Introduction to Computers

CS 14F
Fall 1996

Instructor:

Thomas P. Kelliher
Hoyt 160
Office phone: 946-7290
Home phone: 946-3544 (urgent business)
E-mail: Send mail to kelliher AT DOMAIN abacus.westminster.edu
URL: http://keystone.westminster.edu/~kelliher
Office hours: MW 2:00--3:00pm. TR 1:00--2:30pm. Other times by appointment.

Class:

Hoyt McElree Lab
TR 8:00--9:30am

Objectives:

1. To understand how computing is an integral part of our society's infrastructure.
2. To understand computing terminology and the rudiments of how a computer works.
3. To become familiar with typical ``productivity software:'' word processors, spreadsheets, databases, presentation graphics, etc.
4. To become familiar with the Internet and the tools associated with it: web browser, telnet, ftp, e-mail, etc.
5. To understand how computing fits (and doesn't fit) into our future.

Textbooks:

1. M. Meyer and R. Baber, Computers in Your Future, Que, 1995.
2. D. Matherly and P. Winter, Excel 5 for Windows Essentials, Que, 1995.
3. D. Clark, Internet Essentials, Que, 1995.
4. L. Hefferin and L. Acklen, Word 6 for Windows Essentials, Que, 1995.

Recommended Materials:

For the paranoid, a few 3.5" floppy diskettes for safekeeping important data. Also nice to have when we learn how to format a floppy.

Grading:

Grade Distribution

A = [90--100]
B = [80--90)
etc.

I use +/- grading sparingly.

Course Point Distribution

There will be approximately 1000 total points for the class. They will be distributed as follows:

1. Assignments --- This is a ``catch-all'' category, including two or three short papers as well as assignments geared toward learning computer software and technology. Assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date. Assignments turned in after this time are late. Assignments which are less than 24 hours late receive a 20 percent penalty deduction. Assignments which are more than 24 hours late will not be accepted.

   Assignments will account for approximately 380 points.

2. Quizzes --- Quizzes will be given on Tuesdays (with the exception of the three weeks when midterms are scheduled) at the beginning of class and will cover the previous week's material. Seven quizzes will be counted, while the two lowest quizzes will be dropped. Make-up quizzes will not be given. Each quiz will be worth 10 points. So, quizzes account for 70 points.

3. Midterms --- There will be three in-class midterms, scheduled for September 24, October 22, and November 14. If you cannot take one of these midterms, please let me know as soon as possible. If you have a valid excuse, a make-up will be scheduled. This make-up should be scheduled to be taken within 48 hours of the ordinary midterm. Each midterm will be worth 100 points.

4. Final --- The cumulative final will be worth 250 points.

No extra credit is available.

Course Handouts:

Most course handouts will be made available once in class. After that, they may be obtained from my personal home page on the World Wide Web (see the URL above). I also expect to distribute homework and exam solutions through my home page.

Attendance:

Attendance of classes is expected, but not required. It is your responsibility to catch up on missed class work. I keep a record of attendance for my own information, but this record has no bearing upon your grade.

Please note that class begins promptly at 8:00am.

Integrity:

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.

Tentative Initial Schedule:

It is your responsibility to read the assigned material before class. What we do in class will not necessarily be what is in the reading.

All chapter readings, unless otherwise stated, are from Meyer & Baber.

Sep. 3: Introduction. Units 1A--1C.

Sep. 5: Computer Hardware. Units 2A, 2B. Using a web browser. Internet Essentials, Project 8.

Sep. 10: More Computer Hardware. Units 2C, 10A, 10B.

Sep. 12: Software and Data. Units 3A, 3B. Familiarization with the OS/2 desktop.

Sep. 17: Word Processing. Unit 4A. Word project 1.

Sep. 19: More Word Processing. Word projects 2, 3.

Sep. 24: Midterm 1.