Course Syllabus
Windows Vista Spring 2008

INSTRUCTOR:
Jackie Martin-Klement
Phone:  744-1150 x 2965
E-mail Address
jmartinklement@palomar.edu
Palomar ROP Office:  744-1150 x2301
CLASS MEETING DATES & TIMES:
RCSIS 170:  Windows Vista  (1 unit)              Meets in B8
 9:00AM 10:50AM MW         Room B-8                                   
Dates: 

08/25/08-10/15/08 (1st 8 week session)
10/20/08-12/15/08 (2nd 8 week session)

 

LAB TECHNICIAN:
John Diaz
TEXTBOOK: Windows Vista.  Paradigm Publishing.  ISBN:  978-0-76382-922-3.  Purchase at Palomar College bookstore or internet sites:  www.half.com or www.cheapbooks.com  

 

For Mouse-exercising:  www.labpub.com.  Follow the links.

SUPPLIES: 
REGISTRATION:

www.quikreg (through www.palomar.edu/rop website

Palomar College E-Services registration:  www.palomar.edu  Follow links for E-services; must have Student ID.

STUDENT LOGIN: 
Username:  student\winvista
Password:  vista
OPEN LAB HOURS:
Please see hours posted in the lab.
BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:
Appropriate language and computational skills
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
None.  Knowledge of keyboard recommended.  BUS ED 165 Keyboarding suggested.
SCOPE OF COURSE:
A comprehensive study of the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.  Using a hands-on approach students will learn how to use Windows Vista efficiently to work with the desktop, manage files, multi-task and configure the computer system for appropriate memory management and customization. Students will also use Internet Explorer to manipulate and display files, folders, and drives.
SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES:
SUGGESTED READING:
Any QUE books are very complete resources and can be found in stores such as Price Club and WalMart.  Computer Edge publications (free San Diego magazine/weekly).  San Diego Union Tribune Computer Link Section (weekly publication), any other computer magazines.  Internet tutorials on Windows and related topics.
REQUIRED WRITING:
Evaluations of the software programs, and narrative responses in weekly labs are a regular part of the course.
OUTSIDE ASSIGNMENTS:
Students will be expected to read material from textbook, BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS MEETING.  Students prefer the hands-on teaching techniques used in these classes, but it is much more meaningful if the chapter that the instructor is presenting has been browsed through first. Students may  be asked to choose real-life projects relating to an area of the class and complete at home or at work.  If a student does not have a computer at home, it may be necessary to come to the open labs which are provided two afternoons/wk to complete the lab assignment.  Students also appreciate open lab time to practice skills learned in class.  (Please always sign in to class and open lab.)
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:
Lecture/demonstration to explain concepts using a whiteboard as an aid and an overhead projector connected to a computer display for demonstrations.  Hands on guided practice, hands-on independent practice (lab exercises from text), group participation and assessment, question/answer, quizzes, and exams when appropriate, student presentations.
GRADING POLICY:
Exams/Quizzes:                                    45%
Class labs:                                            40%
Classroom participation:                         15%
GRADING NOTATIONS:
ü       +    =         Skill mastered
ü              =         Satisfactorily developing skill
ü       -      =         Skill not mastered; repeat  exercise
90-100%            = A
80-89%              = B
70-79%              = C
60-69%              = D
COLLEGE CREDIT: 
Students may take any of the ROP classes for college credit.  ROP classes are tuition-free.  Register online at www.palomar.edu  student e-services link.
WITHDRAWAL OF A CLASS TAKEN FOR COLLEGE CREDIT:
Please see the college catalog for withdrawal dates.  If student does not officially withdraw by the date in the catalog, an F will be received for the class and will become part of the student transcript of record.
STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Academic Integrity Code of Conduct
Academic Integrity is a code of conduct for students that requires honest and ethical academic endeavor.
Violations of the Academic Integrity Code include:
·         Cheating, plagiarism or false representation of another’s work as one’s own.
·         Forgery, alteration, or misuses of college documents or records.
·         Use of false identification.
·         Knowingly furnishing false information to the District.
·         Unauthorized use or misuse of District equipment.
·         Unauthorized access, use or alteration of computer hardware, software, or data.
·         Obstruction or disruption of the educational process.
·         Soliciting or assisting another to do any of the above.
Consequences:
Consequences for violating this code may result in any or all of the following:
At the discretion of the instructor the student may receive:
            1.   A failing grade for the assignment
            2.   A failing grade for the course
            3.   Short-term suspension as described in section IV A of the Rules and Regulations for Student Behavior
Long-term suspension or expulsion may be applied following the procedures described in the Rules and Regulations for Student Behavior.
RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE OF ROP COMPUTER APPLICATIONS CLASSES:
 1.       Windows (RCSIS 170)
 2.       Beginning Word (Keyboarding and basic word processing skills) (RCSIS 127)
 3.       Computer Applications Microsoft Office Beginning (RCSIS 120)
 4.       Computer Applications, Microsoft Office Advanced  (RCSIS 121)
 5.       Introduction to the Internet (includes web page design with HTML and Front Page) (RCSIS 137)
 6.       Excel (RCSIS 175)
 7.       Access (RCSIS 180)
 8.       Microsoft Publisher (RCSIS 130)
 9.       PowerPoint (RCSIS 97)
10.       Outlook (RCSIS 97)
11.       Technology-assisted Job Search (RCSIS 186)
12.       QuickBooks (RCSIS 109)
CERTIFICATION: 
Because this is an ROP course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and a Listing of Competencies upon completion with a grade of C or higher within several weeks of the end of the semester. It is recommended that you also take the course for college credit, in which case you will also receive a Certificate and Listing of Competencies in addition to a letter grade that will become part of your Palomar College transcripts.
There are two certifications, in addition to the ROP certificates that I encourage students to pursue when involved with the Computer Applications program at Palomar College.  Palomar College is a highly recognized institution in San Diego, and the MOS certification is an international standard for Microsoft products. 
I.                    Palomar College Software Applications Specialist Certificate of Proficiency
Includes:
·         Windows RCSIS 170, 1 unit
·         Beginning Microcomputer Applications RCSIS 120, 3 units
·         Advanced Microcomputer Applications RCSIS 121, 3 units
·         Introduction to the Internet RCSIS 137, 2 units
·         Contemporary Job Search Techniques RCSIS 186, 1 unit
·        QuickBooks RCSIS 109, 1 unit
Courses must be taken for college credit as well as ROP certification.  Upon completion of all 6 courses, student must obtain a Proficiency form from Admissions, complete and return to Admissions.  Please see college catalog for these deadlines.
Typically, this deadline
 II.                  Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOS) certification
Palomar College in an independent testing center for the MOS certification, Microsoft’s standardized exams that test proficiency in the software application packages.  Please see the Business Administration website at www.palomar.edu/business.
PROCEDURE FOR TURNING IN CLASS PRINTOUTS:
Labs will be required at the end of each chapter.  Labs are due within 2 class sessions of completion of the chapter.  Save all assignments on your student disk.
LAB ASSIGNMENTS:  50% of class time is dedicated to lab activities.  However, you will also  need to spend time outside the classroom to complete your labs.  You may do this in the library on campus, or during regularly scheduled classroom hours. 
SAVING DATA:
Remember to save all work on your USB flash drive and back up to the ROP student "W" drive
Important!  Students are responsible for proper backup procedures and for maintaining an organized folder structure on their USB flash drives and transferring this data as required by the instructor.  (Windows students will learn how to do this in the Windows Vista class, and will apply these procedures to all other computer classes.) 
PRINTING:
Printing will be on a limited basis.  The primary means for student/instructor recordkeeping will be your USB flash drive, with a backup on the ROP Student Drive W. 
Only print to the color printer when you have permission from the instructor please.  Students will be charged for paper used when printing has not been authorized. 
REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS by chapter, Pages 1-336.  Parts I and II.  To be completed within two, one unit Windows Vista courses.
We will be using the student and instructor websites at www.emcp.net/WindowsVista for additional activities and tutorials. 

Print the course syllabus and bring it with you to each class!!!

Part I:

Chapter One
Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 47-50.  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Chapter Two

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 74-76.  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Chapter Three

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 121-124 .  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Chapter Four

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 143-146 .  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Chapter Five

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 177-181 .  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Part II:

Chapter Six

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 215-218 .  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Chapter Seven

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 244-247.  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Chapter Eight

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 272-275 .  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Chapter Nine

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 305-307 .  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

Chapter Ten

Read the chapter, page by page, thoroughly, completing all activities in the chapter, except those your instructor asks you not to do.

Pages 333-335 .  Complete all Skills Check activities to include:

FINAL EXAM WILL OCCUR DURING OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CLASS MEETING TIME – WE DO NOT FOLLOW THE COLLEGE FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE.
Number of times course may be taken for credit:  _1__
DISABILITIES:
Please see me if you have special situations that may require certain accommodations.
IMPORTANT CAMPUS PHONE NUMBERS:
Palomar College has excellent career and counseling services available to all students who are enrolled. 
Transfer Center, x2552               (For students transferring to a 4 year college)
Career Center, x2194               (Resume writing, personal career counseling appts.)
Counseling Center, x2179               (Personal counseling service