Course Description:

The University of Great Falls is committed to the development of character commitment and competence in all of its students.  The focus of this course will be the development of competence in the use of computers.  The proper use, however, of computers requires more than just competence.  Working with any type of technology in the real world will test anyone.  One characteristic necessary for the successful use of any technology is the ability to work around difficulties.  Rarely does software do what it is “supposed” to do and it becomes the job of the user to make the software do what is necessary often in the creative sense.  Over the course of the semester, students will be evaluated on characteristics necessary to use computers successfully.  The student will be evaluated by the successful and timely completion of projects and by the quality of the work completed.

            Students will acquire a working knowledge of computers through the process of completing a series of tutorials and homework.  Basic issues of computers will be discussed during the semester and applied to all subsequent material as the semester progresses. 

            Students in this course will complete a set of assignments in class or as homework.  There will be two tests (Midterm and Final) to measure the student’s grasp on the basic issues with computers.  The specific requirements are as followed:

1.      Completion of all assigned tutorials during the class time or as homework.

2.      Attend class regularly

            3.   Discussion Forum

4.      Taking the Midterm (written) and Final (Written and Application)

Completion of Assigned Tutorials and Homework: means that each student will complete the steps in each assigned tutorial found in the text during the class and the completion of homework that is assigned.  (There will be time in class to do the homework)

Class Attendance: Class attendance is extremely important since the tutorials will be gone over in class and homework will be assigned accordingly.  

Postings on a discussion forum:  The students will be required to answer provocative questions. The student will address each topic and then write a analysis of the information.  Each review needs to be at least 150 words.  The web site address is:

http://student.ugf.edu/moodle

The Midterm and Final: will consist of twenty short answer questions.  The tests are closed book.  The Midterm and Final will consist of questions from the lectures and material from the tutorials. (Note: there will be a review day before the tests)

Grading

Tests                                        40%

Tutorials/Homework                 30%

Class Attendance                      15%

Discussion Forum                   15%

Scale

A         93-100

B          86-92

C         77-85

D         70-76

F          69 OR Below

Requirements the course satisfies:

This course satisfies the major in Computer Science and minor in Computer Science and Information Technology.

Course Behavioral Objectives:

Students will recognize and be able to produce basic computer documents.  Students will recognize various elements, devices, and principals.  Students will recognize and state the major components of a computer, its components and its software.  Students will recognize and state the different aspects of technology in general.

Relevant Goals and Objectives from the Core, Major, and Minor:

This Course will help students to obtain essential skills to know “what does it mean to make a living and to live as a productive human being.”

Encourages communicating clearly and effectively in multiple modes of discourse, including, written, oral, and other means of presenting information.  Such expressions will be used to identify problems and articulate appropriate solutions.

Encourages students to possess expertise in a specific area and appreciation of other areas and to dedicate themselves to their field of endeavor.

Required material:

Connecting With Computer Science: by David Ferro, Greg Anderson, Robert Hiltony , published by Course Technology of Cambridge, MA, 2005.

Alice 2.0: Introductory Concepts and Techniques: Shelly, Cashman, Herbert, Published by Course Technology: Cambridge, MA, 2007.

Academic Conduct:

The University policy on academic conduct is contained in the University Catalog.  That policy requires a failing grade for cheating on any assignment.  Cheating includes but is not limited to copying another’s work in any form or submitting work that is not your own.  Any cheating in this class will be grounds for a failure in the class.  If you are not sure as to what constitutes cheating, ask before you submit an assignment.

Date

Description

Assignments

Week 1:

5/19 -5/25

Introductions; A Brief History of Computing

Software Tools for Techies

Homework will be assigned for each chapter

Week 2:

5/26-6/1

Basic Computer Architecture

Numbering Systems and Data Representation

Week 3:

6/2-6/8

Operating Systems

 Internet

Week 4:

6/9-6/15

Networks

The basics of Database Fundamentals

Midterm will be given

Week 5:

6/16-6/22

Data Structures

File structures

Begin work on Alice 2.0 Project 1

Week 6:

6/23-6/29

Programming

Software programming

work on Alice 2.0 Project 2

Week 7:

6/3-7/6

Computer security

Ethics

work on Alice 2.0 Project 3

Week 8:

7/7-7/13

Emerging Technologies

Wrap up everything; Review for the Final

Final will be given

work on Alice 2.0 Project 4

Please note: the instructor reserves the right to modify the schedule to meet the ends of the class