CAS 283
Summer 2007

Communication and Information Technology I

Instructor: Dr. Ellen Taricani

227 Sparks Building

865-9317

ext2@psu.edu

Course schedule: MTWR 9:35-10:50 (222 Thomas) and M 11:10-12:25 (71 Willard)
Office Hours:  Tuesday 11-12 and appointments

COURSE GRADING

The purpose of a grade is, ideally, to give the student feedback on the degree of their success in assimilating course content.  Unfortunately, the grade is seen by many as an indication of a student's overall academic success. In SpCom 283, I have adopted a rather liberal grading schema that will hopefully provide each student with the opportunity for a good grade. The following grading structure is based on the required plus/minus system of the University. 

100 percent total possible

Total points will be determined according to the following structure:

50% -- 6 projects (each project will be due on Angel by Thur midnight, 10% off for each day it is late)
            -project #1 and #2 are 5% and 3-6 are 10%
5% -- exam 1
5% -- exam 2
30% -- hands-on labs (required attendance and completion of task in lab)
5% -- new technology presentation
5% -- lecture attendance and participation

The examinations will be based on class handouts, readings and lecture notes.

Projects

There will be a total of six projects. More on this will be explained in class. Please note that the impact of project grades on your final grade is SIGNIFICANT!

The total points for the projects will amount to 50% of your final grade. Projects turned in after the due date will require an appropriate written excuse, otherwise points will be sacrificed.  No projects will be accepted more than one week late or after the last day of class without a medical excuse and prior approval.

Academic Integrity

According to the University Advising Handbook:

"Academic integrity is the pursuit of Scholarly activity free from fraud and deception and is an educational objective of this institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students."

What does this mean for us? While we do encourage students to work on projects and study collaboratively (ie, in groups), we insist that each students project be unique. Simple copying of projects (with minor changes) is easy to detect and will result in penalties. Cheating on tests and/or quizzes will never be allowed.

Please use this class as an opportunity to learn a marketable skill and not to simply get a grade. The skills learned here will continue to benefit you long after the grade and credits are forgotten.

Class Attendance

ATTENDANCE at class lectures and labs is REQUIRED of all students. Attendance will be taken at all lectures and labs.  Excuses should be given to the instructor.  Excuses will only be given for reasonable absences. Please plan to document your absence if you are forced to miss class.

Lab attendance and participation is 30% of your final grade. Lecture attendance is 5% of your final grade.

This is important because students WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL INFORMATION PRESENTED IN CLASS!!!!  If a student is absent it is their responsibility to get class notes from another student.

Labs

Hands-on labs will be provided each week at a scheduled time. It is very important that you only go to the lab for which you are scheduled. Lab attendance is mandatory!

Hands-on labs will be used to work through course modules, practice learning skills from the text, work through materials from the class web page, and construct projects.  

Text and readings

Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics, 2007

Some required online readings and/or handouts will be announced in class.

Schedule:

Week 1 (7/3 no class on 7/4) introduction, general computing, Angel review, Ch 1, 2, 3
            -assignment one due on Thur, 7/5

Week 2 (7/9) Windows XP and operating systems(ch 4,5, 6, 7)
            -assignment two due on Thur, 7/12

Week 3  (7/16) Excel (ch 16)     
-assignment three due on Thur, 7/19, exam 1 on 7/17

Week 4 (7/23) The Internet, the Web and Computer Mediated Communication (ch 26)
            -assignment four due on Thur, 7/26

Week 5 (7/30) Access
            -assignment five due on Thur, 8/2

Week 6 (8/6) PowerPoint (ch 17)
            -assignment six due on Thur, 8/9

 (8/13 and classes end on 8/15) Web pages and CMC lab exercise, review and Exam #2 on Tue (8/14)