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CIS 120: Introduction to Computer Information Systems
FALL 2015
3 credit hours
Professor:
Office Phone:
Office:
Office Hours
E-mail:
Web Resources:
http://bblearn.nau.edu
Sections:
Class Locations: Room 445
OPEN LAB (Tech Lounge):
FCB Room 333 Mondays 11-5:15 pm; Tuesdays-Thursdays
11-8:15 pm; Fridays 11-5pm
HRM Room 108
I.
Catalog Description
An introduction to computers and information systems. This is a Liberal studies course in the Science Block.
As a Liberal Studies course the student will have the opportunity to understand and critically evaluate how
technology affects and advances the human condition. Students will apply technology tools to a variety of
business and personal problem-solving scenarios.
II.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of high school algebra.
Justification: Completion of high school algebra indicates exposure to problem-solving and analytical
techniques that can be applied to understanding computer-based systems and solutions.
III.
Course Learning Goals
Liberal Studies Information
This course is a Liberal Studies course in the Science distribution block. Courses in this block will increase
students’ knowledge about the natural world and involve students in application of knowledge derived
from scientific inquiry to address human needs through technological advancements. Courses in this block
also address the impact of technology on the human condition and the natural world.
Alignment with the Liberal Studies Science distribution block: In this course, students will learn how
technology impacts the human condition and plays a role in a dramatically changing world. Sometimes
the change is driven by technology; other times technology plays a supporting role. Specifically, students
will critically evaluate the influence of computer technology on human society, such as security, privacy,
ethics, global and ergonomic issues related to the development, dissemination, use and control of
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computer technology. Students will be exposed to theories and concepts related to computer
information systems, such as the fundamental systems model, that are commonly used for analyzing
systems and developing solutions when changes to existing systems are needed, or new systems are
designed and implemented.
Students also will be challenged to learn how to use computing resources, software and technologies
appropriately in their personal and work lives. One main focus of the course is the use of computers;
however, the course also addresses behaviors and interactions between people using computer
technology. In this way, students are challenged to examine their potential contributions to society, limits
and uses of technology to support those contributions, and thus better determine their own places in the
world.
Essential Skill
The essential skill students will develop in this course is critical thinking (an essential skill defined in NAU’s
Liberal Studies program). Throughout the course, students will be challenged to not only learn about
technology, but critically evaluate and judge the appropriateness of its usage and place in their own lives
and the changing world around them.
Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes for this Course
At the end of this course, successful students will:
 Describe in some detail the various technical components of computers.
 Demonstrate a working knowledge of fundamental systems model as it relates to information systems.
 Explain the role that computers play in contemporary society, including limits and uses.
 Write a paper critically evaluating the effect of computers on society and /or participate as team
member in writing such papers.
 Demonstrate understanding of various types of application software and their appropriate uses.
 Productively use application software for word processing, spreadsheet, database, business
presentation, and Internet applications.
 Produce and analyze various forms of computer output.
These learning expectations and outcomes will be formally assessed through several mechanisms:
 Weekly objective quizzes covering conceptual topics, theories and models
 Periodic skills-based class assignments and quizzes using new software application skills to construct
problem solutions
 Periodic written analysis of problems, ethical dilemmas, or cases
 Objective mid-term and final examinations of conceptual topics
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IV.
Course Materials
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
SAM with Emerge 6.0 e-book Access Code
ISBN # 9781305864436
NOTE: Emerge 6.0 contains online readings and skills training videos and is open 24/7 throughout
the course for 1 year, once your access code is registered with the publisher. SAM Projects 2013 is
an online assessment program that provides projects and exams for Office 2013. As milestone
deadlines are reached with each Office 2013 program, the projects and exams no longer appear
and cannot be accessed after the deadline dates specified in this syllabus. It is NOT an online
study guide tool.
V.
Teaching Methods
CIS 120 is a coordinated course in the FCB. This means that all sections of the course use common
textbooks, software, course topics, quizzes and exams, and schedule. The coordinator for the course is
responsible for textbook and software selection, and setting the course topics and schedule in consultation
with the CIS 120 Teaching Team. The coordinator also is responsible for designing the common quizzes and
exams for all sections which shall be administered according to the schedule. If an instructor wishes to teach
material beyond the scope of what is covered in the master syllabus, the instructor may add additional
assessment materials for the purpose of assessing student learning. At least 70% of the course grade will be
derived from performance on individual and common assessments.
Primary teaching methods for this course include class activity, hands-on computerized assignments, and
written projects. Class activities deal with conceptual ideas and theories, current events and group
assignments. Projects involve solving problems through written and/or application software-generated
solutions. Individual project work is always required and team-based projects may also be assigned. Unless
specified, all coursework is individual work, not group work. Hands-on lab instruction provides the
experience necessary to learn to use software packages productively. The teaching methods used in this
course have been approved by the CIS area faculty.
VI.
Mechanisms for Feedback to Students/Interaction Between Students and Professors
Quiz questions have feedback provided with correct answer and explanation. I am available during
scheduled office hours and by appointment to discuss quizzes, projects, and assignments.
VII.
Exams
There are three Microsoft Office exams, and each must be taken in either the Tech Lounge (Business, room
333) or HRM lab (HRM, room 108). All exams MUST be scheduled in advance using the SeatTime reservation
system in BbLearn. You must bring your photo ID to each exam. No ID, no exam, NO EXCEPTIONS. Students
who do not take responsibility for registering for their exam times within the designated time window may
be denied access to exams.
Make-up Policy
Make-up assignments will be given for students with institutional excuses (e.g., NAU athletics or class field
trips) and those who have pre-approved absences. Make-up exam dates and locations will be given upon
approval for the missed work. An automatic reduction of 15 percent (minimum) to 30 percent will be
assessed to the assignment score for those students who are permitted to make-up work WITHOUT an
institutional excuse or pre-approved absence due to extenuating circumstances.
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Assignments
There are numerous assignments and quizzes covering lab and concepts sides of the course. Some of these
are completed during class, while others can be completed in a lab or at home. Assignments are due the day
and time specified by your instructor. LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED, but many assignments may be turned
in early. Please follow all instructions to earn full credit on each assignment. For example, if an assignment is
to be handwritten (e.g., Cornell Notes), no points will be given for typewritten or photocopied submissions.
If requesting an exception to any of the rules for this course, including due dates, please do so as follows:
Requests must be typed, printed, signed, and dated by the student. Requests for exceptions should include
a complete explanation of the circumstances leading to the request and the specific request itself. Requests
cannot exceed one page. These requests will be handled on a case by case basis and in no way does
submitting a request guarantee that the request will be granted. Requests must be presented to and
discussed with the instructor in his office, not in the classroom and not via email.
Point Distribution
Syllabus Quiz in BbLearn
Emerge Readings Concepts Quizzes (CQ) in BbLearn – separate columns in the Grade Center
 In-class “scratcher” quizzes (11 @ 10 points each)
 CQ Post-tests (11 @ 10 points each)
Lab: SAM Projects (18 assignments; various points each – see attached listing)*
Lab: SAM Exams (Word 50 points; Excel 50 points, Access 50 points, PPT 50 points)
Lab: File Management
Lab: Emerge 6.0 video projects (one each for Word, Excel, Access, and PPT @ 25 points each)
Other – combination and points to be determined by individual faculty, except as noted
below:
 Office Visit
 Gradetrack (at least 2 @ 5 points each)
 Cornell Notes – 150 (10 chapters x 15 points each)
TOTAL
Final grades will be assigned using this scale:
Criteria
90% and above of total points (at least 900)
80-89% of total points (800-899)
70-79% of total points (700-799)
60-69% of total points (600-699)
Less than 60% of total points (Below 600)
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
Points
10
220
240
200
10
100
220
1,000
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Use of Technology and Information Systems
Students are provided with various business/organizational information system problems. The students
must create a solution to these problems using appropriate word processing, spreadsheet, database,
presentation or Web software.
Collaborative Activities and Projects
Several of the class assignments will be in-class group assignments and presentations. Students will
complete several projects during the semester using appropriate word processing, spreadsheet, database,
presentation or Web software.
Statement Regarding Academic Dishonesty (attached)
Course Content – Schedule Attached
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NAU Policies
Northern Arizona University and The W. A. Franke College of Business are academic institutions. Academic
dishonesty is an ethical violation which undermines the very fabric of this institution, and will therefore not be
tolerated under any circumstance. The following definition and ramifications of academic dishonesty will be
enforced in this course. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not strictly limited to the following:





Cheating: any attempt to gain an unfair advantage over one’s fellow students.
Collusion: any attempt to help another student to commit any type of academic dishonesty.
Fabrication/Fraud: any attempt to knowingly present false information as true or to deceive an instructor
or administrative officer of the university.
Obtaining an unfair advantage: any attempt to directly or indirectly compromise fair assessment/grading
or constrain other students’ ability to successfully complete their assignments.
Plagiarism: any attempt to knowingly or deliberately pass off other’s work as your own.
In addition, any student claiming they either submitted another’s assignment unintentionally or that their own
assignment was submitted by another student without their knowledge, will still be held liable for academic
dishonesty and will be subject to the same consequences as any violation listed above. You are responsible for
securing your intellectual property.
If suspected, violations of the academic dishonesty policy will be investigated. Confirmed violations will result in a
full letter grade reduction for the course and a score of 0 on the assignment(s) in question. In addition, confirmed
violations will be reported to the Office of the Dean and the Provost of Northern Arizona University according to
the policies set forth by The W. A. Franke College of Business, Northern Arizona University, and Appendix G of the
Student Handbook. Students with a record of cheating on file at the College and University level may be
ineligible for scholarships, university student worker positions, and other beneficial opportunities. Repeated
confirmed violations of the academic dishonesty policy will result in a failing grade for the course without the
option to withdraw.
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Week
Due Before Class
1
Aug 31
CIS 120 Class Schedule
Class Activity
Due After Class
Syllabus
In BbLearn:
Syllabus Quiz
Class Overview
& Expectations
Open Lab
Activity
FCB Login
Deadlines
SAM Registration
Time
Management
2
Sep 7
3
Sep 14
4
Sep 21
5
Sep 28
6
Oct 5
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 1
Reading: Digital
Technology
Unit 1-1 Digital
Literacy (6 sub-units)
Unit 1-2 Computing
Platforms (7 subunits)
Cornell Notes
No Class
Monday – Labor
Day
In BbLearn:
Digital Technology
Post-Quiz
File Management
lab
In SAM:
Skills Videos:
Office 2013 (no
project – just
watch)
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 3
Reading: Hardware
Processing
Unit 3-1 Processing
(5 sub-units)
Digital
Technology &
Hardware
Processing
discussion & inclass quiz
In BbLearn:
Hardware Processing
Post-Quiz
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 3
Reading: Hardware
Storage and
Input/Output
Unit 3-2 Storage (5
sub-units)
Unit 3-3:
Input/Output (9 subunits)
SAM Word 2013
EXAM Week
Hardware
Storage and
Input/Output
discussion & inclass quiz
In BbLearn:
Hardware Storage and
Input/Output PostQuiz
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 4
Reading: Software
Software
Development
and System
Intro to Excel
2013
In SAM:
Skills Videos:
WORD 2013
video project
(Start)
SAM Word 2013
Projects (Start)
SAM
registration
File Mgmt
WORD 2013
video project
(END)
SUBMIT in
BbLearn
Assignment
Dropbox
SAM Word
2013 Projects
(End)
In SAM:
Skills Videos:
EXCEL 2013
video project
(Start)
In BbLearn:
Software
Development and
FCB Login
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7
Oct 12
8
Oct 19
9
Oct 26
10
Nov 2
Development and
System Software
Unit 4-1: Software
Development (3 subunits)
Unit 4-2: System
Software(12 subunits)
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 4
Reading: AppsDesktop, Mobile, and
Web AND Managing
Software
Unit 4-3 AppsDesktop, Mobile and
Web (7 sub-units)
Unit 4-4: Managing
Software (5 sub-units)
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 5
Reading: Artificial
Intelligence
Unit 5-1: AI
Methodologies (6
sub-units)
Unit 5-1: AI
Applications (7 subunits)
SAM Excel 2013
EXAM Week
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 1
Reading: Big Data
Unit 1-1 Databases
(4 sub-units)
Unit 1-2 Database
Tools (3 sub-units)
Unit 1-3 Enterprise
Databases (3 subunits)
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 3
Reading: Internet
Technologies AND
Web Technologies
Unit 3-1: Internet
Technologies (10 subunits)
Software
discussion & inclass quiz
System Software PostQuiz
Apps-Desktop,
Mobile, and
Web AND
Managing
Software
discussion & inclass quiz
In BbLearn:
Apps-Desktop,
Mobile, and Web AND
Managing Software
Post-Quiz
Artificial
Intelligence
discussion & inclass quiz
In BbLearn:
Artificial Intelligence
Post-Quiz
Big Data
discussion & Inclass quiz
In BbLearn:
Big Data Post-Quiz
In SAM:
Emerge ACCESS
2013 video
project (Start)
In BbLearn:
Internet Technologies
AND Web
Technologies PostQuiz
SAM Access
2013 Projects
(Start)
SAM Excel 2013
Projects (Start)
Emerge EXCEL
2013 video
project (END)
SUBMIT in
BbLearn
Assignment
Dropbox
SAM Excel
2013 Projects
(End)
Intro to Access
2013
Internet
Technologies
AND Web
Technologies
discussion & inclass quiz
ACCESS 2013
video project
(End)
SUBMIT in
BbLearn
Assignment
Dropbox
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11
Nov 9
12
Nov 16
13
Nov 23
14
Nov 30
15
Dec 7
Unit 3-2: Web
Technologies (10 subunits)
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 2
Reading: Internet
Cloud Computing
AND Web Resources
Unit 3-3: Cloud
Computing (2 subunits)
Unit 3-4: Web
Resources (11 subunits)
SAM Access 2013
EXAM Week
In SAM:
Skills Videos: PPT
2013 video project
(Start)
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 2
Reading:
Telecommunications
Unit 1-1:
Infrastructure (5 subunits)
Unit 1-2: Cellular
Network (4 sub-units)
Unit 1-3: Wireless
Data Communications
(6 sub-units)
Unit 1-4: Computer
Network (3 sub-units)
In SAM:
Emerge Unit 5
Reading:
Information Security
Unit 5-1 MachineLevel Security (3 subunits)
Unit 5-2 Network
Security (4 sub-units)
Unit 5-3 Internet
Security (12 subunits)
Wednesday,
November 11 –
Veteran’s Day –
NO CLASSES
In BbLearn:
Internet Cloud
Computing AND Web
Resources Post-Quiz
Sam Access
2013 Projects
(End)
In BbLearn:
Telecommunications
Post-Quiz
PPT 2013
video project
(End)
Internet Cloud
Computing AND
Web Resources
discussion & inclass quiz
Telecommunications discussion
& in-class quiz
Thursday and
Friday,
November 26-27
– Thanksgiving
Holiday – NO
CLASSES
Information
Security
discussion & inclass quiz
SUBMIT in
BbLearn
Assignment
Dropbox
In BbLearn:
Information Security
Post-Quiz
SAM PPT 2013
Projects (Start)
SAM PPT
2013 Projects
(End)
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16
Dec 14
FINALS – SAM PPT
2013 Take Home Test
FINALS
FINALS
FINALS
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SAM Projects for Office 2013
SAM Projects: You get FIVE attempts for each SAM project. The projects must be done using
Office 2013, and can be completed wherever and whenever you like as long as they are
submitted in SAM by the due date. Only your highest score for each project will be recorded in
the grade book, which means you may not need to complete all five attempts for each project.
However, keep in mind that the projects you download prior to the deadline are excellent
practice for the exams!
SAM Exams: You get ONE attempt for each of the three SAM exams. These exams are timed,
and each must be taken in our lab during the week shown in the syllabus schedule (next page).
Before each exam, you must reserve an exam time using the SeatTime reservation system in Bb
Learn. SeatTime is first-come, first-served, so be sure to make your reservations early! You get
TWO attempts for the PowerPoint Take-Home Test (only your highest score counts), which can
be taken in the lab or at home during the last week of school.
Application
Points
SAM 2013 Projects
FIVE ATTEMPTS per project, except as noted below
Word
Excel
Access
PowerPoint
TOTAL POINTS
15
17
15
15
50
22
19
19
19
50
20
15
15
16
50
16
17
50
440
Word Project 1
Word Project 2
Word Project 3
Word Project 4
Word Exam (one attempt)
Excel Project 1
Excel Project 2
Excel Project 3
Excel Project 4
Excel Exam (one attempt)
Access Project 1
Access Project 2
Access Project 3
Access Project 4
Access Exam (one attempt)
PowerPoint Project 1
PowerPoint Project 2
PowerPoint Take-Home Test (two attempts)