The 3-unit Computer Literacy for the Liberal Arts Student course develops critical thinking skills as applied to technological advances. You will gain computer literacy by using the computer to evaluate issues. Hands-on projects use Windows, Internet search and email, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
CSIT58 fulfills the Communication and Rational Thinking/Analytical Thinking requirement in the Harbor College graduation requirements. It meets the General Education Critical Thinking requirement for many universities, including CSU.
The two textbooks are sold in the campus bookstore and on the Internet.
| Author | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Notes |
| Pannell, Steve | Dozer's Quintessential Guide to Computer Literacy | Majestic D & Associates, LCC | 978-0-9744008-7-7 | Must be 15th Edition |
| Browne, M. Neil and Stuart Keeley | Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking | Prentice Hall | 9th Edition ISBN: 9780205506682 or 8th Edition: 9780132203043 | 6th or 7th Editions are fine too |
Time: The surest way to succeed is to set up a weekly schedule of the hours you will spend on the class. You will be in class for 3 hours per week. Additional time outside of class is needed to complete assignments and tests using an online classroom and to study the textbooks. Block out about 3 hours per week. 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 (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and Windows Vista or XP. The campus computer labs have this software installed. You may be able to complete the work with Office 2003 but the instructions in the textbook will not exactly match the interface.
On-Campus: Office hours will be posted on my web site at http://www.loralane.com. My office is in Northeast Academic building #276 and campus phone number is 310-233-4178. 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.
Cell Phone: 310-519-8976 If you call outside of my office hours, use my cell number. 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 Private Message in Etudes. Mail sent to my Yahoo! account must include a descriptive subject line, your full name and the class you are enrolled in.
There is a lesson each class meeting that may include lecture, computer demonstration, in-class participation exercises, and an assignment to do on your own outside of class. Assignments have specific due dates. You will turn in the work through an online classroom system called Etudes. At least twice a week you should log on to the online classroom to check for announcements, messages, and grades.
Participation Exercise: Each class meeting there will be work to complete in class for 10 points credit for that day. If you miss the class meeting, you can complete the work and turn it in up to one week later for half credit.
Assignments: Each assignments is worth 30 points and may include study questions, hands-on practice, quiz questions and discussion. These are due one week later on the following Friday at 11:45p.m. (just before midnight). Everyone tries to wait until the last minute. The system gets busy and slow in the hours before midnight. Do your work well before the deadline to make sure it is on time and to give yourself a chance to ask questions. Keep copies of assignments just in case a file becomes lost or corrupt during transfer.
Late Assignments: Assignments can be submitted up to 1 week late, but will receive a 20% (two grade) lower score. They will not be accepted after the late submission period is over. The final project does not have this extra time.
Learning Outcomes: With the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
Course Grade: Your course grade is based on the points you earn of the total. A's are 90% or better, B's are 80% or better, C's 70% or better, D's 60% or better, F below. Click the Gradebook Tool from the Homepage or the Course Menu. This will show you everything that has been graded so far. I will drop your two lowest assignment scores in the final grade calculation. They may be 0.
Assignment and Participation Exercise Grades: Go to the Tasks, Tests and Surveys in Etudes and click the Review link to see your score and my feedback. Feedback will be available after the late submission date. If there was something wrong with your assignment (wrong file, unable to open), I will give you a 0 and ask you to try to send another file to me. It is your responsibility to follow up quickly. Discussion scores and comments can be seen in the Discussion area.
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.
It is your responsibility to drop if you don't want to continue in the class. Drop without receiving a W by September 24. Drop with a W by November 19.
I do not give incompletes. 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.