CIS 132 Syllabus

Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Niagara University
CIS 132 - Introduction to Business Computing Applications

Syllabus prepared by Dr. Laurence Boxer, Jan. '05

Index

Catalog Statement

This course is intended for beginners; students are not expected to have any previous computer experience Students who intend to pursue a CIS major or minor should take CIS 232 rather than CIS 132. This course emphasizes the use of micro-computer (PC) software for the business user. Students learn to solve problems using a variety of software tools, including word processing, spreadsheets, business graphics, databases, and the Internet. (This course does not satisfy the CIS major.)

One course unit - three semester hours

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Instructor

Dr. Laurence Boxer
Office: House 2
OFFICE HOURS
Phone: (716) 286-8447
E-mail: boxer@niagara.edu
WWW: http://faculty.niagara.edu/boxer

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Course Objectives

Students completing this course should be able to use their computer as a tool in the major curriculum courses. Students will become proficient in the use of the Microsoft Office XP suite of applications software.

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Method of Teaching

Teaching techniques will include lectures, discussions, demonstrations and extensive use of computer outside of lecture periods.

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Course Outline

(NOTE: Topics may be taught in various orders)
  1. Word processing (MS Word)
  2. Spreadsheet Software (MS Excel)
  3. Other Business Software
  4. Internet Tools - Topics will be selected from such areas as

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Textbook

S. Gaskin et al., Go! with Microsoft Office 2003 Brief, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003

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Evaluation of Grades

Weights of components of grade

Class Participation 10%
Interim Exams 30%
Final Exam 20%
Projects and Assignments 40%
Approximate grading standards
88% - 100%:B+ to A
The instructor reserves the right to adjust these
as required by the interests of justice.
72% - 88%:C+ to B+
55% - 72%:D+ to C+
45% - 55%:D
0% - 45%:F

How Your Grade is Computed

Your percentage of possible points in each of the 4 components mentioned above is multiplied by its weight. The sum of these products is your weighted average, which is the basis for your grade. Note below that the computation of points for attendance and participation is not the usual method.

Attendance and participation will be graded with a more complex formula that will more closely resemble the way the professional world values attendance than a simple percentage of classes attended. This is because for many students, an 80% rating (for example) would help your average; but 80% attendance might well get you fired from a job. Instead, you'll earn 1 point for the first class you attend, 2 for the 2nd, and so on (k points for the kth class attended). Your evaluation in this component of the grade will be your percentage of the possible points among those classes for which you are not excused. For example, if there are 32 classes, of which you have 2 excused absences, then your grade will be based on a possible 32 - 2 = 30 classes attended. The number of possible points would then be

1 + 2 + 3 + ... + 29 + 30 = 30 * (30 + 1) / 2 = 465. If you have attended 25 of these classes, then your point total is 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + 25 = 25 * (25 + 1) / 2 = 325, and your percentage in this component of the grade is 325 / 465, which is about 70%.

Sometimes I offer extra-credit opportunities that are combined into the Attendance-and-Participation component of the grade.  If, for example, you have garnered 10 extra credit points and have attendance as discussed above, then your percentage in this component of the grade is

(325 + 10) / 465, which is about 72%.

Suppose, for example, the following grades:
Your total Possible Weight in Grade
Class Participation: 25 classes
and 10 extra credit		 30
unexcused classes		 10%
Interim Exams: 100 150 30%
Final Exam: 75 100 20%
Projects & assignments: 160 225 40%

Then your weighted average would be

(325 + 10) / 465 (as explained above for attendance and participation) * 10% + 100 / 150 * 30% + 75 / 100 * 20% + 160 / 225 * 40%,
which is about 71%.

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Attendance Policy

See http://www.niagara.edu/cis/announcement/policy.htm#att
Since we continually build on previously studied material, the wise student attempts to maintain perfect attendance.

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Grading Policies

  1. All projects will be due at the start of class on the assigned deadline date - at the start, not at the end, so you're not tempted to skip class in order to get the assignment done by the end of the class.
  2. Bonus: 10% extra for a project turned in one class early (before the start of class).
  3. 50% will be deducted from a project turned in after deadline and up to and including the start of one class after the deadline.
  4. No credit for a project turned in after time specified in #3 above.
  5. Deadlines should be regarded as business appointments. If you have a valid excuse for missing a deadline, let the professor know beforehand. Use the phone or e-mail if you don't communicate face-to-face.
  6. Excuse Policy
  7. Academic Dishonesty Policy

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Homework Assignments

This course will feature a large number of small homework assignments concerned with preparing documents using the various components of Microsoft Office.  Students will generally have one to two weeks per assignment (this may change due to unusual circumstances, including but not limited to cancellations of classes for instructor illness, natural or artificial disasters, etc).  The details of assignment specifications and deadlines will be posted in Blackboard, the Niagara University electronic bulletin board.  Anticipate the following assignments:

  1. Word processing 1 - a "getting started" assignment.  For the many students already experienced in word processing, this will likely be "old hat."
  2. Word processing 2 - an assignment featuring some more advanced features of word processing (that may still be familiar to experienced students) including changes of font, spelling/grammar checking, find-and-replace, cut-and-paste.
  3. The World Wide Web:  Use the Web as a research tool and your word processor to demonstrate the fruits of your research.  In so doing, you will use more advanced word processor features such as footnotes or endnotes, changes of margin, changes of interline spacing.
  4. Spreadsheets 1 - getting started with simple spreadsheets.
  5. Spreadsheets 2. Use both relative and fixed references.
  6. Spreadsheets 3. Use charts; integrate spreadsheet and word processing data into a single document.
  7. Databases 1 - getting started with a simple table*
  8. Databases 2 - using forms, queries, reports*
  9. Databases 3 - integration of database and word processing data into a single document via exported reports or mailmerge*
  10. Presentation graphics - creation and giving of a PowerPoint presentation

* - depending on time constraints, the database assignments may be combined into two assignments, or one or two replaced by a take-home quiz

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Students with Learning Disabilities

The university will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.  Students should notify the Coordinator of Specialized Support Services (located in Seton Hall) and their instructors of any special needs.  Instructors should be notified within the first two weeks of classes.

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Counseling Services

Students having trouble coping with the stresses of University life or related problems are encouraged to use the Niagara University Counseling Services.

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Bibliography

HF5548.4.M525 B76 2001 C. Brown, Microsoft XP Plain and Simple, Microsoft Press, Redmond, WA, 2001
HF5548.4.M525 .M537 2002 R. Jost, Microsoft Office XP Complete, Sybex, San Francisco, 2002
HF5548.32 .T36 2000 D. Tapscott, D. Ticoll, and A. Lowy, Digital Capital : Harnessing the Power of Business Webs, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, 2000
LC 149.5 .L575 C. Selfe and S. Hillegas, Literacy and Computers, Modern Language Association of America, New York, 1994
QA 76.F36X I.E. Fang, Ph.D., Tools of Communication: The Computer Story, Rada Press Inc., 1988
QA 76.17.A94 S. Augarten, Bit by Bit, an Illustrated History of Computers, Ticknor & Fields, 1984

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