Advanced Office Applications
CGS2108c 
Syllabus

Course Description:

     This course covers advanced microcomputer applications including Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Database, Presentation, and Web Development. Topics include form letters, merging, desktop publishing, financial functions, amortization schedules, and data tables, creating and querying a worksheet database, templates, creating customized reports and forms in a switchboard manager, embedded visuals, importing clips into presentations, and web page publishing. Prerequisite: CGS2100c.  Lab Fee Required.

Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.5):

Course Requirements/Grading:

Required Textbooks:

Data Storage (on campus):

     On campus students will need approximately one USB Jump Drive (64 or 128), a CD-RW or 4 disks for data storage.  Disks/files must be available when turning in assignments.

     It may be necessary to download certain student files for the textbook from the Shelly Cashman website.  Instructions for downloading Student Data Files can be found on the inside back cover of your textbook or you can copy the files from Seminole State's network: G:\Datalib\CGS2108\...(then pick the appropriate application folder/file).  A link to student downloads can also be found in ANGEL for online students.

     The directions for all assignments will be provided. You are responsible for all information in the text book, although you may not be required to turn in all of the exercises and problems you complete.  Assignment sheets will be included with the syllabus for on-campus classes or can be found in ANGEL for on-line classes.  During the term, you will submit your assignments from each application as a group (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) containing chapter projects and assigned case problems from the textbook. Instructions for downloading Student Data Files can be found on the inside back cover of your  textbook or you can copy the files from Seminole State's network: G:\Datalib\CGS2108\...(then pick the appropriate application folder/file).  A link to student downloads can also be found in ANGEL.

Network, E-mail and Internet Access: 

    Each semester, when the network administrator inputs network login ID's, they are created as locked or disabled. For your first time logging on an Seminole State computer, EVERY student MUST login using MYID to unlock their account to use campus computers. DL students may come to campus to do work, but will not be able to login, as normal, to the network until you've unlocked your personal login ID first.

Username/ID: Your network login ID will be the same as what you created on MySeminole State (https://my.seminolestate.edu) when registering for classes.  The seven digit Seminole State number you may have used in previous terms is no longer valid (unless you created a MySeminole State login name with the same number). You must use your new id beginning with summer term 2004.  On-campus students may use a generic log-in for the first week of class (usually MCStudent) and look up their log-in ID in the classroom. If you did not create a MySeminole State login name when registering for classes, you won't have a network login and mailbox.

Password: Your Password is your first and last initial, followed by the six digits of your birth date in the YYMMDD format, where YY is the two digit year (don't use the 19 in the 19YY format) MM is the two digit month (Jan-Sep months must use a leading 0) DD is the two digit day (1st-9th must use a leading 0).  Make sure that there are no spaces between the items and the letters are lowercase.  Example: If your name is John Doe and you were born on March 1, 1977 your password would be: jd770301.

     Due to severe penalties for misuse, you are cautioned to review your Student Handbook regarding the ethical use of this resource.  It may be necessary sometime during the semester to email assignments to the instructor.  You may use an e-mail account that you have at home and/or at work, providing you can e-mail your files as attachments (online students must use ANGEL account when communicating with instructor).  WinZip can be used to condense your files if needed.

     If you don't have your own personal e-mail account, you may use the Seminole State student e-mail system (MyMail).  All Seminole State students are issued an e-mail account, which is recommended for large file sizes or multiple file attachments.  Seminole State mail can be accessed through: http://mymail.seminolestate.edu/.  Your Username and Password should be the same as your Network login. 

      "Lab Rules" and "Lab Hours" can be found on line and accessible from any student desktop in any Seminole State lab. The URL is: http://www.seminolestate.edu/cts/media/lab_rules.pdf for lab rules and http://www.seminolestate.edu/cts/labhours/ for lab hours.

Academic Integrity

     You are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity while in this course and as a student at Seminole State College.  If you fail to maintain these standards as a student in this class I will pursue the fullest possible implementation of academic discipline for your offense.  If you have any questions about the college's code of academic conduct, please consult the Seminole State catalog or me.   In short, lying, cheating, stealing, or deception of any type will not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form. 

     Although students are encouraged to seek assistance from their instructor, fellow students, and lab assistants, each student must submit their own work. This means you may not use another student's work as your own. You may not allow another student to use your work. You may not obtain copies of prior semester's work or exams from previous students for your own use. Students that submit duplicate work will receive a zero for the first infraction and an automatic “F” in the course for their second infraction. (Student Handbook - Section I - Academic Integrity and Classroom Behavior).

SubWebs:

     Students will be assigned space on the Seminole State server for the creation of web pages. The address is www2.seminolestate.edu/skeeter/student#  (a number between 1 and 30 will be used in place of the "#").  The username and password to access these accounts will be listed in your Web Page Assignment handout.  If you choose to use your own provider/web space that will be your prerogative. More information concerning the web page assignment will be distributed near the end of the semester.

Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Program

   The Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Program is explained in detail in Appendix G of the Textbook.  This certification provides a valuable industry credential or proof that you have the Office application skills required by employers.  Our textbook is a Microsoft-approved textbook that covers the required objectives for the various exams.  The Web page http://www.scsite.com/off2007/cert includes links to general information on certification, choosing an application for certification, preparing for, taking and passing the certification exam.

MSDN Academic Alliance Software:

     Seminole State is a member of the Microsoft Developer's Network Academic Alliance.  As a member, all of the software licensed under the MSDNAA Program is available for download to registered students. Simply go to http://msdn06.e-academy.com/scc-fl_net  and click on the Software tab to see a complete listing of software available. 

     Approximately two weeks after classes start, you will receive a "Welcome Letter"  in your Seminole State MyMail account (http://mymail.seminolestate.edu) that includes your MSDN username and password.  Be sure to check your email regularly starting the second week of class. If you don’t access emails within several weeks from your Seminole State account, the emails are deleted.  There is an Angel site for MSDNAA assistance for students needing help downloading and installing software. Go to ecampus.seminolestate.edu to login to this site.

Emergency Conditions:

     To verify that the college is open and classes are being held, please call: 407-328-2290 or 407-328-4722. The Seminole State website homepage features updated announcements: http://www.seminolestate.edu.

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ONLINE CLASSES

     A series of Chapter/Assignment notes and PowerPoint presentations are provided for each module. You may print out the notes as you need them for future reference.   Assignment notes may updated during the course so it is important that you work with the latest version of notes provided by the instructor.  A good way to be sure you have the most recent notes is to print them out when the class calendar recommends starting the module.

Access ANGEL (5 points) -  Student Course Survey

     Within the first week of class, you need to access ANGEL (http://ecampus.seminolestate.edu) and fill out the Course Sign-In Survey, found in the Getting Started Content Module.  This will let me know who's actually in the class and having problems getting into ANGEL.

     It is expected that you check into ANGEL to review the Discussion Board and your e-mail a minimum of 2 days per week (more often in a mini-term class).   This is how you participate in class. It does not matter what time of day or night you check in. This is the way the instructor and your classmates correspond with you. 

      You will not be able to actually log into ANGEL until the first day of class.  If you register late, it may take two days after you register to get you loaded into ANGEL.

ANGEL ID:

Your login ID for ANGEL is the same username that you created to use MySeminole State. If you registered for classes in person and have not yet created a MySeminole State account, you must visit http://my.seminolestate.edu and create one. For students to have access to ANGEL, they must have a MySeminole State username in the system. The ANGEL database for login IDs and passwords is being generated based on each student's MySeminole State account.

ANGEL Password:

Your password is auto-generated and is reset to the default every semester.  The default Password is your first and last initial, followed by the six digits of your birth date in the yymmdd format, where yy is the two digit year (don't use the 19 in the 19yy format) mm is the two digit month (Jan.-Sept. months must use a leading 0) dd is the two digit day (1st-9th must use a leading 0. Make sure that there are no spaces between the items and the letters are UPPERCASE - ANGEL passwords are case sensititve.  Example: If your name is John Doe and you were born on March 1, 1977 your password would be: JD770301.  You must use both your ANGEL ID and your ANGEL password in order to enter the course. 

How to Use Angel Quiz (5 points)

   You may take this quiz as many times as you want the first two weeks of class to achieve 100% and earn the full 5 points.  If you don't earn 100%, you will still earn a fraction of the 5 points. This quiz can be found in the Getting Started Content Module

Discussion  Board Participation (15 points)
      I have created several discussion boards (by topic) for you to use to communicate with the other students in the class.  These boards will serve as your main communication device and support system to help alleviate the disconnected feeling distance learning students might experience.   Each board is restricted to comments or questions regarding class material (except for the Pub Board) and will be worth a few points each, depending on your participation in them (reading, posting, responding).

     This is the primary way you communicate with the instructor and other students in the class.  If you have a question or problem, post it to the Board.  Hopefully, another student will answer your questions or create a dialogue with you concerning the issue.  It is possible to have threaded discussions, so use appropriate subject lines for others to follow/find posts more easily.  Be sure to read the ANGEL tutorial so that you know how to do all of this.  Many questions can be answered by students in the class and this also helps cut down on the number of e-mails I must answer directly.  With over one hundred students, there is no way I can answer each individual question.

     It is also possible to do a Search of the material covered on the Board to go back and look for a topic that was discussed there.  I only post the answer to a question once so it is each student's responsibility to read all postings and participate in the discussion.

     Distance learning is about learning, not a classroom.  The instructor is a facilitator more than a teacher.  Learning is your responsibility, and this will be accomplished by working within the virtual environment created with the students in the course.    Not participating in the Discussion Board will hinder your learning process. 

Intro Discussion Board

     Within the first two weeks of the term, please read and respond to the introductory discussion posts to get used to ANGEL, to learn a little about your classmates and so that we can get to know you.  Please refer to the ANGEL Student Support link for more information about the discussion boards if needed - or post a question to the board!  You will be expected to keep up with the other discussion board posts throughout the semester so hopefully this initial exercise/graded discussion will get you used to the discussion board and online communication tool. More information on this exercise can be found in ANGEL.

Netiquette

Please be respectful of others in your posts; no vulgar comments or unnecessary criticism. Any inappropriate posts will be deleted by the instructor. For guidance on good "netiquette", visit these sites:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netiquette
 http://www.albion.com/netiquette/  - this link is great...there is even a netiquette quiz you can take!

ANGEL E-mail

     At the beginning of the term, I may correspond with you by your regular e-mail address (such as AOL, etc).  However, once  everyone is checked into the course, I will only use the e-mail within ANGEL if you need to communicate with me privately, otherwise please post general questions to the discussion board so everyone benefits from the question and answer.

   Once I have entered your student id and password in ANGEL you will have an e-mail address within the ANGEL environment.  You may e-mail me or any student in the class using this e-mail address.  You can access this e-mail from any computer where you can access ANGEL.   Simply click on Course Mail, Inbox, select Compose, select Browse to see the student list (also the Instructor e-mail address), and select an address where you want to send a message.  Use this e-mail to correspond with me privately.  I will check my ANGEL e-mail every day Monday through Thursday so please send your questions during this time frame. 

Windows Vista SAM Exam (5 points)

Within the first two weeks of the term, please install SAM, set up your profile, join the appropriate section(s) and take Windows Vista Practice Test and ultimately the Windows Vista Exam. This will ensure you have things working properly before the first big Exam in SAM.  Please refer to the Exams section above and the SAM content link in ANGEL for more information about SAM - or post a question to the SAM board!  You will be expected to have all SAM problems "resolved" before the Word Exam.  Hopefully this initial exercise will help you resolve any hardware or security issues you may have and get you used to testing in the SAM environment.

Practice Zip - Assignment Drop Box Exercise (5 points)

Before your first Word Assignment is due, please complete this Practice Zip - Assignment Drop Box Exercise, found in the Getting Started Content, Assignment Information link in ANGEL.  The assignment directions should be self explanatory. If you have any questions concerning this exercise, please post them to the Main Discussion Board.  You may also refer to the ANGEL Student Support link for more information about assignment drop boxes, if needed. This initial exercise should make you more comfortable with using the assignment drop box prior to the first Word Assignment submission.

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