Instructor:

Dr. John R. Sullins

Office hours: MWF 10:00 – 10:45, MWF 1:30 – 2:00, TTh 10:45 – 11:30, or by appointment
Office: 333 Meshel Hall
Phone: 941-1806
Email: john@cis.ysu.edu
Web site: http://cis.ysu.edu/~john/ (most course documents will be available here)

Objectives:

This course is meant to introduce you to the concepts and skills common to all Computer Science and Information Systems majors and minors. This will include:

• Fundamental concepts in computing, including data representation, computer architecture, and operating systems.
• Business-related applications (including spreadsheets and databases), and their relationship to information systems.
• Basic concepts of networking, the Internet, and electronic commerce.
• Graphics, multimedia, and basic web page design.
• Current issues and directions in computing, including security and ethical issues.

Prerequisite:

MATH 1500: Elementary Algebraic Models or at least a Level 2 on the Mathematics Placement Test. A minimal background in mathematics is assumed in order to handle some of the concepts related to this course.

It is also assumed that you have used a computer before, and that you are familiar with its basic applications (such as file management, Windows 95/98/2000, MS Word, and keyboard skills).

Note that this is NOT a beginning course in computer literacy. It is the introductory course for majors and minors n the field, as well as for students who wish to gain a deeper understanding of computers and their application than they would get in a simple literacy course. Because of the broad scope of this course, be aware that the pace of this class will be very fast. If you do not have these prerequisite skills, I recommend taking CSIS 1500 instead.

Textbooks:

Computer Confluence Techsuite, George Beekman
This is a set of books, including

• Computer Confluence, Volume 5, Beekman
• Essentials: Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (level one), Fox & Metzelaar
• Essentials: Microsoft Office Access 2003 (level one), Toliver

The Elements of Style 4e, Strunk, W. jr. & White, E.B.

Most tests will be based on knowledge from the Beekman textbook. The manuals are necessary in order to fulfill the lab assignments.

Lectures and Laboratories:

We will meet in room 302 for lab on Tuesdays and in room 338 for lecture on Thursdays. Class attendance is optional, except for students who are receiving VA benefits. However, missing class is not an acceptable excuse for failure to complete required material on time. Material that is presented in class will not be covered again outside of class -- if you miss class, it is up to you to find out what was covered and to get the notes from someone else. With few exceptions, those with very irregular attendance get poor grades in my classes.

Laboratory Supplies:

High-Density 3 1/2-inch diskettes, IBM formatted, 100 mg ZIP disks(s), or USB memory stick. You will be expected to turn in most assignments either on diskette, ZIP disk, or CD-ROM (which will be returned to you when the assignment is graded).

Assignments:

There will be a number of both written and computer-related assignments during the semester, including:

• A short exercise on converting between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal numbers.
• A number of short exercises to introduce you to the UNIX operating system.
• Designing and implementing a web page in html.
• Excel spreadsheet exercises, including implementing a spreadsheet for your own grades.
• Access database exercises, including designing and implementing a database in an area of your own choosing.

Full details about each assignment will be posted on the course web site as the term progresses. Note that while some lab time may be available to work on the assignments, you will be expected to do most of the work on these assignments outside of class time.

An assignment (including programs and projects) is late if it is not in my possession (either as hardcopy or electronically) at the beginning of class on the due date. Late assignments may be penalized at some percentage (usually 10%) per day late, and no credit will be given for assignments turned in after solutions have been handed out. Extenuating circumstances (such as nonfunctional labs) may be recognized if they become a chronic problem.

Exams:

Exams may include material presented in lecture, covered in laboratory or assignments, or assigned as reading. Most of the exams will be in written form, but may also include hands-on exercises using the computers in lab.

Makeup exams are allowed, but only for compelling and verifiable reasons. I need to be informed as soon as possible if you need to take a makeup (ideally, before the exam is given), and I reserve the right to refuse if too much time has passed since the exam, or if no compelling reason is given.

Grading:

Numbering system assignment	30 points
Unix assignment	50 points
Web page assignment	100 points
Excel assignments	100 points
Access assignments	120 points
Exam 1 (March 2)	100 points
Exam 2 (April 13)	100 points
Hands-on Excel Exam (April 18)	50 points
Final Exam (May 9)	100 points
Hands-on Access Exam (May 9)	50 points
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS	800 points

Last day to withdraw with a "W": Friday, March 24

The standard grade scale will be used:

• 90% (that is, 720 points) will guarantee at least an A for the course,
• 80% (that is, 640 points) will guarantee at least a B for the course,
• 70% (that is, 560 points) will guarantee at least a C for the course, and
• 60% (that is, 480 points) will guarantee at least a D for the course.

Grades may be adjusted upwards on an individual basis. Factors which may be taken into account include, but are not limited to, class participation, efforts to complete work on time, and wide differences in scores on individual exams.

Disability Services:

In accordance with University procedure, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. You must be registered with the Disability Services Office in Beeghly Hall, rm. 3310 and provide a letter of accommodations to verify your eligibility. You can reach the Office of Disability Services at 330-742-3370.

Incomplete Grades:

Incomplete grades are strongly discouraged. However, an incomplete grade may be assigned under the following conditions:

• The student must request in writing that an incomplete grade be assigned.
• The student's previous work in the course must have been satisfactory.
• The reason(s) must be beyond the student's control, and deemed justifiable by the instructor.

Insufficient time is NOT a justification for an incomplete. Also note that all incompletes must be made up within a year; otherwise, they automatically revert to an F.

Academic Honesty:

Academic honesty and personal integrity are the foundation upon which a quality education is built. To maintain high scholastic standards and to ensure each student the right to obtain a quality education, the University cannot tolerate academic dishonesty, e.g. cheating or plagiarism. An instructor may give a failing grade and/or refer for disciplinary action any student who participates in acts of academic dishonesty.

HELPING fellow students is acceptable, and is actually can be a good way to learn the material (particularly when debugging problems in html, Unix, Excel, or Access). COPYING is NOT acceptable, and will result in loss of credit for the assignment, and possibly failure of the course. Follow these guidelines:

• All work on the research, design, and basic implementation phases of an assignment should be your own. That is, sitting in a group working on an assignment together is considered to be copying.
• If you receive help with debugging the implementation of an assignment, then you must acknowledge that help in the assignment (your grade will not be affected).
• If you give help to another student, then it is your responsibility to make sure that they fully understand the problem and solution -- just giving someone code or a file is worse than no help at all.
• Under NO circumstances should information be copied from one students file to another (it's a lot easier to detect than you might think).

For further information, see page 40 of the 2005-2006 Undergraduate Bulletin. See also the CSIS Acceptable Use Policy for Lab Standards at http://www.cis.ysu.edu/Meshel.Hall.Labs/aup.html .

The bottom line: if you are not sure how to approach a problem, or are stuck at some point, SEE ME FIRST FOR HELP.

Tentative Syllabus:

Week	Lab Topics	Lecture Topics	Assignments
1/17-  1/19	Introduction to course web site, History of computing	Data Representation (chapters 1 and 2, on-line notes)
1/24-  1/26	Computer Architecture (chapter 2)	Computer Peripherals and Operating Systems (chapters 3 and 4)	Numbering systems assignment posted
1/31-  2/2	The UNIX operating system (on-line notes)	Networking and the World Wide Web (chapters 8 and 9)	UNIX assignment posted
2/7-  2/9			Numbering systems assignment due
2/14-  2/16		Graphics and Multimedia (chapter 6)	Web page assignment posted
2/21-  2/23	Presentation Software, HTML, and Web Page Design		UNIX assignment due
2/28-  3/2		EXAM 1
3/7-  3/9	Excel (Excel supplement)	Spreadsheets and Simulation (chapter 5)	Web page assignment due, Excel assignments posted
3/14	SPRING BREAK
3/21-  3/23	Excel (Excel supplement)	Databases (chapter 7)
3/28-  3/30	Access (Access supplement)	Computer Security and Ethics (chapter 10, appendix)
4/4-  4/6			Access assignments posted
4/11-  4/13		EXAM 2	Excel assignments due
4/18-  4/20	Excel Exam	Software Development (chapter 14)
4/25-  4/27	Introduction to Programming	Information Systems and Electronic Commerce (chapters 12 and 13)
5/2-  5/4			Access assignments due
5/9	FINAL EXAM (including Access exam) Tuesday 8:00 - 10:00