Last Updated March 27, 2003

COSC 1300 - COMPUTER LITERACY

PALO ALTO COLLEGE SYLLABUS

 
PART 1: COURSE GOALS AND METHODS

COURSE NUMBER: Computer Science 1300 (3 credit hours with an embedded 1 hour lab)

COURSE TITLE: Computer Literacy

PREREQUISITE/COREQUISITE: None

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
The student is introduced to the computer and its role in our society, with emphasis on conceptual understanding of the computer as well as operational proficiency. Emphasis also on related terminology. Attention on such topics as computer applications, programming concepts, hardware components, and data storage. Students operate software in computer lab. Provides essential acquaintance for those with no previous background, but not intended for computer science, data processing or mathematics majors.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The primary goal of this course is to develop in the student a general understanding of computers. The student should gain enough familiarity with terminology and concepts so that he/she can evaluate and select appropriate microcomputer systems for personal use with minimal assistance, and communicate effectively with software salespeople or business data processing personnel. The student should also become comfortable as a 'hands-on' operator of the microcomputer equipment in our lab, including some ability to respond to error messages or other unexpected situations. Finally, the student will maintain written communication skills through various writing assignments given.

In the process of achieving the primary goal the student will also acquire or practice certain fundamental skills generally needed for success in the workplace. The U. S. Government's SCANS Commission (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) has identified these and numbered them for reference (F1...F17 and C1...C20.) These codes are used below to show how the SCANS skills are incorporated into COSC 1300.

STUDENT COMPETENCIES:
As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, if an accommodation is needed, contact Palo Alto Disability Support Services at 486-3020.

As our grading scale indicates (see below), success in achieving the course goals can be a matter of degree. A student who completely achieves the course goals will be able to exhibit a working knowledge of all of the following "core" competencies:

(1) Understand the role of the computer in society (F1, F2, F5, F7, F12, F15, C5, C9, C14, C15)
a.  The people component of Information Systems
b.  The Internet
c.  The wireless revolution
d.  Security and privacy

(2) Understand basic hardware components of computer systems (F1, F2, F5, F7, F12, C15)
a. CPU and memory
b. Secondary storage
c. Input and output equipment

(3) Understand basic software components of computer systems (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F7, F9, F11, F12, C8, C15)
a. Applications software
b. Software tools, e.g. programming languages, "productivity" packages
c. Systems software
d. Program development

(4) Understand basic data components of computer systems (F1, F11, C6, C15)
a. Simple file (table) structure
b. Databases

(5) Understand integration of above components into working systems (F1, F5, F7, F11, F12, C15)
a. Networks (to include Internet/ WWW)
b. Telecommunications
c. Business Systems
d. Systems Development

(6) Operating System and disk file management: (F1,F5,F9,F12,C6)
a. Open and close windows
b. Minimize without closing, and switch between active Icons
c. Use pull-down menus and resulting dialogue boxes
d. Control appearance of screen by sizing, dragging, rearranging windows etc.
e. Format diskettes
f. Set up and modify directories and subdirectories
g. Manage files within directories and subdirectories, to include copying, moving and deleting files

(7) Word processing: (F1,F2,F5,F9,F12,C6,C8)
a. Delete, move and copy blocks of text
b. Create emphasis by such means as boldface, italics and underlining
c. Set line spacing and typeface (font style and size) and vary for emphasis
d. Create tables and columns
e. Create headers and footnotes
f. Control format and appearance of document by means such as margins, indentation, justification, and page breaks
g. Insert graphics
h. Work with multiple documents, to include transferring text through a "clipboard".

(8) Spreadsheet operations: (F1,F2,F3,F4,F5,F9,F12,C6,C8)
a. Create a simple worksheet according to specifications, to include entries of labels, numeric constants, formulas, and common functions.
b. Use common editing features for creating/modifying worksheet structure, to include block copying with relative cell addressing.
c. Control format and appearance of worksheet by such means as adjusting size of rows and columns, font size and cell attributes.
d. Create graphs

(9) Database management: (F1,F5,F9,F12,C6,C8)
a. Create tables and enter data
b. Add, delete and modify data records
c. Modify the table structure
d. Create queries, to include compound conditions (AND/OR)

(10) Presentation graphics: (F1,F2,F5,F7,F9,F12,C6,C8)
a. Create slides to include clip art and tables
b. Modify the presentation by adding, removing and deleting individual slides

In addition to the "core" competencies listed above, the instructor is encouraged to explore other competencies within the overall scope of the course, as permitted by constraints of scheduling and lab facilities. In particular, exploration of network communications is encouraged.

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT:
For purposes of formally assessing and recording the student's level of success in the above competencies, examinations will be given and various assignments will be made. Other factors may also influence the course grade, as explained below. There will be unit exams at intervals through the semester (each covering some unit of the course material), as well as a final exam during finals week. The number of unit exams given, amount of material covered in each, type or types of questions employed on exams, number of assignments made, and type of assignments made, are at the individual instructor's discretion (some departmental restrictions may apply). Note: for this course, some use of hands-on testing is suggested. See Part II of this syllabus for details.

EVALUATION:
The evaluation of individual graded items is at the discretion of the instructor. (The only departmental requirement is that every grade the student receives must be based on the familiar scale of 0 to 100, unless the instructor explains some different system on part II of the syllabus.) The weighing of various graded items in the final course grade, however, is done according to a policy developed by the instructor within certain limits imposed by college and department regulations. The instructor must publish his/her policy on Part II of this syllabus so determination of a grade equivalent may be determined; please consult that section for details. Part II must also include the following: instructor's name, office hours, phone number, classroom number, class meeting time, course requirements, and textbook used. The following department and college regulations for COSC 1300 are published here for reference:

1. Category 1: Assignments (prepared out-of-class) 30-50%
Restriction: Not less than 30% hands-on computer assignments.

3. Category 3: Final examination (at least partially comprehensive with some hands-on component): 15-25%

Within this framework, the individual instructor will determine what weight each factor is to receive. Please notice that "assignment", as in Category I above, ordinarily means something prepared outside of class. If lab scheduling permits COSC 1300 to meet in the lab room, then a limited amount of class time may be used, at the instructor's discretion, to allow the student to work on assignments. However, the student should plan to do the assignments primarily on his/her own time.

GRADING SCALE:
The grading scale used to determine the course letter grade will be the traditional one. Thus:

90 - 100 A
80 - 89 B
70 - 79 C
60 - 69 D
0 - 59 F