CSC105 Computer Apps & Systems

Class Work

This class has two parts:

learning to be a skilled user of Microsoft Office
learning to be computer competent: to understand the impact of computers and the Internet on our lives and society, and to learn the basic terminology used to describe computers and related technology

To cover these two parts we have two textbooks, and with each textbook we have a software system for accessing the e-book version of the textbook and related assignments and exams.

Microsoft Office:

The textbook is Microsoft Office in Practice (MOIP)
The software is SIMnet

Computer Competency:

The textbook is Using Information Technology (UIT)
The software is Connect

MS Office: SIMnet Assignments

To learn to be a skilled user of MS Office, we will use the SIMnet system. This system includes the ebook version of MS Office in Practice (MOIP) and assignments and assessments. We will be covering PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Access. Each of these is covered in several chapters of the book. For each chapter you will need to learn the material and then complete a hands on project and a quiz using the skills covered in that chapter. The project and quiz will demonstrate your mastery of the chapter. At the end of PowerPoint, Word, and Excel you will take a test to demonstrate your mastery of the application.

Learning in MOIP: To learn the skills in a chapter you will use the SIMbook and the Guided Project for the chapter. These assignments are not counted toward your grade.

SIMbook: There is a SIMbook assigned for each chapter we are covering. This is the electronic version of the MOIP book. The SIMbook describes how to complete the skills covered in the given chapter and give you a chance to practice. The SIMbook gives you step-by-step instructions. The purpose of the SIMbook assignment is to teach MS Office skills. You may see a grade for the SIMbook but it does not count toward your grade in the course.
Guided Project: For each chapter of the book you will have a Guided Project. This project gives you practice in the skills covered in the chapter. The Guided Project is an MS Office assignment that you will download, complete, and upload for feedback. To start the assignment you will download the instructions and the Office document that you will use in the project. Using the document, and following the instructions, you will create an updated version of the document. In the project you are given step-by-step instructions on how to apply the changes to the document. This project gives you hands-on practice with the skills that are covered in the SIMbook assignment for that chapter. When you complete the project you upload it and get detailed feedback on what was correct and incorrect. You can redo the project and upload it again to correct your errors. You can complete and upload the Guided Project up to 5 times. It does not count toward your grade in the course. The purpose is to make sure you learn the chapter material.

It is up to you to decide how much time to spend on the SIMbooks and Guided Projects. Depending on your prior knowledge, and your learning style, you may want to spend more time on one activity or another. My advice is to work on the SIMbook, and then try the Guided Project. After the first couple of chapters you should find what works best for you. If you are unfamiliar with an application (such as Excel and/or Access) you will need to spend more time on the SIMbooks and Guided Projects.

Assessment in MOIP: To get a grade that reflects your competence in using an MS Office application, you will complete an Independent Project and a quiz for each chapter, and then you will take a test on each application.

Independent Project: For each chapter of the book you will have an Independent Project. The Independent Project is an MS Office assignment that you will download, complete, and upload for grading. To start the assignment you will download the instructions and the Office document that you will use in the project. Using the document, and following the instructions, you will create an updated version of the document. In this project you are NOT given step-by-step instructions; the skills you need are covered in the SIMbook assignment and the Guided Project for that chapter. When you complete the project you upload it and get detailed feedback on what was correct and incorrect. You can redo the project and upload it again to correct your errors. You can complete and upload the Independent Project twice. The best grade from your attempts on this project DOES count toward your grade in the course. I will drop the lowest Independent Project grade.
Quiz: For each chapter of the book you will have a quiz. The quiz is taken in SIMnet and requires you to demonstrate the MS Office skills covered for the chapter. In each question you are presented with an Office document and required to follow the instructions to make a change to the document. Your responses are checked by SIMnet. These quizzes are graded and count toward your final grade in the course. In each quiz you will have two chances to answer each question. You can take the quiz up to three times. Your best grade on each quiz DOES count toward your grade in the course. Each quiz is timed so be sure to watch the timer while you are taking the quiz. I will drop the lowest quiz grade.
Test: For each application (PowerPoint, Word, and Excel) you will take a test in SIMnet. The test will be similar to the chapter quizzes, except that it will be longer and it will cover all chapters on the given application. You will have 3 attempts at each question, and will be able to take the test one time.

Computer Competency: Connect Assignments

To be computer competent in today's world, we need to know something about how computers work, how they are used in various areas of our society, and how they impact our lives. To learn the concepts and terminology involved we will use the Connect system. This system includes the ebook version of Understanding Information Technology (UIT) and assignments and assessments. We will be covering nine chapters in the UIT book. For each chapter you will need to learn the material and then complete a quiz covering the material in the chapter. There will also be three tests, each covering three chapters from the UIT book.

Learning in UIT: To learn the information in a chapter you will use LearnSmart and the PowerPoint presentation for the chapter. These assignments are not counted toward your grade.

LearnSmart: This is the electronic version of the UIT book. LearnSmart is an adaptive learning system that helps you learn by moving you back and forth between reading parts of the chapter and giving you quiz questions on what you've just read. This is a method that has been proven to increase learning and retention. For each chapter of the book you will have a LearnSmart assignment which covers the material in that chapter. The grade for LearnSmart assignments are not counted. You can review the LearnSmart assignment as many times as you like.
Book/E-Book: If you choose to buy the traditional book, you can read that in addition to or instead of using LearnSmart. You have access to the e-book, which is a version of the textbook which you can read online. The e-book is available whether or not you buy the traditional textbook.
PowerPoint: For each chapter there is a PowerPoint presentation that covers the chapter material. You can view these PowerPoints as many times as you like, as another reference on the chapter material. You will find these PowerPoints in the Canvas module for the given chapter.

Again, as in SIMnet, you will need to determine what works best for you in learning the material. LearnSmart gives you multiple opportunities to review the material and answer sample questions. The book/e-book gives you the course material in a traditional book form. You can use the PowerPoint presentations as a supplemental review.

Assessment in UIT: To get a grade that reflects your knowledge of the information in the UIT book, you will take a quiz on each chapter and complete three tests.

Chapter Quiz: There will be a quiz on each chapter after it is covered in LearnSmart. This quiz will count toward your grade in the course. Each quiz is timed so be sure to watch the timer while you are taking the quiz. You can take each quiz one time. I will drop the lowest quiz grade.
Test: There will be three tests, each covering three chapters from the UIT book. These tests will count toward your grade in the course. Each test is timed so be sure to watch the timer while you are taking the test. You can take each of these tests once.

Unlike in SIMnet, quizzes and tests in Connect can only be taken one time. During the quiz/test you will have a chance to review and modify your answers, but you cannot take any quiz or test more than once.

Message Boards

There will be several message board assignments during the semester. Each assignment will require you to post and perhaps comment on other students' posts.

Research Project:

The class requirements also include a research project, which will be on a technology related topic. The details of the research project will be distributed during the second or third week of class.

Timing

Tests open at midnight on Monday morning/Sunday night and they are due at 11:59PM on Sunday of the week they are due. Don't wait till the last minute; your clock may be set differently, or you may have trouble at the end of the assignment. All SIMbooks, LearnSmart assignments, quizzes, and SIMnet projects are open from the start of the class. Quizzes and projects are also due at 11:59PM on Sundays. If you want to work ahead, go for it!

Summary

Your grades in the class will be based on the following types of assignments and quizzes/tests:

13%: SIMnet chapter quizzes (lowest grade dropped)
15%: SIMnet independent projects (lowest grade dropped)
19%: SIMnet tests
16%: Connect quizzes (lowest grade dropped)
19%: Connect tests
8%: message boards
10%: research project

All other assignments (SIMnet guided projects, LearnSmart, Simbooks) are for the purposes of learning. Even if you get a grade on these assignments, the grades do not count.