Faculty Contact Information:
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Name: John Smithwick
E-mail: smithwij@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
Office hours: one (1) hour before class
E-mail is normally checked daily, and responses will be made when the
e-mail is checked. Note: this may be no more than an acknowledgment of
receipt. Technical or personal difficulties may, on occasion, delay this.
Physical items (letters, disks) may also be left in my UMUC mailbox.
CAUTION: My e-mail addresses have been harvested by spam engines, so
you may receive e-mails claiming to originate from my address but which are
actually worms, trojans, or virii. If the subject line makes no sense, feel
free to delete it without reading. Also, if there is any attachment without
a very clear explanation of why it is present, check with me before opening
it
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Course Materials:
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IFSM201 Bundle:
Understanding Computers Today and Tomorrow, 2005 Ed. w/Microsoft
Office XP, Parker and Morley, Thomson Learning, 1-84480-358-9.
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Course Description:
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(Course activities
require access to a standard office productivity package, i.e., word
processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software.) An
overview of computer information systems in which hardware, software,
procedures, systems, and human resources are explored in relation to their
integration and application in business and other segments of society.
Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: BMGT
301, CAPP 101, CAPP 300, CMST 300, IFSM 201, or
TMGT 201.
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Course Goals/Objectives:
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After
completing this course, the student should be able to:
* Discuss the evolution of computers, including societal events leading to
increased demands and technological developments
* Create a
specification for purchasing a personal computer
* Identify the
basic parts and functions of computer systems
* Differentiate
between the roles and functions of application and systems software, both
nationally and internationally
* Make
effective use of the Internet
* Create simple
word processing documents, spreadsheets, databases, and Web pages
* Describe how
several basic national and international data communication systems
function
* Analyze
issues faced by information system professionals, including security,
ethical, and privacy problems
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Course Introduction:
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Introduction to
Computer-Based Systems is an introductory survey course aimed at presenting
state-of-the-art information on technology and technological issues.
The goal of
this course is for the student to feel computer literate when the course is
finished. Literacy means understanding the history of information
technology and basic computer terminology. A computer-literate person also
understands how computers are used and is able to converse about major
issues and trends in computing. Lastly, computer literacy also means having
a basic proficiency in an operating system and basic software applications
(e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, and databases).
Read this
entire syllabus, paying particular attention to the project descriptions
and required elements. Should you have any questions, please contact your
instructor.
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Grading Information and Criteria:
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Grades are
determined as follows:
Participation
80 points
Word assignment 30 points
Excel assignment 30 points
PowerPoint assignment 30 points
Access assignment 30 points
Midterm examination 100 points
Final examination 100 points
Total 400 points
Grading Scale:
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
360-400 points= A
320-359 points= B
280-319 points= C
240-279 points= D
0-239 points= F(a)
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Other Information:
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Do not expect
an Incomplete in the course unless you have serious personal problems very
close to the end of the term or have official TDY orders or other
documentation of official duties. The University of Maryland University
College regulations are strict about the assignment of an Incomplete.
Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog for further information on grading
policies.
Late Policy: The
assignments, participation (discussion topics and Web activities), and
exams should be submitted on time. Students have a long lead-time in which
to prepare, ask questions, and seek help. Therefore, unless a major
accident, illness, or work assignment (with supporting documentation)
prevents a student from submitting work on time, three points will be
docked from each late assignment's grade for each day late.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit is not normally given.
Attendance:
Although attendance is not counted in the grade, participation is. Come to
class prepared to discuss the material.
Writing and
Research: Effective writing is critical to the intellectual life of
university students and graduates within the workplace. Effective managers
are usually effective communicators. Your work in this course must
demonstrate your ability to master and effectively communicate course
content. Effective writing
* Meets the needs of the reader
* Adequately covers the subject
* Uses expected conventions of format and organizations
* Demonstrates use of credible reasoning and evidence
* Satisfies standards of style and grammatical correctness
* Requires 100% compliance with UMUC's zero-tolerance policy regarding
plagiarism.
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Academic Policies:
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Cases of plagiarism
are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies
at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/
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Faculty Bio:
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