COSC 1301

Microcomputer Applications

Fall 2009

Course Syllabus

Dr. Thomas Hainze

Baugh Technical Building Room 127

903-675-6317

Email

thainze@tvcc.edu (questions)

drhainze@live.com (assignments)

Web Page

http://www.tvcc/edu/thainze

Purpose

This course is an introduction to the selection, use and personal value of microcomputers in the home, classroom, and business environments. Emphasis is placed on gaining practical experience with the use of several popular, commercially available software systems. The coverage will include the rudiments of information systems, operation of personal computers, the Microsoft Windows XP operating system, the Microsoft Office 2007 products for word process, electronic spread sheets, database management, and presentation graphics.

Grading

Excluding bonuses, there are a thousand (1000) points available. The following table shows the grade ranges. These are broken down as follows:

· 7 tests worth 100 points each (700).

· 18 chapter assignments worth 10 points each for 180 points

· Email exercise worth 10 points

· Syllabus test worth 10 points

· Final exam (optional to replace any other exam). It will be comprehensive 100 pts.

· Attendance and attitude worth 100 points

A (Excellent)	900-1000
B (Good)	800-899
C (Average)	700-799
D (Poor)	600-699
F (Failed)	Under 600

Test Topics and Administration

There are seven chapter tests (about one every 2 weeks) with each test worth 100 points. Tests will involve hands on projects and will be open book. Test dates will be announced in class and on the web page. The final exam is the makeup. It can replace your single worst exam grade.

The final exam is comprehensive and will serve as the make-up exam if you miss or do poorly on one of the regular exams.

Attendance and classroom behavior

Attendance is worth 100 points. These are the daily expectations:

· Arrive on time.

· Stay until I release you.

· Pay attention during lectures (no web surfing, no sleeping, no visiting with your neighbor, no using cell phone or text messaging, no working on assignments for this or other classes).

· Work on this class’s material during work time.

You will lose 25 points on your daily grade for the violation of any of these requirements. That is if you are late, you can make no more than 75 for the day. If you leave early without permission, you will lose 25 points. If you are not doing as you should during lecture or work time, you can lose up to 50 points from your daily grade.

Course Conduct

For each chapter, there will be a short lecture on the topic including features not included in book as well as some of the important and often misunderstood concepts of chapter explained.

There will class time for students to work on assignments. Not all students will be able to finish their assignments during class time. TVCC supplies labs for students to do their assignments or students may complete their work from off campus computers if they have the appropriate software.

The student is expected to read the book and do the assigned homework to prepare for tests.

There are no set times for the labs, but they are available to you many hours every week. It is not required that you go the labs, but you are expected to complete the assignments on time.

Supplies Required

Book: Shelly, Cashman, and Vermaat; Microsoft Office 2007 Introductory Concepts and Techniques. ISBN 13 978-1-4188-4327-4.

USB device: Also known as flash drive, thumb drive, or pen drives. 256 MB or larger.

Cheating

Tests are to be done by each student individually. Any appearance of collaboration on any part of any test will result in the student or students being dropped from the course with an F

On homework you can work together, but it is required that each student do their own work. Do not copy another student’s work and submit it as your own. If you submit someone else’s work as your own, you will receive an F in the course. If you allow someone else to copy your assignments you will receive an F in the course.

Submittal of assignments

We are going to use Email to submit assignments this semester. All assignments should be saved to your USB with the assignment number and your name. Then exit the application and send the email to me with the assignment(s) as attachments. The email to use for these assignments is drhainze@live.com

The email subject must contain the following information.

yourname Coursetime and assignmentidentification

yourname is your first and last name. Coursetime is when your class meets. MW8, MW12, Mon6, TT1, Tu4, Th4 and assignmentidentification is the assignment number I have for the assignment such as WD1, EX2, AC1, PP3. Failure to include these 3 elements in your subject line will result in a reduced grade for the assignment.

If you do not have an email account, I will help you get a free one. When you submit email to me for this course the subject area should contain the following:
your name (email addresses often do not help identify you), and the assignment ID. (e.g., Hainze wd1 should be in the subject if I was a student in the class.)

Rude Behavior

I expect all students to act in a civil manner toward me as well as your fellow students. The refusal to adhere to this requirement will result in punishment from a verbal warning to expulsion from the class with an F in the course unless you drop the course.

Withdrawals

According the TVCC handbook, the teacher can drop a student for excessive absences. However, do not count on my doing that. I reserve the right to do it, but will not always have time to do so. To be sure you do not get an F if you decide to quit participating do not count on my doing that for you. You should withdraw for yourself if you do not plan to complete the required work.