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Business Computer Applications Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Instructor

Lynne Kenney (Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

lkenney@actx.edu

Phone

<p>Cell Phone: 806.680.4348</p>

Office Location

Byrd Business Building 358

Office Hours

Hi! I am looking forward to working with you this semester.

Please contact me by email (lkenney@actx.edu), through Messages in Blackboard, or via text (806.680.4348) if you would like to schedule a day and time to meet in person or Zoom online to get your questions answered or to receive additional guidance on course concepts. Flexibility in scheduling is available, so do not hesitate to ask for what works for you.

Know two things:

  1. I am here and ready to assist you and guide you at whatever level works for you. If you are at a level that permits you to work this course mostly independently, go for it. If you need assistance, a lot or a little, please communicate that. Many times what feels like a big thing holding you back is a small obstacle we can work on together to get past in a short period of time.
  2. There are many tasks to complete in the course. Every week, multiple tasks, for the entire 8 weeks. Block off time to get these assignments complete. This is how you will learn and how you will demonstrate competency with this material.

Good luck this semester!!

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

BCIS-1305-016 Business Computer Applications

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RDNG 0321-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating readiness for RDNG 0331

Course Description

Students will study computer terminology, hardware and software related to the business environment. The focus of this course is on business productivity software applications and professional behavior in computing, including word processing (as needed), spreadsheets, databases, presentation graphics and business-oriented utilization of the Internet.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Two options are available for course materials:

(1) Purchase an access code to MyITLab and accompanying electronic text (e-text)

[Myitlab W/Etext Access Card For Exploring Office 2013; Poatsy; ISBN 0133775070; $121.25 @ the AC Bookstore]

(2) Purchase a physical textbook, access code to MyITLab, and accompanying electronic text (e-text)

[Bundle Exploring Ms Office 2013 Vol I W/Myitlab Access Card; Poatsy; ISBN 0133584275; $144.00 @ at the AC Bookstore]

The physical textbook is not required, but is available if you learn more effectively utilizing printed text. Either option can be purchased at the AC Bookstore.  Should you choose the first option and later decide you also want the printed text, the text can be purchased directly from the publisher for an additional fee (roughly $35).

Supplies

  • Access to a PC (personal computer) running Windows 7 operating system.  Computers are available in the Computer Lab in the CIS Department on the Washington Street campus of Amarillo College.
  • Office 2013 (Word, Excel and PowerPoint

    Student Performance

    Students will apply word processing, presentation software, spreadsheet software, and Internet research to prepare documents or presentations on the impact of computer use on society and culture. At completion of course student will be able to:

    • Explore the impact of computer technology on society and how computer technology has changed how we think, live, work, play, communicate, and our values and beliefs.
    • Determine the computer application skills one should acquire to be successful in the job market, in college courses, and in everyday life.
    • Recognize the ethical and societal effects and responsibilities of computer use.
    • Discuss how activities such as plagiarism, theft of services or licensing, or the spread of viruses impacts the individual, society, and culture and what one can do to protect oneself and one's data. Discuss how digital actions can cause accidental or intentional harm to others and methods of preventing those actions.
    • Recognize quality Web sites, practice online etiquette and safe surfing.
    • Categorize computers based on size, application, and cost.
    • Recognize the components, types, importance, advantages and disadvantages of networking computers.
    • Evaluate the possibilities of e-commerce and cloud computing.
    • Recognize and describe the features of computer operating systems and system utilities.
    • Use PowerPoint to create presentations addressing the above issues.
    • Use Word to create documents, mail merge, fliers, resumes and research papers.
    • Use Excel to create personal budgets, grade books, manage business data, and analyze empirical data from various sources.
    • Use Excel to prepare visual representation of data through charts and graphs.
    • Combine the use of PowerPoint, Excel, and Word to create effective course presentations on given topics
    • Identify current and future computer trends.

    Students Rights and Responsibilities

    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

    Students are expected to maintain a high standard of individual honor in their scholastic work. Students who are guilty of cheating, plagiarism, copying, dishonesty, or an integrity violation in MyITLab may receive a 0 on an assignment, 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 reserve the right to ask a student to verify any portion of a test or project by reproducing any specific section or the entire test in question. Any action that compromises 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.

    Integrity violations in MyITLab will result in both parties receiving a grade of 0 for the assignment and there will be no makeup for that assignment.

     

     

    Grading Criteria

    Grading Criteria:

    A course grade will be assigned based upon the following criteria:

    Criteria Grade
    >89.5% A
    >79.5% B
    >69.5% C
    >59.5% D
    <59.5% F

     

      

     

     

     

     

    Student evaluation will be based upon the following:

    ACTIVITY

    LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

    PERCENTAGE WEIGHT

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
    Attendance Show up in class! 5% ----------

    Concepts Quizzes (6), Syllabus Quiz (1), and Drop Box Assignments (4)

    MyITLab / Blackboard

     

    15%

    1 attempt per quiz/assignment;
    drop lowest
    quiz/assignment grade

    Chapter Projects (11)

    MyITLab

    25%

    2 attempts per project;
    drop lowest project grade
    Course Project (2 parts) and DropBox Assignments (4)  MyITLab / Blackboard 15%

    Part 1 is an Excel Project completed in MyITLab.

    Part 2 is a PowerPoint Presentation uploaded to a dropbox in Blackboard

    DropBox Assignments are research elements to include in the project (4)

    Capstone Projects (3)

    MyITLab

    25%

    1 attempt per capstone project

    Final Exam (Part 1/Part 2)

    MyITLab

    		 15% 1 attempt per exam

    MOS Certification Eam (optional)

    		 CIS Computer Lab 10 point bonus Bonus of 10 points added to
    final course average for each passing score
    (Word and/or Excel exam)
     

    All work (except for the Final Exam) is provided for each student at the beginning of the semester. It is your responsibility to ensure all work is completed by the scheduled dates.

     

    Attendance

    • Check your email daily.  The email address used by your instructor 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 for seated classes will be taken during each class period. Attendance for online classes will be assessed by completion of training simulations in MyITLab.  Excessive absence and lack of participation may result in failure of the course.
    • 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 energy and effort to achieve success in this course.
    • Your instructor, Lynne Seal, may be contacted by email through the course in Blackboard. If Blackboard is not available, please email lseal@actx.edu.  In-person meetings or additional help are available if needed or desired. Please contact by email to set up a convenient day/time.

    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.

    WEEK

    DATE

    TOPICS COVERED IN COURSE

    		 ASSIGNMENTS

    1

    July 5 –                 July 10

    Census Day (Thursday, 7/8) – Last Day to Drop Course with Full Refund

    Introductions
    Syllabus Review
    Course Policies Review
    CIS Computer Lab Policies Review
    MOS Certification Exam Information
    MyITLab Login Instructions
    Completing a Training Simulation in MyITLab
    Computer Hardware & Software
    Plagiarism
    Windows 7 & File Management Completing a Graded Project in MyITLab
    PowerPoint – Chapter 1 (Introduction to PowerPoint)
    Review Course Project Instructions and Begin Research
    Videos – Current Topics in CIS

    1. Email Instructor (Blackboard)

    2. Course Syllabus Quiz (Blackboard)

    3. Computer Hardware & Software Quiz (Blackboard)

    4. Plagiarism DropBox Assignment (Blackboard)

    5. File Management DropBox Assignment (Blackboard)

    6. Activate MyITLab account (MyITLab)

    7. DropBox 1 – Course Project (Blackboard)

    8. Review PowerPoint Chapter 1 materials (MyITLab)

    9. PowerPoint – CH01: Project

    ASSIGNMENTS DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 7/10 @ 10:00 pm

    2

    July 11 –                 July 17

    PowerPoint – Chapter 2 (Presentation Development)
    PowerPoint Chapter 3 (Presentation Design)
    PowerPoint Chapter 4 (PowerPoint Rich Media Tools)
    PowerPoint Capstone Project
    Hour of Code – Introduction to Computer Programming
    Benefits & Threats Posed by the Use of Computer Technology
    Utility Programs
    Course Project Research
    Videos – Current Topics in CIS

    1. Review PowerPoint Chapter 2 materials (MyITLab)

    2. PowerPoint – CH02: Project (MyITLab)

    3. Review PowerPoint Chapter 3 materials (MyITLab)

    4. Review PowerPoint Chapter 4 materials (MyITLab)

    5. PowerPoint – CH03: Project (MyITLab)

    6. PowerPoint Capstone Project (MyITLab)

    7. Technology DropBox Assignment (Blackboard)

    8. Hour of Code DropBox Assignment (Blackboard)

    9. Utility Programs Quiz (Blackboard)

    10. DropBox 2 – Course Project (Blackboard)

    ASSIGNMENTS DUE BY
    SUNDAY,     7/17 @ 10:00 pm

    3

    July 18 –                July 24


    Excel – Chapter 1 (Introduction to Excel)
    Excel Chapter 2 (Formulas and Functions)
    Excel Chapter 3 (Charts)
    Network Fundamentals/IOT
    Course Project Research
    Videos – Current Topics in CIS
    1. Review Excel Chapter 1 materials (MyITLab)
    2. Excel – CH01: Project (MyITLab)
    3. Review Excel Chapter 2 materials (MyITLab)
    4. Excel – CH02: Project (MyITLab)
    5. Review Excel Chapter 3 materials (MyITLab)
    6. Excel – CH03: Project (MyITLab)
    7. Network Fundamentals/IOT Quiz (Blackboard)

    ASSIGNMENTS DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 7/24 @ 10:00 pm

    4

    July 25 –              July 31

    Excel Chapter 4 (Datasets and Tables)
    Excel Capstone Project
    Word – Chapter 1 (Introduction to Word) The Internet & Evaluating Its Resources
    Course Project Research and Part 1: Excel
    Videos – Current Topics in CIS
    1. Review Excel Chapter 4 materials (MyITLab)
    2. Excel – CH04: Project (MyITLab)
    3. Excel Capstone Project (MyITLab)
    4. Review Word Chapter 1 materials (MyITLab)
    5. Word – CH01: Project (MyITLab)
    6. The Internet & Evaluating Its Resources Quiz (Blackboard)
    7. DropBox 4 – Course Project
    8. Course Project – Part 1: Excel (MyITLab)

    ASSIGNMENTS DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 7/31 @ 10:00 pm

    5

    August 1 –          August 7

    Word – Chapter 2 (Document Presentation)
    Word Chapter 3 (Document Productivity)
    Word – Chapter 4 (Collaboration and Research)
    Security Breaches & Hacking
    Course Project – Part 2: PowerPoint
    Scheduling a MOS Exam
    Videos – Current Topics in CIS
    1. Review Word Chapter 2 materials (MyITLab)
    2. Word – CH02: Project (MyITLab)
    3. Review Word Chapter 3 materials (MyITLab)
    4. Word – CH03: Project (MyITLab)
    5. Review Word Chapter 4 materials (MyITLab)
    6. Word – CH04: Project (MyITLab)
    7. Security Breaches & Hacking Quiz (Blackboard)
    8. Course Project – PowerPoint: Part 2 (MyITLab)
    9. Schedule a MOS Exam (optional)

    ASSIGNMENTS DUE BY
    SUNDAY, 8/7 @ 10:00 pm

    6

    August 8 –           August 11

    Word Capstone Project
    Ethics & Technology
    Videos – Current Topics in CIS
    Final Exam Review
    1. Word Capstone Project (MyITLab)
    2. Ethics & Technology Quiz (Blackboard)
    3. Final Exam – Part 1 (MyITLab)
    4. Final Exam – Part 2 (MyITLab)
    5. Schedule a MOS Exam (optional)
       

    Final Exam is given in-class, during the last two days of the course.

    ALL WORK MUST BE COMPLETED BY THURSDAY, 8/11 @ 5 PM

    Additional Information

     

    Important Dates to Remember
    July 5 (Tuesday) Summer 2 Semester Begins
    July 8 (Friday) Census Day – Last Day to Drop Course
    August 4 (Thursday) Last Day to Withdraw from Course
    August 11 (Thursday) Last Day of Course

     

    Social Services Office at Amarillo College
    Resources for social services or emergency services for students are available at - http://www.actx.edu/resources/.  If a situation arises that interferes with your performance in the class, please notify your instructor and be sure to take advantage of the many resources available through the Social Services Office.

    Open Computer Labs
    The Business Systems and Emerging Technology Department hosts an open computer lab on the 2nd Floor of the Byrd Business Building. Labs are open 7 days a week.  Assistance with this course and/or technical assistance are available in the computer labs.

    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