This is only a general syllabus of the topics covered. If you are registered for the CS&E 200 please contact your lecturer for a detailed syllabus.

Required Texts:

(1) Custom Online Text from Course Technology
(2) Course Notes - available from UniPrint at the Tuttle Garage store.

Approximate Syllabus

• Understanding computer basics - hardware, software, operating systems & communications
• Effectively use spreadsheets to solve problems Designing spreadsheets so they can be efficiently written and updated including use of relative/absolute cell addressing, & multiple worksheets in a workbook.
  • Using functions and understanding syntax/algorithms including sum, count, min, max, average, countif, sumif
  • Using Boolean logical operators and functions (relational operators, And, Or, Not, If functions)
  • Using reference functions - (Vlookup, Hlookup)
  • Using financial functions to solve problems (PV, FV, NPER, RATE, PMT)
  • Using spreadsheet data features for filtering, sorting.
  • Using Pivot Tables.
  • Using charts
• Effectively use presentation graphics software
  • Creating slides and using the Master Layout View
  • Creating speaker notes and handouts
  • Using animation and transition effects in presentation
  • Using the MS Office drawing tools
• Using the MS Office object linking and embedding tools
• Effectively use database management software to solve problems
  • Understand the concepts of relational database management system (DBMS) - primary key, foreign key etc.
  • Be able to design simple tables - fields & field properties
  • Be able to relate tables - foreign keys, referential data integrity rules
  • Effectively use the query tool to find/organize information from one or more tables including the use of -sorting, Boolean criteria, grouping, calculating fields, functions, inner and outer join types
• Effectively integrate all of the tools learned to solve problems.
• Understanding the internet & Creating your own webpage

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Grading:

The percentage breakdowns are used as a guide for determining grades. Final grades are at the discretion of the lecturer. You must pass the final exam and complete labs 5 & 9 in order to pass the course.

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Attendance
Students are expected to attend both lecture and lab. Students are responsible for all material covered, all assignments made, and all due dates announced. No credit will be given for lab assignments if the student does not attend lab.

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Labs
Lab assignments are given in two parts, a "Pre-Lab" assignment and an "In-lab" assignment. Labs are designed to teach the mechanics of the software tools and to reinforce the problems solving skills learned in lecture. Labs vary in their point values from 5-40 depending on the assignment. The point value will be printed on the front of each lab assignment.

The Pre-lab portion of the lab is generally out of the lab texts - introducing the software tools. The pre-labs also include problems that apply concepts learned in lecture. Files needed to complete the lab are available from the K drive (as described in the labs) and on the web. Completed files are to be submitted during lab class.
You should expect to spend a significant amount of time each week on the pre-lab assignment. To do this you can use the labs in Baker 310, or Caldwell 112 during Open lab hours (see below). To work from other locations including from home see the information provided below.

The In-Lab assignment is meant to reinforce/test the skills you learned in the pre-lab and during lecture. The assignment will be handed out in lab class and the files made available to you. Each lab class will have different files - so do not try to start early by using another lab class's files. Closed labs are designed so that you can ask questions and obtain help. A certain amount of interaction between students is allowed, however copying another student's work will be considered Academic Misconduct.

All pre and in-lab files must be submitted by the end of your closed lab class to receive credit.

Lab attendance is mandatory. You must sign the attendance sheet before leaving lab or you will not be given credit for the in-lab portion of the lab. If you cannot make a lab, contact your lab TA well in advance (at least 1 week) to discuss the matter. If there is an emergency (illness, death in the family, etc) that results in an unexpected absence, you will need to contact your lab instructor as soon as possible to discuss the situation - documentation will be required. No late labs will be accepted except under extraordinary circumstances. See make up policy. Complete submission of lab 5 and lab 9 is required to pass this course.

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Exams
There will be a series of six quizzes - of which we will count the best five, one midterm and a cumulative final. Individual Lecturers may have alternate exam breakdowns - so please refer to your Lecturer's detailed syllabus.

Make-ups:
At times there are extraordinary circumstances that may require a make-up of an assignment or exam. The appropriate person will handle these on a case by case basis. Contact your lecturer for all matters pertaining to exams and homework. Contact your lab instructor in all matters pertaining to labs. Notification must be made and confirmed prior to the assignment by email, phone or in person. Leaving a voice mail, or email is not enough -you must have confirmation by the appropriate person to be considered for a make-up.

In a case where a person is unable to notify the proper person (e.g., documented medical emergency) you must notify them as soon as possible. Make-ups will not be given to students who miss assignments due to over sleeping or not knowing of the assignment.

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Discussion Groups
Each lecturer will individually maintain Discussions/Announcements via WebCT.

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Academic Misconduct
IIn accordance with Faculty Rule 3335-31-02, all instances of alleged academic misconduct will be reported to the Department Chairperson and the Committee on Academic Misconduct (COAM). Alleged misconduct cases will be resolved via COAM’s hearing processes as described in the University’s Code of Student Conduct. Instructors, lab consultants and graders will not make an evaluation of the facts of the case, either towards guilt or innocence.

As defined in the University’s Code of Student Conduct, academic misconduct is any activity which tends to compromise the academic integrity of the institution or subvert the educational process. Students who violate the University’s policies regarding academic misconduct are stealing academic credit and skewing the grading process against students who are honestly participating in the course. Their actions diminish the value of an academic degree when they falsely represent themselves as competent in a subject matter in the workplace.

Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, giving or receiving information or assistance during an exam or submission of plagiarized work for academic requirements. It also includes changing graded material and turning it back in to be re-graded for a higher score.

While we encourage students to learn from each other, each student’s submitted work must be entirely their own. We encourage high level discussions of assignments. However, specific discussion of a formula solution is not appropriate. Examples of appropriate and inappropriate types of assistance are listed below:

Examples of appropriate assistance are as follows:

• • Students working together on non-graded examples similar to those of the assigned materials. Non-graded examples are provided both in written and electronic format for use by students.
  
  • Studying in groups to learn problem solving techniques and function syntax using non-graded materials provided in the course text and notes.
  
  • Creating study guides for purposes of learning the materials in preparation for exams and quizzes.
  
  • Getting assistance from a course staff member (Lecturers, TA’s, Lab Consultants). Staff members are trained to help students learn concepts so students can then successfully apply these concepts in the completion of their own assignments. Appropriate assistance from course staff members may take either of the following forms:
  
  - A student asks for assistance for an un-attempted problem or a problem they do not understand how to approach. The student should be shown how to do a similar problem and/or directed to specific materials in the course text. Students and staff may also work through a high level strategy of how to go about solving the problem.
  
  - Appropriate: “Let’s look at this similar problem in the course notes”
  - Inappropriate: “You need to use a COUNTIF divided by a SUMIF”
  
  - A student asks for assistance with a mostly completed assignment. The staff member may identify an error and provide appropriate assistance.
  
  -Appropriate: “The absolute referencing in the formula is incorrect, the price of widgets doesn’t change when copied down the column”
  -Inappropriate: “Add a $ in front of the 2 so the answer is B$2*C3.”

Examples of inappropriate assistance are as follows:

• Having another person complete any part of a graded assignment and misrepresenting it as your own work or having another person take an exam or quiz for you.

• Copying any portion of a graded assignment or exam, either written or electronic, even if this is later modified. This includes work/files from both current and past quarters, even if you are re-taking the course and it was your own work. Files may only be copied from the course websites and/or directories as specifically directed in an assignment.

• Giving or receiving an answer to a portion of a graded assignment including graded homework, labs, quizzes or exams.

• Helping another student with their homework or lab as they follow along from your completed or partially completed work.

• Working together on a graded assignment. High level discussions of problem strategies are allowed, but be advised that near duplicate assignments will be considered suspect unless the assignment was restrictive enough to justify such similarities in independent work.

If a student has any questions about what is or is not permissible, he/she should read carefully the course syllabus and/or ask the course instructor for guidance. Ignorance of the course policies or University’s Code of Student Conduct is never an excuse for academic misconduct.

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Fairness to Students
We strive to treat students with dignity and fairness and to be particularly sensitive to the diversity that exists within the student body. Students with disabilities who request help will be given reasonable accommodation with the assistance of the University Office of Disability Services (292 - 3307).

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