Salt Lake Community College

Course Curriculum Outline

CATALOG INFORMATION
Course Abbreviation: CIS and Number: 1020

Course Title: Computer Essentials

Course Description: A hands-on introduction to problem solving using Computer

Tools. Basic hardware and Office software products topics are discussed

Course Prerequisites: None

Number of credits: 3

Number of instructional contact hours: 3

Number of lecture hours per week: 3 (varies with what class is doing)

Number of lab hours per week: 3 ( varies with what the class is doing )
(Hours per week or equivalent number per week for a full semester or equivalent)

Type of credit: Vocational

Course Fee (if applicable): None

Course will be offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Semester of Implementation: Current

APPROVALS:

Faculty Submitting Proposal: Philip H Nielson

School Curriculum Committee: Blair K. Carruth, October 28, 2009
Technical Review: (advisor's name and date)
Received by Articulation: (Articulation advisor's name and date)
General Education Committee: (chair's name and date)
Other Committees (specify): (chair's name and date)
Curriculum Committee: (chair's name and date)
Accepted by Senate: (curriculum chair's name and date)
Final Curriculum Approval: (AVP name and date)

INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT
Rationale for the change or addition of course: After reviewing our Outcomes Assessment in this
course, the ASLOs have been updated to better match the corresponding departmental PCO’s.
Financial impact: What resources will be needed?: No additional resources

What programs will utilize this course? Will it be General Education, a required course
or an elective in those programs?:

SYLLABI INFORMATION
Assessments

Program Objectives may be

ASLO Course Objectives/Student Outcomes
used but not limited to the
following:

1. CIS-CC 1.1 Efficiently use common business 1. Hand-on exercises

Acquire software including word processing, 2. Tests
Substantive spreadsheets, and presentation 3. Final project
Knowledge CIS-CC 1.2 Develop an understanding of the
hardware and software components
of a computer
CIS-CC 1.3 Communicate effectively in writing.
Proficiency should be at a level higher
than that available on a typewriter
CIS-CC 1.4 Choose and perform appropriate
calculations and / or functions for the
problem
CIS-CC 1.5 Demonstrate technological literacy as
defined in the State Guidelines.
2. 1. Hand-on exercises
Communicat CIS-CC 2.1 Communicate effectively using word processing, 2. Tests
e spreadsheet, and presentation software. 3. Final project
Effectively 4. Internet Exercises
CIS-CC 2.2 Extract relevant data from various sources, 5. Class presentations
process it appropriately and communicate 6. Discussions
this information to others.

CIS-CC 2.3 Communicate effectively using credible

research data

ASB- 2.4 Communicate effectively using credible

research data.

AAB- 2.4 Communicate effectively using credible

research data
3. Develop CIS-CC 3.1 Choose and perform appropriate calculations and 1. Use
Quantitative or functions for the problem. spreadsheets and
Literacy formulas to
effectively to solve
problems.
2. Hand-on
exercises
3. Tests
4. Final
project
5. Internet
Exercises
6. Class
presentations
7. Discussion
s
4. Think CIS CC 4.1 Utilize correct application tools to 1. Final
Critically communicate effectively. Projects
2. Case
Studies
3. Tests
4. Discussion
s
5.Develop the CIS-CC5. 1 1. Discussion
Knowledge Recognize the ethical considerations of s
and Skills to utilizing technology in business. 2. Tests/quizz
be Civically es
Engaged 3. Internet
exercises
4. Assignmen
ts

Delivery Format(s): Classroom, internet, classroom/internet

Instructions on Specific Assignments and Processes: (syllabus attached)

Other:

Additional Designation

This class fulfills the computer literacy designation at Salt Lake Community College.
 CIS 1020 – Computer Essentials
Fall 2009 Syllabus
Course Description
The Computer Essentials course is intended to help the student become computer
literate and computer competent. The course curriculum is directed at preparing the
student to use the computer as an everyday problem-solving tool. Completing this
course with at least a C grade meets the computer literacy requirement for SLCC.
This course fulfills the Computer Competency (CL) requirement for General
Education.

Required Materials
PACKET—Prentice Hall 053603057x ( available at the Bookstore or PJ’s )
• Computers Are Your Future ( Ninth Edition ), Introductory Edition, by Bill
Daley, Prentice Hall 2007 (Referred to as CAYF throughout syllabus and
schedule)
• Exploring Microsoft Office 2007, Custom Edition for Salt Lake Community
College
• MyITLab packet ( This must be NEW, not used )
• Student Data CD ( in the back of Exploring Microsoft Office 2007 )

NOTE: A package CANNOT be shared by two or more people or sold back to the
bookstore at the end of the semester, nor can it be passed to friends / associates for
use in subsequent classes

Prerequisites
No other courses are required for this class.

There is help available from several sources including the Learning Center in TB 213

You should have Microsoft Office 2007 on a machine that you can access frequently. You may use
the available labs including TB 530, BB 312, and most open machines on campuses to do the homework.
It is extremely difficult to attempt this class without access to the software

Course Objectives
During the course the student will demonstrate skills learned through assignments and exams. We will
concentrate on the following four major areas:

1. Computers and Society

We will discuss how computers are being utilized in business, industry, education, and personal use.
An introduction of the computer as a problem-solving tool with examples of types of problems the
student will be asked to solve during the semester with the aid of a computer.

We will also discuss ethical issues related to computer use, including: illegal copying of software
(piracy), privacy issues, computer crime, and computer viruses.
2. Application Software
The student will gain skills in common software operations such as: starting programs, loading data,
modifying data, saving data, printing information, cut/copy/paste, obtaining help, customizing the
operating environment, obtaining help, and exiting the program.

The specific types of software used will include: word processing, spreadsheet, presentations, and
integrated packages.

3. System Software
Common operating environment functions will be taught including: file management (i.e. copy,
backup, delete, search), and disk management. We will be using the Windows operating environment.

4. Computer Hardware
Finally, we will discuss the hardware components of a computer system. We will investigate how
physical computer devices actually work, devices such as: CPU, monitor, printer, modem and disk
drives and how these devices communicate with each other.

The student will also gain knowledge about how the computer organizes information through the use
of bits, bytes, words, the binary number system, and program instructions.

Grading Items
1. Exams: You will take eight (8) exams.

a. There will be four (4) Theory Exams. These will be multiple choice and matching
questions taken from the CAYF book.

b. There will be four (4) application exams. These will be practical operations from the
software book.

2. Final Project: Each student is required to complete a final project. It will be one of the
following (as selected by your instructor): a)PowerPoint presentation covering all software
applications; b) Written Research paper; c)Capstone Project where you will develop a new
computerized product or d)Project which will culminate all of the software applications. The
details of this final project will be given to you by your instructor.

3. Exploring Microsoft Office 2007 Volume 1 Book: You will be working with Windows XP
and three different software packages. Your instructor will give you specific assignments from
each of those packages. You should first complete the actual “tutorial” and then your instructor
will assign specific assignments and case problems. The data files required for this textbook can
be found at the following web site: http://www.pearsoncustom.com/slcc/

4. CAYF Book Assignments. Your instructor will give you assignments to complete regarding each
of the Chapters in the CAYF Book. These could include end-of-chapter material.
 5. Other Assignments. Your instructor will give you other assignments to complete using the
internet, e-mail, and our campus library. You will need to see your instructor for more details on
these assignments.

Grading Policies
The final grade is your accumulation of class points divided by the total points in the course. A
percentage is obtained and the letter grade is as follows:

Grade Percentage Grade Percentage Grade Percentage

A 95-100% B- 80-83% D+ 67-69%
A- 90-94% C+ 77-79% D 64-66%
B+ 87-89% C 74-76% D- 60-63%
B 84-86% C- 70-73% E Below 60

Grading weights are as follows:

All Exams 60%

All Assignments 25%
Final Project 15%
Total 100%

Other Information
Computer Lab Rules – Each student must obey all lab rules and conduct themselves professionally and
courteously. Failure to abide by lab rules will result in loss of lab privileges. Consult the labs for their
current operating hours.
Disability Resource Center - Qualified students desiring special accommodations
must contact the Disability Resource Center at the beginning of the semester.
Necessary accommodations cannot be provided until arrangement has been made
with the DRC. Accommodations are not retroactive. At the Redwood Road Campus,
DRC is located in SC008 and the phone number is 957-4659. At the South City
Campus, DRC is in W 138 and the telephone number is 957-325. (TTY 957-4646)

Honesty – This course will strictly enforce the Student Code of Conduct. The College imposes specific
actions in response to incidents of student dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) that may include
receiving a failing grade on a test or in the course, suspension or dismissal from the College.
General Education - This course is part of the General Education Program at Salt
Lake Community College. It is designed not only to teach the information and skills
required by the discipline, but also to develop vital workplace skills and to teach
strategies and skills that can be used for life-long learning.

While the subject of each course is important and useful, we become truly educated
through making connections of such varied information with the different methods
of organizing human experience that are practiced by different disciplines.
Therefore, this course, when combined with other General Education courses, will
enable you to develop broader perspectives and deeper understandings of your
community and the world, as well as challenge previously held assumptions about
the world and its inhabitants. You will also explore a wide variety of topics with an
eye toward discovering new interests and uncovering new talents.

General Education courses teach basic skills as well as broaden a student’s

knowledge of a wide range of subjects. Education is much more than the acquisition
of facts; it is being able to use information in meaningful ways in order to enrich
one’s life. General Education courses focus on communication, creativity, and
critical thinking skills and along with the substance of the course’s information, an
appreciation of the esthetics of the area of study and its connection to the larger
social web.

ACBSP: The Computer Information Systems programmed is accredited by the

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This
accreditation facilitates transfer of credit to four-year universities and colleges and
is recognized by employers. Completion of this course with at least a grade of B
(84%) meets the computer literacy requirement at four year institutions like the
University of Utah Business School. This course is not intended for people who have
already achieved "expert" status using the computer.
SLCC is committed to fostering and assessing the following student learning outcomes in its programs
and courses: substantive knowledge, communication abilities, quantitative literacy abilities, critical
thinking abilities, and ability to be civically engaged. To that end, the following learning outcomes are an
integral part of this course:

1. Efficiently use common business software including word processing, spreadsheets, and
presentation
2. Develop an understanding of the hardware and software components of a computer
3. Communicate effectively in writing
4. Choose and perform appropriate calculations and / or functions for the problem
5. Develop the Knowledge and skills ot be Civically Engaged

Not all of the ASLO’s will be measure each semester. Our department will choose different ASLO”s

Course Learning Outcomes –

CIS-CC 1.1 Efficiently use common business software including word processing,
spreadsheets, and presentation.

CIS-CC 1.2 Develop an understanding of the hardware and software components of a

computer.

CIS-CC 2.1 Communicate effectively using word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation
software.

CIS-CC 2.2 Extract relevant data from various sources, process it appropriately and
communicate this information to others.

CIS-CC 2.3 Communicate effectively using credible research data

ASB- 2.4 Communicate effectively using credible research data.

AAB- 2.4 Communicate effectively using credible research data

CIS-CC 3.1 Choose and perform appropriate calculations and or functions for the problem.

CIS CC 4.1 Utilize correct application tools to communicate effectively.

CIS-CC5. 1 Recognize the ethical considerations of utilizing technology in business.