COMP 121 – Computing in the Arts and Sciences

Course Syllabus

Instructor Information

Textbook Information

Class Information

Grade Information

Daily Course Outline

Instructor: Nancy Saks	Office: 329R Kuss Science Center (x-7861)	Home Phone: 324-3601
Email:  nsaks@wittenberg.edu
Office Hours: Whenever you can find me or by appointment. I’ll announce hours each week.
This week’s hours are: 8:30 – 10:15 MF 1:45 – 3:00 MWF

Textbooks:	Microsoft® Office Excel 2003 Coulthard/Clifford
	Microsoft® Office Access 2003 Coulthard/Clifford
	Learning to Program with Alice Dann/Cooper/Pausch

Class Schedule:

10:20 – 11:20 MF, 9:10 – 11:20 W

Course Description:

This computer science course is primarily intended for students majoring in non-science fields. It covers basic computer concepts (operating systems, files and directories, networking and the Internet), and gives the student experience in spreadsheets, databases, and algorithm development/programming in an object-oriented graphic animation language. It also examines the role of computers in society.

Course Objectives:

Upon completing this course, the student should have a working knowledge of the following types of computer software: spreadsheets, databases, graphics have a rudimentary understanding of a high-level programming language have an understanding of how computers and society interact be familiar with many of the opportunities available on the Internet

Evaluation:

9-12 labs, 30 points each 3 tests, 70 points each possible other assignments, no more than 60 points

Grading Scale:

Total possible points = 480 to 630

90%+	A
80% - 89.9%	B
70% - 79.9%	C
60% - 69.9%	D
< 60%	F
A curve lower than this is possible, but not guaranteed.

IMPORTANT NOTE!!! Late assignments are subject to a 10% PER DAY penalty, and will not be accepted after the lab is graded and returned.

Any student with a documented disability who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact each professor at the beginning of the semester.  Early notification is highly preferable.  Contact may be made by private consultation during my office hour or by contacting me by email or phone.  Please contact Lisa Rhine, Assistant Provost for Academic Services at 937-327-7924 in room 208 Recitation Hall to coordinate accommodations and receive self-identification letters for each professor.

Date	Topic	Reading Assignment Due on this Date	Other Assignments Due
8/22	Course Introduction Wittenberg System Introduction to Excel		If you haven’t logged on to the NT network this year, try doing so to make sure you can. Call the Solution Center at 525-3801 if you have problems.
8/24	Lab 1 - Basic Stuff plus some Excel	Chapters 1 and 2 of Excel book.	Bring your Excel book.
8/26	More on Excel Formulas; Modifying and Formatting Worksheets	Sections 3.1-3.2 of Excel book; Also Sections 6.1.1 and 6.1.4	Bring your Excel book.
8/29	Absolute vs. Relative Cell Addressing; Built-In Functions; Creating Embedded Charts	Sections 3.3.1, 3.4, and Chapter 4 of Excel book	Lab 1 Due. Bring your Excel book.
8/31	Lab 2 – Excel formulas, formatting and charts		Bring your Excel book.
9/2	More Formatting, Charts, and Built-In Functions	Sections 5.1, 5.2.1, 5.5, 5.6.1, 5.6.2, 6.1.2, 6.2-6.5 of Excel book	Bring your Excel book.
9/5	Large Worksheets	Chapter 7 of Excel book	Lab 2 due. Bring your Excel book.
9/7	Lab 3 – third Excel lab		Bring your Excel book.
9/9	Worksheet Lists	Chapter 8 of Excel book	Bring your Excel book.
9/12	What-If Analysis; PivotTables	Chapter 9 of Excel book	Lab 3 Due. Bring your Excel book.
9/14	Lab 4 – combination Excel/Access lab	Chapters 1 and 2 of Access book	Bring both Excel and Access books.
9/16	Catch-Up Day if necessary; Introduction to Access		Bring your Excel and Access books.
9/19	Test 1 (day 1)		Lab 4 Due. Bring your Excel book.
9/21	Test 1 (day 2)		Bring your Excel book.
9/23	Creating and Organizing a Database	Chapter 3 of Access book	Bring your Access book.
9/26	Simple Queries and Reports	Chapter 4 of Access book	Bring your Access book.
9/28	Lab 5 – First Access Lab		Bring your Access book.
9/30	Working with Tables	Chapter 5 of Access book	Bring your Access book.
10/3	Creating Select Queries	Chapter 6 of Access book	Lab 5 Due. Bring your Access book.
10/5	Lab 6 – Second Access Lab		Bring your Access book.
10/7	Advanced Queries	Chapter 7 of Access book	Bring your Access book.
10/10	Designing Forms and Reports	Chapter 8 of Access book	Lab 6 Due. Bring your Access book.
10/12	Lab 7 – Third Access Lab		Bring your Access book.
10/14	More on Forms and Reports	Chapter 9 of Access book	Bring your Access book.
10/17	Fall Mini-Break – No Class!
10/19	Lab 8 – Finish Access, start Alice	Chapter 10 of Access book	Bring your Access book.
10/21	Catch-Up Day if necessary; Introduction to Alice		Lab 7 Due. Bring Access and Alice books.
10/24	Test 2 (day 1)		Bring your Access book.
10/26	Test 2 (day 2)		Bring your Access book.
10/28	Alice concepts	Chapter 1 of Alice book	Lab 8 due. Bring the Alice book.
10/31	Creating Alice animations	Chapter 2 of Alice book	Bring the Alice book.
11/2	Lab 9 – Alice animation and beginning programming	Chapter 3, Section 1 of Alice book	Bring the Alice book.
11/4	Simple control structures in Alice	Chapter 3, Section 2 of Alice book	Bring the Alice book.
11/7	Classes, objects, and world-level methods in Alice	Chapter 4, Section 1 of Alice book	Lab 9 due. Bring the Alice book.
11/9	Lab 10 – Alice programming, introduction to parameters		Bring the Alice book.
11/11	More on parameters	Chapter 4, Section 2 of Alice book