CPSC1105 – Introduction to Information Technology
Summer 2009

 

Instructor(s): Dr. Wayne Summers

Office: CCT455                                                             Office phone: (706) 568-5037
Department phone: (706) 568-2410                                 Department FAX: (706) 565-3529
Office Hours: TBA
e-mail address: summers_wayne@ColumbusState.edu
homepage:http://csc.ColumbusState.edu/summers

 

Official Course Description: This course provides an introduction to computer and information technologies. It discusses the nature of information, computer hardware, software, communications technology, and computer-based information systems. The theory is complemented by practical work aimed at gaining basic proficiency with different types of widely used application software.  (3 credits).

 

Prerequisites: None.

 

Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate an appreciation of the role of information technology in modern society. They will be familiar with the principal components of computer hardware and the functions of different types of software that make computers useful in daily life. They will demonstrate a basic understanding of the processes involved in the development of software for problem solving, and the life cycle of information systems. Students will be introduced to modern data communication technology including the Internet and the World Wide Web. They will be aware of various issues related to computer security and privacy. Students will obtain basic practical skills necessary for manipulating and presenting information in a productive way. Software packages used will deal with word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, databases and Web page creation.

 

Course Outcomes:

 

Course Outline:

  1. An Overview of information technology and its role in modern society
  2. Principal components of a computer system – hardware, operating systems
  3. Common types of application software and their use
  4. Software development for problem solving
  5. Information systems design and development
  6. Data communication and the Internet
  7. Computer security

Textbook: 



  Technology in Action by

  Alan Evans, Kendall Martin, Mary Anne Poatsy 
6th Edition, (©2010) Pearson Prentice Hall 
ISBN 0-13-504624-6

Supplementary Books and Materials

Assignments for Course

Assessment of Learning Outcomes:

v  Students are expected to participate in class discussions by reading the assigned materials before class, thinking about the issues and historical patterns suggested in the readings, and relating these issues to their own personal experience. Students will submit a short (one half - one page) reading response paper in the morning before each class. These papers are intended to provoke discussion. The instructor will provide tentative questions for response papers, but students are encouraged to raise their own questions. The response papers will serve as a basis for subsequent discussion in class. Some of this discussion may take place on the class’s blog.

v  Students are expected to keep a journal of their activities and thoughts throughout the five week class.

v  Assignments for this course also include a final paper (10-15 pages; typed, double-spaced, with 1.25" margins). You may choose any topic that addresses the uses of computing. You may choose something close to your own area of expertise, or something completely different. The final paper is due in class by Wednesday of the fourth week. On the last week, students will give brief presentations (15-20 min.) of their final papers. A proposal for the final paper (1-2 pages) is due in class by Wednesday of the second week. You will receive feedback from the instructor's by the following Monday. The proposal should include:

1.     the central theme of the final paper;

2.     the significance of this question and how it relates to discussions in class;

3.     a brief outline; and

4.     a tentative bibliography, including both primary and secondary sources.

v  Final Exam will cover material from textbook, class discussions, and field trip experiences

 

Assessment Criteria

·         Class Participation / Response Papers 100 points

·         Journal 100 points

·         Final Paper/Presentation 100 points

 

A (90-100): The student fulfills or exceeds all of the assigned content requirements. The student’s knowledge of the subject is accurate throughout. The student exhibits convincing range and quality of knowledge, having done appropriate research, if applicable.

B (80-89): The student fulfills all of the important assigned content requirements. The student’s knowledge of the subject is accurate throughout except in minor details. The student seems informed on the subject, having done appropriate research, if applicable

C (70-79): The student fulfills most of the important assigned content requirements. The student’s knowledge of the subject is generally accurate, though flawed. The student exhibits limited range or quality of knowledge, having done limited appropriate research, if applicable.

D (60-69): The student fulfills some of the important assigned content requirements. The student’s knowledge of the subject is generally accurate, though flawed. The student exhibits limited range or quality of knowledge, having done minimal appropriate research, if applicable.

F (0-59): The student fails to address the important requirements of the course.
The student’s knowledge of the subject is generally inaccurate. The student’s knowledge of the subject lacks range or quality

Class Attendance: Class attendance is MANDATORY. Each missed class or field-trip will result in a drop of one letter grade.

You are responsible for all class work missed, regardless of the reason for the absence(s). Late assignments will not be accepted, so if you are absent on the day an assignment is due, it is your responsibility to make alternate arrangements. No makeup exam will be given, so please make sure you are present for the final exam.

Tentative Weekly Schedule

****This schedule is subject to change.

Week Beginning

In class Material

Field Trips *

Week 1:

June 22,24

Ch. 1 - An Overview of information technology and its role in modern society
Ch. 2, 5, 6 - Principal components of a computer system – hardware, operating systems

·         London Museum of Science (Babbage, Difference Engine, analog and digital computers)

Week 2:

June 29, July 1

Ch. 3- Data communication and the Internet
Ch. 7 - Computer security
Ch. 8 – Mobile Computing

·         PolkaSpots (London WiFi provider)

Week 3:

July 6, 8

Ch.4 - Common types of application software and their use
Ch. 9- Systems Hardware
Ch. 10 - Software development for problem solving

·         Bletchley Park (Computing Devices, Computing Museum, Enigma, Alan Turing, Turing Machine, Colossus)

Week 4:

July 15, 17

Ch. 11 - Information systems design and development
Ch. 12 – Networking and Security
Ch. 13 – The Internet

·         Linnear Society Digital Project - University of London Computer Center

Week 5:

July 22

Final Presentations/Final Exam

 

 

Academic dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, activities such as cheating and plagiarism. It is a basis for disciplinary action. Collaboration is not permitted on assignments or exams/quizzes in this course. Any work turned in for individual credit must be entirely the work of the student submitting the work. All work must be your own. You may share ideas but submitting identical assignments (for example) will be considered cheating. You may discuss the material in the course and help one another with debugging, however, I expect any work you hand in for a grade to be your own. . A simple way to avoid inadvertent plagiarism is to talk about the assignments, but don't read each other's work or write solutions together. Keep scratch paper and old versions of assignments until after the assignment has been graded and returned to you. If you have any questions about this, please see me immediately.

For assignments, access to notes, textbook, books and other publications is allowed. Stealing, giving or receiving any code, diagrams, drawings, text or designs from another person (CSU or non-CSU) is not allowed. Having access to another person’s work on the system or giving access to your work to another person is not allowed. It is your responsibility to keep your work confidential.

No cheating in any form will be tolerated. The penalty for the first occurrence of academic dishonesty is a zero grade on the assignment or exam/quiz; the penalty for the second occurrence is a failing grade for the course. For exams/quizzes, access to any type of written material or discussion of any kind (except with me) is not allowed. (http://aa.ColumbusState.edu/advising/a.htm#Academic Dishonesty/Academic Misconduct)

Software
To complete all lessons, assignments, labs, and tests, you will need to access a computer with:

The course Web Site will contain class notes, class announcements, exam summaries, the course syllabus, test dates, and additional links. 

 

Instructional Methods and Techniques

  1. The class will meet two three hour lecture / discussion period and one full-day field-trip each week.
  2. Each student is expected to attend all class meetings, to read the textbook chapters and to make notes. Students will be expected to participate in classroom discussions.
  3. Students must have access to computers (either personal or in a cyber-café) for doing assignments.
  4. The ACM recommends the following: “As a general guideline, the amount of out-of-class work is approximately three times the in-class time. Thus, a unit that is listed as requiring 3 hours will typically entail a total of 12 hours (3 in class and 9 outside).” Students will be expected to spend this time outside class reading the book, online materials and other materials; writing solutions to homework exercises and programming projects.

Student Responsibilities

As a student in this course, you are responsible to:

“I didn’t know” is NOT an acceptable excuse for failing to meet the course requirements. If you fail to meet your responsibilities, you do so at your own risk.

Instructor Responsibilities

As your instructor in this course, I am responsible to:

CSU ADA statement
If you have a documented disability as described by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 933-112 Section 504) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and would like to request academic and/or physical accommodations please contact Joy Norman at the Office of Disability Services in the Center for Academic Support and Student Retention, Tucker Hall (706) 568-2330, as soon as possible. Course requirements will not be waived but reasonable accommodations may be provided as appropriate.