1. Instructor Information:

Name Mr. Charles Kwiatkowski

E-mail address charles_kwiatkowski@ivcc.edu

Office hours Monday By Appointment Only
Tuesday 4:00-7:00
Wednesday 3:00-6:00
Thursday 4:00-5:30
Friday By Appointment Only

Contact information Charles Kwiatkowski
A Building, Room 330
IVCC
815 North Orlando Smith Road
Oglesby, IL 61348
+1 (815) 408 0876

2. Course description

Microsoft Windows is an operating system, which allows the user to integrate the different tasks performed on a personal computer. Windows is a graphical user interface that can make DOS based computers more user friendly. Lecture, two hours per week; lab, two hours per week.
Prerequisite: None
Credit Hours: 2

3. Course Meeting Times

10/13/2010-12/20/2010 Lecture Tuesday 08:00AM - 10:40AM, D Building, Room 109A 10/13/2010-12/20/2010 Laboratory Thursday 08:00AM - 10:40AM, D Building, Room 109A

4. Expected learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify and use several of the basic components of Windows
  - Perform tasks on the Windows Desktop
  - Organize files and folders with My Computer and Windows Explorer
  - Personalize the Windows environment
  - Customize the computer using the Control Panel
  - Search for Information
  - Perform activities with Windows Media Player and Movie Maker
  - Identify and perform basic networking terms and tasks

5. Disability statement :

You may be eligible for academic accommodations if you have a documented physical, psychiatric (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, AD/HD, post-traumatic stress, or others) or cognitive disability such as a learning disability. If you have a disability and need more information regarding possible accommodations, please contact

Tina Hardy at (tina_hardy@ivcc.edu, 224-0284) or

Judy Mika Judy_Mika@ivcc.edu or 224-0350) or

stop by office B-204.

6. Attendance Policy

Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) mandates students attend all class meetings. This includes both lecture and lab. Attendance is part of your class grade, typically 4 points per week. Attendance *may* be taken in the form of a pop quiz. These pop quizzes exist primarily to provide me an assessment of how well you are grasping the course material. Quizzes may be given at the start of lecture so be punctual.

You are expected to attend for the full lab period. You may be excused, with permission, when you have completed ALL of your homework (not just the nearest due). I have been known to give a quiz at the end of lab without a prior announcement. You may be marked as absent if you leave with being excused.

If you come in late, remind me that you were late BEFORE we leave class that day, preferably before I leave the podium. This is so I may give you half credit for attendance. Failure to do so will result in you being marked absent for that day. As much as I care about you and your education, I cannot remember whether or not you arrived late after class has ended.

We may do assignments during class. If you miss that class, you will NOT be able to make it up. 

Note: Two key aspects of attendance are preparation and participation. You are REQUIRED to read the material regarding the lecture topic BEFORE coming to class. You are expected to answer questions reasonably when called upon. "I don't know" may be true, but it is also an excuse. You are REQUIRED to make a reasonable attempt at an answer EVEN IF it is wrong so I may gauge your understanding of the current topic. Answering "I don't know" or such similar response may result in attendance points deduction.

This is your obligation.

7. Assessment of student learning.

Student learning will be assessed by in-class questions, homework and exams.

8. Grading: The grading of the course will fall into 3 categories:

Homework

This is where you will develop and apply your knowledge relevant to the topic. There shall be about 1 homework per chapter. Homework will consist of hands-on work, and short answer questions. Each chapter's combined work shall typically be worth anywhere from 20 to 40 points depending on the number of questions.

Final Exam

Based on the Homework. It shall be worth about 100 points. You must receive a passing grade on the final exam to pass the class.

Final grade by percentage of possible points

90-100% A

80-89% B

70-79% C

60-69% D

< 60%   F

Note: Grades are not rounded up or down. Example: if you end up with an overall course grade of 89.99%, you have earned a B.

9. Withdrawal policy

According to IVCC, you may withdraw from this course with instructor permission.

You may withdraw from this course for any reason you like. I shall not shame you nor chide you for dropping the course, but I may inquire why. The only exception for this rule shall be for people who have left their lab partner "hanging". This applies only to classes with labs using lab partners. 

Note: Just because you stop showing up for class does not grant you a grade of I (incomplete) or W (withdrawn). You must promptly contact me in order to receive a grade of I or W.

For Second 8 Week Session, Fall 2010:
Tuesday, October 19 is the last day for refund.
Tuesday, November 9 is the Last Day for Student Withdrawal

Personal advice: Education is not a race. There is no shame in strategic retreat. Drop the class in which you are performing the worst in, not the one you like the least. Always aim to keep your grade point average high as it will take you farther than how long it took you to complete your degree/certificate/program.

10. Cell phone and text messaging policy.

Calculators, Laptop PCs, Cell Phones, iPods, and other electronic devices are not allowed during exams and quizzes unless otherwise specified. failure to comply with these rules will result in ejection from the exam and a grade of F for the exam.

11. Financial aid statement

Withdrawal from a course can affect financial aid. Students who receive financial aid should see an advisor in the financial Aid Office before withdrawing from a course.

12. Plagiarism statement/academic honesty

Policies regarding cheating may be found under the heading of “Academic Integrity” in the IVCC Student Handbook.  Students should become familiar with these policies and abide by them. 

Furthermore, don't even think about cheating. Cheating is not tolerated at all.  Although I encourage you to collaborate and discuss ideas and concepts from this class with others, you are responsible for your own work. A (all too) common example of cheating is to work together collectively in a group and each member turns in his/her copy of the same document. This is completely unacceptable.

When you cheat, you insult my intelligence.

13. Any classroom rules

Lecture

Lecture shall begin promptly at the assigned time. I ask that you REFRAIN from asking me questions while I am at the podium before lecture starts, as I am usually setting up. This also ensures that everyone in class has a chance to hear the question and answer.

Questions about HW assignments may be deferred to lab (if possible) . You can expect lecture to last until the assigned end time. Do not immediately begin packing up your belongings before the end of lecture. 

PC Usage

If you have a PC in front of you during lecture, it should be used ONLY for one of two things:

1. Following along with the lecture's slides, code, etc.

2. Working on an in-class assignment, NOT HOMEWORK!

Do not work on homework while I am lecturing. Do NOT "surf", check email, or play games during class. This is rude behavior and you may be asked to leave if caught doing so. If this continues to be a problem, further action may be taken.

Lab (if applicable)

This is where you are expected to work on your homework and labs. Also, this is where I answer questions about your HW. You may expect to need extra time outside of lab to complete your assignments.

Lab is also where I try to get grading done. Often, I like to call you over during grading so you can better understand why your grade is what it is.

You are advised to backup files on your U: drive. Through the miracle of technology, you may access your U drive from off campus. Visit the Learning Commons (aka Computer Lab) on the 2nd floor of D building, or their webpage at www.ivcc.edu/studenthelpdesk for more information.

You are expected to bring your textbook(s) to all class meetings and lab.

You may opt to also work on your homework assignments at home. This is fine, but know that:

1. If you have a question or a problem with the assignment, we may not have time to meet to solve your problem before the assignment is due.

2. You are responsible for the operation of your equipment. This means that you will not be given any special treatment if it your hard drive crashes, printer malfunctions, etc.

3. I do not debug over the phone or via email.

4. You are still expected to attend lab.

5. People who work on their assignments in lab tend to achieve higher grades than those that work at home.

Three strikes

If you have 3 unexcused absences of any combination class activity, (HW, quiz, lecture, etc.) your course grade becomes F. Just because you stop showing up for class does not grant you a grade of I (incomplete) or W (withdrawn). You must promptly contact me in order to receive a grade of I or W.

14. Outline of assignments for the semester

There shall be approximately 8 assignments, 1 per chapter.

Each chapter's assignment shall normally contain:

• Short answer (True/False, Multiple Choice, etc.) questions

• Hands-On work

15. Hints on how to be successful in the course

• Read the book before lecture.

• After reading the book, pay attention during lecture. If you still don't understand, ask a question,

• Do as much work as possible in the lab as possible, because if you have a problem, I am right there to help.

• Start homework early and keep working until 100% complete. It is IMPOSSIBLE to accurately predict how much debugging is necessary. Waiting until shortly before the assignment is due is a recipe for failure.

16. Required text and materials

512 MB or greater flash drive for this class's exclusive use.

Microsoft® Windows 7: Comprehensive, 1st Edition

Shelly; Freund; Enger

Copyright year: © 2011 Pages: 717

Print

ISBN-10 1-4390-8103-4

ISBN-13 978-1-4390-8103-7

17. Topic Schedule

This Schedule is tentative and subject to change.