Introduction to Computers and Applications
CS 115, Fall, 2022, Syllabus Hybrid

INTRODUCTION

Course Description

From Wilkes University Bulletin:

Introduction to computers, both large and small, but with emphasis on, and hands-on experience with, personal computers. Includes a survey of current commercial software (including word processing, a database, and a spread sheet.)

Skill Area: Computer Literacy

Outcomes: Students will

• define the relationship between hardware and software, in particular, the relationship between hardware and the operating system and the operating system and applications;
• develop an understanding of privacy and security issues with respect to networks, email, social media and WWW usage;
• know intellectual property laws with respect to software, music, and video, and understand the ethical use of information for academic and personal purposes;
• utilize software such as word processing, spreadsheet, and database software to effectively organize, manage, and communicate information;
• and understand the roles of computers and technology in mass communication, including social media.

PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites. However, this course is not open to students who have prior credit in any 200-level CS course. Computer science majors will not receive credit in their major for CS 115.

TEXT

UNDERSTANDING COMPUTERS TODAY AND TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE, 16th Edition, Deborah Morley and Charles S. Parker

COMPUTING

You will need to use your Wilkes email account during the course, so you must know your user name and password. Please contact the Help Desk if you don't already have this information.

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Barbara Bracken SLC 423, x 4836,

Email: barbara.bracken@wilkes.edu

Office Hours

GRADING

Your grade will be based on 2 semester exams, labs, assignments, and a cumulative final exam.

Your course grade is distributed as:

• 18% for each of your 2 semester exams (total 36%)
• 24% Cumulative Final Exam
• 20% Labs
• 20% Chapter Assignments and Research Topics

Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:

• >= 93 , A = 4.0
• 87-92, B+ = 3.5
• 81-86, B = 3.0
• 75-80, C+ = 2.5
• 69-74, C = 2.0
• 63-68, C- = 1.5
• 60-62, D = 1.0
• <60, 0.0

This information can be used at any time to compute your grade. Please do so throughout the semester to avoid any surprises at the end of the semester.

COURSE POLICIES

Scheduled Activities

You are responsible for looking at the schedule every day and reading the assigned chapters and doing the assigned work.

General format
• Assigned work is due on Wednesdays at 11:59 p.m.
• Class meets in Breis 105 on Thursdays for lab. All work started in Thursday lab is due at 11:59 p.m. on Friday (the following day)
• Two semester exams will be on a Friday: 11/4 and 12/2. Exams will be done on line in D2L. Respondus Monitor and Lockdown Browser are required to take the exams. The exams are due at 11:59 p.m. on the specified date.

Late Assignments: (this policy will be strictly enforced)

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class.

Wilkes University Covid-19 modified attendance policy.

Attendance is mandatory. For every unexcused absence, your course grade will be lowered by 4%. Excused absences must be supported by written documentation from a doctor, health services, etc. Emailing me that you will not attend does not excuse you from class regardless of the reason.

Tardiness

Class starts at 9:30 a.m. Attendance will be taken at 9:30 a.m. If you arrive after attendance has been taken, you will be marked absent.

Academic Honesty

All work must be your own. This policy is strictly enforced. All work should be done on your own. You are not to copy a student's assignment nor are you to show your assignment to another student to copy. Do not electronically share files!!!!! It may seem easy, but it is cheating. Every semester two students share an electronic copy of their work. I will catch you. When confronted, they say "we worked together". Not acceptable. The work submitted must be your own.

Violations

• The first offense will result in a grade of -100 averaged in with the other assignments. It will have a significant impact on your final grade. Per Wilkes policy, Student Affairs will be notified.
• A second offense will result in a 0 course grade and the matter will be turned over to Student Affairs for disciplinary action, becoming part of your permanent record.

Exams:

The format for exams will be mainly short answer and short essay type questions.

Important: Unless otherwise notified, you are responsible for ALL of the material in the assigned chapters of the text.

Exams will be taken on the specified day. The exams must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on the specified day. Exams are taken through D2L. You must have Lock Down Browser and Respondus Monitor. You must have a camera. You will be required to show your Wilkes id at the beginning of the exam and to pan the room with your camera. Your browser will be locked down so you cannot go to any other web sites. You are not allowed any resources while taking the exam. You will be recorded through the camera on your computer and your microphone. I will review the recordings.

A sample exam is set up to be taken any time. It is on the schedule for November 10. It does not count towards your grade. The exam consists of you filling in your name, major, and year into a text box. The purpose of the exam is to get your testing environment set up and give you time to resolve any issues you may have. If you do not take the sample exam and have problems with your environment that prevent you from taking an actual exam, no consideration will be given. It is recommended that you take the sample exam before the first exam and before the second exam to be sure everything still works properly. It is especially recommended if your environment for Exam 2 is different than Exam 1.

Incorrect Grades: If a grade needs to be adjusted, you MUST see me no later than two weeks after the grading of the assignment or exam.
 
 

Last modified 7/22/2022