Ms. Lane's Computer Science Courses at Los Angeles Harbor College

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The 3-unit Computer Literacy for the Liberal Arts Student course develops critical thinking skills as applied to technology and society today. You will gain computer literacy by using the computer to evaluate issues. Hands-on project use Windows, Internet, word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software.

CO SCI 58 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.

For some universities, it can fulfill the computer competency requirement when combined with the CO SCI 53 programming lab, section #7633. You will need to complete additional computer projects if you enroll in the lab, so check with a counselor first.

With the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Identify the issue, conclusion, and reasons in an argument
2. Locate and eliminate ambiguities in writing and speaking
3. Assess value and descriptive assumptions
4. Spot common reasoning fallacies
5. Evaluate the quality of evidence
6. Discover alternative causes and conclusions
7. Manage files and programs using Windows system software
8. Research issues using the Internet
9. Send communications over the Internet
10. Use word processing to produce written arguments and analysis
11. Develop a slide show on an issue
12. Evaluate numerical evidence with a worksheet
13. Store data in a database and report with statistics

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Textbooks:

Book 1 (required):

Title: Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking

Author: Browne, M. Neil and Stuart Keeley

Publisher: Prentice Hall

Editions: Most current is the 10th (ISBN 9780205111169). The 9th or 8th editions are also acceptable.

Book 2 Free Online Textbook:

Title: Jan's Illustrated Computer Literacy 101

Author: Jan Smith

URL: http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons/index.html

You will be in class for 3 hours and 10 minutes per week. Additional time is needed to complete assignments and study the textbooks and Etudes modules. Block out at least 3 hours per week for outside work. Some people will need more time and others less depending on computer experience and reading speed.

Hardware/Software:

Lessons show Microsoft Office 2007/2010 (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). The campus computer labs have this software installed. You can complete many of the assignments using Office 2003, Google Docs or Open Office (free from openoffice.org). A PC platform is assumed. It is possible to complete the course with a Mac running compatible software, but I can't provide support for this. I do not have access to a Mac.

Assignments are done through an online classroom system called Etudes. You must have access to a fast Internet connection (not dial-up). The LAHC library has a computer lab and most areas of the campus support WIFI connections.

See http://etudes.org/gateway/server_info.html for configuration requirements for the Etudes Online classroom.

COURSE ACTIVITIES AND GRADING:

There is a lesson each class meeting that may include lecture, computer demonstration, and in-class participation exercises. There will be work to complete in class for 5 points credit for that day. If you miss the class meeting, you can complete the work and turn it in by the end of the same day for full credit. You can turn it in up to one week later for half credit.

Each week there is a Module to study, and an assignment. Your grade is based on your scores on the participation credits, assignments and a final project. Log on to Etudes at least three times a week to check for announcements, private messages, and to review scores.

Assignments:

Assignments are usually given on Tuesdays and may include study questions, computer projects, essays, quiz questions and discussion. Assignments are usually due by Monday at 11:45 p.m. Do not wait until the last minute to begin the assignment. You will not have time to ask for help or clarification. Keep copies of documents just in case a file becomes lost or corrupted. Assignments can be submitted one week late but will receive a 20% lower score. For example, if you score 25 0out of 30 but turn in the work the Saturday after it is due, you will get only 20 points (25-5). Assignments will not be accepted after the late submission week. I will drop your lowest two assignment scores in the course grade calculation at the end. They may be 0.

I will release assignment grades after the late submission deadline. Go to Assignments, Texts and Surveys and click the Review link on the assignment to see your score and my comments. If there was something wrong with the assignment submission (wrong file, unable to open), I will give you a 0 and ask you to send another file to me. It is your reponsibility to follow up within a week.

Scores for discussion posts can be found in the Discussion and Private Message area.

Course Grades:
Your course grade is based on the percentage 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 in Etudes to see all of your scores. I will drop your lowest two assignment scores in the final grade calculation. They may be 0.

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 0 depending on how much was duplicated. I will not be open to discussion about the reasons why it happened or who actually did the work. Repeated incidents will result in an F in the class.

The Standards of Student Conduct in the Los Angeles Harbor College Catalog includes a board Rule 9803.12 which states, "dishonesty, such as cheating, or knowingly furnishing false information to the Colleges shall be subject to disciplinary action."

Disclaimer:

In this class you may be subjected to material that you disagree with or find offensive. That is part of developing critical thinking skills. These may include visual or text representations from areas such as the following:

Sex and sexual orientation

Profane language

Religious theories

Political viewpoints

Economic theories

Drug use

Dropping the Class and Incompletes:

Check the college class schedule for deadlines for dropping and withdrawing. I will post announcements in the Etudes classroom when a deadline is near. Do not depend on me to remove you from the class. It is your responsibility.

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 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.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

It is the policy and practice of LAHC to create inclusive learning environments. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or to accurate assessment of achievement (such as inaccessible web content or the use of non-captioned videos), please notify me as soon as possible. Students are also welcome to contact the Special Programs and Services Office at 310-233-4622. For more information, visit the SPS web page at http://www.lahc.edu/studentservices/sps/index.html

The schedule of class activities is located in the Etudes online classroom