Computers and Society, Winter 1998
GST 2710, Section 90571
AGS 3360, Section 95198

Last updated: 1/18/98
Link back to course Welcome Page

Syllabus

Computers and Society, Winter 1998
GST 2710, Section 90571
AGS 3360, Section 95198
Meeting Times: Mondays, 6- 9:40 PM

Location: ISP Computer Lab in 113 Rackham
(NE corner of Warren and Woodward, parking structure off of Warren, $1 bill required)

This class primarily uses Microsoft Works 3.0 on the DOS/Windows platform. For Internet applications, the class uses the Macintosh platform.

Course Web Site: http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen/casf97

Instructor: David R. Bowen

Office Hours through Friday February 6: Mondays 4 - 6 PM in 113 Rackham
After February 6: Tuesdays 4 - 6 PM in 113 Rackham
(But call or email anytime)

Office Location: 2311 A/AB Building
(5700 Cass at the corner of Palmer and Cass)
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48202

Work Phone: 313-577-1498
Lab Phone: 313-577-9705
FAX: 313-577-8585
Home Phone: 248-549-8518
At Ford: 313-390-2155

E-mail: drbowen@cll.wayne.edu

Course Description and Objectives:

The course is part of the Undergraduate General Education Program and meets the General Education Computer Competency Requirements at Wayne State.

The purpose of this course is to make students computer literate in an interdisciplinary context. Therefore the objectives are not only to provide students with hands-on experience with commonly used applications such as Word-processing, Database, Spreadsheet, Drawing, and Painting programs, but also to introduce the conceptual underpinnings of the digital computer to to enable them to better grasp its strengths and limitations as a tool in solving a variety of problems, to introduce students to its architecture and how it functions as an information processing system through the addition of appropriate peripherals, to introduce students to methods of communication with a variety of information sources, and to examine the impacts of computers on society with particular emphasis on the transformation of values, and the nature of work in the changing culture.

The course will cover three major areas:

1. Computer Concepts and Computer Architecture
   1. Structure of a computer
      1. Binary representation of information
      2. How machines do logic
      3. Interrelationship of the various parts of the computer
      4. Operating Systems
   2. Peripherals (Floppy and Hard Disks, Printers, Monitors, etc.)
   3. Software (Machine Language, Programming Language, and Applications)
   4. Personal/Mainframe Computer communication
   5. Client / Server architecture
   6. Internet and World Wide Web
2. Laboratory work using selected software (Microsoft Works on DOS/Windows)
   1. Word Processing
   2. Spreadsheets
   3. Database Analysis
   4. Charting
   5. Introduction to programming (QBasic)
   6. Internet and World Wide Web applications
3. The Impact of Computers on Society
   1. Artificial Intelligence
   2. Computer Applications - Cars, Electronic Mail, etc.
   3. Impact on the Workplace
   4. Impact on the Economy
   5. Impact on Values

For students who wish to fulfill the General Education computer competency requirement in other ways, you may use a course from the Computer Science Department or Business School as an alternative, or take the general Computer Competency exam.

ADD-DROP:

The add-drop period is 10 days after the start of class Monday January 12 - Friday January 23. A class can be dropped up to January 23 with 100 % reimbursement. No adds are allowed after the first two weeks (January 23). From Monday, January 26 through Friday, February 6, courses can be dropped. Tuition will still be owed, but courses dropped during this period do not appear on your academic record. After Monday, February 9, courses can be dropped only with the Instructor's signature. After Tuesday, April 28, courses cannot be dropped.

Other Significant Dates:

Monday, January 20: Martin Luther King Day. No classes.

Monday, March 16 - Saturday, March 21. Spring recess. No classes.

Monday, April 27. Last day of classes.

Tuesday, April 28. Study Day. (Office hours for this course continue in 113 Rackham).

Wednesday, April 29 - Tuesday, May 5. Final Examination Period. Final Examination for this course is Tuesday, May 5. Regular office hours on this date. This is also the last day to turn in work for this course and have it count in the regular course grade.

(You can turn in work after May 5 to count towards a change of grade. I can turn in a change of grade up to the end of the Winter, 1999 semester. You can turn in work up to two weeks before that time.)

Dates of Major Evaluations:

• Half hour quiz at start of class every week for the first 5 weeks
• Four hour midterm exam in the ninth week (March 10)
• Half hour Quiz on April 7
• Four hour final exam on May 5

Grading:

There will be weekly homework assignment, regular quizzes, several computer assignments and two examinations. Homework is due the week following the assignment.

For AGS 336, an additional 6 page paper is required, on a topic related to the course. Both Library and Internet references are to be used. Further details will be distributed next week.

The course grade will be constituted as follows:

• Weekly Assignments: 20%
  ( May be reduced if there is a significant difference between quiz and exam performance and homework performance)
• Quizzes 15%
• Attendance 15%
  No missed classes gets averaged in as a 95 (A)
  The 95 gets lowered by ten points (one grade) for each missed class.
• Midterm Exam 25%
• Final Exam 25%

A "+" on a grade adds 3 points; a "-" subtracts 3 points. For example, an A- gets averaged as a 92.

Starting this semester, University course grades can include "+" and "-".

Assessment by 4th Week:

The instructor is required to provide the University with a written assessment of your performance by the end of the 4th week of class. In these sections, the assessment will include performance on quizzes, timely purchase of class texts, completion of homework assignments and attendance, and will include suggestions for improvement which will be routed to a counselor

Incompletes will be given in this course only under very exceptional circumstance, as the student cannot be assured of a a computer station in the subsequent terms if the classes are filled to capacity. Under no circumstances will incompletes be given to students who miss two weeks of class in the first 8 weeks of the 16 week term, unless they meet with the instructor before the second absence. Make-up exams will only be given in exceptional circumstances for officially verified medical reasons. The request must come before the actual exam.

Grading for Course withdrawals:

Students who do not officially withdraw from the course before the drop deadline will be given an E. Students who have reasons for withdrawal after the drop-deadline that are compelling enough to warrant an exception to this policy will only be considered for an exception if they meet with the instructor about the issue allowing no more than 2 consecutive absences or a total of 3 absences to elapse before the meeting. A grade of X will be considered in such cases.

Exceptions to grading policy:

• Students who score an A in the midterm and the final exams will obtain an A in the course.
• Students who score a C or D on the quizzes, and midterm and final examinations can have their grade improved significantly if their attendance and homework is steady and demonstrates their understanding of the concepts.

Students who miss a class are required to pick up the assignment for the following week as soon as possible, and turn in their assignments for the subsequent week on time. The major cause of student failure in the past in this class has been poor attendance, and irregular attention to the course. Very few, if any, students who have done their own homework and attended class regularly have failed this computer class. Student with anticipated work related attendance problems should contact the instructor well in advance. Students with special emergencies should call and leave a message as soon as possible.

Materials for GST 271 (DOS/Windows Platform):

Texts:

1. Microsoft Works for Windows Step by Step by George and Helen Lynch , Computer Literacy Press ISBN # 0-941681-74-2 ($18.75), available at Marwil's Bookstore (Tel.832-3078) at the corner of Cass and east-bound West Warren on Campus.)
2. Computers Inside and Out (5th Ed) by Kurt Lauckner and M Lintner, Pippen Publications ISBN 1-880066-13-0. This book is temporarily out of print. ISP is having the parts that we use copied, and will sell it at cost in class. The cost is approximately $20. You should have this amount for the second class, and the books will be available for the third class.

Other required materials:

1. High Density 3-1/2" Floppy Disk This may be purchased at the University Bookstore, Radio Shack, or any computer store, for about $1.00 before the 2nd class. You may need 2 disks. You will use this disk to store your work between lab sessions. Treat it carefully. You can damage the disk and lose the information on it because of heat, cold, strong electric or magnetic fields, and bending or twisting.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

You must have the required materials (except for Computers Inside and Out) by the second week of class, and Computers Inside and Out by the third class. Those individuals who chose not to have the required materials will be seriously jeopardizing their chances for success in this class!. Please contact your instructor and counselor immediately if this is a problem for you.

Laboratory work will be involved for the second half of the four hour class period every week. Students will be provided a Macintosh computer that runs DOS/Windows and the required software, to work with in the lab, and will be assigned software on disk. Texts associated with the software will be used to do exercises. As lab time is limited, students should be well prepared at home to attack their lab assignments efficiently. Almost all students need to use a computer outside of class hours to finish their computer assignments. The classroom presentation is a distillation of the assigned readings. Concentration in the classroom represents the most efficient use of the student's time. Students are encouraged to tape the lecture-discussion part of each class to ensure that the concepts are internalized. It is much more difficult to glean them cold from the readings.

Miscellaneous Notices:

ON THE LABORATORY COMPUTERS, THE KEYSTROKE <Option><Return> TOGGLES BETWEEN THE MACINTOSH AND DOS/WINDOWS SYSTEMS.

ALWAYS RETURN TO THE MACINTOSH SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER. SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER FROM THE "SPECIAL" MENU WITH A MOUSE CLICK BEFORE YOU TURN OFF THE SWITCH.

WHEN WORKING AT THE ISP LAB, OR ON ANY OTHER COMPUTER, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR FLOPPY DISK FOR VIRUSES BEFORE AND AFTER YOU USE THE COMPUTER!!!!!!

USE THE SAME COMPUTER EACH CLASS.

PLEASE MAKE BACKUP OF ALL YOUR DATA FILES FROM THE HARD DISK TO YOUR FLOPPY DISK BEFORE LEAVING THE LAB. YOU MAY FIND YOUR FILES ON THE HARD DISK DESTROYED ACCIDENTALLY OR DELIBERATELY BY ANOTHER USER.

PLEASE SAVE YOUR WORK FREQUENTLY WHILE IT IS IN PROGRESS (ABOUT EVERY 10 MINUTES) SO IT IS NOT LOST IN A SYSTEM CRASH. BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ABOUT SAVING BEFORE PRINTING.

NO SMOKING IN THE LAB UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU CANNOT BRING EDIBLES TO YOUR STATION. THESE MAY DAMAGE THE COMPUTERS.

APART FROM YOUR OWN FILES, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE ALL COMPUTER FILES UNCHANGED BY THE TIME YOU LEAVE THE CLASSROOM. IF YOUR INSTRUCTOR HAS SHOWN YOU HOW TO DO A PARTICULAR FILE OR PROGRAM TRANSFER, PLEASE UNDO THE TRANSFER BEFORE LEAVING SO STUDENTS IN THE NEXT SECTION CAN REPEAT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

PERUSING ANOTHER STUDENT'S PERSONAL FILES IS CONSIDERED AN INVASION OF PRIVACY. DUPLICATION OF ANY FILE OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTOR'S PRIOR PERMISSION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE STUDY BUDDY IN THE CLASSROOM. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYONE MAKE YOUR NEIGHBOR IN THE LAB YOUR STUDY BUDDY AND BE SURE TO EXCHANGE PHONE NUMBERS. HAVE YOUR STUDY BUDDY PICK UP MATERIALS FOR YOU IN YOUR ABSENCE.

REGULAR AND PROMPT ATTENDANCE AND ATTENTION TO ASSIGNED READING AND EXERCISES IS ESSENTIAL FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

WORKING WITH FLOPPY DISKETTES IN THESE COMPUTERS:

1. DO NOT INSERT YOUR FLOPPY DISK IN THE DISK DRIVE UNTIL WINDOWS HAS STARTED. INSERTING IT BEFOREHAND WILL RESULT IN ITS BEING TREATED LIKE A MACINTOSH DISK, AND THE COMPUTER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO READ IT.
2. IF YOU DO INSERT YOUR DISK BEFORE WINDOWS HAS STARTED, YOU WILL HAVE TO RETURN TO THE MACINTOSH SYSTEM (<Control><Return>) AND DRAG ITS ICON TO THE TRASH BIN TO EJECT IT. THEN RETURN TO THE WINDOWS SYSTEM (<Control><Return>) AND INSERT IT, AFTER WINDOWS HAS STARTED.
3. THE BUTTON BENEATH THE FLOPPY DISKETTE DOOR IS THE POWER SWITCH, NOT THE DISK EJECT BUTTON!!!!
4. TO EJECT YOUR FLOPPY DISKETTE WHILE YOU ARE IN WINDOWS, PRESS <Control>e.
5. IF YOU FORGET AND RETURN TO THE MACINTOSH SYSTEM BEFORE EJECTING YOUR FLOPPY DISKETTE, RETURN TO WINDOWS (<Control><Return>) AND PRESS <Control>e.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CLEAN UP YOUR STATION AND SHUT THE COMPUTER DOWN BEFORE LEAVING. DO NOT SIMPLY SHUT THE POWER OFF. SHUT-DOWN PROCEDURE FROM WINDOWS:

1. SAVE YOUR WORK.
2. FROM WINDOWS, EJECT YOUR FLOPPY DISKETTE AS ABOVE (<Control>e).
3. GO TO THE MACINTOSH SYSTEM (<Control><Return>).
4. CLICK ON THE SPECIAL MENU ITEM AND HOLD THE BUTTON DOWN.
5. PULL THE MOUSE DOWN TO THE SHUT DOWN ITEM AND RELEASE THE MOUSE BUTTON.
6. THE COMPUTER WILL DISPLAY A DIALOG SAYING THAT THE PC IS STILL RUNNING. CLICK ok.
7. WHEN THE COMPUTER DISPLAYS A DIALOG SAYING THAT IT IS OK TO TURN YOUR MACINTOSH OFF, PRESS THE POWER BUTTONS ON THE COMPUTER BASE (THE BUTTON THAT IS NOT THE DISKETTE EJECT BUTTON) AND THEN THE MONITOR.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY IN THE MACINTOSH SYSTEM, SHUT THE COMPUTER DOWN BY STARTING AT #4 ABOVE.