Kingwood College

ITSW 1404 – INTRO. TO SPREADSHEETS

COURSE SYLLABUS  Fall 2007


I.


Prerequisite:


ITSC 1401 -- Introduction to Computers or
COSC 1401 – Microcomputer Applications

II.

Instructor:

 

Margaretha L. Johnson, Professor

Chair, Computer Information Technology Dept.

 

III.

Phone/ Voice Mail/Email

(281) 312-1603   m.johnson@nhmccd.edu

Toll-free Number:

1(800) 883-7939

Contacts:

(281) 312-1665- Tanisha Latino, Faculty Assistant

Elizabeth Chapman, Dean,     echapman@nhmccd.edu

eCampus Helpdesk 832-813-6700 or 281-765-7765

 

Internet Address:

m.johnson@nhmccd.edu
Use your eClassroom email icon to send email regarding this class.   I will try to reply within 48 hours during weekdays. The above email address is only to be used if WebCT is down.

IV.

Credit:

Four (4) semester hours

V.

Required Materials:

Standard or Distance Education Course

1.      Textbook: Microsoft Office Excel 2007: New Perspectives Series, Introductory, Parsons, Oja, Ageloff, and Carey, Course Technology. 

ISBN # 10-1-4239-0584-9

(Our comprehensive textbook will not be ready by 8/26, so we are using the Introductory version. My book rep will mail each of you the additional 3 chapters we need to cover in September to your home addressJ)

2.      Excel 2007 (or Office 2007 suite) you can order this  online from the NHMCCD bookstore at sharply lower, educational prices!

You can go to the college bookstore, or order books online by going to <http://www.efollett.com>, select Texas, then click the Distance Learning option under North Harris Montgomery Community College District campuses and choices.  Books may be shipped to your home or to the NHMCCD bookstore of your choice for pickup. 

 

VI.

 Course Description:

Instruction in the concepts, procedures, and importance of electronic spreadsheets

VI.

Competencies (Learning Objectives):
  1. Create spreadsheets for practical business projects.
  2. Create, assign, and execute macros.
  3. Use complex functions and formulas, including multi-worksheet references.
  4. Create complex worksheets using various formats.
  5. Demonstrate use of data base functions.
  6. Use a template.
  7. Use spread sheet analysis utilities for forecasting scenarios.
  8. Create data tables.
  9. Integrate spreadsheets with other software applications.

VII.

Administrative

For on-campus classes, attendance in regularly scheduled classes is expected. After four (4) class absences, your instructor reserves the right to drop you from the course for excessive absences. Please discuss any special problems or circumstances regarding attendance with your instructor.

For internet classes, regular (weekly) participation and on-time homework submission is expected. If you consistently submit homework assignments late or do not reply to instructor or other students’ bulletin board postings and emails at least once or twice a week, your instructor reserves the right to drop you from the course for lack of participation. Please discuss any special problems or circumstances with your instructor.

Should you decide to drop this course, it is your responsibility as the student to officially withdraw from the course. You do need to contact your instructor before dropping the course.  If the student does not officially withdraw before the deadline, the grade of "F"" will be assigned.

Internet students must complete at least 50% of the coursework before the Official Withdrawal Date. If not, the instructor may withdraw the students on the Official Withdrawal Date.

Please see the semester's schedule for the drop with "W" deadline. You need to get your instructor’s signature in order to drop a course!

"I" (Incomplete) grades are extremely rare and in most cases will not be granted.  A grade of “I” will only be considered under the following circumstances and must be completed by your instructor:

  1. The student must have experienced an extenuating circumstance late in the semester, provide documentation of such and
  2. Have completed at least 75% of course work and exams. 

Work left for the course must be completed as soon as possible within the next regular semester. Failure to complete the work within the agreed contract time will result in an "F."

VIII.

Exams:

Exams are a large part of your grade. It is very important that you take the exams on the date specified by your instructor. Make up exams are only granted under extenuating circumstances such as documented illness or accident etc. Make-up exams are designed to be more difficult. See final exam schedule for day and time of your final exam. Since the final is not comprehensive, students cannot be exempted from taking the final exam.

Internet students will take exams online during the days it is available. Those dates are posted on your syllabus. The time period these tests are available is normally about a seven-day period. Failure to take the exam during those dates results in an automatic zero unless there is a documented emergency that prevented you from taking the test. No exceptions are granted.  

IX.

Evaluation:

Grades will be determined according to the Course Timetable and the Course Grade Sheet. (Posted on Your eClassroom Homepage)

Percentage Grading Scale:

A = 100 – 90%, B= 89 – 80%, C = 70 – 79%, D = 60 – 69%, and F below 60%.

All students are expected to keyboard their own assignments. No credit will be awarded for assignments that are not personally keyed by the student. Please read the section on academic integrity.

X.

Instructional Support Services

Computer labs are available in the following locations (hours will be posted at the beginning of each semester at those locations).

  • Academic Support Center (ASC) in SFA 200-205 – (281) 312-1439
  • ADM Building – 2nd floor (281) 312-1665

Note: If you are registered for a course where additional computer lab hours are required, you should use one of the above locations to satisfy that requirement.

XI.

Computer Virus

The college will not be held liable for any corruption of data caused by virus contamination. The college computers are regularly screened and are protected against computer viruses to the best of our ability. HOWEVER, there is no guarantee that viruses will not ever exist on our systems. Procedures are in place in all labs for you to scan your storage media. It is YOUR responsibility to protect your data from corruption due to virus—whether from one of our machines or from any other location. BE SURE TO MAKE BACKUP COPIES OF YOUR FILES.

XII.

Software Piracy

Students are strictly prohibited by law from any unauthorized copying of software, which has been purchased by the College for use in the laboratories. The CIT Department is responsible for abiding by the copyright laws, and the Administration of Kingwood College will take appropriate disciplinary action against students violating these laws.

XIII.

SCANS

The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) has researched and listed the skills and competencies that employees will need for workplace success. The SCANS skills that are found in the course learning outcomes are:

1.    Resource Allocation
Students who commit themselves to take this course display a level of skill at allocating time and money in the pursuit of a goal. They learn to take advantage of available resources, human (instructor, librarians) as well as material (laboratory workstations, productivity applications, publications, Internet). This is further enhanced during the semester, as students must apply their knowledge to life-like laboratory experiments, study for tests, and prepare for comprehensive exams.

2.    Information Collection and Gathering
Class attendance whether in class or over the Internet, note taking and research develop the students' ability to collect data and extract information. The skill developed is necessary for understanding the course material and working on laboratory assignments.

3.    Interpersonal Communication
Students are routinely quizzed during the course to develop verbal and written communication skills, using the Internet and personal communication. They are also encouraged to work in groups, participate in class discussion, and share their experience in the technology.

4.    System Understanding
This course is highly technical and introduces students to the concepts of electronic spreadsheets.

5.    Technology Understanding
This course teaches students the technology, which encourages the comprehension of electronic spreadsheet usage and importance.

6.    Basic Skills
A course of this level requires listening and speaking, reading and writing skills, and comprehension, for traditional or Internet class attendance as well as for the research and conduct of laboratory assignments. A good background in mathematics gives the students the analytical and logical training required for creating and using spreadsheets effectively.

7.      Thinking Skills
Class discussions via e-mail, tests, and assignments are designed to enhance students' thinking skills rather than emphasize rote memorization.

8.      Personal Qualities
Responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity and honesty are emphasized and developed in the course of the semester as students learn to apply the skills they are practicing in the classroom, on the Web and in laboratory experiments.

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
(From the NHMCCD Catalog)

NHMCCD is committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic community. In becoming a part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and independent effort. Failure to uphold these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following: plagiarizing written work or projects, cheating on exams or assignments, collusion on an exam or project, and misrepresentation of credentials or prerequisites when registering for a course. Cheating includes looking at or copying from another student's exam, orally communicating or receiving answers during an exam, having another person take an exam or complete a project or assignment, using unauthorized notes, texts, or other materials for an exam, and obtaining or distributing an unauthorized copy of an exam or any part of an exam. Plagiarism means passing off as his/her own the ideas or writings of another (that is, without giving proper credit by documenting sources). Plagiarism includes submitting a paper, report or project that someone else has prepared, in whole or in part. Collusion is inappropriately collaborating on assignments designed to be completed independently. These definitions are not exhaustive.

When there is clear evidence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or misrepresentation, a faculty member will take disciplinary action including but not limited to: requiring the student to retake or resubmit an exam or assignment, assigning a grade of zero or "F" for an exam or assignment; or assigning a grade of "F" for the course. Additional sanctions including being withdrawn from the course, program or expelled from school may be imposed on a student who violates the standards of academic integrity.

 

“Education is the best provision for old age.”

--Aristotle

 

 

Equal Opportunity Statement:

 

“The North Harris Montgomery Community College District (NHMCCD) is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment.  NHMCCD does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age, veteran status, nationality or ethnicity in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, employment policies, scholarship or loan programs, and other District or College administered programs and activities.”

 

ADA Statement:

 

The NHMCCD colleges are dedicated to providing the least restrictive learning environment for all students.  The college district promotes equity in academic access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations as required by the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title V, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 {ADA} which will enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary educational activities.

 

The End