 Course DescriptionThis is an introductory course in computer concepts. It is required of most college graduates in general. The purpose of the course is to provide the necessary computer literacy that would enable the students to function effectively in today's digital world. The focus is on personal computers and their use for personal and business productivity. The emphasis in the course is placed on both the theory and practice of personal and business computing.
The course is composed of two components, namely a lecture component and a lab component. Students enrolled in the lecture component are also required to enroll in one of the lab components offered. The lab components, know as recitations, are essentially a series of hands-on laboratory sessions designed to familiarize the students with Microsoft's Office suite of software. Further details of the recitation can be obtained from the lab instructors who teach the recitations. The links to the websites hosted by some of the instructors who would normally teach the lab sections are as follows.
The information presented in this website, on the other hand, will relate largely to the lecture component.
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| Week | Chapter | Topic |
| 1 | 1 | Introduction to Computers |
| 2 | 2 | The Internet and the WWW |
| 3 | Application Software | |
| 3 | 4 | The System Unit |
| 4 | 5 | Input and Output |
| 6 | Storage | |
| 5 | 7 | Operating System and Utility |
| 6 | Midterm Examination | |
| 7 | 8 | Communications and Networks |
| 8 | 9 | Database Management |
| 10 | Security, Ethics and Privacy | |
| 9 | 11 | System Development and Programming Languages |
| 10 | 12 | Enterprise Computing. |
Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:
- identify the basic hardware and software components used in building applications in an organization.
- understand the functioning of the computer at the system level, namely at the operating system level.
- grasp the multitude of uses of microcomputers for personal productivity.
- understand the importance of computer communications and its many applications in today's digitally connected world.
- fathom the process of developing applications that includes an early exposure to different types of programming languages and tools used in application development.
- comprehend the important role played by computers in the society and the relevant issues that relate to ethics, security and privacy.
- interrelate the components of Information Systems that interact and work together to facilitate the effective functioning of enterprise level IT applications.
- understand the functions and feature of Intranet, Extranet and Internet.
Assessment and Letter Grade
There will be two examinations conducted, a midterm and a final examination. Both examinations will be conducted in the lecture hall. The cumulative score on which the letter grade is based will be composed of contirbutions from the midterm examination, final examination and from the points received for the lab work. The percentage contribution from each compoment towards the final score is as follows:
| Section | Component | Contribution |
| Lecture | Midterm | 25% |
| Final | 25% | |
| Lecture Total | 50% | |
| Lab | ||
| Midterm | TBA | |
| Final | TBA | |
| Lab Portfolio | TBA | |
| Lab Total | 50% |
The contribution from the lab component will be determined by the lab instructors teaching the different sections.
The final letter grade will be assigned based on a curve representing the cumulative score distribution of the students in the class. The overall letter grade will be assigned by the lab instructor. Students are requested to obtain further information from the lab instructors.
Mid-Term ExaminationThe midterm examination will be held on the sixth week during regular class hours in the lecture hall.
The test will be composed of multiple-choice questions divided into two parts. The examination is divided into two parts. The first part will cover the lecture component and the second part will cover the lab (recitation) component. There will be a total of 100 questions of which the first 50 questions will come from the lecture component and remaining 50 questions will come from the lab complement. The questions will be based on the material covered in the previous five weeks.
The midterm examination will be a closed-book examination.
Final ExaminationThe final examination will be held on the date and time printed on the Class Schedule. The duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Emphasis will be placed on the material covered after the midterm examination. The examination format will be similar to the midterm examination. Again, there will be 100 questions with 50 questions drawn from the lecture component and the remaining 50 questions drawn from the lab component. The final examination will also be a closed-book examination.
Examination Schedule
Midterm - Sixth week during regular lecture hours.
Final - As indicated in the Univeristy Schedule.
Policy on Make-up Examination A make-up examination will not be offered except under extreme and compelling conditions of personal distress. Unfortunate circumstances relating to you or to an immediate family member may be considered only with appropriate documentation. Excuses will not be accepted during the week immediately preceding the midterm or final examinations. In this case, any request for the assignment of an incomplete grade will automatically be rejected.
In the extreme event that a make-up examination is conducted, the penalties assigned due to the delay in conducting the examination will be as follows:
Examination Delay Penalties
- 1 Week 15%
- 2 Weeks or more25%
No examination will be conducted prior to the scheduled examination dates. There will not be a make-up examination conducted for the final examination.
Text BookGary B. Shelly, Thomas J. Cashman, Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World, Fundamentals, 6th Edition, | ISBN-10: 0495806382 | ISBN-13: 9780495806387 | 560 Pages | Paperbound | © 2010 |
Delivery of Instruction
This evolving website will play an important role in disseminating course related information. In-class meetings may be reduced by a certain length of time to enable the students to take full advantage of Technology Mediated Learning (TML) facilitated by this website and the future release of multimedia instructional modules.
ReferencesThere are no suggested references except for those provided during the course of the lectures.
Student ID and Enrollment - Students are required to carry a student ID with them at all times, both during regular class meetings and during examinations.
- Students not enrolled in the class will not be given a grade even though they sit for examinations and complete their lab assignments. A grade change request will not be entertained in this case.
Summary - Students who enroll in this course must also enroll in one of the lab sections know as the recitation
- Information about the course will largely be disseminated through this website
- Duration of class meetings may be reduced by an appropriate length of time to facilitate Technology Mediated Learning (TML) Examinations and Grading
- The cumulative grade is composed of individual grades received in the midterm and final examinations and a grade assigned to the lab report
- The letter grade is assigned based on a curve depicting the cumulative score distribution of the students in the class
- The lab instructors are responsible for assigning the grade
- Each examination is composed of two parts, one representing the lecture component and the other representing the lab component
- There are normally 100 multiple-choice questions in each examination
- The first 50 questions will relate to the material covered in the lectures and the last 50 questions to the material covered in the labs
- The midterm examination will be held on the 6th week of the Quarter
- The midterm examination will cover the material presented in the first five weeks of lectures and lab sessions
- The final examination will be held on the date and time printed on the class schedule obtained from the following link: http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/registrar/finals.htm
- The final examination will mostly cover the material presented in the last five weeks of lectures and lab sessions
- A make-up examination is not normally offered
(c) Nanda Ganesan, Ph.D., All rights reserved.