		Michael L'Estrange Computer Information Science

CISC 310: Introduction to Computer Information Science

Note: (For students who do not read syllabi)

This syllabus is subject to change, changes will be announced during lecture, and all changes will probably only be reflected in the online course management system.

Online lectures may be prerecorded or scheduled and live streamed; however, attendance online is not mandatory, and students will have the option to view the recorded streamed lecture later.

Students are responsible for all information or announcements presented during lecture.

The preferred way to communicate with the instructor online, is through the messaging system within the course management system itself.

Fully online students who do not access the online course management site during the first 7 days of the course will be dropped having never attended the course.

A fully online student may be dropped if the student does not access the online course management site at least once every 7 days during the semester.

Instructor:	Michael L'Estrange
Instructor Email:	lestram@arc.losrios.edu
Instructor Web Page:	http://ic.arc.losrios.edu/~lestram
Instructor Phone:	(916)-484-8147
Instructor Office:	ARC main campus, STEM 221
Office hours:	Note: Office hours may often be held in STEM 205 Mon 4:30-5:30pm Tues 4:30-5:30pm and 7:00-8:00pm Weds 4:30-5:30pm Thurs 4:30-5:30pm
Course Code #:	10784
Class Location:	STEM 205 + Online
Meeting Times:	Tu 5:30pm-6:50pm
Semester:	Fall 2024
Term:	Fall 2024 \| Full Semester \| 24 Aug 2024 - 19 Dec 2024
First meeting:	27 August 2024
Final Examination:	Tuesday, 17 December 2024, 5:45-7:45 pm
Prerequisite:	None.
Advisory:	None.
Accepted for credit:	CSU & UC
Hours:	54 hours lecture, 108 hours out-of-class work, for a total of 162 student learning hours.
Units:	3

Course Description

This course examines information technology and its role in solving business problems. Topics include information systems, database management systems, networking, e-commerce, ethics and security, and computer systems hardware and software components. These concepts and related methods are applied through hands-on projects to develop computer-based solutions to business problems.

Learning Outcomes and Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

explain how a computer system works.
differentiate between the hardware and software components of a computer network.
differentiate between the hardware components of a computer system.
differentiate between system software and application software.
differentiate between the most commonly used computer operating systems.
explain the basic operation of networks.
differentiate the types of computer networks.
demonstrate the secure utilization of Internet resources.
propose methods for insuring the security of business information systems.
discuss and relate the different phases of the System Development Cycle.
demonstrate an understanding of the development and use of information systems in business.
recommend methods of assessing business information systems.
solve common business problems using appropriate information technologies.
manipulate databases using database management software.
build software solutions to business problems using Internet technologies.
evaluate the impact of information and computer technology on organizations and society including e-commerce, ethics, copyright, privacy, and security.

Textbook and Supplies

Required Text:

This course will not be using a traditional text book. (Great, this will save you cash.)

This course will use open educational resources (OER). Unfortunately, none of the OERs meet the complete requirements of the curriculum for this course, so each week select readings from various OER will be posted. All OER for this course will be available for free online. The OERs will include, but not be limited to:

Open Textbook Library
Information Systems for Business and Beyond
https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/information-systems-for-business-and-beyond

Introduction to Computer Information Systems
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Computer_Information_Systems

Basic Computing Using Windows
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Basic_Computing_Using_Windows

IT Fundamentals
https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/IT_Fundamentals

Microsoft 365 Training
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/training

Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/computerapps/

Youtube Channel: Crash Course: Computer Science
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNlUrzyH5r6jN9ulIgZBpdo

Good Will Foundation
https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/

This course will also use a variety of handouts, online educational supplements, and tutorial websites.
Access to Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel and the Internet is required, and access can be obtained within ARC campus computer labs, or an online account with Netlab+ can be provided
Online resources and websites include the following:
http://www.saclibrary.org/
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/
https://www.khanacademy.org/
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/DigitalLiteracy

Required:

All students are required to maintain a Los Rios Gmail account.
All students are required to maintain a Canvas learning managment system shell account.
All students are required to maintain a NetLab+ shell account.
All students are required to obtain a Sacramento Public Library card.
All students are required to have some form of online or portable electronic storage media or devise to save homework files to.

Presentation of Class Materials:

Course information will be introduced by means of lecture, classroom demonstrations and labs. Students may be given assignments to be completed both in class as well as on their own time. Lab work with a Windows PC will be required, and can be completed on campus.

Special note for the online semester for contacting the instructor

Please contact the instructor use the messaging system within the course in Canvas.

Special note on contacting the instructor

The preferred method of contact is email.
The instructor is an offline resource, and he will probably not return any messages over the weekend or college vacation days.
Whenever sending an email, use the format specified in the online orientation page.
Emails that are undecipherable will be ignored. Use standard English in all messages sent to the instructor.
Emails that do not contain a question may not be replied to. A question should be denoted with a question mark, i.e.?!
Messages with long or complex questions may take time to answer, as in several days.
The instructor will not open emails or attachments he cannot identify, i.e. use your ARC Los Rios email account.
No student emails are deleted.

Special instructions for emailing your instructor

The instructor uses the lestram@arc.losrios.edu email addres.
The instructor does not monitor, access, or respond to any othe communication facilites found within learning managment systems.
DO NOT use the address lestram@apps.losrios.edu to contact the instructor.
The instructor rarely, if never, accesses communication recived within various learning managment systems.

All emails sent to the instructor should contain the following in the subject line: Course number, your name, and the subject.

Here is an outstanding example:
Subject: CISC 310 | L'Estrange | Summer class add number request

In order to properly and promptly answer emails, your instructor must be able to identify you and what class you are enrolled in. Your instructor teaches many different courses each semester, and sometimes a student may submit a question that will have different answers depending on the course, i.e. How to do things in Linux and Microsoft Windows will have very different answers.

You are required to change the subject line if you change the subject contents of an email.

Your instructor is NOT a double-click resource available 24/7. I shall not be answering emails on weekends. If you send a lengthy email not containing a single question mark, or any punctuation at all, I may never answer your email. If your email question requires research on my part, it may take 2-4 days to get to it. It would not be unusual for the email you sent on a Friday evening to not be answered until the next Wednesday.

Course Policies:

This class will adhere to as closely as possible all ARC and Los Rios guidelines set forth in the catalog and/or the schedule of classes.

A document of general course policies for all my classes can be found on the instructor's web site.

Online Labs

Almost all CIS classes require labs. It is the online student's responsibility to complete the lab. Labs will be completed online using the North/Far North community college consortium's NDG Netlab+ labs. Netlab+ will be introduced during lecture.

Labs

Almost all CIS classes require labs. It is the online student's responsibility to complete the lab. Students may complete lab assignments in BCIS Area Computer Labs, room STEM 301, or at another ARC computer lab facility if allowed.

Lab assignments must be completed by the assigned date. Under no circumstances will network, system, hardware, or any other problems of such nature be considered an excuse for turning in late work.

Lab hours/Assistance:

Students may utilize lab time and assistance on campus in the BCIS area computer lab room STEM 301. Check with the BCIS area lab personnel in room STEM 301 for availability. Lab assistance is not tutoring. Tutoring is available on campus; contact the instructor directly regarding tutoring.

Special Note on Cheating

Independent Work Policy: Labs, Projects, Task, Assignments and Exams are designed to measure the progress of individual students. Collaborative work in groups of two or more is prohibited unless the instructions specifically state otherwise.

A student must not copy another student’s work or import work from another student. Do not allow another student to copy your work. Your work must be independent - Failure to work independently will result in all violators’ grades being reduced to zero for that lab, project, task, assignment or exam. Second offence of this policy will be referred to the Area Dean for administrative action.

Online Testing Privilege: Participation in online examinations is a privilege. When a student submits a lab, project, task, assignment, or exam that appears to violate the independent work policy the instructor retains the right to revoke the online exam privilege and direct the student to the American River College Computer Science Lab for on-site testing.

Accommodations

It is critical that every student be provided an environment which is conducive to learning. Please contact the professor if you have any physical or learning disability or other need which might require a special accommodation.

Special Software:

VMware Player, Linux, Packet Tracer, etc.

Completion of the exercises and projects required for this class requires access to a computer loaded with special software, such as the Linux operating system, virtual machine software, packet tracer, or other special software. To complete lab assignments, students may use the ARC CSIT Area Computer Lab, Room STEM 301. It is not necessary to purchase special software, as most of the software is free, open source, or provided at no cost to the student.

Online Discussions

During the semester you will have access to a course website. These websites allow for intraclass communication with other students through messages, online discussions or forums, etc. The instructor in general will not monitor these communications. However, abusive remarks or attacks against others will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary actions taken by the instructor and/or college.

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be monitored.

Attendance Requirements: ARC attendance policy: "A student may be dropped from any class when that student's absences exceed (6%) of the total hours of class time." For Online and Hybrid courses the submission of weekly assignments and communications with the instructor will be used as the measurement of attendance. Students that fail to submit assignments (or any communication, e.g., email or voice mail) for one week will probably be dropped from the class.

Once a student has been dropped form the class (for whatever reason), he or she will not be reinstated.

Drops: Students unable to complete the course are responsible for notifying the Records Office of their withdrawal. Failure to formally drop the course will result in a final grade of 'F'.

If you have extenuating circumstances which prevent you from participating in the class or submitting your assignments, CONTACT THE PROFESSOR IMMEDIATELY!

Course Lesson Plan / Schedule of Topics

The schedule of topics, chapters to be covered, and assignments due each week shall be listed in the online learning managment system. Students may certainly read ahead, but completion of assignments early may not be allowed or even be possible. Changes to the details of this course schedule will not be reflected on this web page. For online classes, please refer to the LMS, for all current updates. For in person classes, the instructor will make announcements during lecture.

This below schedule is an example only; Refer to the online course management system for all assignment and due dates after the first day of class.

CISC 310 Introduction to Computer Information Science Course Lesson Plan
Week	Topics	Assignment
Week 1	Syllabus Overview Logging on to ARC student lab computers Using ARC Los Rios email Proper logout of the PC ARC services Instructor Web site CIS field overview/future	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 2	*Introduction: Computing fundamentals, organization of data processing departments, history of data processing, generations of computing equipment, careers in information technology, and computer support. Basic PC operations. Introduction to the concepts of a personal Computer. Computers and Digital Basics	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 3	*Computer Hardware and Input/Output Devices: Mainframe and personal computer systems, parts of a computer, input/output devices, data storage, and memory devices.	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 4	*Operating Systems: Commonly used operating systems and operating system support applications. File management. How the operating system works.	Exam #1
Week 5	Use of Microsoft Windows operating system software Introduction to Linux, Mac O/S, Android, Chrome O/S	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 6	*Productivity Software: Commonly used productivity software including word processing, spreadsheets, database, graphics, and other applications programs. Practical exercises in electronic spreadsheet development and using database software.	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 7	Other Computer Software Databases	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 8	*Data Communications: Interactive systems, communications software, multimedia, networks and protocols. LANs and WLANs	Exam #2
Week 9	The Internet *Internet Components and Navigation: Hypertext Markup Language and web page creation. E-commerce. Practical exercises in Internet technologies. The Web and E-mail Digital Media	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 10	*Systems Analysis and Design: System life cycle from feasibility study, system design, programming, system checkout, and system implementation. Processing alternatives, including database management systems, distributed systems, and management information systems.	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 11	*Programming Concepts: Programming functions, overview of languages, flow charting or pseudo code techniques, typical computer instructions, and structured programming concepts and techniques.	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 12	*Programming: Analyzing problems, developing solutions, and coding and testing programs.	Exam #3
Week 13	Developing Flowcharts and Writing Computer Programs. Analyze problems, develop solutions, design flowcharts, and write and execute programs.	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 14	*Social Issues: Issues concerning computer usage, ethical conduct, copyright laws, privacy, computer crime, and system security. Information superhighways.	Reading Assigned by Instructor
Week 15	The Computer Industry: History, Careers Student Projects and Presentations.	Reading Assigned by Instructor Project or Presentation due
Week 16	The future, AI Review	Exam #4 ALL Assignments Should be turned in
Last day	Final Exam	NO Assignments accepted after the final

After the start of class, use only the schedule in the learning management system. Current Homework/Projects/Lab Assignments and Discussion assignments and due dates will be specified in the learning management system.

Documents turned-in:
When turning in work in hard copy or electronic form, please include a header on the top of the page with the following information:

Your Name Assignment #
CISC 310 Page # of #

Also, when contacting the instructor via email, be sure to include the class number in the subject line, i.e. CISC 310.

Evaluation and Grading

The grade in this course will be determined by student performance in each of the following areas, and weighted as described in the following charts.

Grade Assessment Weighting

Quizzes
(50 points) 10%

Homework Assignments, Projects, and/or Presentation
(250 points) 50%

Examinations (200 points) 40%

Grade Assignment by Total Points

Points Obtained Total % Grade
Assigned

450+ 90% A

400+ 80% B

350+ 70% C

300+ 60% D

less than 300
below 60% F

Grade Assessment Weighting
Quizzes	(50 points) 10%
Homework Assignments, Projects, and/or Presentation	(250 points) 50%
Examinations	(200 points) 40%

Grade Assignment by Total Points
Points Obtained	Total %	Grade Assigned
450+	90%	A
400+	80%	B
350+	70%	C
300+	60%	D
less than 300	below 60%	F

Extra Credit Work

There will be no extra credit work given in this class. Your grade is based solely upon the regularly assigned work in the class: attendance, participation, lab assignments, projects, quizzes, and examinations.

Grades Available Online

Grades will never be sent out by email.
Most grades for individual assignments will be available during the semester through the learning management system used for the class.
At the end of the semester, final grades will only be accessible through the ARC eServices system. Be aware that the instructor does not have complete control over the total grade section of the gradebook in Canvas LMS, and unfortunately your total reported in Canvas might not be an up-to-date or accurate reflection of your current grade in the course.

Late Adds

Students who add the course after the first day are still responsible for content missed in lectures and or labs and other material or media. The instructor will not repeat a lecture for students who add late.

If the due date has passed for an assignment or exam, and the student missed the assignment because the student had not yet added the course, the student will not be allowed to makeup the assignment, and the student will start the course will a score of zero on the missed assignment or exams. If a late student does not agree with this policy, then the student should wait to take the course the following semester.

Policy on Late Work and Makeup Exams

Note for online exams: The Canvas online learning management system allows for due dates on assignment or exams. Unfortunately, the system will report an exam or assignment as 'not activated' after the due date has passed and the student can no longer take the exam.

No late work will be accepted.
No makeup quizzes or exams will be given.
NO Assignments accepted after the final

Caveat

The professor reserves the right to change any of the details of this course syllabus or the course schedule with a minimum of advance notice.

Passing the Course

Students must take the Final exam to pass.
Students must pass the Final exam with a D grade or better.
Students must take the Final exam on the scheduled date and time of the Final.

Last Updated: 27 August 2024