TRINITY VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Introduction to PC Operating Systems

 

 

Course Number/Title:  ITSC  1305 Introduction to PC Operating Systems

 

Prerequisites:     none

 

Instructor:  Mrs. Pat Salinas                  Office Phone: 903-675-6362     E-mail: psalinas@tvcc.edu

Office Location: Technical Building Office 105              Office Address:  100 Cardinal Drive, Athens, TX  75751

Office Hours:  Mon. & Wed. 2:00-4:00 p.m., Tues.3:00-4:00 p.m.

 

DISTANCE LEARNING REQUIREMENTS:

All students must have access to the internet, an e-mail address, and be competent in using a computer to navigate the internet. You will need access to Microsoft WINDOWS XP operating system software. You will also need access to  Microsoft WORD for submitting lab assignments.  

 

Distance learning courses are designed for the mature, self-motivated person. Internet courses are not for everyone.  If you are not a motivated self starter, I recommend that you not take this course.  It has a high drop out rate, though the grades of the students who complete it are generally very good. This is not a totally self-paced course. There are deadlines and consequences for missing the deadlines.

 

TEXTBOOK:

Windows XP Concepts and Examples.  Gillay, Carolyn Z. Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc., 2003.

Materials and Supplies:   a minimum of 2, 3.5" high density diskettes.  These are used during the lab assignments.

 

Textbooks may be purchased at the TVCC Bookstore.  The Bookstore will ship books upon request by contacting James Quattlebaum at 903-675-6203.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A study of personal computer operating systems.  Topics include installation and configuration, file management, memory and storage management, control of peripheral devices, and use of utilities. This course will concentrate on the use of windows-based microcomputer operating systems.  Creating, editing, and managing of data files, path directory structure, operating system commands, and hard disk management are emphasized.

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The student will acquire an understanding of the following course learning outcomes:

Ø      An understanding of the Windows interface

Ø      An understanding of the use of Help and dialog boxes

Ø      An understanding of viewing files and folders using MY COMPUTER

Ø      An understanding of various Windows applications—Notepad, Wordpad, and Paint

Ø      An understanding of naming files and folders

Ø      An understanding of finding files and folders and using shortcuts

Ø      An understanding of using WINDOWS EXPLORER

Ø      An understanding of the hierarchical structure of data storage

Ø      An understanding of organizing and managing the hard disk

Ø      An understanding of fonts and printers

Ø      An understanding of customizing a system

Ø      An understanding of file and disk maintenance

 

PREFERRED CONTACT METHOD:

All course communication should take place via WebCT  e-mail.  For e-mail, I prefer that you use WebCT “Private Mail” found under the Communication Tools icon once you have logged into WebCT.  My phone number is listed at the top of this page, if you need to contact me by phone.  All assignments must be submitted through the WebCT interface.  No assignments will be accepted through regular e-mail.

 

COURSE ACCESS ON WebCT:

Students will be allowed to log-on to the TVCC WebCT website after the 1st class day of the semester.  Students can get information regarding the TVCC WebCT website at http://ww.tvcc.edu/WebCt.  Log-on information can be located at http://ww.tvcc.edu/WebCt/studentinfo.htm.  All student log-ins are your last name followed by your first initial of your first name plus the last four digits of your social security number (Ex: John Smith, 123-45-6789 would be smithj6789). Your password would be the last four numbers in the Social Security # (.ex: 6789). The login and password are lower case sensitive. I strongly recommend that you not change your ID and password.  Once you have logged into WebCT, you can click on the course homepage and course icons for additional course information.  Please see the ONLINE ORIENTATION located at the end of this syllabus for more information.

 

EVALUATION/GRADING

Letter grades will be determined according to the following scale:

                             A     90-100

                             B     80-89

                             C     70-79

                             D     60-69

                             F      below 60

                             W     issued by computer if student drops by designated drop date

 

Semester Grade Breakdown: 

      Exams                                                                      50%

      Quizzes                                                                     10%

      Case Studies & written assignments                          40%

                                                                                    100%

 

Testing Policy:  There will be 2 exams, a midterm and a final, each worth 100 points.  The exams will be multiple choice. Tests will be announced at least one week in advance.  No makeup exams will be given! 

You are responsible for the material in the book.  Tests will be taken using WebCT and require that you use a Test Proctor.  Generally, that is the designated person or office at the school where you registered.  Exceptions to who the proctor is must be coordinated with me.  For students at TVCC, the libraries at the Athens, Palestine, and Terrell campuses will have the password.  In addition, the testing center in Athens can administer the tests.  Be sure to bring your driver’s license and valid student ID with you when you come to take the test.  In addition to the midterm and final exams, there will be quizzes periodically.  These may be taken without a proctor.

Assignments/Testing Schedule:  You are expected to read each assigned project prior to discussing it with the instructor. Assignments, and testing schedule and instructions will be posted on WebCT.   Assignments can only be turned in before the cutoff date assigned.  To receive full credit, all assignments must be submitted on time. Assignments turned in after cutoff dates are considered late.  Assignments turned in after cutoff dates will not receive credit.  No lab assignments are dropped.

 

Preparing for Examinations:

View PowerPoint presentations (from the CD that came with the textbook) and read the chapters.  At least 90% of the questions are taken directly from the reading material.  Review the Chapter Summary section at the end of each chapter and step through the Chapter Exercises at the end of each chapter.

 

TVCC students that have not taken the midterm test and quizzes, and/or have not submitted the assignments by the drop date April 13, 2006 will be dropped from the class.  No assignment, quiz, or test will be accepted after May 8, 2006.

 

Appeals Policy:  To appeal a grade, send an e-mail to your instructor's e-mail address within one week of the grade having been received. Overdue appeals will not be considered.

 

 

 

ONLINE ORIENTATION

GETTING STARTED

After you are registered in the course, you need to send me an e-mail with the following information: 

Your name
Full mailing address
E-mail address
Phone number (s)
Course name and number
The last 4 digits of your social security number.

My e-mail address is: psalinas@tvcc.edu

With the above information, you can be assigned a User ID and Password for your WebCT class.

TEXTBOOKS

Textbooks may be purchased at the TVCC Bookstore.  The Bookstore will ship books upon request by contacting James Quattlebaum at 903-675-6203 or 903-675-6223.

SETTING UP YOUR WebCT PAGE

During the first week of classes, you will be entered into the system and will have access to WebCT.

Your User ID is your last name, first initial, and the last four digits of your social security number. Your password is the last four digits of your social security number.

The following is an example:
Student: Roger Smith    SS# 987-65-4321

He enters the following on the log-in page:
User ID: smithr4321  (no spaces or caps)

Password: 4321

LOGGING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME

Click the "Log-In Page" link to set up your WebCT log-in page.

You will see a box in which to enter your User ID and Password.

On the MY WEBCT (your name) page, you will see a link to your course. Click on it and you will be taken into your internet course using WebCT. Become familiar with the different modules. Click on the Syllabus module, and the Assignments module. Print them out so that you will have them while you are working off line on the assignments. Become familiar with "How to submit your work".

Log-In Page

After logging in for the first time, use the Bookmark or Favorites function of your browser to save the page for easy access.

Most importantly, send an e-mail to your instructor with your name and course name and number to inform him that you were successful in setting up your WebCT page.

Which ever course you are enrolled in, ENJOY THE COURSE!