CATALOG DESCRIPTION:   Familiarizes the student with modern computer systems.  Topics include computer system components, data storage techniques, binary arithmetic, operating systems, device characteristics, and computer programming.

Credit Hours:      3

Time of Class:  Fall 2008

Instructional Goals: This class will provide an environment where the College's goals for students in the areas of High Order Thinking and Managing Information are practiced. These will be utilized in a variety of ways throughout the course.

Course Objectives:

• Identify how computers can and do affect daily lives [High Order Thinking]
• Understand the processing of data by a computer system [High Order Thinking]
• Identify computer input, output and storage devices [High Order Thinking and Managing Information]
• Identify the uses of system software and application software [High Order Thinking and Managing Information]
• Prepare for careers which will require understanding of the computer, even if that job is not in Information Technology [High Order Thinking and Managing Information]
• Acquire the feeling of being an intelligent consumer with respect to the rapidly growing use of home, small business, and personal computer systems [High Order Thinking and Managing Information]

• Read the text as assigned before the class time table (at end of syllabus)
• Complete and turn in on time all assignments
• Attend lectures and participate in class discussion.
• Bring to each class;
  • a writing instrument
  • paper for notes
  • your textbook 

Monday 8:00-10:00 am
Tuesday/Thursday 6:30-7:00 am and 10:00-11:30 am
Also available by appointment

All written work for this class must be done using proper grammar and punctuation.  Writing skills are crucial to your future success, and these types of assignments are one way to practice those skills.  Regardless of your personal knowledge of any subject, if you cannot write about it using good writing skills, then no one else can know how much you know about it.

Up to 15% of your assignment grade could be lost if proper writing skills are not demonstrated. If you need writing skills helps, SCC provides an excellent resource for you.  Contact the ACE Center or me if you require assistance in this area.



Chapter Vocabulary:

Using complete sentences, write out a definition for each term listed for each chapter (see list on the web site).  The definitions are due the class we take the test covering the chapter; you will lose 5 points for each class the assignment is late.

Absolutely no homework will be accepted after December 5, 2008.

Hands-On Activities:

On most Thursdays, there will be a hands-on assignment or Interactive Lab associated with the chapter being discussed (or some other project).  These assignments cannot be made up.  The lowest grade in this category will be thrown out, so missing one will not directly affect your grade.
 

Exams:

On most Tuesdays, the first 20 minutes will be a test over the material covered the previous week.  For the test, you can use your vocabulary assignment(s).  The test will include some True/False questions, some Multiple Choice questions, and one or two short answer questions.   These tests cannot be made up.  If you miss one, it will not directly affect your grade (because your lowest grade is thrown out anyway). 

The Final Exam will be taken from these exams. 

Withdrawal dates and related policies