• 4:15 to 6 PM  Monday, Wednesday,  1:30-3PM Wednesday,  5-6PMThursday, & by arrangement

Office Phone: (814) 732-2553
E-Mail Address: jonderko@edinboro.edu

Course Web Page:   http://users.edinboro.edu/jonderko
Note: Check the site frequently for up-to-date information.

II. Description of Course:
This course is a continuation of CSCI 104.  Topics include a survey of computer science including:

• Internet
• operating systems
• networks
• hardware
• Input/Output & Storage
• Data Management

The major focus of the course is data management.  Use of data and integration in the various Office applications, as well as the use of database software, Microsoft Access .

Prerequisites: CSCI104 or by instructor.  This course is approved for General Education - Distribution 3 - Natural Science and Mathematics.  Also this can fulfill your computer competency requirement. 

Additional Items To Note:

• Create a database application - we will use MS Access for the tool to make your database.
• Must be able to use your Edinboro e-mail account
• Read in advance your text book, be prepared to ask any questions.  You'll find this make the course much more interesting.
• This is 1 of the 5 required courses for a minor in Applied Technology.  You probably already have 104, so only 3 more to go after this one.

III. Course Textbook:
the exploring series -  MS Access. Comprehensive  by Grauer;  published by Prentice Hall 

IV. Course Objectives:

Successful completion of the course will be based upon the following objectives:

• Compare and contrast the physical components of computers.
• Understand the fundamentals of several critical computer based technologies
• Understand data handling capabilities of MS-Excel
• Employ a database management system that requires the:
  • development of tables based on established design techniques used to store data.
  • solving of complex queries on the data.
  • designing and implementation of a user friendly user interface
  • designing and implementation of quality reports.
• Integrate objects from different software packages.

V. Required Materials:
In addition to the text currently being used, which should be brought to all class meetings, you will need to bring the following to each class:

1. Flash drive. (what is this?)
2. A continual supply of printing privileges.
3. An e-mail account and the ability to use it.

VI. Assessment and Evaluation:

A. Projects: 
- 2 to 4 Internet Research Exercises (This may change a little)
- MS Access Exercises that build on each other

B. Examinations: 
There will be 3 exams plus a culminating final project.  The dates for the exams will be announced early, so don't miss any.

C. Quizzes/Lab Exercises
At a minimum you will have one of the following each week to turn in:

• internet research / questions from the book
• programming
• database homework

VII. Derivation of Final Grades:

Weights for Determining the Final Grade:
40% - homework & projects  (actually 48% including an 8% bonus opportunity)... 24 homework practice exercises worth 1.6% each;  an initial presentation worth 1.6%;  and a technical topic presentation worth 8%
60% - Exams and final project ...10% for each of the three exams= 30% plus 30% for the final project

The final score will be converted to a letter grade using the following scale:
90 < score < 100 A
87 < score < 89 B+
80 < score < 87 B
77 < score < 80 C+
70 < score < 77 C
60 < score < 70 D
0 < score < 60 F

- Incomplete grades are given very infrequently and will be assigned only if proper documentation is presented and the student has a passing grade in the course at the time of withdrawal.
 

VIII. American Disabilities Act Statement:
Any student who has a physical or learning disability which requires special accommodations should make an appointment to discuss this with the instructor.

IX. Academic Integrity:
You are expected to do all of the assigned work on your own.  Any student found to be cheating or plagiarizing with respect to any component of the course will be subject to immediate failure from the course.  This is very important in this course because of the tendency to help/give a copy of a project to another student.  This usually does more harm than good and will always reflect in your test score.  If you're getting A's on your projects but failing the exams, clearly you are copying your projects, since a base for the exams is the understanding of the projects.

XI. Some Final Comments:

It is very clear that high performance in a class is linked with consistent attendance and reasonable effort. I do expect you to attend all classes and you are responsible for knowing about any announcements or assignments made during class. If missing a class is unavoidable, the student is expected to get   updated from one of her/his peers.

Please do not use office hour time to make-up excessive unexcused absences. This course is taught in a lecture/laboratory style. While the instructor is lecturing, it is EXPECTED that no one will be working on the computers.  You will be encouraged to ask questions and participate in the lecture.  Students are expected to use the lab time wisely while the instructor is there to assist. Additionally, you should set several hours aside each week when you can come to one of the labs (or use an adequate home system) to finish the laboratory problems.  You can expect that this class will take many additional hours outside of class time to complete the projects.

X.  Assignments: