CSC101 - Tools for Computing

CSC101 - Tools of Computing

Instructor: Rameen Mohammadi
Office Hours: M,W,F(10:30 - 11:30), M,W (2-3), and by appointment
Office: 112 Snygg
Phone: 341-2689 (office) 564-5911 (home)
Email: Mohammad@oswego.edu

Course Description:

This general education introductory course is designed for non-majors who wish to understand how computers work and are used. The course centers on assignments using single-user applications with pre-packaged microcomputer software. No previous knowledge is assumed. This course fulfills the general education requirement in Mathematics/Computation.

Course Objectives:

to comprehend the varied applications of computers in society;
to know fundamental terminology in the computer science discipline;
to understand what a computer is and how it functions;
to be apprised of how computer programming logic works;
to work with a multi-functional software package; including spreadsheets and databases;
to be conversant with the social, legal, political, and ethical ramifications of computerized technology and the role of the individual in controlling computers.

Text: H.L. Capron, "Essentials of Computing", Latest Edition, Benjamin/Cumming.

Evaluation and Grading: Quizzes 10% || Two Exams + Final 30% || Labs 30% || Assignments 30%

At the end of the semester, a percentage of the total points earned will be determined for each student. These percentages will be converted to letter grades as follows:

      93 or above-->A || 89 or above-->A-|| 86 or above-->B+|| 83 or above-->B
      79 or above-->B-|| 76 or above-->C+|| 73 or above-->C || 69 or above-->C-
      66 or above-->D+|| 63 or above-->D || 59 or above-->D-|| Below 59-->E

Notes:

There will not be any "make-ups" on exams or quizzes.
Computer-related assignments will be given during the course. All assignments must be turned in on time to receive full credit. Late work will not be accepted (unless previous arrangements have been made).
Plagiarism is cause for failure in the course (See attached sheet on CS Department Cheating Policy).
Regular attendance at all class sessions is expected.

Fall OF 1996 Course/Lab Outline

CSC101-830


Lecture Topic                                           Lecture#    Reading

Intro, Unix,Pine                                        1-2         Chpt 1	

More Intro, gopher,tin,pico,netscape                    3-4         Chpt 2	

CPU, Intro to Windows+Word-processing                   5-6         Chpt 3

Input/Output, More on Word-processing                   7-8         Chpt 4

Secondary Storage,Graphics Document Generation          9-10        Chpt 5

Networks, Intro to Spreadsheets                         11-12       Chpt 6

Programming & Lang, More on Spreadsheets+Charting       13-14       Chpt 7

Operating Systems, Intro. to Databases                  15-16       Chpt 8

Computers on the job, more on Databases                 17          Chpt 9	

Security, Privacy, and Ethics                           18-20       Chpt 10

Computers on the cutting edge                           21-22       Chpt11

Other issues                                            23-25       Appendix


Lab#    Title of Lab Unit  
-----   ------------------   
1       Introduction to Unix, and Pine   

2       Pico, Gopher, Netscape
 
3       Introduction to Windows and Basics of Word Processing

4       Microsoft Works Word Processor

5       Document Processing in Microsoft Works

6       Introduction to Spreadsheets

7       Managing Your Spreadsheets

8       Charting and Incorporating Graphs in Documents

9       Introduction to Databases

10      Advanced Database Tools in Microsoft Works

11      Introduction to Lotus 1-2-3

12      Advanced features of Lotus 1-2-3

Fall OF 1996 Lab Sections

CSC101-830


               Section #  Day   Time           Room#        Building

               L50        WED   9:10-10:05     45           Swetman
               L51        FRI   9:10-10:05     45           Swetman
               L52        WED   10:20-11:15    322          Snygg
               L53        FRI   10:20-11:15    322          Snygg
               L54        WED   1:50- 2:45     322          Snygg
               L55        FRI   11:30-12:25    322          Snygg
               L56        TUE   9:35-10:30     322          Snygg
               L57        THU   11:10-12:05    322          Snygg
               L58        TUE   4:00- 4:55     322          Snygg
               L59        THU   2:20- 3:15     322          Snygg

Important Notes About Labs:

You must sign up for one of the above lab periods. It is preferred that the students attend the labs that they have signed up for. However, you may attend any of the other labs with my permission only. Lab instructors are told not to let anyone in during their lab time, if the person is not signed up for that lab or does not have a written permission from me. If you are unable to complete a lab during lab time, you may complete the lab at a later date and show the results to your Lab instructor during the following weeks lab period. Labs are an integral part of this course, they lose their purpose if they are not completed when they are scheduled for. Two weeks after a lab is given is the absolute deadline for completing it.
Notice that not all labs meet in the same room. L50 and L51 will be meeting in Swetman hall, room 45, all semester.
The last two lab units, Lab #11 and Lab #12, will require use of Lotus 1-2-3. We will hold all lab sessions for Lab #11 (11/18 - 11/22) and Lab #12 (12/2 - 12/6) in the Swetman lab. Note below that L56 is cancelled during those two weeks, you must attend one of the other lab times.
There are several dates where certain lab times are unavailable. You expected to attend one of the other lab sessions in such cases. For example, on 9/18, lab L50 that meets on Wednesday at 9:10 can not meet due to the scheduling of another activity in the Swetman lab, just attend one of the other nine lab sessions that week. You won't need my written permission in such a case. Here are the dates and times that specific labs are cancelled. Again you must attend another lab session in the rooms mentioned above, during those weeks that the cancellation has occurred.
1. L50, Wednesday at 9:10 on 9/18
2. L56, Tuesday at 9:35 on 9/24
3. L58, Tuesday at 4:00 on 9/24
4. L50, Wednesday at 9:10 on 10/23
5. L56, Tuesday at 9:35 on 11/19
6. L56, Tuesday at 9:35 on 12/3
Thanksgiving Recess is from November 27-29. The Tuesday labs that week are also cancelled. They are L#56 (9:35), and, L#58 (4:00) on 11/26.

FALL OF 1996 COURSE PLANNER

CSC101-830

Rameen Mohammadi


MONDAY      TUESDAY    WEDNESDAY     THURSDAY      FRIDAY

                       9/ 4  # 1	  		  		

 9/ 9  # 2             9/11  # 3	  		  		
Lab #1 This Week

 9/16  # 4             9/18  # 5                   9/20 Assignment #1-	
Lab #2 This Week                                        Part #2 Due
Assignment#1, Part #1 Due

 9/23  N/C   9/24 #6   9/25  # 7	  		  		
Lab #3 This Week

 9/30  # 8            10/ 2  # 9	  		  		
Lab #4 This Week

10/ 7  Exam #1        10/ 9  #10	  		  		
Lab #5 This Week

10/14  #11            10/16  #12	  		  		
Lab #6 This Week
Assignment #2 Due
10/21  #13            10/23  #14	  		  		
Lab #7 This Week

10/28  #15            10/30  #16	  		  		
Lab #8 This Week
Assignment #3 Due

11/ 4  #17            11/ 6  #18	  		  		
Lab #9 This Week

11/11  Exam #2        11/13  #19	  		  		
Lab #10 This Week
Assignment #4

11/18  #20            11/20  #21	  		  		
Lab #11 This Week

11/25  #22            11/27  N/C	  		  		
Assignment #5

12/ 2  #23            12/ 4  #24	  		  		
Lab #12 This Week

12/ 9  #25            12/11  #26	  		  		
Assignment #6
                                      Final on Thursday 12/19 at 8:00 am