		Michael L'Estrange Computer Information Science

CISC 350: Introduction to Data Communications

Instructor:	Michael L'Estrange
Instructor Email:	lestram@arc.losrios.edu
Instructor Web Page:	http://ic.arc.losrios.edu/~lestram
Instructor Phone:	(916)-484-8147
CSIT Area FAX:	916-484-8673 (always include a cover sheet)
Instructor Office:	ARC main campus, Liberal Arts Bldg. Room 133, Office # 17
Office hours:	Mon Wed 5-6pm in room Liberal Arts 125 Tues 2:30-3:30pm Tues Thur 6-7pm
Course Code #:	11617
Class Location:	Online
Meeting Times:	Online
Semester:	Spring 2014
Term:	First Eight Weeks, Jan 18, 2014 - Mar 17, 2014
Delivery Method	Online
First meeting:	Mandatory In Person Orientation: Must attend Friday 17 January 2014, 7pm, room 125 Liberal Arts
Final Exam:	Last week of 8W1 term
Prerequisite:	None.
Advisory:	CISC 300 and ability to touch type.
Accepted for credit:	CSU
Hours:	18 hours lecture.
Units:	1

Course Description

This course introduces business data communication concepts, systems, technology, protocols, theory, and basic terminology. Specific topics include analog and digital data encoding and transmission; media; interfaces; packet, circuit, and broadcast networks; and data multiplexing.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

Explain the evolution of data communications and the impact of technology on communication methods in business and the home.
Define data communications terminology.
Analyze the hardware and software needed to communicate using a standalone computer or a local area network.
Evaluate different methods used for data communications applications.
Design and select the equipment specifications for a small home or office network.
Explain the primary differences between various types of data communication technologies.

Textbook and Supplies

Required Book:

book: Business Data Communications: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, 4th Edition

Business Data Communications: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, 4th Edition
Author(s): Shelly/Cashman/Serwatka
Publisher: Cengage LEarning
ISBN-13: 9780789568069

Required:

All students are required to obtain and maintain an ARC email account.
All students are required to obtain and maintain a course management system shell account.

Presentation of Class Materials:

The course will cover the required assignments from the text, and outside assignments. The information will be introduced by means of lecture and demonstrations. Students may be given assignments to be completed both in class as well as on their own time.

Online Lectures / Office Hours

This course will use cccconfer.org to facilitate live/real time lectures and office hours online for this class. Times and days to be announced.

Moodle learning management system (LMS)

This class will be using the Moodle LMS, NOT D2L.
http://moodle.losrios.edu/
Moodle will be used to access all class materials, assignments, activities, quizzes, examinations, and grades.

Special note on contacting the instructor

The preferred method of contact is email.
The instructor is an offline resource, and he will not return any messages from Thursday evening until Monday morning.
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.
A logbook of phone calls and faxes is maintained for each class.

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.

Labs

Almost all CIS classes require labs. It is the student's responsibility to complete the lab. Students may complete lab assignments in BCS Area Computer Labs, room 152, 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 BCS area computer lab room 152. Check with the BCS are lab personnel in room 152 for availability. Lab assistance is not tutoring. Tutoring is available on campus; contact the instructor directly regarding tutoring.

Special Note on Cheating for Online

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 152 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.

Online Discussions

During the semester you may be required to participate in online discussions or forums. The purpose of these discussions is to stimulate your thinking about the material covered in the course. Points will be given based upon your level of participation in a discussion. Students must provide their own ideas, reactions, opinions, or answers related to the discussion topic or question or to the responses provided by other students. The more thoughtful and detailed the student's responses, the grater number of points he or she will earn. Abusive remarks or attacks against others will not be tolerated and will result in lost points. Online discussions must be completed by the assigned date. No make-ups of discussions will be allowed.

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be monitored.

Attendance Requirements: ARC attendance policy for a traditional class states: Students can be dropped from the course if his/her absences equal one more than the number of times a class meets in a week. For Online 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) or access the course management system for seven (7) consecutive days, may be dropped from the class.

Once a student has been dropped from 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!

Online Schedule

This online class is not self-paced.

Students must complete readings and assignments based upon the class schedule listed within the course. Success in this online class is dependent upon reading the text, regular participation in discussions and completion of the assigned work. Information will be presented in supplemental materials and during discussions that is not included in the text. Students will be tested on the material presented in the text. Usually all assignments must be completed by the end of the week, and it is up to the students discretion when during the week to complete the assignments.

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, assignments due each week shall be listed in the Moodle LMS. 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 most likely will not be reflected on this web page. For online classes, please refer to the learning management system, Moodle, for all current updates. For in person classes, the instructor will make announcements during lecture.

CISC 350: Introduction to Data Communications
Week of:	Topics	Assignment
January 20	Syllabus Overview Logging on to ARC student accounts Using ARC student e-mail Proper shutdown of the PC Online orientation Introduction to Moodle Introduction to CCC Confer Introduction to Communications Fundamentals of Communications	Complete Online Orientation and Activities Read Chapters 1 and 2 Quiz #1 20 January 2014, Martin Luther King Jr day, COLLEGE CLOSED
January 27	Communications Media, Servers, and Clients ommunication Equipment	Read Chapter 3 and 4 Quiz #2
February 3	Data Transmission Protocols	Read Chapters 5 and 6 Quiz #3
February 10	Network Concepts Wide Area and Metropolitan Area Networks	Read Chapters 7 and 8 Quiz #4 14 February 2014, Lincoln’s Birthday, COLLEGE CLOSED
February 17	Local Area Networks Network Security	Read Chapters 9 and 10 Quiz #5 17 February 2014, President's day, COLLEGE CLOSED
February 24	Network The Internet	Read Chapter 11 and 12 Quiz #6
March 3	Communication Services E-Business Applications and the Business Data Communications Industry	Read Chapters 13 and 14 Quiz #7
March 10	Addressing the Challenge of Living in a Connected World Final Exam	Read Chapter 15 Quiz #8 NO Assignments will be accepted after the final 17 March 2014, Classes end 8W1 term

* Homework/Projects/Lab Assignments and Discussion due date changes 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 350 Page # of #

Also, when contacting the instructor via email, be sure to include the class number in the subject line, i.e. CISC 350.

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/tests
50%

Assignments
25%

Final Exam / Final Project
25%

Grade Assignment

Total % Grade
Assigned

90% A

80% B

70% C

60% D

below 60% F

Grade Assessment Weighting
Quizzes/tests	50%
Assignments	25%
Final Exam / Final Project	25%

Grade Assignment
Total %	Grade Assigned
90%	A
80%	B
70%	C
60%	D
below 60%	F

Extra Credit Work

There will be no extra credit work given in this class. A student’s grade is based solely upon the regularly assigned work in the class and upon the quizzes and examinations given in the class.

Grades Available Online

Grades will never be sent out by email.
Most grades for individual assignments will be available during the semester 8 week term 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.

Policy on Late Work and Make Up Exams

No late work will be accepted.
No make up 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 complete the Final Exam and/or Project to pass.
Students must pass the Final Exam and/or Project with a D grade or better.
Students must submit the Final Exam and/or Project on the scheduled date and time of the Final. (You have 8 weeks to clear you schedule - make it so.)

Last Updated: 17 January 2014