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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CS 110-4"
COURSE NAME: "Microcomputer Applications"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Marco Scaramastra
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introductory course covering the most commonly used microcomputer applications, including the Windows Operating System, word processing, and spreadsheets.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Office productivity software: advanced features of Word Processing (MS Word), Data management (MS Excel), and Presentation software (MS PowerPoint). Integration between software packages.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1      Ability to produce professionally formatted word documents that use tables, graphic elements, and hypertextually indexed navigation.

2      Ability to produce spreadsheets that require calculations and provide dynamic outputs.

3      To build up expertise in the use of functions and statistical analysis.

4      Ability to produce hypertextual presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons.

5      To know how to produce professional reports integrating different office applications.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and class participation 10%
Class assignmentsThe course is very practical and students are required to complete and save on their reserved area all exercises assigned in class on a dayly basis.10%
Midterm examThe midterm exam will require students to produce a professionally formatted word document. 20%
Final examThe final exam will require students to produce a purposeful excel worksheet containing data, formulas, and data analysis developed with the help of a set of instructions 25%
PC ProjectThe project will combine into a unified structure the microcomputer applications learnt during the course, namely Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The guidelines for the computer project will be provided 3 weeks before the end of the course. The project deadline is the day of the final exam.35%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AThis level of performance demostrates professional skills in the use of computer applications and the achievement of professional ability in delivering information and providing correct data analysis. At this level, the student: 1) shows an excellent ability to choose the right tools in order to produce a professionally formatted complex word documents where graphic and text elements are combined in a solid structure. 2) demonstrates excellent skills in performing correct data analysis and to be confident in the use of complex excel functions and tools to solve different problems in various contexts 3) is able to run a professionally constructed presentation that delivers the results of his/her reserch project.
BThis level of performance demostrates competent skills in the use of computer applications and the achievement of competent ability in delivering information and providing correct data analysis. At this level, the student: 1) shows to have good skills in choosing the right tools in order to produce a professionally formatted word documents where graphic and text elements are combined in a solid structure. 2) demonstrates to be able to perform correct data analysis and to be confident enough in the use of many excel functions and tools to solve different problems in various contexts 3) is able to run a professionally constructed presentation that delivers the results of his/her reserch project.
CThis level of performance demostrates sufficient/acceptable skills in the use of computer applications and the achievement of a workable ability in delivering information and providing correct data analysis. At this level, the student: 1) shows the ability to use some of the tools available in order to produce a professionally formatted word documents where graphic and text elements are combined in a sufficiently solid structure. 2) demonstrates to be able to perform a simple data analysis and to be sufficiently confident in the use of the most common excel functions and tools to solve different problems in various contexts 3) is sufficiently able to run a professionally constructed presentation that delivers the results of his/her reserch project.
DThis level of performance demostrates just sufficient skills in the use of computer applications and the achievement of a borderline ability in delivering information and providing correct data analysis. At this level, the student: 1) shows a basic ability to choose the right tools in order to produce a formatted word documents where graphic and text elements are combined. 2) demonstrates to be able to perform very basic data analysis and to know how to use basic excel functions and tools to solve different problems in various contexts 3) is able to run a basic presentation that delivers the results of his/her reserch project.
FThis level of performance demostrates insufficient skills in the use of computer applications and the failure in achieving a sufficient ability in delivering information and providing correct data analysis.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory as all lessons will be held in the computer laboratory and will be a combination of theory and practice. Students spending most of the class time using smart-phones or the like will be marked absent.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

 

Week



Topic

Assignment

1



MS Word
Mastering the essentials
Basic formatting

Class assignment 1

2



Advanced formatting
Documents reviewing

Class assignment 2

3



Tables and graphical elements Desktop publishing

Class assignment 3

4



Tables and graphical elements Desktop publishing

Class assignment 4

5



MS Excel
Getting Started

 
Class assignment 5

6



Entering data into Cells
Formatting Cell

Class assignment 6

7



Midterm exam


8



Understanding and using Formulas
Using the power of Ranges

Class assignment 7

9



Understanding and using Functions
Creating Embedded Charts

Class assignment 8

9



Creating Pivot Tables and Charts
Using Database Functions

Class assignment 9

10



What-if analysis

Class assignment 10

11



What-if analysis

Class assignment 11

12



What-if analysis

Class assignment 12

13



MS PowerPoint
Preparing slides
Special effects and presentation timing.

Structuring and running a presentation

Project work

14



Project Q&A session

Project work

15



Final exam