Introduction to Computing Technology– CSE100

 

Description

A course of general interest giving experience with personal computer software, e.g., word processors and spreadsheets; provides fundamental computer literacy; neither teaches nor requires programming.

 

The course is worth 3 credit hours.

 

Prerequisites

Not open to students who have credit for CSE 101 or CSE200.

 

Course Objectives

• Master understanding the role of computers in our society.
• Master using computer hardware through understanding how instructions are carried out, how data is input and information output, what the binary number system is, what kinds of storage devices are available for computers, what is meant by telecommunications.
• Master using four of the most popular kinds of software on the market: spreadsheets, database managers, presentation graphics, and word-processing.
• Be familiar with using the computer as a tool for problem solving in many areas: business, manufacturing, medicine, art, education, the military, government, etc.
• Be familiar with how computers have evolved, the history of the computer industry, and the dramatic speed at which computer technology has evolved and continues to do so.
• Be familiar with security issues, computer crime, the implications of natural disasters on computers, inadvertent tampering, and what can be done about each.
• Be exposed to social and ethical issues, including new social and ethical questions that need to be addressed because of computer technology.
• Be exposed to language issues, syntax and semantics, difficulties in using spoken languages for computers, what programming languages are, and what steps are involved in creating computer software.

 

Textbooks

• BUNDLE ISBN: 1-4283-0926-8
      Bundle items: Shelly/Office 2007 Brief, XP Edition
                           Shelly/Discovering Computers 2008
                           Microsoft Vista Tutorial CD-ROM 

 

Topics (Approximate)

 

Number of Hours	Topic
4	Introduction to computers in society; word processing
2	Application software
4	The components of the system unit; spreadsheet application
2	Operating systems and utility programs
2	Computing input devices
2	Computing output devices
4	Storage technology; database software
3	Database management; communications and networks
4	Computers and society, security, privacy, and ethics; presentation software
3	Review and exams

 

Representative Lab Assignments

• MS Word tutorial and project
• MS Excel tutorial and project
• MS Access tutorial and project
• MS PowerPoint tutorial and project

Grade Plan

 

Labs (4)	40%
Midterm Exam	30%
Final Exam	30%

 

**The percentage breakdowns are used as a guide for determining grades. Tentatively, the grading scale is: A 93%, A- 90%, B+ 87%, B 83%, B- 80%, C+ 77%, C 73%, C- 70%, D+ 67%, D 63%.