Computers in Management
Fall 2008 Syllabus

CIS251-06, Monday and Wednesday at 8:00a-9:20a in Alger 101
CIS251-02, Monday and Wednesday at 9:30a-10:50a in Alger 101

Instructor: Richard W Evans
Campus Office: Alger 229, phone 401-456-9592
Home Office 401-946-6900 (9:00a - 6:00p)

E-Mail: revans@ric.edu

Messages can be left at the voice number. If you get my voice mail, please leave your message or question. I will be available before class in the classroom to answer questions or lend assistance. In case of bad weather call 456-9500 for a recorded message.

Text:
New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2007, First Course

Course Technology, Cambridge, MA
ISBN: 1-4239-0577-6

Course Overview:
The purpose of this course is to provide an introductory experience in the use of computers for management activities. The major focus will be on using a microcomputer in business today. Emphasis will be on the use of the Windows XP operating system, the Internet including the use of Electronic Mail, Word Processing, Spread Sheets, and Presentations. At its completion, the student should be able to use a PC to solve a number of business application problems.

A basic understanding of computer and the Microsoft Office applications is assumed. As such, the material covered in class is more of an intermediate nature. For those new to MS Office, the textbook covers the basics sufficiently to catch you up. For some, the textbook will introduce some basic techniques you may not have caught the first time around.

Course Format:
Expect a lecture on new material each session following the textbook as outlined in the calendar below. Since the textbook tutorials, case studies, and practice quizzes must be completed outside of the regular weekly class, students should expect to spend from four to eight hours per week using the computer labs or their own equipment at home. This includes the time needed for study, reading and review of the text and review of notes taken during class.

Email:
We will explore Email and the Internet and use both for class work and homework.  You are expected to have access to email off campus and through the WebCT course access.

Word Processing:
We will use MS Word 2007 as the word processing application. It is a commonly used word processor and the experience gained in the classroom is directly transferable to outside company situations. It is a comprehensive application and we will work with a relatively small number of its features and capabilities.

Spread Sheet:
Here we will use MS Excel 2007. This software product clearly appears to be the most commonly used spread sheet application in industry; and the student's training will be directly transferable to a business situation.

Presentations:
We will use MS PowerPoint 2007 to create visual presentations. We will combine what we learned in Word, Excel and the use of the Internet to create exciting visuals. This training will also be directly transferable to business.

Web 2.0
A new Web 2.0 experience can be expected each week including blogging, wiki's, Google Docs, and many other "cloud computing" technologies available today. Using hands on examples, we will explore Web 2.0 beginning with Blogs.

All classes will be held in Alger. Computer Labs in other buildings are available to you outside of class to complete homework assignments. You are expected to procure a copy of MS Office 2007 Professional from the College Bookstore for use at home. (At last check MS Office is available to RIC students for $13 each. Check with the bookstore for the current pricing.)

Be aware that both Office 2003 and Office 2007 are installed in the walk-in labs on campus. Because of this dual situation, you MUST open the application first, then open your file. Double-clicking will either not work or may not open the file in the expected application. Neither does right-clicking to Open With always work. Also, ALWAYS use Save As when saving files and change the Save As File Type to the Office 2007 file format (docx, xlsx, etc) or your file may be saved by default in the 97-2003 format and you WILL LOSE the ability to modify any of the new graphic images created with 2007.

Although the text is quite thorough, attendance in the classroom will be critical for you to learn about these applications. Some of the learning experience however will entail your concentrated effort with the computer -- learning by trying, and by making mistakes. Class meetings will involve a hands on review of the textbook tutorial material and new material introduced by me relating to the textbook mater. For each of the applications, there will be assignments to be completed by you. Most of these assignments are to be completed outside of the regular class times. The in class lab assignments will be given where you will do the work with the instructor in attendance to provide assistance.

I encourage the tendency for "group study"; and to make sure that each of you does in fact get familiar with the materials, I plan to give two hands on exams plus a PowerPoint project. The exams will be on the computers and open book. The results will be turned in through WebCT and/or on removable media.

Writing Requirement
The School of Management is committed to the enhancement of writing skills as a means to equip its business graduates. Therefore, all assignments will be graded on spelling and grammar. I will take up to 10 points off for spelling errors and poor grammar on all assignments. If you have difficulty in this area, I suggest having someone else proofread your work before handing it in. OASIS can help in this area -- http://www2.ric.edu/oasis/

WebCT by Blackboard
You will be expected to access Blackboard's WebCT Learning Management System at RIC. Lecture material will be posted on the WebCT site after each lecture is given. Exams, quizzes, and assignments will be found on WebCT. An FAQ page and a number of White Papers will answer many of your questions about the course and using WebCT. You are expected to check into WebCT daily to retrieve emails and access the information I will make available to you. Failure to receive an email or know about a change in the calendar or an assignment/that is due because of not checking in to WebCT daily is not an excuse for missing the work. The following links may be useful to get to know WebCT:

Technical Requirements http://www2.ric.edu/uss/webct_techRequirements.php 
Logging in Issues http://www2.ric.edu/uss/webct_logonTrouble.php 
WebCT FAQs http://www2.ric.edu/uss/webct_studentFaq.php

The Student Toolbox is a great source of WebCT material and other information about technology and other RIC information. http://www.ric.edu/studenttoolbox

The URL to access WebCT directly is http://webct.ric.edu:8900 OR you can open http://www.ric.edu > Online Services > WebCT. I suggest you bookmark the link for easy access on your computer.

To use WebCT, be sure to have pop-up blockers turned off. The browser you use is important and IE6 or better works well. There is an option on WebCT to check your browser for compatibility and I suggest you do the check before using it. We will be using IE7 in class.

Quizzes:
Hands on quizzes will be given in class on material covered in the textbook and lectures. These will be taken in class using WebCT and used to assess your progress in the class. Quizzes count for 10% of your overall grade. These are not open book and will occur at the beginning of class.

Grading Policy:
I plan to assign a number of in class lab assignments which will be considered in your grade. Each carries a weight of 100 points. Tutorials and case assignments will be given, but will not count in the assignment grading. Each tutorial or case assignment counts as 1 point toward participation and submission gives you access to the solution file for the work so you can compare your solution to a correct one.

All assignments are due before class on the due date. Turning in an assignment during class may result in an automatic zero. If a late submission date is assigned to an assignment (as noted on the bottom of the assignment), it is due at 11:00 pm on that date. In general, any assignment will either be done correctly or not (100 or 0 points). However, the following might occur for the reasons given.

Deduct up to 5 points for each mistake made, including spelling, grammar, etc.  If the assignment is passed in after the beginning of class, even though the same day, it is considered as late. Late assignments will receive a maximum of 70 points if turned in no later than the late date listed on the assignment. Work received after the late date will receive a grade of 0.  Of course, failure to turn in an assignment will produce a 0.

It is up to you to check the grade comments on each assignment to determine why you received the grade you did, even if the grade is 100. Comments may offer suggestions to improve your work or instructions on what to do to increase the grade. Failure to read the grade comments is not an excuse for missing a chance to fix an assignment. (See the FAQ page on WebCT for  instructions on how to access the grade comments and how to re-submit an assignment)

I may elect to return an assignment to you with a RESUBMIT or FIX request. I expect you to correct the problems and return the assignment as an email attachment by 11:00 pm on the requested date for an increased grade, otherwise your grade on the assignment will be as given. If I have not requested for you to fix the assignment you will not be re-graded even if you do so on your own. Usually a grade of 90 or better will not result in a fix request. Failure to show up at class because you are working on your assignment in the Lab or working on and submitting during class will result in a 0 for the assignment -- easily determined by the time you submit your work.

All grades are posted weekly on WebCT. This will be explained in class.  

I plan to give no less than three exams during the semester, each with a value of 100 points. Relative to exams, my make-up policy is that you may make-up only one missed exam; and the arrangements for that make-up must be made no later than the next class meeting. The last exam cannot be made up.

There will not be a final, all inclusive exam.  However you will be expected to use everything you have learned in prior lessons both in homework and quizzes.

Additional points may be taken away or added at my discretion, perhaps to react to issues of attitude and tardiness. The sum total of all homework plus extra credit work will not exceed 100 points. (Note: Decimals are rounded down--ie: 79.6 will be treated as 79.0) Grading is:

D-	D	D+	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A
60-62	63-66	67-69	70-72	73-76	77-79	80-82	83-86	87-89	90-92	93-100

The grade of A is awarded to those individuals who have demonstrated excellence in all regular assignments and have participated in class and in any extra credit assignments that may be handed out.

Class Participation:
Participation is expected in each class, therefore your attendance in each class is also expected. If you do not make a particular class, you are expected to email me and let me know your plans for acquiring the notes, handouts, and assignments for the next week. Each absence that is not excused by receipt of an email note from you may affect your final grade. No more than 2 excused absences will be accepted during the course. Other items included in the participation grade are 1 credit assignments and practice quizzes. Late 1 credit assignments will receive .7 points.

Late Registrations:
New students will be accepted into the class up to the final add date if there is room in the class. However, all work assigned since the first class period is due when due. Exceptions will not be made for late arrivals. Any quizzes or exams given during the missed classes may not be made up. The responsibility is on the student to find out what was missed and catch up by getting the lecture material from another student or from files that might be posted on WebCT.

Withdrawals:
Requests to withdraw from this class after the drop period has ended will not be granted.

Anticipated Topics to be Covered:

Essential Computer Concepts
Exploring the Basics of Microsoft Windows XP
Managing Your Files
Browser and E-mail Basics
Getting Started with Microsoft Office 2007

Word 2007
Tutorial 1: Creating a Document
Tutorial 2: Editing and Formatting a Document
Tutorial 3: Creating a Multiple-Page Report
Tutorial 4: Desktop Publishing and Mail Merge

PowerPoint 2007
Tutorial 1: Creating a Presentation
Tutorial 2: Applying and Modifying Text and Graphic Objects

Excel 2007
Tutorial 1: Getting Started with Excel
Tutorial 2: Formatting a Workbook
Tutorial 3: Working with Formulas and Functions
Tutorial 4: Working with Charts and Graphics

Integration
Tutorial 1: Integrating Word and Excel

Typically, one class each week will consist of a hands on lecture. The other class will be a graded lab session to practice the material. Participation is required in both the lecture and lab portions of each class. Scheduled quizzes will occur at the beginning of a scheduled lab class. On exam days, the entire time will be devoted to the exam.

Semester:
The semester begins Tuesday, September 2nd and ends Friday, December 12th

Holidays:
9/1 Labor Day
10/13 Columbus Day (Monday classes meet on Wednesday)
11/11 Veterans' Day
11/27 and 11/28 Thanksgiving