CIS 121 Introduction to Computer Information Systems Instructor: Melanie Schuur Email: MSchuur@pierce.ctc.edu (or Canvas messaging) Class time: MTWTh 1:00 2:05 pm Classroom: CTR 270 Section: 7601 Phone: 253 864 3341 ( Prefer Canvas! ) Prerequisites: None Credits: 5 credits Department: Computer Information Systems Welcome! My name is Melanie Schuur and I am a member of the Computer Information Systems team, and this is my second quarter teaching here I graduated in January of this year from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor s in Computer Science. I also have an Associate s degree from Pierce and am looking forward to teaching at one of my former schools. I am excited to share my love of all things computers and hopefully inspire some to continue on to other information systems classes our school offers! Class Materials The required textbook for this course is Discovering Computers 2016 (Shelly Cashman) 1st Edition. This is available in the bookstore or can be purchased/rented online. You must have the textbook to begin work in the class. Most, if not all, assignments will be turned in electronically through our Canvas site. Because of this, file storage is necessary (Google Drive, thumbdrive, etc.) for saving your assignments. You will also need a YouTube account and an account on Screencast O Matic to record some assignments.
Both are free tools and there are instructions available on the Canvas site in Begin Here. You will need a webcam to be able to record your image in a screencast. These can be checked out for free for use in the lab (not for home use), or are available online for under $10. In addition, if you create videos in the lab, a USB microphone/headset combination will be required for the duration of this course. These can be purchased anywhere electronics are sold for approximately $20. Course Summary This course is designed to be a survey of computer information systems. By the end of this course, at a minimum: 1. Students will be able to identify and/or describe the Internet, connecting to the Internet, the World Wide Web, types of Websites, media on the Web, and other Internet services. 2. Students will be able to identify and/or describe computers and mobile devices, desktops and mobile computers, servers, supercomputers, terminals, cloud computing, game devices, embedded computers, ports and connections, protecting hardware and the health concerns of using technology. 3. Students will be able to identify and/or describe productivity applications, graphics and media applications, personal interest applications, communications applications, security tools, file & disk management tools. 4. Students will be able to identify and/or describe Internet and network attacks, unauthorized access and use, software theft, information theft, hardware theft, vandalism and failure, backing up information, wireless security, ethics and society, information privacy. 5. Students will be able to identify and/or describe processors, cloud computing, data representation, memory, adapters, buses, power supply and batteries. 6. Students will be able to identify and/or describe keyboards, pointing devices, touch screens, pen input, motion input, voice input, video input, scanners and reading devices, displays, printers, other output devices.
7. Students will be able to identify and/or describe storage, hard disks, flash memory storage, cloud storage, optical discs, enterprise storage and other types of storage. 8. Students will be able to identify and/or describe operating Systems, operating system functions, types of operating systems, desktop operating systems, server operating systems, mobile operating systems. 9. Students will be able to identify and/or describe networks, network communications standards and protocols, communications software, communications lines, communications devices, home networks, transmission media, physical transmission media, wireless transmission media. 10. Students will be able to identify and/or describe databases, data, and information, file processing versus databases, database management systems, relational, object oriented, and multidimensional databases, web databases, database administration, and information systems in the enterprise. 11. Students will be able to identify and/or describe system development, application development languages and tools. 12. Students will be able to describe career options in the Information Technology field. Course Layout and Time Requirements The course is laid out in ten modules that span 10 weeks. There is also a Week Zero module with work that will have to be completed to access Week 1 module. There is also a Begin Here module that contains other useful information about the course, college success skills and more. You will need to view all of the pages in the both of these modules before you can begin actual coursework. One module should be completed each week. You can see all of the modules, and the module content and assignments when you log into the Canvas course website. The Canvas course will not be fully populated before the course opens, but the first week module and the prep work will be complete. You should expect to spend (10) hours per week learning the material and completing assignments.
Classroom Management and Conduct In this class, you should feel comfortable to participate and express opinions and ideas. Please respect the opinions of others and be considerate of their need to contribute and learn. This class will set professional expectations of punctuality, respect, responsibility, accountability, ethics and effective communication. Students are advised to consider participation in this course to be similar to being employed in a business setting, and to act accordingly. Course Website A CANVAS website has been set up to accompany this class. While instruction will take place in our classroom, all assignments will be submitted through the website, and grades will be posted there as well. If you are unfamiliar with Canvas, you can get oriented here. Email and Other Notifications You are expected and required to check your student email on a daily basis during the week. You should also check the Canvas site daily for announcements, corrections and other important information regarding this course. Not knowing about course changes and announcements is not an excuse for not responding to them. Course Content A. Hardware B. Internet C. Software D. Networks E. Programming Languages F. Computer Careers Student Outcomes 1. Use and maintain a secure, efficient computer system. 2. Differentiate between and use operating system software, networking software, programming languages and a variety of application software.
3. Identify current, future, and historic events in the computer field and their global effects on society. 4. Use a computer system for interactive communications. 5. Define terminology associated with the computer field. 6. Define a computer information system and differentiate between data and information including the characteristics or qualities of information. 7. Identify issues in computer ethics. 8. Identify examples of capabilities and limitations of computers. 9. Create, edit and execute a program exercising control structures using one of a variety of programming languages. 10. Identify the history and trends of computer careers. Grading Scale and Assignment Submission Policy Grading is not weighted. Each assignment has a potential point value. The points are tallied and compared to the points available. You can always know your grading progress by using the "Grades" tool in Canvas. 90 100 = A (3.5 4.0); 80 89 = B (2.5 3.4); 65 79 = C (1.0 2.4) Each assignment has a clearly spelled out due date. Each course has many students and several topics. In order for us to move forward and not leave others behind, all assignments need to be reviewed and graded in a timely manner. This is a summary of the late grading policy: There is an official zero acceptance policy on late submissions. This means that there is no guarantee that a late submission will be accepted for grading. At the instructor's sole discretion, and with prior approval from the instructor, an assignment may be turned in late if circumstances warrant. These circumstances might include a medical emergency or work travel. If you need to turn in an assignment late, check with the instructor ahead of time. If you have an excused late assignment, you will be expected to submit the assignment within a reasonable period of time from when you are again capable. Generally, late assignments should be turned in a few days from when you begin participating in class after your absence.
Cheating and Plagiarism Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class, and will result in a zero grade for the quarter. See the college catalog, or the instructor, if you are unsure of these concepts. http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/about/policy/studentrr. The nature of some of the assignments involves creating a video file whereby you demonstrate your completed work, and fully explain what you have done. The intent here is to allow me to feel confident that you are both doing your own work, and are learning and applying the material. Majority of the assignments are question based and require critical thinking. These must also be your own work. Also, all quizzes must be done without assistance from others. Finally, it is well understood that some or all of the instructor materials for all academic texts can be downloaded by unauthorized persons and used inappropriately. Doing so will be considered the highest form of cheating, will result in a zero course grade for a single offense, and subject the student(s) involved to expulsion for the institution. If you learn of this type of cheating happening by a fellow student, you MUST notify the instructor immediately. Failure to do so will result in your being considered a collaborator when the cheaters are eventually and invariably caught. Tentative Class Schedule The following schedule is tentative and subject to change as the course progresses. Week 1 Digital Literacy, the Internet Week 2 Computers and Mobile Devices, Programs and Apps Week 3 Digital Safety and Security Week 4 Inside Computers and Mobile Devices Week 5 Input and Output Week 6 Digital Storage Week 7 Operating Systems Week 8 Communications and Networking Week 9 Information and Data Management and Program Development Week 10 Careers in Information Systems All work is to be submitted as we progress through the course. Each quiz and assignment should be considered an exam (they are formative assessments), and all rules of exams shall
apply. This shall apply to all students and all tutors. Check the applicable Pierce College policies if you have any questions on this matter. Special Needs Pierce College is dedicated to meeting the needs of its students. Any student needing special accommodations or arrangements should contact Access & Disability Services as soon as possible. You should also contact your instructor if modifications need to be made to your seating assignment, to the lecture style, or to assist you during an evacuation. Access and Disability Support Services Your experience in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of Pierce College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you experience barriers based on disability, please seek a meeting with the Access and Disability Services (ADS) manager to discuss and address them. If you have already established accommodations with the ADS manager, please bring your approved accommodations (green sheet) to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course. ADS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you and the ADS manager, and I am available to help facilitate them in this class. If you have not yet established services through ADS, but have a temporary or permanent disability that requires accommodations (this can include but not be limited to; mental health, attention related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are encouraged to contact ADS at 253 964 6526 (Fort Steilacoom) or 253 840 8335 (Puyallup). Emergency School Closure In the event of an emergency school closure, please check your college email during class time, as we will conduct class via Canvas.