INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Spring 2004 Mo - Wed 9:00AM -- 10:50AM

Instructor: John Blumberg

E-Mail: blumberg.7@osu.edu

This course is an introduction to information technology in general and more specifically, microcomputer technology. The course explores how computers and their peripheral devices work and the capabilities of software to meet the needs of the user. Emphasis is placed on the use of computers to manage information for personal and professional uses as well as the impact of computer information technology on today's society.

Software applications in word processing, spreadsheets, Internet and presentation graphics are used during the semester. Lab assignments using software applications are a major portion of the course requirement. No prior computer experience or course work is necessary for this course.

COURSE MATERIALS

Text:

Lab Manuals:

Reserved Readings: Should be purchased, but available in the library -- not for take out.

Diskettes:

LECTURES

Class meetings are twice a week for two hours. Lecture topics and assigned readings are detailed on the syllabus. Demonstrations of software applications are part of the class meeting. Excessive absence or arriving late in class can adversely affect your ability to successfully complete the course.

LAB ASSIGNMENTS

Lab assignments are given each week and require an average of four hours per week to complete. These assignments are done outside of the class meeting. Participation in a lab activity is a required component of this course.

All lab assignments can be done on the computers at the University Center Lab. The assignments must be completed using the software applications under study in the course. Some collaboration on the lab projects is expected; however, each student must do their own work. Students suspected of excessive collaboration will not receive credit for that particular project. Collaboration includes "consulting with others about the lab projects, copying another's homework and submitting it as your own" (Student Handbook, Section 09.2).

You are advised to compile your lab work in a notebook binder or folder for easy reference during the semester.

ARTICLE REVIEWS

Each student will accomplish four (4) article reviews from units in Computers in Society.

COURSE GRADE

Lab Assignment and Article Review Status

Note: Tests and quizzes cannot be made up unless the student arranges previous notification. Due means due at the beginning of the class period; papers are late after the beginning of the due class. Late assignments and articles will be assessed a penalty as follows:

ASSISTANCE

I am available via email. Yes, I do answer email on a very regular basis. You can also reach me by phone. If I am out, please leave a message. Email is the preferred method.

Email is an important part of this class. The instructor requests that each student send an email as soon as possible, so that a mailing list can be built. In this way, all students can benefit from questions and answers submitted by any one student and the instructor can distribute additional information  as necessary.

Lab attendants can assist you with some hardware and software problems. They do not perform instructional services in the lab. If you have a question, be sure you have your class notes and handout materials for the assistant to review with you

INTERNET INFORMATION

Current syllabus, schedule, some lab assignments and other information are available via the Internet at http://pubpages.unh.edu/~blumberg   The lab assistants do not have copies of these lab assignments.

INSTRUCTOR’S EMAIL LIST

Send an email to blumberg.7@osu.edu stating your name and that you want to be on my CIS 411 Mailing List.

ATTENDANCE

UNHM does not have a firm attendance policy; the instructor does. Attendance and participation is expected from all students in all class meetings. Unannounced quizzes will be given to enforce this policy. CIS 411 is not a distance learning class. CIS 411 is not an online class. While email and the Internet play a large part in this course they do not replace attendance at class meetings.

SOFTWARE NOTE:

The instructors of this course have made every effort to insure that the software installed on the U Center computers have the necessary components to complete the assigned lab assignments. The student is free to use their own computer(s) and Office 2000 software, but must bear in mind that all necessary software components may or may not be present on those machines.  With possible reservations, Office 97 and Office XP software may be used for these lab exercises; no guarantees are made by this statement.

Course Schedule

Specific updates are posted during each class session.
Capron Reading Assignments are listed by Chapter Name.

Quizzes will be given from time to time. These quizzes are unannounced. They may be given at the beginning, the middle or the end of any class. The questions will be taken directly from the Student Study Guide at the end of every chapter in the Capron textbook.

Lab Assignment and Article Review Status

Please provided a self-addressed stamped envelop [8 ½" by 11"] if you wish the exam paper and course grade sent to you.

Instructor's Policies

Assigned work is due at or before the beginning of class or time or date indicated in the assignment.  Late work will be penalized.  Lab assignments and article reviews turned in after the beginning of the due class are subject to late penalty.  Lab assignments and article reviews turned into the instructors mailbox after or during the due class are late. Late examinations, term papers, research papers and the like will not be graded. Students are urged to keep up with the work to avoid loss of points.

In the event that a student can not make an assigned date, then he/she must contact the instructor and make arrangements. In the event of an emergency, the instructor will take consideration if the student has made an effort to contact the instructor.

Attendance is defined as the physical and mental presence of the student from the beginning of a class until the end of the class.  Should the student decide that attendance is not necessary, for whatever reason, then the student should plan on turning in all lab assignments and article reviews on an early basis.  Examinations must be attended. A decision to not attend class will result in loss of points from pop quizzes and from the 9% class participation grade.

Article Review Format

The articles you will review in Computers in Society examine particular aspects of the impact of the technology in our lives. Each article assignment will come form particular units in the text. Your reviews should include the following points:

1. Briefly state the thesis of the author, that is, what is the article about and what is author’s position on the topic.
2. Identify and briefly explain the supporting evidence given in the article. This evidence may be anecdotal, observation of phenomena, research data or explanations of particular technology. In other words, what kind of evidence does the author provide to support his position on the topic? The review of the evidence is a summary of the points made by the author.
3. Give your own personal evaluation, observation or commentary on what the author presented. You might critique the argument made by citing strong, weak or confusing points that were made. You could relate the material presented to some personal experience you have had and take a position to agree or disagree with the writer. You might extend the position taken and offer your own analysis of the topic under discussion. You could also share those aspects of the article that lead you to think differently about the impact of the computer technology on our society, that is, what did you learn or come to understand differently as a result of the reading.

Your review is not a paraphrased version of the original, rather an attempt to understand the material and present a summation and commentary of what you read. Plagiarism is a violation of the University’s policy of academic honesty. Any material directly copied from the article should be properly cited, see examples below. The review should be no longer than three (3) pages. They must be entered using some word processing software, in 12 point Times Roman and spell checked.

Your review is a review of the article not a book report or a literature review. Words such as "like", "dislike", "recommend", and "interesting" are okay, but are not the basis of a review.

Units in Computers in Society for each article review

Select ONE article from the specified units below. The "Overview" section of each unit is not an acceptable article for review.

ARTICLE ONE Unit One  pp. 3-11

ARTICLE TWO Unit Three pp. 44-65

ARTICLE THREE Unit Six, 126-159

ARTICLE FOUR Unit Eight pp. 182-196

Option 1: Submit 4 reviews one each from the Article sections above.

Option 2: Submit 3 reviews, where one of your reviews will integrate two articles to present a contrast or comparison of two authors in a particular unit’s theme. Your grade will count for two of the required 4 reviews.

Option 2 may not be used to cover for a missed due date. If you are opting for Option 2, then you must announce your plan before the due date for article review #2.

Due dates for the articles appear on the Syllabus. Grades will be adjusted for late articles. Articles are accepted two weeks past the due date for some to little credit.

John W Blumberg

Article Review ### CIS 411

08/28/00

Computers are a passing fancy

Chips Fadeaway

The author tells several stories to show the computers are a passing fancy. Chips also believes that the world economy will be in for trouble when this fact is fully revealed. Mr. Fadeaway’ position is quite clear on the matter.

The author cites the following evidence The first story concerns…..The second tale is about…The last story relates the experiences of..…….Chips relates the anecdote about the computer hacker from…….Fadeaway cites the following statistics…(Fadeaway 21)..

While Chips makes some excellent points, my own experience with blah, blah blah leads me to agree/disagree with……Also, I have read that……..(Big Expert 126).

Fadeaway Chips. "Computers a passing fancy." Computers in Society. Ed. K. Schellenberg.

10^th ed. Ct:Duskin/McdGraw Hill., 2003. 10-65.

Expert, Big, All I know about everything, Rand McNally, 2004. 1 - 45,000

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