Course Resource Pages for Online Materials
CS 116 Syllabus_OER
Introduction to Computer Science I
Overview
This syllabus contains information, websites, and resources that are freely available to students as an alternative to a single textbook that is purchased. The semester course focuses on two major sections: 1) Learning Microsoft Office 2019 and 2) Computer Concepts. Students should develop a comfortable understanding of working in Microsoft Office 2019 as well as gain knowledge of computer concepts after taking this course.
Course Information
Texas Southern University
Department of Computer Science
Course ID: CS 116 - 3 hours
Course Title: Introduction to Computer Science I
Instructor Name: Dr. June Claiborne
Instructor Title: Adjunct Professor
Instructor Contact Information:
Location: Hannah Hall, Rm. 320H
Email: june.claiborne@tsu.edu
Phone: 713-313-4853
Course Description
Study of computers as a tool for information processing, content creation and communication. Topics include: basics of computer systems; productivity tools (word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation generation); multimedia; and information retrieval and sharing. Certain sections may cover topics related to specific fields of study.
Pre-requisites: None (This course is a core-course requirement)
Student Learning Outcomes / Objectives
Resource page contains list of required website links for completing weekly assignments.
1. Critical Thinking Skills – Develop custom design project applications
2. Communication Skills – Create projects by assessing the needs of scores
3. Group Participation – Develop teamwork skills
4. Personal Responsibilities – Each week assignments are due
Course Materials:
Textbook: Open Educational Resources (OER) will be used for this course. These resources are free and have been approved for use by the Instructor. Sources may vary from semester to semester.
Required Software: Microsoft Office 365 & Office 2019
Online Materials:
Online materials and links will be available throughout your Blackboard course that contain the software for reading and information as well as assignments for each week.
Course Support and Assistance
Teaching Assistant:
A Teaching Assistant will be available if you are having trouble. Your instructor will provide TA information so that you can contact them if needed. He/she will select the method of contact to use, either phone or email. The Teaching Assistant will also be in our class every Friday after Week 2.
Blackboard Information & Support:
All students must have access to TSU email and Blackboard.
Blackboard Login Information: Username = student’s complete TSU email Password = MyTSUWeb portal password.
For help with Blackboard:
- Phone – 713-313-7242 (8am-5pm) or 713-313-4357 (24/7)
- Email – tsuonline@tsu.edu
- In Person – Hannah Hall – Suite 320
OIT Support:
For help with MyTSUWeb portal or Blackboard Account Password Resets:
- Phone – 713-313-4357 (24/7)
- Toll Free Phone – 1-866-749-8237 (24/7)
- Service Requests - itservicecenter.tsu.edu
Your Computer Lab Account:
Access to Computer Lab: Any student can enter any classroom on the third floor in the where a lecture is not being held. You are welcome to work in the lab from: 8am – 8pm every day. Open labs are also available in the TSU Library Learning Center (LLC).
Your instructor will provide you with a letter during the first week of the semester that contains information on how to access your login account in the computer lab.
Also a desktop version of Office 365 has been installed on all computer lab computers. Simply click on the office application to open Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
Class Participation
Requirements:
- You must Login to Blackboard and access TSU-EMAIL regularly to be successful in this course.
- You must access the OER materials (which serve as your textbook), readings, instructions, step-by-step videos, and complete the assignments, quizzes and exams throughout the semester
- You must read your TSU emails and Blackboard Announcements in the course regularly.
- Students that “FAIL” to participate in the activities and attendance will be reported to the office. Failing to complete assignments within the first 4 weeks of school can be a reason to report a student to main campus offices, due to LACK of participation or missing assignments.
- This course provides the student with more skills for MS-OFFICE & COMPUTER CONCEPTS. Therefore, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that you read and do the assignments that are due each week. Do not wait until the last minute to complete the lab assignments or you may run out of time.
- Follow the instructions for each assignment, which will be found in your Blackboard course for each Module.
- Assignments are due every Sunday at 11:59 pm for full credit. Late assignments are accepted, but 10 points will be deducted.
Attendance Policies:
Absences that result in your missing a quiz, lab assignment, or project must be accompanied by a valid excuse before any makeup work will be accepted. (signed by your degree advisor or athletic advisor).
Students who have missed up to 4 consecutive classes and/or up to 4 assignments/quizzes will be administratively dropped from the course.
*Note: Attendance will be checked each class period, starting with Week 1 roll call so that instructor can learn your names. Starting in Week 2 or Week 3, an attendance sign-in sheet will be used. Make sure you sign the attendance sheet every class period to acknowledge that you have attended class for that day.
Academic Misconduct Policy & Scholastic Dishonesty
At Texas Southern University we are strongly committed to upholding standards of academic integrity. All forms of academic dishonesty should be avoided, especially the following:
- Copying from another student’s homework, quiz, or test.
- Possessing or using materials, during an exam or test that are not authorized.
- Using, buying, stealing, transporting, or soliciting a test, draft, facsimile, or answer key.
- Permitting someone to take a test for you or taking a test for someone else.
- Cheating during an exam or quiz.
All students need to credit the person working in the lab by name: graduate or classmates.
Course Grading
Weighted Scale is based on:
80% The total assignments for the semester including: quizzes and exams, attendance,
Class work/homework.
20% Final exam or project
Grading Scale:
98% - 100%: A+ 88% - 89%: B+ 78% - 79%: C+ 68% - 68%: D+ 0% - 59%: F
93% - 97%: A 83% - 87%: B 73% - 77%: C 63% - 67%: D
90% - 92%: A- 80% - 82%: B- 70% - 72%: C- 60% - 62% D-
Student Resources
Welcome Desk: 713-313-7402
Research & Instructional Support: 713-313-7402
Circulation, ILL & Course Reserves: 713-313-1082
Computer Lab Support: 713-313-7150 (Labs with print stations are in room 319, 419 and 519)
University Student Services:
Student Services: 713-313-1038
Health Center, Counseling, etc.:
http://students.tsu.edu/departments/health-services/
Clinic Hours: 8am-5pm – 713-313-7173
Student Accessibility Services:
Students needing academic accommodations should contact:
Student Accessibility Services Office (SASO):
Phone: 713-313-7691 or 713-313-4210
Location: Fairchild Building, Room 147, 8am - 5pm, Monday – Friday
ADA Policy:
Texas Southern University maintains a policy for students with disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Under these federal guidelines, the University is obligated to:
- Protect the civil rights of students and disabilities
- Protect the confidentiality and privacy of students with disabilities
- Provide reasonable accommodations and services to students with known disabilities, who are qualified to meet the requirements of the academic program, apart from the handicapping condition.
- The burden of proof is on the student to demonstrate the need for requested accommodations. If you are qualified to receive services, please contact the Student Accessibility Services Office (SASO).
Students with documented disabilities should visit SASO and request a letter for the instructor so our department can set accommodations for the computer lab or mentoring by one of the graduate students.
Course Schedule and Assignments
Week 1
- Familiarize yourself with the syllabus and assignment due dates.
- Send your instructor a note using your TSU student email, confirming that your TSU email is working and that you are able to login to Blackboard. *Note: This exercise is worth 10 points toward your final grade.
- In your Blackboard course: Discussion Board,
- Briefly introduce yourself to the class
- Visit the Q & A section if you have a question or information to share with your classmates
If Microsoft 365 Office Suites is not available on your computer, obtain TSU free access to Microsoft 365 Office Suites. Simply login with your regular TSU student email and password.
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Week 2 & 3: Course Content – Microsoft WORD: Open Educational Resources (free resources) are hyperlinked
- Creating a Flyer
- Assignment: Create a flyer using example in your Blackboard course. Be as creative as possible (10 pts.)
- Creating a Research Paper (Resources found in Purdue Owl Writing – Purdue University and OER Commons)
- Resource: Purdue Owl Writing Lab
- APA Style Using MS Word
- Choosing the Right Words – PPT
- Formatting Title Pages/APA Style
- The Basics of Quoting – YouTube video
- Assignment: Write 5-page Research Paper, including cover page, citations, and reference page on your future career. You will need to search for information on your major for this project. Research Paper due in Week 6 (100 pts.)
- Creating a Business Letter (Resources found in OER Commons)
- Written Communications for Writing Letters
- Written Communications – Emails and Letters PPT
- Communications and Editing 2
- Options for Starting a letter
- Assignment: You are in your senior year, preparing to graduate in your major, and applying for jobs to start your career. Write a Resume and include a Business cover letter in correct format (100 pts.)
Supplemental free book available: Microsoft Word 2019 , by Shelley Fishel
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Week 4 & 5: Microsoft POWERPOINT
Digital Textbook Required (free to students): PowerPoint 2019 (professional ebook – Bookboon), by Shelley Fishel.
In this book, you will learn how to build a presentation, including how to modify the Slide Master, change the Theme and Rehearse the presentation. Learn about adding Tables, Charts, Pictures and SmartArt to your slide deck. Find out how to create a template and save the Slide Master for future use.
Read following chapters:
- Chapter 9 – Creating a Presentation
- Chapter 28 – Adding and formatting shapes
- Chapter 30 – Working with Slide Content
- Chapter 31 – Working with Pictures and Images
- Assignment: Create a PowerPoint presentation with information on your major and your career goals once you graduate. Be as creative as possible using text, images, etc. Presentation should include a cover slide and at least 4 content slides. (100 pts.)
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Week 6 & 7: Microsoft EXCEL
Digital Textbook Required: Beginning Excel 2019 , by Noreen Brown, Barbara Lave, Hallie Puncochar, Julie Romey, Mary Schatz, Art Schneider, & Diane Shingledecker
This textbook was written for a community college introductory course in spreadsheets utilizing Microsoft Excel. While the figures shown utilize Excel 2019, the textbook was written to be applicable to other versions of Excel as well. The book introduces new users to the basics of spreadsheets and is appropriate for students in any major who have not used Excel before. This textbook includes instructions for Excel for Mac also.
- Creating a Worksheet and a Chart
- Read Chapter 1 – Fundamental Skills
- Formulas, Functions, and Formatting
- Read Chapter 2 – Mathematical Computations
- Read Chapter 4 - Presenting Data with Charts
- Assignment: Create a Personal Budget Spreadsheet, Yearly projections of your personal budget, expenses, and calculations. Include a 3D pie chart, and line chart with monthly expenses per month and each expense legend. (100pts.)
- Working with Large Worksheets, Charting, and What-if Analysis
- Read Chapter 3 – Formulas, Functions, Logical and Lookup Functions
- Assignment: Create a Vacation Package Analysis Workbook (100 pts.)
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Week 8 – Midterm Week: Midterm Exam or group project (100 pts.)
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Week 9 – Computer Concepts
Module 1: Impact of Digital Technology
- Read the following (Found in OER Commons):
- How Computers Work
- Artificial Intelligence
- Robotics
- Disability Assistance
- Read Virtual Reality – PPT in the course
- Technology in The Workplace – Word document found in the course
- Using Microsoft Teams
1. Assignment: Discussion Activity 1 - “Technology in The Workplace”. Discuss how you might use technology in your future career. Make sure you post to your instructor and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. (10 pts.)
- Quiz (10 pts.)
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Week 10 – Computer Concepts
Module 2: The Web
- Read: The Internet of Things (Found in OER Commons):
- Assignment: Discussion Activity 2 – “Working in Your Internet Browser”. Discuss your views about working on the internet in your daily life for school and work. Is it a personal distraction to receive constant advertisements or are they helpful? Why or why not? Make sure you post to your instructor and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. (10 pts.)
- Quiz (10 pts.)
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Week 11 – Computer Concepts
Module 3: Computer Hardware
- Read PPT file in course: Computer Components (Hardware)
- Assignment: Pretend you are buying a computer, visit this website link for information on buying a computer and the process: https://www.oercommons.org/search?f.search=computers
- Assignment: Discussion Activity 3 – “Types of Computers to Purchase”. Discuss the pros and cons to purchasing the most expensive computer available and why it may not be the most effective for someone. Make sure you post to your instructor and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. (10 pts.)
- Quiz (10 pts.)
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Week 12 – Computer Concepts
Module 4: Operating Systems & File Management
- Read information on Operating Systems and File Management (Found in OER Commons):
- Operating Systems & File Management
- Operating Systems course
- File Systems and management – Word Document found in the course
- File System Management – PDF document found in the course
- Assignment: Discussion Activity 4 – “Types of Operating Systems”. Name some of the operating systems available for a PC and or Mac. If you were a computer consultant, which operating system would you recommend to a client purchasing a computer and why? Make sure you post to your instructor and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. (10 pts.)
- Quiz (10 pts.)
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Week 13 – Computer Concepts
Module 5: Software and Apps
- Watch video on Designing an App (Found in OER Commons):
- Read PPT file in course: What is a Program (Software)
- Assignment: Discussion Activity 5 – Discuss how apps are created. How has using apps made your life more convenient for home, school, and work uses. Make sure you post to your instructor and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. (10 pts.)
- Quiz (10 pts.)
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Week 14 & 15 – Computer Concepts
Module 6: Security and Safety
- Watch the video: The Internet: Cybersecurity and Crime – YouTube video
- Watch the video: Data Protection and Security on the Web - MERLOT Video Lecture
- Read and Review the PowerPoint file on Cybersecurity in your course
- Cybersecurity – PPT found in the course
- Assignment: Discussion Activity 6 – “Identifying Spam Emails and Suspicious Web Links”. Discuss some of the ways that you might distinguish spam email from a safe one. What should you do when receiving a compromised email? Make sure you post to your instructor and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. (10 pts.)
- Quiz (10 pts.)
**Note: Also use these last 2 weeks to complete any missing assignments and activities.
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Week 16: Final Exam Week: Final Exam or Group Project (100 pts.)