SYLLABUS              Fall 1997

CS 101-01 Introduction to Microcomputer Applications 

INSTRUCTOR:  Dr. Tony Fabbri

PREREQUISITE: Completion of mathematics competency requirement. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

     This course is the study of a selection of contemporary
     microcomputer applications, including operating system
     concepts, programming concepts, word processing, database
     management systems, spreadsheets, and communications.  Brief
     survey of other applications such as presentation graphics,
     computer-assisted drafting, and desktop publishing.

TEXT:  xxxxx
     

MEETING TIMES: 

  LECTURE: Monday, Tuesday    8:00 - 8:50  (Section CS10102)
           Monday, Tuesday    1:00 - 1:50  (Section CS10104)

    LABS: Thursday  8:00 - 10:40 Section C
          Friday    8:00 - 10:40 Section D
          Thursday  1:00 - 2:40  Section G
          Friday    12:00 - 1:40 Section H

NOTE: You must be registered in both the lecture and the lab
sections as having me as the instructor. That is, students in
either Section 10102 or section 10104 MUST take lab sections
10100C, 10100D, 10100G, or 10000H. Conversely, students in my lab
sections MUST be registered in either CS10102 or CS10104.        
          
COURSE START/END DATES

     START DATE: September 4       END DATE: December 12

     Final Exam Tuesday December 16 12:30 - 2:30 in CR315 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:   

     1. To gain insight into word processing, spreadsheets, 
        databases, operating systems, and the Internet.

     2. To develop skills in the use of personal computers.
     
     3. To develop skills in using word processing to compose,
         correct, print, and store a document.

     4. To develop skills in using a spreadsheet to save, recall, 
          manipulate, and print data.

     5. To develop skills in creating and modifying a database,
          including sorting records, performing queries, and
          creating reports.

     6. To develop basic skills in using Windows 95.

     7. To develop basic skills in using the Internet, including
          the sending and receiving of email, using search tools 
          on the WWW, and creating WWW pages.

     8. To develop basic skills in using an integrated software
        package (i.e., Microsoft's Office 97).    

GRADE DETERMINATION:

     Lab Midterm    20%
     Lab Final      20%
     Lecture Final  20%
     Weekly Quizzes 20%
     Computer Labs  20%
where
     A  95-100      A- 90-94
     B+ 87-89       B  83-86       B- 80-82
     C+ 77-79       C  73-76       C- 70-72
     D+ 67-69       D  63-66       D- 60-62
     F   0-59

OFFICE HOURS:  MTW     9:00 - 10:00
               TR     10:00 - 11:00                  
     Group or individual appointments available at other times upon
     request.

OFFICE: Crawford Hall 255

TELEPHONE: 635-2747

E-MAIL:   AFABBRI@LAKERS.LSSU.EDU


EXAMS: 

     Every two weeks a quiz will be given over the material covered
     in that time period. Students must bring a Scantron test sheet
     to each quiz--they are available in the bookstore.
 
     The Lab Midterm Exam will cover the use of Windows 95 and
     Microsoft Word.

     The Lab Final Exam will cover the use of Excel and Access and
     the merging of spreadsheets, databases, and Internet files
     into wordprocessing documents.

     The Lecture Final Exam will cover the ideas and concepts
     discussed in the lectures. 

     Each computer lab must be completed within the stated deadline
     period. 

POSTING OF GRADES:  

     For the protection of your privacy, final grades will not be posted. Bring a 
     SASE to class on the day of the final exam and your grade will be mailed to
     you via the envelope. 

OTHERS:

A.   This course is both a lecture and a lab course. The student is
       expected to attend both the lecture and the lab. The
       laboratory is equipped with IBM compatible computers.
       Additional machines are available at other labs on campus. If
       the student misses either a lecture or lab, it is the
       student's responsibility to make up the assigned work. 

B.   Exceptions will not be granted nor grades of "Incomplete"
       given except in accordance with applicable University
       policies.

C.   Some other general information about the course includes:

       Graded labs will be returned to you during the lab time. 

        Labs at other locations on campus are open for your use.
        However, no lab assistance is available at these locations.

        Each lab is worth 10 points. Failure to meet the deadline 
        for a lab will result in a 2 point penalty per each day the
        lab is late (up to a max of 10 per lab). 

TENTATIVE COURSE TOPICS

09/03     Course introduction and general review.
     
09/08     Chap #1: Computer Literacy

09/15     Chap #2: Computers in Society (The Positives)

09/22     Chap #3: Computers in Society (The Drawbacks)

09/29     Chap #4: Computer Hardware

10/06     Chap #5: Software & Operating Systems

10/13     Chap #6: Wordprocessing (Word)

10/20     Chap #7: Spreadsheets (Excel)

10/27     Chap #8: Databases (Access)

11/03     Chap #9: Graphics

11/10     Chap #10: Networks and the Internet

11/17     Chap #11: Expert Systems and Artificial Intelligence

11/24     Thanksgiving Break.

12/01     Chap #12: The Future 

12/08     Course summary, wrap-up and review.

12/16     Final exam  12:30 - 2:30 in CR315