Course Syllabus - CISC308
Summer 2013 4 Weeks June 10 – July 5
Exploring Computer Environments & the Internet
Instructor: Charity Hicks
E-Mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://flc.losrios.edu/~hicks
Prerequisite: None.
Transfer: One unit of credit to CSU. In Business, this course is equivalent to their MIS001-A
Text:
CISC308
Image - CISC308
Exploring the Computer Environment:
Title: Exploring the Computer Environment and the Internet , Authors: Parsons./
Oja (2009) Custom Bind: CISC308, Professor John Shirley. ISBN-13: 978-1-111-00696-9
or ISBN-10: 1-111-00696-2 Only available from the bookstore.
This is an extract of a much larger and more expensive text, Computers 2010
Comprehensive, from Course Technology/Cengage Learning. ISBN-13: 978-0-324-78084-0
New: Frankly you might want to check out the following for cheaper prices or rentals for
the Comprehensive text. www com sites. Amazon , Coursemart, Textbooks, and chegg.
Catalog Description: The course focuses on widely used hardware and operating system IBM personal
computers and the Windows operating system. The fundamentals of the Internet and Internet tools are
introduced.
CISC308: Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives
Full Course Official Outline
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
list basic computer hardware components and discuss how computers work.
effectively utilize the graphical user interface to work effectively with the operating system and application
programs.
locate files, folders and data on various computer media.
manage files and folders through copy, move, delete, and rename features of the operating system.
discuss basic Internet and computer operating system concepts using appropriate terminology.
demonstrate use of efficient Internet search techniques using search engines and subject directories.
Chapter coverage:
Chapter one:
Chapter two:
Chapter four:
Chapter six:
Chapter seven:
Computers and Digital Basics
Computer Hardware
Operating System and File Management
The Internet
The Web and E-mail
I included chapter five from a larger volume as many students are setting up home or wireless networks.
There is nothing required from this chapter for this course, but I thought it would be good to become
familiar with networking.
Grading:
Five – Thirty five multiple-choice question chapter quizzes and one 100 question final
Exam. Testing is done in D2L: Three ‘written’ papers on each of the subjects listed
below. (50 points per paper)
Letter Grades: >= 90% A,
>= 80% B, >= 70% C,
>= 60% D, and <= 59.99% F
Below is an example of my D2L grade sheet is set up on which the scores are recorded.
CISC308
Assessments =>
Points Avail. 
Your Scores 
Week Due
C1
35
C2
35
Due
Week 1
Due
Week 1
Written Assignments
Hardware
File Mgt
Internet
50
50
50
Week 1
Week 2
D2L Quizes
C4
C6
35
35
Due
Week 2
Due
Week 2
Week 3
C7
35
Fin
100
Due
Week 3
Due
Week 4
Tot
425
Pct
100.0%
Grd
A
Grd
Goal
Three Required Written Assignments:
The biggest cause of failure in this course is that some students test in D2L and
think that they are done. You cannot pass by testing alone.
Chapter papers: All papers should be written using a word processor, such as Microsoft Word or
WordPad. (Word has a spelling and grammar checker. WordPad does not.) If you use any other word
processor save the file in Rich text format (.rft), otherwise I will not be able to open it. Please use
Standard English structure and correct spelling. (Too many youngsters are getting used to Instant or Text
Messaging and seem to believe anything goes.) For those of you who want to finish early, I would prefer
that you write all three assignments in one file and then send that file to me. For slower paced students,
send a chapter at a time. That way I know you are making progress. If I have not responded to D2L
Dropbox message, email me and ask if I have graded or received it yet.
Some students seem to think that they only need a sentence to adequately explain or describe the
following assignments….. Hardly! I need some assurance (in writing) from you, which definitely
shows me that you know what you are writing about.
A good idea is to copy the following into Word and then fill in your answers below each section/
question. Some young men try to write everything in one long unwieldy paragraph. Please don’t!
Hardware (two pages) 50 points
Assume you are shopping for a new computer on which you will do your school work, play games, do
research, play games, and work on photo and videos. List and describe all of the hardware parts and their
capabilities that you think you will need to build a complete system that will satisfy your needs. Within
the list state the name of the manufacturer and model. Use the Internet to find different manufacturers,
such as Dell, HP, Gateway, Intel, AMD, Logitech, etc.. Justify the reason for needing each item.
Remember that you have to consider input, output, processing, storage, and communication hardware
SUBMIT in Dropbox under Hardware.
File Management: (Two Pages) 50 points
Explain why file management is important,
Explain the rules used in the naming of files. Describe sufficiently so that one would know what makes a
filename valid or invalid.
Describe the use of file extensions/types.
Describe what is meant by file path such as in C:\Documents and settings\Shirley\My Documents\x.doc,
Describe the use of My Computer or Windows Explorer (left pane, right pane, views) to view files and
folders,
Describe file operations:
How would you move a file or multiple files.
How would you copy a file or multiple files.
How would you delete a file, or restore it. Can it be done on USB drives?
State your opinion of the possible reason people ‘lose’ files.
SUBMIT in Dropbox under File Management
Internet (Two Pages) 50 points
Simply state how you are connected to the Internet: Dial-up, DSL, Wireless or Broadband?
Describe how you are currently using the Internet.
Describe how do you use search engines to locate data, text, or images that you want to use to satisfy
your curiosity, and do research for yourself, your courses or your job? This description should be
on how you use key words or Boolean Operators to refine a search.
Describe how you currently use the Internet to communicate with others.
Describe how you foresee this evolution of the Internet in terms of more uses in the future.
Submit in Dropbox under Internet
Once I receive the papers and all testing has been completed, I will release the grade in D2L.
Finally - SLO Measurement: The State Chancellor’s office wants to know if we are assessing, measuring our
student success rates by using the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) as a standard. To this end, I will have created
a short D2L survey of six questions which reference those SLOs listed near the top of this document. After
completion of the course, please open D2L and take the survey to help us meet state accreditation
requirements. The survey is anonymous. It serves us only to know whether or not the students feel they have
achieved the SLOs. This survey will be listed in D2L under Surveys as SLO Survey. Thanks.
Have a great summer.
Charity Hicks
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 iMail address is your user account’s email address.
1. Your iMail 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 iMail account by using the
Forgot Password? link on the D2L login page. If your iMail 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.)
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 iMail address is your user account’s email address.
1. Your iMail 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 iMail account by using the
Forgot Password? link on the D2L login page. If your iMail 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.)