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IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Instructor

Karen Boatman (Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

keboatman@actx.edu

Phone

<p>(806) 371-5930 (Leave a message)</p>

Office Location

R. E. Byrd Business Building 376

Office Hours

Hi everyone! I’m excited to work with you this summer and look forward to getting to know each of you throughout the course.

Although I do not hold regular office hours during the summer session, I am absolutely available to support you. If you have questions or would like help with course content, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact me by email or through Blackboard Messages at any time.

We can find a meeting time that works best with your schedule—whether that is in person, through Google Meet, or via Microsoft Teams. I’m happy to be flexible and help in whatever way works best for you.

A few things to remember as we begin the term:

  • I’m here to support your success, whether you need a quick question answered or more in-depth assistance.
  • Staying on track with weekly assignments is one of the biggest keys to success in an online course.
  • Be sure to engage with the course material consistently and ask for help early if you need it—you’ve got this!

Let’s make it a great summer term together!

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

CPMT-1351-003 IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software

Prerequisites

Course Description

An introduction to the computer hardware and software skills needed to help meet the growing demand for entry-level information and communication technology (ICT) professionals. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of PC technology, networking and security, and also provides an introduction to advanced concepts. Hands-on labs and Virtual Laptop and Virtual Desktop learning tools help students develop critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills. Cisco Packet Tracer simulation-based learning activities promote the exploration of network and networking security concepts and allow students to experiment with network behavior.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

TEXTBOOK(S) Required:

CompTIA A+ 220-801/220-802
ISBN 9780789749802
Authors:  Soper, Prowse, & Mueller
Pearson uCertify Course and Labs Textbook Bundle

Supplies

  • Access to PC  Computers are available in the CIS Department at Amarillo College.
  • Student Rights and Responsibilities

    Log in using the AC Connect Portal

    In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

    If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

    Expected Student Behavior

    1. Students are expected to maintain a high standard of individual honor in their scholastic work.  Students who are guilty of cheating, plagiarism, copying, or dishonesty may be excluded from class with a grade of F; or, in flagrant cases, may be suspended from the College.  The faculty of the CIS Department reserves the right to ask a student to verify any portion of a test by reproducing any specific section or all of the test in question.
    2. Any action that comprises the computer systems at Amarillo College, including but not limited to hacking or cracking, can result in a grade of “F” in this course and possible further disciplinary action.

    Grading Criteria

    Grading Criteria/Grading Scale:  
    Criteria Grade
    >89.5% A
    >79.5% B
    >69.5% C
    >59.5% D
    <59.5% F
     

    The following criteria will be used to determine your grade:

    REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS:

    Activity Learning Environment Percentage Weight Additional Information
     uCertify Exercises uCertify  20%  Drop Lowest Grade
     uCertify Quizzes uCertify 15%  Drop Lowest Grade
     uCertify Labs uCertify 20%  Drop Lowest Grade
    Attendance Class 10% You must attend 4 on-campus meetings.
    Vocabulary Quiz Blackboard 15% 4 questions with 5 parts each question; 30 minutes; drop the lowest grade.
    Final Exam uCertify 20% 1 Attempt; Comprehensive
    A+ Practice Exams uCertify 5 pt bonus each test

    A+ Practice Test 1 and 2; 1 attempt each test; 90 minutes;

    Bonus of 5 pts added to final average for each passing score of 70%

     Assignment, homework, quiz, and test dates are provided for each student at the beginning of the semester.  It will be your responsibility to complete each assignment, all homework, and take exams on the scheduled dates.

    ** This is an accelerated 8 week course and requires substantial work outside of class.

    Attendance

     
    • Check your email daily.  The email address used by your instructor to contact you is the @amarillocollege.com email issued to each AC student.
    • Complete assignments by the scheduled date/time.  There is a "no late work" policy, except in extreme circumstances.
    • Attendance will be determined from online class participation through homework assignments and quizzes in Blackboard and uCertify.
    • Students should plan on spending a minimum of 10-12 hours per week on this course. Actual amounts will vary depending on weekly assignments and topic complexity. Please schedule your time, so that you are able to devote the appropriate time to achieve success in this course.

    Class Meetings will be on the following dates and times:

     

                      

     March 23rd (Wednesday) 12:30 – 2:30 pm Room TBA   Mandatory meeting
    March 30th (Wednesday) 5:30 – 7:30 pm Room 217 Build Computer
     April 6th (Wednesday) 5:30 – 7:30 pm Room 217 BIOS
    April 13th (Wednesday) 5:30 – 7:30 pm Room 217 Laptops and Mobile Devices
    April 20th (Wednesday) 5:30 – 7:30 pm Room 217 Install Windows with VM Ware
     April 27th (Wednesday) 5:30 – 7:30 pm Room 217 Networking
    May 4th (Wednesday) 5:30 – 7:30 pm Room 217 Troubleshooting

    The above schedule is subject to change based on student needs. You are required to come to 4 on campus meetings.


     

     

     

    Calendar

    The calendar below represents a planned outline for the course. Actual dates are subject to change. Please check your email daily for course updates from your instructor. 

    Date

    Topics Covered

    Assignments/Exams/Discussions

    Week 1 (March 21 –
    March 27)

    Introductions
    Syllabus Review
    Course Policies Review

    Lesson 1: Technician Essentials and PC Anatomy 101

    Chapter 1

    1. Email Instructor (Blackboard)
    2. Syllabus Exam (Blackboard)
    3. Account Set-Up/Activation (uCertify)
    4. Pre-Assessment (uCertify)
    5. Read Chapter 1
    6. Study the Flashcards
    7. Take Chapter 1 quiz
    8. Complete Chapter 1 exercises
    9. Complete Chapter 1 Hands-On Labs

    Chapter 2

    1. Read Chapter 2
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 2 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 2 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 2 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 2 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 3

    1. Read Chapter 3
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 3 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 3 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 3 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 3 Hands-On labs

    Vocabulary Quiz 1 - Chapters 1-3; 30 minutes; one attempt

    ALL WORK DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 03/27 @ 11:00 pm

    Week 2 (March 28 –
       April 3)

    Chapter 2: Motherboards and Processors

    Chapter 3: BIOS

    Chapter 4

    1. Read Chapter 4
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 4 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 4 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 4 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 4 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 5

    1. Read Chapter 5
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 5 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 5 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 5 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 5 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 6

    1. Read Chapter 6
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 6 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 6 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 6 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 6 Hands-On labs

    Vocabulary Quiz 2 - Chapters 4-5; 30 minutes; one attempt

    ALL WORK DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 04/03 @ 11:00 pm

    Week 3 (April 4 –                  April 10)

    Chapter 4: Power Supplies and System Cooling

    Chapter 5: RAM

    Chapter 6: I/O and Input Ports and Devices

    Chapter 7

    1. Read Chapter 7
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 7 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 7 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 7 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 7 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 8

    1. Read Chapter 8
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 8 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 8 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 8 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 8 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 9

    1. Read Chapter 9
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 9 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 9 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 9 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 9 Hands-On labs

    Vocabulary Quiz 3 - Chapters 6-8; 30 minutes; one attempt

    Take Course Survey

    ALL WORK DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 04/10 @ 11:00 pm

    Week 4 (April11–      April 17)

    Chapter 7: Video Displays and Video Cards

    Chapter 8: Customized PCs and Multimedia Devices

    Chapter 9: Laptop and Notebook Computers

    Chapter 10

    1. Read Chapter 10
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 10 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 10 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 10 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 10 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 11

    1. Read Chapter 11
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 11 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 11 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 11 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 11 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 12

    1. Read Chapter 12
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 12 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 12 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 12 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 12 Hands-On labs

    Vocabulary Quiz 4 - Chapters 9-11; 30 minutes; one attempt

    ALL WORK DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 04/17 @ 11:00 pm

    Week 5 (April 18 –   April 24)

    Chapter 10: Mobile Devices

    Chapter 11: Printers

    Chapter 12: Storage Devices

    Chapter 13

    1. Read Chapter 13
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 13 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 13 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 13 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 13 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 14

    1. Read Chapter 14
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 14 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 14 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 14 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 14 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 15

    1. Read Chapter 15
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 15 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 15 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 15 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 15 Hands-On labs

    Vocabulary Quiz 5 - Chapters 12-13; 30 minutes; one attempt

    ALL WORK DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 04/24 @ 11:00 pm

    Week 6 (April 25 –   May 1)

    Chapter 13: Installing and Upgrading Windows

    Chapter 14: Using and Managing Windows

    Chapter 15: Troubleshooting and Maintaining Windows

    Chapter 16

    1. Read Chapter 16
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 16 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 16 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 16 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 16 Hands-On labs

    Chapter 17

    1. Read Chapter 17
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 17 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 17 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 17 exercises

    Vocabulary Quiz 6 - Chapters 14-15; 30 minutes; one attempt

    ALL WORK DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 05/01 @ 11:00 pm

    Week 7 (May 2 –
    May 8)

    Chapter 16: Networking

    Chapter 17: Security

    Chapter 18

    1. Read Chapter 18
    2. Study the flashcards
    3. Review the Chapter 18 PowerPoint
    4. Take the Chapter 18 quiz
    5. Complete Chapter 18 exercises
    6. Complete Chapter 18 Hands-On labs

    Vocabulary Quiz 7 - Chapters 16-18; 30 minutes; one attempt

    ALL WORK DUE BY
    Sunday, 05/08 @ 11:00 pm

    Week 8 (May 9 –    
    May 12)

    Chapter 18: Operational Procedures and Communications Methods

    Final Exam

    Final Exam: Comprehensive

    ALL WORK DUE BY
    THURSDAY, 05/12 @ 10:00 pm

     

    Additional Information

    DATES TO REMEMBER:

    IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

    March 21

    		 Spring 2 Semester Begins

    March 25 – March 27

    		 Easter Holiday – AC Closed
    March 29 Census Day
    April 11 Summer/Fall Registration Begins
    May 3 Last Day to Withdraw – 8 week courses

    May 9 – May 12

    		 Finals Week
    May 13 @ 7pm Commencement

    Additional Information:

    New Social Services Office at Amarillo College

    Resources for social services or emergency services for students are available at - http://www.actx.edu/resources/.  So please let me know if there is some situation that you have that is interfering with your performance in the class, and be sure to take advantage of the resources available through the Social Services Office.

    CIS Labs
    2nd floor Byrd Building.  Labs open 7 days a week.  Students can get help with this course as well as other technical help.

    Helpful Links:

    CIS Web Site: http://cis.actx.edu

    Direct link to AC Connect portal and courses as well as your AC Connect email- https://acconnect.actx.edu/. You will log in with the same ID and password you use for WebAdvisor.  Contact AskAC (806-371-5000) for help if you have trouble with your log in.

    AskAC -  http://www.actx.edu/contact/-   Please contact AskAC for technical help. Contact your instructor for help with this class. 

    Student Help Center -  http://www.actx.edu/ctl/index.php?module=article&id=178-   Offers technical help to AC students 

     

    Writers' Corner

    If you feel you need help organizing and writing course work, check this out:
    Writers’ Corner: Tutoring with Pizzazz - http://www.actx.edu/english/index.php?module=article&id=36. Writers' Corner is a great resource for help with writing papers and assignments. They can't help you with the content of your work, but they can help you write your work in the proper format.

    AC Distance Education Home Page -  http://www.actx.edu/de/-   Information on requirements and taking an online course. 

    Learn about using AC Connect (Blackboard) and using features of our course by reviewing the following tutorials:

    Blackboard On Demand Learning Center for Students– http://ondemand.blackboard.com/students.htm

    AC Connect Student Resources- http://www.actx.edu/ctl/index.php?module=article&id=222

    Syllabus Created on:

    11/30/-1 12:00 AM

    Last Edited on:

    11/30/-1 12:00 AM