CIS 117 - Windows Operating System
Course Overview - Winter, 2013

Instructor: Kathie Gourlay
Telephone: 313-268-6537
Message E-mail: gourlay@wccnet.edu
Mailbox: BE 200 (734-677-5431)
Home Page: http://courses.wccnet.edu/~gourlay
Office hours: By appointmen

Course Description:

This course covers the use of an operating system with a graphical user interface to maintain, troubleshoot, repair, and customize a microcomputer system. Respect for the rights of others and proper security measures are also discussed. Windows 7 is currently used in the course. The prerequisites of this course are academic reading and writing Levels of 6.

Course Objectives:

This course teaches the student to...

Required texts and supplies:

  1. Text: Microsoft® Windows® 7 Comprehensive
    by Parsons, Oja, and Ruffolo, 2011; ISBN-13: 978-0-538-74600-7
    published by COURSE TECHNOLOGY CENGAGE Learning

    This book may be obtained from:
    Barnes and Noble, Student Center Bldg., Washtenaw Community College, 973-3594
    or Campus Book and Supply, 1078 Huron River Dr., (734) 485-2369.

  2. A flash drive on which to keep your files.

Grading Policy:

Your grade will be based on the following assignments:
4 Tests Each test is worth 15% of your grade. The total is 60% of your final grade.
5 Exercise Packets Each packet is worth 8% of your grade The total is 40% of your final grade.
Extra Credit Exercises 1, 3, or 5 points each The total is 0 - 10% of your final grade.

Tests - will be in class on the day indicated on the schedule below. They will be a combination of written answers and skills that must be demonstrated by the student on their classroom computer.

Exercises - Some exercises may be done at home, others are in-class exercises.

Extra Credit Exercises - may be chosen by the student and approved by the teacher. They are worth 1 to 5 points each, depending on their level of difficulty.

Assignment Due Dates and Late Exercises:

Late Tests - If you are absent the day of a test, you must make arrangements to take it before the next class. This is because the tests will be handed back and gone over during the class after the test. The four test days are shown on the syllabus.

Late exercises - Exercises that are more than one week late may be marked down 50%. If you are absent, please contact another student or look on Blackboard to see what in-class or homework exercises you missed.

Extra Credit Exercises - may be turned in up to the second to last class.

Your final letter grade will be determined as follows. While class is in progress, you can see your "percent grade in-progress" in Blackboard.

93% and aboveA73-76%C
90-92%A-70-72%C-
87-89%B+67-69D+
83-86%B63-66%D
80-82%B-60-62%D-
77-79%C+59% and belowF

Miscellaneous:

Out of class help:

No eating or drinking near any computer. The instructor will show you where you may store your food and drink during class.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act all qualified students are entitled to reasonable accommodations. Please notify the instructor if any accommodations are needed or go to LA 104 for support.

Although you are encouraged to help each other, the work you hand in must be your own. If you are caught cheating or are guilty of plagiarism, you may be sanctioned as described in the WCC Board of Trustees Police 4095 " Student Rights and Responsibilities", which is on the WCC website.

Tentative Schedule

Assignments are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise indicated. The assignments will be found under "Assignments" in Blackboard.

Date Reading Lecture Topics Assignments due & exams
Jan 18   Course overview. Operating Systems. Windows basics.  
Jan 25 Tutorial 1 Files and folders, Using Help, Using a flash drive  
Feb 1 Tutorial 2 Notepad, WordPad, Files and folders(cont.), Compressing files  
Feb 8 Tutorial 3.1 Customizing desktop and display, Printscreen Exercise packet 1 due, Test 1
Feb 15 Tutorial 3.2 Calculator, Customizing start menu and taskbar.  
Feb 22 Tutorial 4 Browsers, E-mail  
Mar 1 Tutorial 5 Security Exercise packet 2, Test 2
Mar 8 NO CLASS. WINTER RECESS
Mar 15 Tutorial 6 Security (cont.), searching your computer  
Mar 22 Tutorial 7.1 Searching other computers, Groups, Paint  
Mar 29 Tutorial 7.2 Picture, Video and Audio Files Exercise packet 3
Apr 5 Tutorial 8.1, App. A Connecting to Networks Test 3
Apr 12 Tutorial 8.2, Tutorial 9.1 Homegroup, Synchronizing, Remote Desktop, Installing/Uninstalling, Device Drivers  
Apr 19 Tutorial 9.2 Backing up, Maintaining hard disks and monitors Exercise packet 4
Apr 26 Tutorial 10 System performance, Troubleshooting  
May 3   Optional topics Exercise packet 5, Test 4