CIS 146 • Microcomputer Applications

Jefferson State Community College • Shelby-Hoover Campus • Spring 2012

Catalog Course Description This course is an introduction to the most common microcomputer software applications. These software packages should include typical features of applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, database management, and presentation software. Upon completion, students will be able to utilize selected features of these packages.

Prerequisite None (keyboarding skills recommended).

Textbook This textbook is required. If you cannot purchase the textbook within a reasonable amount of time from the beginning of the semester, you will not succeed in the course. Bring the textbook to each class meeting, as you will work on assignments from the textbook during most class meetings. In-class textbook sharing is prohibited.

Microsoft Office 2010: Introductory by Gary B. Shelly and Misty E. Vermaat, either standalone or bundled with SAM 2010 Assessment, Training, and Projects 1.5 Printed Access Card (SAM 2010 is not required for these sections of CIS 146). Textbook ISBN-10: 1-4390-7838-6 (regular) or 1-4390-7840-8 (spiral-bound). Bundled ISBN-10: 1-111-70875-4.

Please consult with your instructor should you wish to buy a variation on the textbook other than those listed above.

Software This course focuses on using four programs from Microsoft Office 2010 (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint) in the Windows 7 environment. This software is installed in your CIS 146 classroom as well as the open computer laboratory (room 451). Students enrolled in CIS courses at Jefferson State may obtain some Microsoft software titles free-of-charge through the MSDN Academic Alliance; be looking for an e-mail message in your Pipeline account with your login information. For this course, Windows 7 and Access 2010 are available through this program; Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are not. Microsoft Office 2010 is available at a discounted price for currently-enrolled students. Microsoft Office 2007 and Office for Mac 2008 and 2011 may suffice for portions of assignments in this course, but these software packages may be missing some features needed to complete the assignments. Students are discouraged from attempting these assignments using earlier versions of Microsoft Office or any other office application suite.

Course Content This course will deal with general terminology of computers and specific application areas as well as the tools provided in Microsoft Office 2010 for each area. Assignments and examinations may emphasize concepts and / or the ability to accomplish specific tasks with an application. Some class meetings will be devoted to demonstration of the tools used to complete assignments; others will allow students to work individually on assignments.

Grades Refer to the following table for the contribution of each course item to your grade.

Item Number / Points Total Pts.
Assignments 32 @ 10 to 30 pts. each 500
Exams 5 @ 125 pts. each, 1 drop 500
Total Points 1000

Assignments Early assignments will focus on computer terminology and the elements of Windows 7. Later assignments will require you to use tools from Microsoft Office to complete exercises from the textbook and / or instructions posted on Blackboard. Some assignments require the use of existing files; these will be provided via links on each assignment's page on Blackboard. Your instructor will guide you through selected assignments. You cannot use another student's file to continue work on an assignment.

Your grades on these assignments will be based on how closely you follow the instructions, with more important instructions weighted more highly than those that are trivial. Although you are encouraged to complete every assignment, the total points for the assignments will be greater than the total shown above, allowing for bonus opportunities to make up for lost points.

Examinations The first examination will require knowledge of computer terminology and the ability to complete tasks in Windows 7; questions may be multiple-choice, true / false, and / or matching. The other examinations will focus on specific programs in Microsoft Office and the ability to generate documents according to specific instructions. Unless otherwise specified, examinations are closed-book and closed-note.

You will be allowed to drop your lowest examination score. If you miss an examination, that will be your dropped score. If you miss more than one examination, you must contact your instructor to determine if, and how, you will be able to recover the points for the other missed examination(s).