Computer Information Systems 001 (CIS1) Principles of Business Computer Systems provides in-depth coverage of the selection and use of computer hardware and software. CIS1 and 23 are required in all CIS degree and certificate options and is the computer skills transfer requirement for many universities. You must be enrolled in the online section of CIS23 Programming Laboratory #7609 or #7616. CIS23 is one unit Pass/No Pass. You receive credit in the lab if you pass the CIS1 class.
This is a short-term online class starting October 27 and ending December 20. There are no on-campus meetings. Everything is done through an online classroom system called Etudes. Your account will be active a few weeks before the class starts. Login instructions are provided on my web site.
Textbooks: Two textbooks are required. They are sold as a bundled set in the campus bookstore with a special ISBN number. ISBN numbers for each book are provided in case you want to shop online.
| Author | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Notes |
| Morley, Deborah and Charles Parker | Understanding Computers Today and Tomorrow 12th Ed. Comprehensive | Thomson | 1423925211 | |
| Gary, Shelly, Thomas Cashman and Misty Vermaat | Microsoft Office 2007 Brief Concepts and Techniques | Thomson | 1418843253 | Introductory Edition is OK |
Skills you Should Have: To be successful in an online course, you must be able to locate sites on the Internet, upload and download files, and use email. If you are a computer novice, you should enroll in a face-to-face section of CIS1 instead.
Time: To be successful, you should to set up a weekly schedule of the hours you will spend on the class. If you were attending CIS1 and the CIS23 lab face-to-face, you would be in class for over 10 hours per week. Additional time would be spent to complete assignments and study the textbooks outside of class. Block out at least 12 hours per week for the class. Some people will need more time and others need less depending on computer experience and reading speed.
Software: Lessons are based on Microsoft Office 2007 Professional (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access) and Windows XP or Vista. The non-professional version of Office does not include the Access database. Office 2007 Professional software can be purchased at a student discount through http://www.journeyed.com/fccc/
Internet: The recommended web browsers for PC users are Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0 SP2 or later and Firefox 2.0 or later. Both browsers are available as free downloads: Mozilla Firefox http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/, IE7.0 SP2 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx. You must have an Internet connection that you can spend a lot of time on. Ask your employer for permission before using a computer provided by your company to do coursework. Sometimes corporate computer security systems called firewalls can block you from using the online classroom at work. You may have to ask a company technician for assistance. Pop-up window blocking software must be disabled while using the online classroom. If you're using dial-up Internet service your modem should be 56K, a cable or DSL connection is preferred.
System and Internet Configuration for Etudes Online Classroom: See https://etudes-ng.fhda.edu/portal/site/!gateway/page/4243c7b4-9b68-45fc-0016-148ad08653aa
Alternative Computer: If the computer you are using breaks down or you do not have the required software, keep up with the work by using the campus computer labs in the Business building or the Library.
On-Campus: Office hours are posted on my web site at http://www.loralane.com. You can come see me in person or call. If I need to cancel, I will post it on my web site. Please check before you come.
Phone: Campus number: 310-233-4178. Cell number: 310-519-8976. If I don't answer, leave a voice message with your name, a brief description of what you need to discuss with me and the return phone number. NO text messages please.
Email: Email to loralane@yahoo.com or use Etudes Private Message. Mail sent to my Yahoo! account must include a descriptive subject line, your full name and the class you are enrolled in. Do not send me jokes or chain letters.
The course is NOT self-paced. There are 2 tasks each week that may include lecture notes, textbook reading, study questions, computer projects, quiz questions and discussion. You should log on to the online classroom at least four times a week to check for announcements, private messages, and grades.
Assignments are given on Sundays (due the following Saturday) and Wednesdays (due the following Tuesday). The expiration times are at 11:45p.m. (just before midnight). Everyone tries to wait until the last minute, so the system gets very busy and slow in the hours before midnight. Do your work before the deadline to make sure it is on time. Keep copies of everything you turn in just in case a file becomes lost or corrupt during transfer. Assignments can be submitted up to four days late, but I will deduct 20% of the total points possible for the assignment. Assignments will not be accepted after the late submission period is over. The last assignment does not have this extra time. See the online classroom Tasks, Tests and Surveys tool or the schedule on my web site for due dates and instructions.
If you are not able to turn in an assignment by the late submission deadline, I will have two makeup assignments that you may complete to substitute, one for the first half of the class and one for the second. These makeup assignments will be harder than the original assignment you missed.
Your course grade is based on the points you earn of the total 500. A's are 90% or better, B's are 80% or better, C's 70% or better, D's 60% or better, F below.
Assignment Grades: Go to Tasks, Tests and Surveys to review your score and read my comments. I try to grade the assignments within a week after the due date. If there was something wrong with your assignment (wrong file, unable to open), I will give you a 0 and ask you to submit another file. It is your responsibility to follow up quickly.
All Work: Click the Gradebook Tool from the Homepage or the Course Menu. This will show you everything that has been graded so far.
Cheating: Your submissions should be your own independent work unless the instructions indicate that you may work with others. If I feel that two submissions are too similar, I will give both a lower score or even a zero depending on how much was copied. I will not be open to discussion about the reasons why it happened or who actually did the work. The second incident will result in an F in the class.
With the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
It is your responsibility to drop CIS1 and CIS23 if you don't want to continue in the class. I will post announcements when the drop deadlines are near.
I do not give incompletes. Instead, I give you the grade you have earned by the end of the semester and change the grade after you have completed the work. This consideration will only be given only for medical or other reasons beyond your control. You must be up-to-date with all work and passing the class at the time you notify me that you have had an emergency. Let me know as quickly as possible and submit a detailed schedule for completing the rest of the class. You will not be allowed to do this because you fell behind with your assignments, had computer problems, or don't like your grade so far.