NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

INF 101: COMPUTER LITERACY & INFORMATICS

COURSE SYLLABUS (Spring 2009)

Instructor: Toru Sakaguchi, Ph.D.

Office: ST 222

Phone: 859-572-5318

Office Hours: MW 10:00-11:30 a.m., other times by appointment

E-mail: mailto:sakaguch@nku.edu

URL: http://www.nku.edu/~sakaguch/

OUR VISION

NKU sees the metropolitan region as representing not just a set of learning needs to be served but also as a powerful source of knowledge and experience that can strengthen, enhance, and enrich every dimension of its educational mission to discover, transmit, apply, and preserve knowledge.

OUR MISSION

Our primary mission is to educate students from the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati metropolitan region to perform effectively and ethically in a global environment as professionals in business, public, and social enterprises.  We will leverage the partnerships between students, faculty and the community to continuously improve the educational experience of our students and to enhance the integration of scholarship and service with classroom learning.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS COURSE

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

• recognize the social and ethical implications of a computerized society
• describe the mechanisms of the computer (hardware and software) and be able to understand and discuss computer terminology
• describe the issues involved in buying and maintaining a personal computer
• demonstrate the use of applications software and be able to solve problems on their own using available software

COURSE DESCRIPTION (CATALOG)

This course helps students understand basic concepts of information in a context including, but not limited to computer technology; examination of hardware and software; the impact computers have on society including employment, privacy, ethics and security; and, working with information as a resource. The course includes computer laboratory exercises in Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) and Internet technology applications. PREREQ: None.

COURSE MATERIALS

Together with Pearson Publishing, we developed a customized set of books for this course. These two books are a subset of other larger texts. This process enabled us to select the exact text needed and keep the price as low as possible.

Required Texts: COI Custom Publishing – ISBN 978-0-53-688842-6 - Readings

COI Custom Publishing – ISBN 978-0-53-676359-4 – Tools

Supplemental Text: PHIT Tips – ISBN 978-0-13-715797-6
These are a set of quick reference cards that can be very useful in this class, and will also help you remember and work with MS Office as you continue through school.

COMMUNICATION

This is a “Web-Enhanced” course. This means you will be required to sign on to the NKU Blackboard Web site at http://learnonline.nku.edu for all announcements, schedules, assignment handouts, lecture notes, etc. It is the student’s responsibility to check the class Blackboard web page on the campus Web site on a daily basis to keep abreast of any changes or critical information. Students will be shown how to use the Blackboard system during class orientation.

Instructor-Student Consultations: Office hours are posted in Blackboard and on my office door. These are times I’m guaranteed to be there. Outside of those times, if I happen to be in my office, I’ll be glad to help you. Additional consultation times between the student and the instructor may be scheduled, if needed.

GENERAL COURSE POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS

It is expected that you will attend class regularly, participate in class discussions, and read the assigned material. Therefore, it will be assumed that you have come to class with the assigned material already read.

Attendance/participation: Attendance will be closely monitored during the first few weeks of classes. Students may be administratively dropped during that time for non-attendance. Students who miss class discussion and wish to remain registered in class should notify their instructor. Classroom participation is essential to the educational process and the educational goals of the course. Therefore, the instructor may lower a student's final grade because of excessive absences. Students are fully responsible for learning the course content and material disseminated in the class. Absences do not release you from this responsibility.

Classroom Etiquette:

· Show up on time. If you arrive late, please sit in the rear of the room and minimize the noise as you enter.

· All personal electronic communication devices are to remain off during class. If you must receive an important call, inform the instructor before class, sit near the door, and leave the room to answer the call.

· Please feel free to ask questions in the class. However, side discussions with other students, even when they are about the class, are disruptive to other students and to the instructor.

GRADING INFORMATION

Assessment Methods:

Students will be assessed as follows:

· Computer lab exercises will demonstrate how well the students have understood and can apply the various computer software covered in the class

· Homework assignments will require that students apply their knowledge of the software along with learned concepts and research

· Tests and examinations will demonstrate the student's understanding of concepts

· Discussions will be used to gauge the student's ability to apply concepts to social issues

          2 Tests (at 100 points each):      200
          Comprehensive Final Examination:   100
          8 Projects (at 25 points each):    200
                   Total Points Available:   500

Grading Scale:

A (450-500) represents exceptionally high achievement as a result of aptitude, effort, and intellectual initiative

B (400-449) represents high achievement as a result of ability and effort

C (350-399) represents average achievement, the minimum expected of a college student

D (300-349) represents minimum passing grade except for courses taken on a pass/fail basis

F (below 300) indicates failure in a course. Credit can be obtained only by repeating the course successfully.

Tests:

There will be three tests (including the comprehensive final exam) during the semester. Tests will begin promptly at the beginning of the scheduled class period. Tests will be designed to assess your memory of, understanding of, and ability to apply the concepts and terminology that you have been learning. Tests may consist of some combination of multiple-choice, true/false, and short-answer questions. The dates that tests will be given are indicated on the class schedule.

Assignments (When Assigned):

Assignments are required of you as an individual. In-class assignments are due by the end of class, ALL other assignments are due at the start of the class period on the scheduled due date unless otherwise indicated. Late assignments may not be accepted unless pre-approved by the instructor. There are no make-ups for missed assignments.

Lab Projects:

Projects are required of you as an individual. ALL lab projects are due at the start of the class on the scheduled due date unless otherwise indicated. Late projects may not be accepted unless pre-approved by the instructor. There are no make-ups for missed projects. In some cases a Lab Project will be accompanied by one or more Hands On exercises. In those cases, part of the grade for the Lab Project will apply to the Hands On exercise.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The maintenance of academic standards and integrity includes the obligation not to cheat or plagiarize. A student who uses a dishonest or deceitful means to obtain a grade is guilty of cheating; a student who submits another’s work as his/her own without adequate attribution is guilty of plagiarism. Please see the NKU Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities at www.nku.edu/~deanstudents.

The College of Business has in addition its own Code of Student Conduct, created by student organizations which may be found at www.nku.edu/~cob/CodeConduct.htm.

Your instructor will do all the grading of quizzes, exams, papers, and projects. Assessment and assignment of final grades are also the responsibility of each instructor.

• Withdrawals and Incompletes: Up to and including the fifth week of the semester, students may withdraw from the class online via Norse Express, through their advisor, or through the Assistant Dean’s office. Incomplete grades must be requested by the student in writing and must include a written plan to complete the necessary work prior to the mid point of the next full semester.

• Research: From time to time you may be asked to participate in research studies conducted by other students or faculty. Generally, this data is gathered through a questionnaire and individuals will not be specifically identified. All of these studies will have an appropriate learning context for the class; none will be psychological or physically dangerous in nature. You may decline to participate. Everyone will be debriefed on the purpose of the study and anyone that wishes may have copies of the results.

• Disability Services: Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments, auxiliary aids or services) for this course must register with the Disability Services Office. Please contact the Disability Service Office immediately in the University Center, Suite 320 or call 859-572-6373 for more information. Verification of your disability is required in the Disability Services Office for you to receive reasonable academic accommodations. Visit the Disability Services website at www.nku.edu/~disability/.
  
  
• Student Retention and Assessment (SRA): Students experiencing roadblocks to academic success may seek assistance from Retention Coordinators in SRA. Financial, personal, and social concerns sometimes interfere with the dedicated focus needed to be successful in college. SRA helps students connect to academic and support services, create individual learning plans, and advance successfully towards graduation. More information is available at www.nku.wsu/~retention. Call 859-572-6497 for an appointment or stop by University Center 352.
  
  

CHANGES TO SYLLABUS

This is a tentative schedule. Dates and assignments documented in this syllabus and the accompanying schedule of classes are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Every effort will be made to provide any changes to the class in writing. Verbal notification at a class meeting, however, will constitute sufficient notice.

IMPORTANT DATES: (see NKU Calender)

Tentative Course Schedule