Clayton State University

Syllabus
ITFN 1101 - Foundations of Information Technology
Spring 2010

GENERAL INFORMATION

 


Instructor:                                              E-Mail/Website/Phone:       

Sandra Jones                                           sandrajones@clayton.edu
                                                                http://cims.clayton.edu/sjones

                                                                (678) 466-4428

Office/office hours:                               Class Hours/Location:      

UC 306                                                    M/W/F 10:00 am – 10:50 am(UC 268)

M/W/F 12:00pm – 1:50 pm                               

T/T 11:15 am – 12:15 pm

 

 

 

Prerequisite

Math 1101 or higher

Co-requisite

None

Prerequisite For

 

Offered in Semester

Fall, Spring and Summer

Credit Hours

3 Hrs (3-0-3)

Contact Hours

3 Hours/week


Course Schedule
Assignments
Lecture Slides

Catalog Description (3-0-3)
Foundations of Information Technology is an introductory course in information technology. Topics include foundations in hardware, software, data, and procedures. Students are introduced to structured programming techniques, systems development, database design and networking. Aspects of appropriate business ethics are discussed. Interpersonal skills and team-building emphasized.

Course Objectives:
The student should be able to demonstrate general basic IT knowledge and skills that are related to the following:

  1. Working independently as required
  2. Showing Oral & Written Communication Skills
  3. Job Searching and Career Skills
  4. Problem-solving
  5. Reasoning & Critical Thinking
  6. IT Skills Awareness
  7. Teamwork on assignments as required
     

Course Textbook:
New Perspectives on Computer Concepts, 12th Edition, by June Jamrich Parsons and Dan Oja.
Publisher: Course Technology
 

Course Outcomes:
Students are expected to obtain a developing level of mastery of information technology concepts, terminology, and skills. Students will demonstrate an emerging level of knowledge of the basic components of information systems. Students should show potential to perform independently and develop an awareness of the benefits of teaming. Students should exhibit communication, reasoning, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
 

Attendance Policy

Your active participation in class is expected. Class attendance is expected because it's much easier to learn if you're coming to class and asking questions in lecture about things that confuse you.

  • The class attendance policy allows for three unexcused absences.
  • All excused absences must be accompanied by documentation such as a doctor's note.
  • For each unexcused absence after the first three, 1 point will be deducted from the final course grade for each unexcused absence. The maximum total deduction is 5 points.
  • Any excused absence for a monthly test or final must be discussed with the instructor at least 24 hours in advance. Test absences must be documented beforehand. Test absences that do not follow the above procedure will result in a grade of zero that that test or final.
  • Leaving before the end of class without consulting the instructor constitutes an unexcused absence.

Students are responsible for knowing about announcements or assignments made in class, whether the student was present or not.  Attendance may be used to assess grades in borderline cases. 

If class is to be canceled or delayed, you will be notified you via e-mail as soon as possible. Any missed class topics will be covered during the following class.

 

Assessment:
You will have numerous opportunities to practice and demonstrate mastery of the materials covered in this course. It is up to you to keep current on all readings and assignments (including in-class announcements).  If you fall behind, you will most assuredly fail this course!

Grading will be based upon the following scale:
 

Grade

Range

A

>= 90%

B

80% - 89%

C

70% - 79%

D

60% - 69%

F

< 60%


 Assignment weights are as follows:

Assignment

Portion of Grade

Final

30%

Three Monthly Tests

60% (20% for each of 3 tests given approximately once a month)

Weekly Assignments

10%


 The final for this class is comprehensive.

 

Make Up Policy:
Make-up exams are not allowed for ITFN 1101.  If you miss an exam, you may substitute your final exam grade for the missed exam.

 

EXCUSED ABSCENCES:

The student is responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to the instructor to substantiate the reason for absence. Among the reasons absences are considered excused by the university are the following:

·       Participation in an activity appearing on the university authorized activity list.

·       Death or major illness in a student’s immediate family.  Immediate family may include:  mother, father, sister, brother, grandparents, spouse, child, spouse’s child, spouse’s parents, spouse’s grandparents, stepmother, step-father, step-sister, step-brother, step-grandparents, grandchild, step-grandchild, legal guardian, and others as deemed appropriate by faculty member or student’s academic dean.

·       Illness of a dependent family member.

·       Participation in legal proceedings or administrative procedures that require a student’s presence.

·       Injury or Illness that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend class.  The student should obtain a medical confirmation note from his or her medical provider. The medical confirmation note must contain the date and time of the illness and medical professional’s confirmation of needed absence.  An absence for a non acute medical service does not constitute an excused absence.

·       Required participation in military duties.

Words of Wisdom (TAKE THIS PART SERIOUSLY!)

Your grade in this course is determined completely on performance, not on effort. If you cannot keep up with the pace of this class, please talk with your professor as soon as possible.

Student Responsibilities
Students are expected to abide by all policies in the University Catalog, Student Handbook, and the list of Basic Student Responsibilities posted on the Registrar’s Web site: http://adminservices.clayton.edu/registrar/.
 

STUDENT BEHAVIOR in the CCSU Student Handbook
We will adhere to all policies stated in the CSU Handbook regarding cheating, plagiarism, disruptive behavior in class, etc.  Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, giving and receiving information. This policy will be enforced. No exceptions.


 

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Clayton State University does not condone cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty. The student handbook contains further information and guidelines.

Students are expected to uphold the school's standard of conduct relating to academic honesty. Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the academic work they submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity shall be that a student's submitted work, examinations, reports, and projects must be that of the student's own work. Students shall be guilty of violating the honor code if they:

1. Represent the work of others as their own.

2. Use or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic work.

3. Give unauthorized assistance to other students.

4. Modify, without instructor approval, an examination, paper, record, or report for the purpose of obtaining additional credit.

5. Misrepresent the content of submitted work.

The penalty for violating the honor code is severe. Any student violating the honor code is subject to receive a failing grade for the course and will be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. If a student is unclear about whether a particular situation may constitute an honor code violation, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss the situation.

ITP CHOICE

All students at CCSU are required to state that they have on-demand access to a notebook computer that meets the recommended hardware/software specifications that have been established by Clayton State faculty. Academic penalties may be incurred for not meeting this requirement. Refer to the ITP Choice website for specifications and FAQs: http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/ 

Students must activate their CCSU email account and are expected to check their email on a regular basis.

Disability Statement

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations need to register with Disability Services (DS) in order to obtain their accommodations. You can contact them at 678-466-5445 or disabilityservices@clayton.edu. If you are already registered with DS and are seeking accommodations for this course, please make an appointment with your instructor to discuss your specific accommodation needs for this course and provide your accommodations letter.


Missing Class:

Prior approval is required for any extended class absence, missing a test, or missing a required presentation.


CLASS POLICIES

ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

·      You will be required to use your CSU e-mail account for all electronic communications.  Please include in the subject line of ANY communication your name and the course name.  Do not include your SID number.  The instructor will not be responsible for lost or discarded e-mails not conforming to these standards. 

·        The instructor may send e-mails with information vital to your success in the course.  Check your e-mail often, at least once a day.

·       Any voice-mail or e-mail messages are returned during the regular workweek. 

·       ABSOLUTELY NO GRADED ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA E-MAIL.  Assignments must be turned in as the instructor directs.

·       The instructor will NOT email or telephone to tell you everything you missed in class if you did not attend that day - please consult the course calendar, which is kept up to date.   

·       Because of the number of students we typically have, there may be some delay in the instructor's response to an individual's e-mail. 

·       Do not send time-sensitive information via e-mail, speak to the instructor in person.  A delivered e-mail does not relieve you of the responsibility of informing the instructor about some concern. 

·       Do not send a personal email correspondence to the instructor via the email class list.

 

Distractions:

The following distractions are prohibited during class:

·       The use of pagers, radios, or cell phones

·       Texting, e-mailing, Web browsing, or instant messaging

·       The use of earphones or watching videos.

·        Your laptop is not needed nor required for this class, therefore, you are not allowed to have it open during class. 

 

The instructor reserves the right to apply a 10-point penalty to your next exam if you are observed engaging in any of these activities.

 

Disruptive Classroom Behavior

Disruptive behavior in the classroom can negatively affect the classroom environment as well as the educational experience for students enrolled in the course.  Disruptive behavior is defined as any behaviors that hamper the ability of instructors to teach or students to learn.   Common examples of disruptive behaviors include, but are not limited to:

  • Monopolizing classroom discussions
  • Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints
  • Talking when the instructor or others are speaking
  • Constant questions or interruptions which interfere with the instructor’s presentation
  • Overt inattentiveness (e.g., sleeping or reading the paper in class)
  • Creating excessive noise
  • Entering the class excessively late or leaving early
  • Use of pagers or cell phones in the classroom
  • Inordinate or inappropriate demands for time or attention
  • Poor personal hygiene (e.g., noticeably offensive body odor)
  • Refusal to comply with faculty direction

 

Students exhibiting these types of behaviors can expect a warning from the instructor or dismissal for the lesson in which the behavior occurs.  Failure to correct such behaviors can result in dismissal from the course.

 

More extreme examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:

  • Use of profanity or pejorative language
  • Intoxication
  • Verbal abuse of instructor or other students (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
  • Harassment of instructor or other students
  • Threats to harm oneself or others
  • Physical violence

 

Students exhibiting these more extreme examples of disruptive behavior may be dismissed from the lesson or the entire course.

 

Students dismissed from a lesson will leave the classroom immediately or may be subject to additional penalties.  Dismissed students are responsible for any course material or assignments missed.

 

Students dismissed from a course have the right to appeal the dismissal to the department head responsible for the course.  Appeals beyond the department head may also be pursued.  If no appeal is made or the appeal is unsuccessful, the student will receive a grade o WF (withdrawal – failing) regardless of the current grade in the course.

 

Conditions attributed to physical or psychological disabilities are not considered as a legitimate excuse for disruptive behavior.