Course Syllabus CISC300
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CISC300 Computer Familiarization
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Catalog Description for CISC300 Computer Familiarization: An introductory course to
provide general knowledge on how computers work, computer terminology, and the impact of
computers on society and the work environment. This is a beginning level hands-on instruction
using an operating system, word processing, spreadsheet, and Internet software. Students will be
reading/interpreting written and oral instructions technical in nature.
Learning Outcomes and Objectives: Upon course conclusion the student should be able to
accomplish the following:
describe the components of a operating system user interface and employ the mouse and
keyboard to select menus, tools, text, and screen options.
identify the components of computer hardware by describing and stating the purpose and
capabilities of the various hardware devices such as system case, power supply, disk
drives, monitor, motherboard, printer, mouse, keyboard, and various parts.
describe the differences between operating system, application, and utility software in
respect to what each program does in relationship to a computer system.
evaluate basic operating system commands and select command necessary to format
disks, list, copy, move and erase files, create subdirectories, and change default drives.
create, save, and print word processing documents using basic editing and formatting
techniques.
investigate information on the Internet using a search engine and browser.
design, create, preview, save, and print spreadsheets using basic data entry, editing, and
formatting techniques.
Instructional Method-Lecture/Online This is a lecture course where work can be completed
and submitted to me anywhere you have access to a computer and email. On the next page is my
schedule on how I can be reached for assistance if needed through a phone call or email.
Get a g-mail account: You must establish an i-mail account on campus. Los Rios provides imail services for registered students. See the Folsom Lake College web page. Look for Student
g-mail under Quick Links. Students must read it, so my reminders and other messages are read.
Incompletes: No incomplete grades for online courses will be given. In cases of a documented
medical emergency in the last two weeks of class, with a majority of work submitted (80% of
requirements), an instructor may be willing to accept late work, but instructors are under no
obligation to do so.
Instructor: Charity Hicks
E-Mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://flc.losrios.edu/~hicks
Office Hour: Mondays 9am to 10:00am
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. Advisory: Business 41/Bustec 302
(Introduction to Keyboarding)
Course Syllabus CISC300
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Text Book: Computer Concepts Basics, 4th Ed, Dolores Wells, Course Technology,
ISBN -13:978-4-4239-0462-5 or -10:1-4239-0462-1
CISC300: Student Learning Outcomes & Objectives Extract from Full Official Outline
Grading:
14 unit quizzes
15 points
Final Exam
100 points
Four written assignments
85 points
Quizzes and Final exam are taken using D2L. Go to http://d2l.losrios.edu
Letter Grades: >= 90% A, >= 80% B, >= 70% C, >= 60% D, and <= 59.99% F
Important Dates
First Eight Weeks
January 25
Classes begin
February 2
Last day to enroll
January 24
Last day to enroll & last day to drop for a refund
March 24
Last day to drop without notation on your record
March 2
Last day to drop with a 'W' on your record
March 17
Last day of class - All Work is due. No Incompletes!
ASSIGNMENT GUIDE
 Read the text, review the vocabulary, and self-test on the review questions.
 Take the D2L quizzes. (25 questions per unit. A one hundred question Final Exam)
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Review Syllabus
Lesson 1: Computers and Computer literacy
Lesson 2: The Internet and the World Wide Web
Lesson 3: The Internet and Research
Lesson 4: How a Computer Processes Data
Lesson 5: Input, Output, Storage
Lesson 6: Operating Systems and Software
Lesson 7: Networks
Lesson 8: File Management and Window Vista
Lesson 9: E-Mail and Electronic Communication
Lesson 10: Word Processing
Lesson 12: Spreadsheets
Lesson 15: Evaluating Electronic Information
Lesson 17: Technology, the Workplace, and Society
Final: 100 Questions in D2L Due March 17 Midnight
Course Syllabus CISC300
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Written Assignments:
Word Processing, Internet, a Research Paper and a Spreadsheet.
Do not send others. Turn in exercises in D2L in the Dropbox Tab and attach the file. If you are
having problems with the Dropbox, please Email me for directions or come to the lectures to get
instruction.
If you are comfortable with the Word Processors, WordPad or Word, do the essays in the word
processor and submit in D2L Dropbox. Please use Microsoft Word 2007, 2010 or 2013 and not
WordPerfect or Microsoft Works. The college does not have these applications. The files must
be saved in a .doc or .docx or .rtf type format (for Word processing) and an .xls or .xlsx type for
the spreadsheet.
=====================================================================
Word Processing Assignment 15 points
Internet Explorer Assignment 10 points
Research Paper Assignment 40 points
Spreadsheet assignment
20 points
When all lesson quizzes have been taken, all written assignments have been dropped in the
Dropbox in D2l, and the final exam has been taken, e-mail me so that I can send you a final
grade or wait for the grades to be posted in eService. Thanks.
Web Links: You may click the following links to obtain answers to end-of-chapter exercises
and lesson presentations.
 Note: Lessons, 11, 13, & 16 contain valuable information for beginners. The
curriculum committee decided that the subject areas Databases (CISA320),
Presentation Graphics (CISA330), and Web Page Creation (CISC306) went
far beyond the scope of CISC300 and its one unit. I encourage you to do
those chapters on your own. You may discover that you want to take the
full-blown course to increase your knowledge or computer skills in those
subject areas.
 I have provided the answers to the chapter exercises simply as a means to
you to self assess the knowledge you have gained from your chapter study.
Click on the review links in the Content Tab of D2L.
 I have also provided links to PowerPoint presentations in D2l which
succinctly cover each lesson. Click the link to the lesson presentation. Click
through the slides on the left side of the window. If no slides show on the
left, click the very bottom double arrows on the right vertical scroll bar to
move through the show. Or lastly, just tap the Page Down key to advance
the slides. When finished, Click the Close button (X) at the top right of your
screen. Notice that all chapters are here although the course covers only 14
chapters.
Course Syllabus CISC300
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Courses to consider after CISC300: These courses are offered in an on-line format
CISC320 Operating Systems
File management skills and a lot more. You’ll need these to work with
many applications.
CISA308 Word Processing/ Presentation Software
Most businesses use Word Processing and Presentation software.
CISA310 Spreadsheets
Most businesses track their financials using spreadsheets.
CISA320 Databases
Manage personnel, inventory, courses, and other data banks.
CISC305 Internet
Learn the nuances of evolving research, entertainment, and file transfer.
CISC306 Web Page Design
Use Dreamweaver or another Web Authoring tool to create web pages.
CISC310 Intro to CIS
This is a CISC300 course taken three notches higher.
Grades will be submitted to Admissions on last day of your term. You should be able to view
your transcript through e-services within a week or so thereafter.
Happy computing.
Charity Hicks
Course Syllabus CISC300
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Desire2Learn Student Instructions
To log on to the Los Rios eLearning (Desire2Learn) server, open your web browser and go to the
following address: http://d2l.losrios.edu
NOTE: This address does NOT begin with “www” like many web pages.
Be sure to click on the link provided to Check Your System before trying to login.
USERNAME and PASSWORD:
• Your username is the letter w followed by your Student ID#. • Your default password is your
eService password.
Example: Indiana Jones's Student ID# is 1234567. His eLearning login is w1234567. Then
type your eService password.
• On the My Home page, you will see a list of your courses using D2L in the My Courses widget.
Courses will appear the day after you complete all enrollment transactions related to that class,
including paying fees.
• Your g-Mail address is your user account’s email address.
1. Your g-Mail account will automatically forward your email to the address you provided
on your most recent supplemental enrollment application.
2. If you want to change your forwarding options, go to http://imail.losrios.edu
• If you forget your password, you can have it emailed to your g-Mail account by using the
Forgot Password? link on the D2L login page. If your g-Mail is forwarded, the password email will
be sent to the forwarding address.
HOW TO GET HELP:
• Your instructor can help you with the course content and assignments.
• Online help is linked from the Desire2Learn web site both before and after you log in:
http://d2lresources.losrios.edu. This help includes an orientation video as well as instructions on
how to use each of the components your instructor may be using in your class. • If you cannot
find an answer to your problem online, you can contact the Help Desk 24 hrs a day, 7 days a
week: 1-866-353-9451. You can also contact the Help Desk via online chat or email. (Links to these
services are available on the online help page.)