M&IS 24053 Summer 2008 Lin
Summer I 2008: M&IS 24053: Computer Applications
- Instructor: Laura Lin
- Office: A-409 BSA
- Email: peiying.lin2008@gmail.com
- Class time: 2:15-4:10 (MTWR)
- Office Hour: 4:10-5:00 (MTWR)
Course Objectives
The fundamental objective is for you to develop an appreciation for the contribution that computers and software can make to your life as a student and as a professional. It is expected that during this term you will develop competency in the operation of the hardware and software to which you are exposed. It is further expected that as you master the course material your confidence in your ability will increase. A secondary objective is for this to be an enjoyable and fun learning experience.
In particular, you will be able to use Excel to analyze business problems and you will become familiar with the Windows operating system.
The course's text book is Information Technology, Steinberg, Geoffrey, Kendall-Hunt. 2008. Use the course weekly schedule (at end of syllabus) as a guide so that you read the appropriate chapters before that material is covered in class. You should read the material before coming to class so that you are ready to participate in the class discussion.
Class Slide Presentations
Copies of the instructor's classroom slide presentations are found in a workbook included with the textbook. You will find these copies very handy when you take class notes. The workbook has exact images of many of the slides used by the instructor. Take your notes directly on the copies. It will make note taking easier and more accurate. You will find it easier to study for quizzes too.
Class Notes
The workbook provides pages for your class note taking. You are encouraged to use these pages so that your notes, the text material and the classroom slides are kept together. This too will help you master the material and prepare for quizzes.
Jump Drive
You should use the jump drive which is packaged with the book. The drive has sufficient space to complete your assignments and can also be used for your other course work.
Handouts
You will find additional course material in the Resource page of Pamela.
Pamela
Most of your course activities are interactive and involve using the Pamela server. Quizzes and homework are administered and graded by Pamela.
Follow these steps to log on to Pamela:
- Start a web browser: You must use Internet Explorer.
- Go to this web address: http://orion.kent.edu/pamela/welcome/
There are 12 regular assignments. To view specifics about assignments use your ID and password to log on to Pamela and find "Assignments" on the Pamela menu:
- All regular assignments are graded automatically by the Pamela System.
- Each regular assignment must be completed by the due date.
- You may submit any regular assignment three times until the due date.
- The grade recorded is what you earn on your last attempt (which may or may not be your highest score).
- The grade on record at the due date is your grade.
- The "Requirements" option also shows the due dates for each assignment.
- If your score goes lower when you resubmit an assignment then the lower score is what counts toward your grade.
Submitting Regular Assignments
You will complete most of your regular assignments using a storage device such as the one included with the text.
- There are 5 objective quizzes (multiple choice, true-false, fill in the blank) this semester.
- Each quiz is administered in the College of Business Lab during a "quiz period" (one week -- five weekdays only).
- Quizzes are not curved.
- Each quiz contains material covered in class during the three weeks prior to the beginning of the quiz period.
- There is no final exam. The last quiz is also non-comprehensive and is taken during finals week.
- Quizzes are open notes and you are permitted to use other software while taking a quiz.
- You may submit a quiz only one time.
- You must make a reservation on Pamela to take a quiz. On Pamela you may make a reservation for a quiz start time (in the College of Business Lab) two days before the quiz's period begins. Check Pamela's Requirements page to make a reservation.
Prerequisites
- You may not begin any quiz until you demonstrate your understanding of the syllabus by completing the Syllabus Contract.
- Each quiz has other prerequisites and it is your responsibility to be aware of the schedule.
Taking a Quiz
- Bring your student ID to the College of Business Computer Lab (2nd floor) during the quiz period. No quiz may be started less than X minutes before a proctor is due to leave the lab Where X is the length of the quiz - see the study guide. Each quiz is of different time length - it is your responsibility to check this.
- Log on to Pamela and select the "Requirements" option.
- Select the quiz you want to take. Make sure it is now the time of your quiz reservation.
- READ EVERYTHING IN THE INSTRUCTIONS.
- Open any programs you will need BEFORE you begin the quiz.
- Read ALL dialog boxes.
- Request that a proctor (look around the lab for one) check your id (name and picture). You may not begin a quiz without proper identification.
Viewing Results
Once a quiz period has ended you may view your quiz (all questions and answers) for up to seven days by locating the quiz in your status report.
Instructor Review of Your Quiz
You may request that your instructor review a quiz up to seven days after the end of the quiz period. Quizzes will not be examined after the seven days have elapsed.
There will be eight points of your course grade based on in-class unannounced pop quizzes.
If you are absent on a pop quiz day you will receive a zero on that quiz unless you have an excused absence.
Study and Practice Tools
Study tools are available for each quiz. To view a study guide or try a practice quiz: Log on to Pamela and select the "Study" option.
All quizzes require that you successfully complete prerequisite exercises first. You may attempt the exercises as often as you wish until you accomplish the required grade of 100. To learn what the specific prerequisites are click the icon on the course home page.
Syllabus Contract
This syllabus is a contract between you and the instructor. Your responsibilities are described in this document. Before you are permitted to attempt any of the the five course quizzes you must demonstrate that you understand the contract (syllabus) by earning a perfect score (100%) on a syllabus survey. You will find the Syllabus Contract Survey on the "Prerequisites" menu.
- You are permitted to attempt the Syllabus Contract Survey as often as you like until you reach 100%.
- You may attempt the Syllabus Contract Survey from any Internet connected computer using Internet Explorer.
- It is strongly suggested that you print this syllabus and use it while completing the Syllabus Contract Survey.
- You must score 100% on the Syllabus Contract Survey before attempting any of the five course quizzes.
Extra Credit
You may earn up to 5.5 extra-credit points during the course this way:
- Pop Questions -- 4.5 points possible:
- At various times when logged on to Pamela you will be given the opportunity to answer questions about course content.
- Each correct answer will result in an award of 0.10 credit points.
- During the semester you will receive up to 45 extra credit pop questions for a possible 4.5 points.
- The pop credit questions are all objective (multiple choice, true-false, fill in the blank).
- Points earned from correctly answering pop extra credit questions are available for Gift Catalog purchases (see below).
- There will be additional opportunities available to those who attend class.
- Tip: attending class and completing reading assignments on time will help you earn extra credit points.
- Extra Credit Assignments -- 1 point possible:
- During the course three extra credit homework assignments are available.
- Completion of all assignments is worth a maximum of 1.0 extra credit points.
- These points are not used for Gift Catalog purchases.
You may purchase gifts from the Gift catalog by using pop extra credit points that you earned. Click the "Tokens/Gifts" option to view the Gift Catalog. Gifts available include:
- A due date extension
- An additional homework submission
- Erase a grade and start over
You may complete overdue assignments late by using the "Rewind" option. Look for the movie projector on the course home page.
When you use this option you will be assessed a late fee. This is different from the Gift Catalog because with rewind you do not spend extra-credit to begin a late course requirement but you are assessed a penalty for lateness.
Get rewards for completing assignments early. Look for the Early Bird on your Pamela menu for details.
Use this option to view class lecture notes for classes that you miss or notes that you just want a second look at. In some cases there is a fee (pop extra credit points) to view lecture notes again.
> <br> If you miss a class due to a legitimate absence the instructor will grant permission for you to view notes without charge. Contact the instructor.
> <br> If you miss a class due to a legitimate absence the instructor will grant permission for you to view notes without charge. Contact the instructor.
Each time anything is graded a fresh copy of your grade status report will be put on the Internet for you to access. See "Status Report" on the Pamela menu for access to your personal report.
How your grade is computed:
- Your semester grade is the weighted average of the 5 quizzes + 12 homework assignments + 8 points of pop quizzes.
- Each quiz and homework is to be completed on time by the due date. Penalties apply for lateness.
- Up to 5.5 points of extra credit may be added to your quiz and homework average.
- Nothing is curved: not homework assignments, not quizzes and not the semester final grades.
- This grading scale is used:
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90+
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80-89
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70-79
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60-69
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0-59
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A
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B
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C
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D
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F
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> Grades are rounded, so 89.5 becomes an A. <li>
In order to be fair to all students the following rules are enforced:
Excused Absence and Lateness
The following are the Kent State accepted excuses for absence and late homework submission or permission to take a quiz late.
- sickness with medical note
- athletic event - with coach's note
- religious observation
- military responsibility with documentation
- death in family with documentation
No other excuses for lateness are accepted. If you miss a homework or quiz due date then you may purchase an extension from the gift catalog or use the rewind option if you wish to complete that assignment. Here are some excuses that are invalid and will be ignored:
- your Mom will call me to let me know why
- your alarm didn't go off
- your kids were sick
- your parents needed your help
- you had to work
- you forgot the due date
- you check your email, but you don't check Pamela
- you have to get a good grade in here
- your computer died
- you went to a movie
- you cannot access Pamela
- your diskette will not work
- there was no lab assistant to proctor
- the lab was in use by a class, etc.
- your car quit
- you had an accident
- you had to watch a television show
- it is raining
- you are lazy
- you did not want to do the assignment
- any new excuse we haven't heard which you come up with as your contribution to next semester's syllabus
Lecture Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory but:
- You are responsible for all material presented.
- Do not ask for special consideration claiming that you miss material because you were not in class.
- If you miss class you are not eligible for special in-class awards (unless the absence is covered by one of the Kent State accepted excuses for absence).
- Do not ask the instructor for a re-cap of a missed class (unless you have an excused absence).
- Respect the other students in class This means never ridicule anyone for asking a question. Laughing at or ridiculing another student is grounds for dismissal from this course with a grade of F.
- Use of a cell phone or pager during class is grounds for removal from the class.
In-Class Special Awards
In-class extra credit awards are given to students directly by the instructor. These awards are known as tokens. Only students present in class are eligible for these awards. Any student claiming an award obtained from other than the instructor is dishonest and will be dealt with according to Kent State University regulations concerning student conduct. Additionally, possession of a token not directly received from the instructor is grounds for failure in this course.
Lateness to Class
If you arrive late:
- You may be denied permission to participate in In-Class Awards
- You may be required to sit in the front row.
- The instructor may deny entrance to anyone more than 15 minutes late.
Cheating
Cheating is grounds for immediate dismissal and automatic failure from this course with no opportunity to complete any further assignments. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:
- Submitting work (homework, pre-requisites, quizzes) that is not yours.
- Providing answers to (homework, pre-requisites, quizzes) to another student.
- Possession of a token not personally received from the instructor.
- Giving a token to another student.
- Possession of a copy of quiz questions in any form.
- Illegally copying software.
- Using electronic communication with another person during a quiz.
e-mail
You may communicate with your instructor using e-mail. There are some rules, however, that you must observe to use e-mail effectively. Little tolerance is granted for email messages that violate these guidelines:
- Make sure that your spelling and grammar are correct.
- Get to the point. Do not be long-winded. No jumbled verbiage.
- Be organized. Be clear.
- Be honest.
- Use proper English - no slang.
- DO NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS!
- Be respectful.
- Say who you are.
The instructor will not answer e-mail:
- About a homework assignment on the due date for that particular assignment.
- About a pre-requisite on the day that the dependent assignment is due.
- If your attendance is less than 75%.
- On weekends or evenings.
1. Students with Disabilities
University policy 3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access equal access course content. If you have documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through the Student Disability Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit www.kent.edu/sds for more information on registration procedures).
2. Enrollment/official registration
Students have responsibility to ensure they are properly enrolled in classes. Should you find an error in your class schedule, you need to correct the error with your advising office no later than June 12 for Summer I – Sunday. If registration errors are not corrected by these dates and you continue to attend and participate in classes for which you are not officially enrolled, you are advised now that you will not receive a grade at the conclusion of the semester for any class in which you are not properly registered.
3. The course withdrawal deadline
Summer I 2008 course withdrawal deadline is Monday, June 30, 2008.
4. Academic honesty
Cheating means to misrepresent the source, nature, or other conditions of your academic work (e.g., tests, papers, projects, assignments) so as to get undeserved credit. In addition, it is considered to be cheating when one cooperates with another in any such misrepresentation. The use of the intellectual property of others without giving them appropriate credit is a serious academic offense. It is the University's policy that cheating or plagiarism result in receiving a failing grade for the work or course. Repeat offenses may result in dismissal from the University.
5. Thinking About a Major or Minor in Information Systems?
Enrollment in the initial courses (24060 - Systems Analysis and 24070 Principles of System Development) requires permission. Ask your instructor for information.
Weekly Class Schedule and Reading Assignments
· The weekly schedule indicates the topics covered during each class session.
· You are expected to complete the reading assignments (pages shown in ()) prior to each class meeting.
· The Quiz column indicates what quiz covers the material shown to the left.
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Week
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Readings
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Quiz #
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1
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June 9 – June 12
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1
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2
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June 16 – June 19
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2
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3
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June 23 – June 26
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3
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4
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June 30 – July 3
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4
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5
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July 7 – July 10
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5
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