MATERIALS/TEXT REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS:

Textbook: Shell, Cashman, Vermaat. (2008). Office 2007, Boston, MA: Thomson Course Technology. (ISBN: 978-1-4188-4332-8).

Storage Media: Flash Memory Drive [preferable], CD-RW disc [Blank} and /or 3 ½ inches floppy diskette…must be brought to every class.

Communication: Valid E-Mail address [Email is my primary means of communication with students].

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT:

Course Grade % of Grade

Midterm Examination 40%

Assignments/Lab Exercises/Work 10%

Final Examination 40%

Final Integrated Project 10%

100%

Numerical grades will be converted into a final letter grade as follows:

A = 90 - 100 D = 60 - 69

B = 80 -89 F = 59 - BELOW

C = 70 – 79

Students have one week (seven days) after receiving their final grade to contact the instructor if they wish to dispute or discuss their grades. Please call (210) 671-3135 or (210) 497-7843 to make arrangements.

LATE WORK:

ALL WORK not turned in on the due date will not receive credit for that assignment. Assignments must be turned in on time to receive credit. The instructor is not obligated to grade late assignments. Computer glitches will not be an exception for late or incomplete assignments.

DISCRETIONARY/PARTICIPATION POINTS:

At the end of the course, I can award up to 10 points extra credit to students who have shown outstanding effort in the class (reading assignments, class participation, on time to class, attendance). This does not sound like much; however it could be the difference of one letter grade. Not all students earn these points; they are reserved for those who have worked hard and are points away from an “A” or “B” etc.

EXAMINATION POLICY:

Assessment exams during the course will go over chapters or materials covered in class. Date of exam will be reflected on the weekly agenda at least 1 week in advance. There is a Final Exam in this class and a Final Integrated Project which is explained below.

· Preparing for Examinations:

Attend class daily, take notes, read the chapters, review the chapter reviews and key terms section at the end of the chapters on which you are being tested. ALL EXAMS are based on reading and lab exercises completed in class.

· Make-up Exams:

No make-up exams will be allowed without prior arrangements being made with the instructor. Although on the same material, these exams may be somewhat more difficult.

FINAL INTEGRATED PROJECT:

A final integrated project will be assigned. This project will allow you to utilize various areas discussed and learned in this course. The project is assigned approximately the midterm of the course and class time is used to work on it. Projects are assigned to small groups (or Individuals, depending on class size) whereby the following deliverables are required:

· Paper

· PowerPoint Presentation

In completing the project successfully, the use of a Computer, the Internet, the World Wide Web, Application Software, Storage Device, Operating System, Network, Database Management and Computer Security discussed in class are required.

The project will be discussed more in-depth at time of assignment.

GROUP ASSIGNMENTS;

Students will be assigned to groups at different times during the course and will be required to work together to complete assigned projects. Projects will be limited to class time and all work should be done and completed during the class. Grades are based on preparation, research, attendance and participation. Any student absent during group projects will have points deducted for that particular group assignment.

GROUP GUIDELINES:

Respect each person and their viewpoints

Criticize only ideas; not people

Listen constructively and actively

Provide questions and actively participate

Refrain from interrupting

Share responsibilities of learning

Attend all group sessions, be on time and have fun

HOMEWORK:

This class may require approximately 2 hours or more lab/research time each week that must be done outside of the classroom. Homework is kept at a minimum with between 5-10 outside short assignments and of course reading assignments form t he textbook.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

Lecture and hands-on lab exercises make up approximately 95% of the class. A large part of this class is the hands-on, lecture and interaction with the computer utilizing the Windows XP Operating System, Internet, Application Software etc.

ATTENDANCE:

According to Wayland Baptist University Attendance policy, “Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the campus dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy.” (Wayland Baptist University. (2005). 2005-2006 Academic Catalog (vol. 88, p. 78). College Source, INC and Career Guidance Foundation.)

Each student must commit himself/herself to attend each and every class and being on time. If a student does in fact miss a class, then, he/she is responsible for obtaining missed information from his/her class members.

Two tardiness will count as one absence. You will be considered absent 30 minutes after the beginning of each class. I suggest that a student late or absent make every effort to attend class as there is a lot of material to cover in each class. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor that he/she is tardy. If the student must leave early, it will count as a tardy.

If the instructor is over 45 minutes late, a student in the class should take accountability of those students present and leave. The student that took accountability should turn in the sheet at the next class meeting.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY (IN-CLASS CONDUCT):

· Come to class ready by having portable storage devices, textbook, syllabus and weekly agenda.

· Do not work on other activities during class such as homework for other courses and other personal activities.

· Absolutely no drinks or snacks allowed near the computer systems.

· Personal software may not be loaded on to the lab computers.

· Cellular phones, pagers, CD players, radios and similar devices are prohibited in the classroom and laboratory facilities. Calculators and computers are prohibited during examinations, unless specified.

· If one should be displeased with any feedback provided and one makes disparaging remarks, one will be asked to leave the class. Additionally, one should not use inappropriate or offensive comments or body language.

· Any acts of classroom disruption that go beyond the normal rights of students to question and discuss with instructor the educational process relative to subject content will not be tolerated.

SCHOLASTIC INTEGRITY:

Wayland Baptist University does not tolerate academic dishonesty or misconduct. A student caught cheating, such as possession of unauthorized examinations or examination materials, collusion through unauthorized collaboration, forgery or plagiarism (unauthorized use of another person’s work, or inadequate documentation) shall face disciplinary measures ranging from failing grades on assignments through expulsion. [Caught cheating you will be asked to leave the class and will receive a failing grade for the semester.]

SPECIAL NEEDS INFORMATION:

As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990,” It is University’s policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the University.” (Wayland Baptist University. (2005). 2005-2006 Academic Catalog (vol. 88, p. 78 & 79). College Source, INC and Career Guidance Foundation.) Please feel free to discuss “reasonable accommodations” with your instructor on the first day of class.

CALENDAR INFORMATION:

A weekly/daily agenda will be provided with scheduled lectures, labs and reading assignments for the week.