Course Syllabus

Course Title:
 Microcomputer Applications
Online - Summer 2011

Course Number:
COSC 1401

Section: (All Sections)

Credits: 4.0

Transferable to a four-year college: Yes

Text book: 
Technology in Action, Introductory, Seven Edition  (eBook inside MyItLab)                     
    By Alan Evans, Kendall Martin, Mary Ann Poatsy.
Prentice Hall, 2011.  ISBN 0-13-5096316.

Instructor: 

James Dang, M.S., M.S., M.B.A., M.Ed.

Office Hours: By appointment only         

Office:  ESCT 2218A
              

Phone: (817) 515-3633

Email:  James.Dang@tccd.edu

Course Web site

  http://www.MyItLab.com
  http://www.JamesDang.com

Course Prerequisite: None
Special Offer for Students: Microsoft Office Professional Academic 2010 for $79.95 Microsoft is offering college students Office Professional Academic 2010 for a limited time at a cost of $79.95, a savings of hundreds of dollars over purchasing the software at local retail store. http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/office/default.aspx

Course Description:
Fundamental concepts of computer systems, including components, configurations, and capabilities. Use of current end-user software to solve problems. The beginning course for all majors.

Course Focus:
This course covers computer concepts and their impact in business and society.  Hands-on familiarization with microcomputer software packages will include word-processing, spreadsheet application, database and data communications.  

ü Microsoft Windows 7  
ü Microsoft Office 2010
   Microsoft Office Word
   Microsoft Office Excel
   Microsoft Office Access
   Microsoft Office PowerPoint

Course Goals:

The following list of course goals will be addressed in the course. These goals are directly related to the performance objectives (* designates a CRUCIAL goal)

*1. Define computer (A, B, F, G)

*2. Define hardware (A, B, G, H)

*3. Define software (A, B, F)

4. Identify parts of microcomputer system (A, B, G, H)

5. List peripheral devices (A, B, D, F, G)

6. Describe microcomputer history (A, B, E, F, G)

7. Describe Windows user interface (A, B, E, F, G)

8. Describe U. S. Copyright Acts (A, C)

9. Define software piracy (A, C)

10. Describe software license agreements (A, C)

*11 Categorize software as either system software or applications

software (A, B, F, G)

*12 Describe purpose of operating system software (A, B, F, G)

13. Differentiate Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 (A, B, F, G)

14. Identify hardware needed for multimedia (A, B, G, H)

15. Explain file extensions (A, B, F, G, H)

*16 identify valid filenames (A, B, F, G, H)

*17. Demonstrate saving, retrieving, revising, deleting and copying files

(A, B, D, G)

*18. Discuss directory structure (A, B, D, G, H)

19. Differentiate executable and data files (A, B, F)

20. Describe main circuit board components (A, B, G, H)

*21. Define RAM (A, B, F, G)

22. Discuss implications of insufficient amounts of RAM (A, B, C, G)

23. Different RAM and ROM (A, B, F, G)

24. Explain instruction cycle (A, B, F, G)

25. List CPU performance factors (A, B, F, G)

*26. Describe boot process (A, B, F, G, H)

27, define computer program (A, B, F, G)

28. Contrast algorithm, Pseudocode and program (A, B, D, F, G, H)

29. Describe role of computer programmer (A, B, F, G)

*30. Identify components of typical microcomputer system (A, B, D, G, H)

31. Describe local area network (A, B, D, F, G, H)

32. List advantages of local area network (A, B, D, F, G, H)

33. Send network E-mail (A, B, F, G)

34. Receive network E-mail (A, B, F, G)

*35. Retrieve files from local area network (A, B, C, F, G)

36. Differentiate LAN and WAN (A, B, F, G)

*37. Define network server (A, B, F, G)

38. Define workstation (A, B, F, G)

*39. Define Internet (A, B, F, G)

40. Contrast information service provider and Intermit provider (A, B, F)

41. Download Internet file (A, B, F, G)

*42. Explain elements of Internet address (A, B)

43. List hardware and software needed for Internet access (A, B, F, G, H)

44. List causes of lost data (A, C, F)

45. List causes of inaccurate data (A, C, F)

*46. Define computer virus (A, C, F, G)

*47. Identify data security techniques (A, B, C, F, G)

48. List virus symptoms (A, C, F)

49. Describe virus protection (A, C, F)

*50. Describe data representation (A, B, D, F)

*51. Define bit (A, B, G, H)

*52. Define byte (A, B, G, H)

53. Discuss bitmap graphics (A, B, D, E)

54. Describe file compression (A, B, D, F)

55. Discuss waveform audio (A, B, D, F)

56. Define bandwidth (A, B, D, F, G)

*57. Describe modem (A, B, D, F)

58. Describe popular communications links (A, B, D, F, G, H)

59. Describe information needs of managers (A, B, D, F, G)

60. List examples of office automation (A, B, F)

61. Contrast detail, summary and exception reports (A, B, F)

62. Differentiate database and flat file (A, B, F)

63. Demonstrate database sorting (A, B, D, F)

64. Define query (A, B, D, F)

*65. Define word processing (A, B)

*66. Create word processing document (A, B, C)

*67. Define spreadsheet (A, B)

*68. Create electronic spreadsheet document (A, B, C)

*69. Define database (A, B)

*70. Create database document (A, B, C)

71. Differentiate Internet from World Wide Web (A, B, D, F)

72. Use WWW Browser user-interface (A, B, F)

Instructional Methodologies: 

ü       Classroom lectures, demonstrations, class discussions, handouts, reading assignments, lab assignments, and question-and-answer sessions.  Students are advised to visit the course web site regularly.  This class is taught with the assumption that you have never used these applications before and are not familiar with the concepts. 
 

 Course Evaluation:

 Grade Scale: 

Lab Assignments: 

1) The final grade will heavily dependent on the prompt and careful completion of lab assignments.
2) Each lab assignment will have a due date. 
3) If you have access to an IBM-compatible personal computer at home or any other place with Microsoft Office 2010  Professional, you may complete your lab work outside the TCC Lab.
4) All labs required to submit to MyItlab.

Lab grading:

Labs will be accepted up to 24 hours or 1 day past the assigned due date at 80% of point value

Extra Credit:
This course already involves a substantial workload, and it is the instructor's philosophy that students need to focus on the work already assigned rather than taking on additional work. 
 

Class Policies: 

  Plagiarism: 

q       Work that is submitted for credit must be the original work of the student.  Assignments that are not the original work of the student are considered plagiarized and in violation of the TCC Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility.

q       Plagiarism occurs when another person’s work, words, or ideas are represented as one’s own without the use of an TCC-recognized method of citation, such as the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (e.g., the work, words, or ideas are copied from another source, such as an author’s, or another student’s, work without properly acknowledging the actual writer/author). 

q       Plagiarism also occurs when giving or allowing one’s own work to be copied or otherwise duplicated.