. Your final
grade will also be based on your involvement in class discussions and in-class homework
assignments.


Grading and Standards

The students’ final grade will be determined by the following components:

Activity                                      Weight      If no final exam.*
Project #1: Word Cover Letter                   10%                5%
Project #2: Excel Budget                        10%               15%
Project #3: Powerpoint Presention               15%               20%          * If the class average is 78% or
Quiz #1                                         8%                10%          higher for all quizzes and the
                                                                               midterm, then there may not
Quiz #2                                         8%                10%
                                                                               be a need for a final
Quiz #3                                         8%                10%          examination and the grade
Quiz #4                                         8%                10%          allocation will change
Homework/Participation                          5%                 5%
Midterm Exam                                    14%               15%
Final Exam                                      14%                0%
                                              100.00%          100.00%*



                                              Grading Breakdown
       A (93 –100)               Excellent to Very Good: comprehensive knowledge and
       A- (90 – 92)              understanding of subject matter; marked perception and/or
                                 originality.
       B+ (87 – 89)              Good: moderately broad knowledge and understanding of subject
       B (83 – 86)               matter; noticeable perception and/or originality.
       B- (80 – 82)
       C+ (77 – 79)              Satisfactory: reasonable knowledge and understanding of subject
       C (73 – 76)               matter; some perception and/or originality.
       C- (70 – 72)
       D (60 – 69)               Marginal: minimal of knowledge and understanding of subject
                                 matter; limited perception and/or originality.
         F   (<60)               Failing: unacceptable low level of knowledge and understanding of
                                 subject matter; severely limited perception and/or originality;
                                 absences in excess of allowable limit.




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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
Schedule

The first 7 weeks, class is in a MAC lab, and then the final weeks will be in a PC lab. The schedule
below is based upon the dates that your class is scheduled.
Note: Consult the website for subsequent weeks' assignments and other updates



WEEK 1 – Sept. 8|9
    Welcome
         Review syllabus and topics covered in the course
         Use of available computers (Library, Student Services, etc.) for course assignments
         Do Not use the Instructor’s Station (impact upon Instructor and students)
         Homework and Assignments – how to turn in electronically
         Trouble Reports/Technical Issues, Viruses – email attachments
         Testing out of CSI 101
    History of Computers: Timeline
    Introduction to the MAC interface

Assignments for next WEEK:
Reading:
   1. Discovering Computers CHAPTER 1: Intro to Computers
   2. MAC OSX               CHAPTER 1: Finding your way around,
                            CHAPTER 2: Tutorial

Assignment:
    3. Checkpoints (pg. 30)                   Homework #1 E-mail to me as an attachment


Week 2 – Sept. 15|16
DUE: Homework #1

    Lecture: Introduction to Computers
    Shelly Cashman Website
        MAC Interface:
        Menus and Shortcuts
        Using the Windows
        Icons
        The Dock

Introduction to the history of computers – Triumph of the Nerds Episode I

Assignments for next WEEK:
Reading
   1. Discovering Computers CHAPTER 4: Components of the System
   2. MAC OSX               CHAPTER 3-8: The Mouse, Keyboard, Menus, Windows, Icons

Assignment:
    3. Checkpoint (pg. 160)                   Homework #2




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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
Week 3 – Sept. 22|23
DUE: Homework #2

    Use the NEIA web system for email, grades, etc. – stu.aii.edu --- you must have a working
     email account by this class.

    Lecture: Components of the System
    SC Website Activities
    Quiz Review

Introduction to the history of computers – Triumph of the Nerds Episode II

Assignments for next WEEK:
Reading
   1. Discovering Computers CHAPTER 5: Input and Output

Assignment:
    2. Checkpoint (pg. 203)                   Homework #3
    3. Study for Quiz 1                       covers weeks 1, 2, and 3



Week 4 – Sept. 29|30
Due: Homework 3

Quiz #1 Weeks 1,2,3

    Lecture: Input and Output
    Microsoft Word - Handout
    Introduction to Project #1 - Cover Letter
             Tips from website
             Where to find jobs – Searching the Internet handout
    MAC interface:
             Desktop
             Folders
             Applications
             Moving vs. copying
             External storage

Last part of history of computers – Triumph of the Nerds Episode III

Assignments for next WEEK:
Reading:
   1. Discovering Computers CHAPTER 6: Storage
   2. MAC OSX               CHAPTER 9-11, 19, 25, 27, 37, 39
   3. MS Word handout

Assignment:
    4. Checkpoint (pg. 244)    Homework #4a
    5. Write 3 from the MS Word Handout that you didn’t know or 3 important things to know
       about MS Word.          Homework #4b




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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
Week 5 – Oct. 6|7
DUE: Homework #4a & #4b

    Lecture: Storage
        Storage devices
        Symbols
        Connections
        Speed, memory
    Microsoft Word: Advanced Topics
        Templates
        Merging
        Inserting images
    MS Word Lab
        Work on Cover Letter or in-class tutorials
         Cover Letter Project
    Quiz Review

Assignments for next WEEK:
Reading:
   1. Discovering Computers CHAPTER 7: OS Systems
                            CHAPTER 3: Application Software
   2. MS Word 2003          Overview Foldout

Assignment:
    3. Checkpoint (pg. 274 & 128)        Homework #5
    4. Study for Quiz #2
    5. Work on MS Word Project
    6. Review on-line tutorial for Merging Documents.



Week 6 – Oct. 13|14
Due: Homework #5

Quiz #2: Weeks 4, 5

    Lecture: OS Systems and Application Software
    MS Word Q & A
    Mid-Term Review
    MS Word Project Lab

Assignments for next WEEK:
     1.    Study for Mid-Term
     2.    Finish MS Word Project

Week 7 – Oct. 20|21                            Mid-Term Exam: Weeks 1-6

Early Drop-off for cover letter project and then you can leave. Otherwise, stay after mid-term to
work on cover letter project.

Assignments for next WEEK:
Reading:
   1. Windows XP                              Overview Foldout

Assignments:
    2. Finish MS Word Project

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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
                                              Switch over to the Windows system


Week 8 – Oct. 27|28
Due: Project 1 – Cover Letter Email to me as an attachment

    General Windows XP platform tour
            Taskbar
    Microsoft Excel
            Understand what a spreadsheet is
            Understanding/Inserting Rows and Columns
    Introduction to Project #2 – Excel Budget


Assignments for next WEEK:
Reading:
1. MS Excel 2003                 Overview Foldout

Assignment: Homework #6a & #6b
2. On the CoursePort Website go to the Student Edition Lab Section.
          Go through the “Using Windows” section. Make sure you answer the questions in the
           Review section and submit. (Homework #6a)
          Go through the “Spreadsheets” section. Make sure you answer the questions in the
           Review section and submit. (Homework #6b)
3. Excel Project Expense/Income List: Type out a list of your expenses and incomes. Send via e-
    mail.

Week 9 – Nov. 3|4
Due: Homework #6a & b, Excel project expense/income list

    Windows XP continued
            Applications
            Finding a file
            My Computer
    Microsoft Excel: Advanced Topics
        Understanding cell references
        Creating a Chart in Excel
    Review for Quiz
    Excel Lab

**E-mail me a draft of your Excel Budget Project by the end of class.

Assignments for next WEEK:
Reading:
1. Discovering Computers                      CHAPTER 2: The Internet and the WWW
                                              CHAPTER 8 (pg. 295-304): Communications Network

Assignment:
2. See ** above.
3. Checkpoints (pg. 80)       Homework #7a
4. Choose 5 terms from “Key Terms” (pg. 325) from the reading and define them. Type out and
    send via e-mail.          Homework #7b
5. Study for Quiz 3




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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
Week 10 – Nov. 10|11
Due: Homework #7a & b
Quiz #3 – Weeks 8, 9, Excel Handout

    Lecture: The Internet and the WWW; Communications Network
    Making Use of the Web
    Excel Lab

Assignments for Next Week:
Assignments:
1. Finish Excel Project



Week 11 – Nov. 17|18
Due: Project 2 – Excel Budget spreadsheet, Email to me as an attachment.

    Lecture: Multi-media
         Usage of Multimedia in computer technology
    Microsoft PowerPoint
         Understanding a PowerPoint presentation
         Understanding slides in PPT
    Introduction of Project #3 – PowerPoint Presentation

Assignments for Next Week:
Reading:
1. MS Powerpoint 2003 Overview Foldout

Assignment: Homework #8
2. From the MS Powerpoint Foldout: Create three multiple-choice questions (with four possible
    answers) follow directions from Homework #6
3. Type a one-page descripton of your Powerpoint presentation idea. Research a concept or
    subject matter if necessary. Turn in a paper copy of this description in the next class.



Week 12 – Nov. 24|25
Thanksgiving Break


Week 13 – Dec. 1|2
Due: Homework #8 and one page description of PowerPoint presentation subject.

    PowerPoint: Advanced Topics
        Using Graphics, Photos, and ClipArt in PowerPoint
        Setting slide animation effects
        Adding Multimedia – sound from file, CD
    Review for Quiz #4
    PowerPoint Lab

Assignments for next WEEK:
1.   Continue Project #3 PowerPoint presentation
2.   Study for Quiz #4 – covers weeks 10, 11, 13



Understanding Computer Technology – CSI 101                                               10 of 11
Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell
Week 14 – Dec. 8|9
Quiz #4 – Weeks 10, 11, 13

          Work on Powerpoint Presentations

Assignments for next WEEK:
1.   Finish PowerPoint Presentations
2.   Study for Final (if necessary)



Week 15 – Dec. 15|16
Due: PowerPoint Presentations

Final Exam – If necessary
   Student PowerPoint Presentations Group


Have a wonderful break!




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Fall 2005 – Leila Lee Mitchell