COMP 100 - Introduction to Computing and Information Systems - Syllabus

RICE UNIVERSITY – Spring 2009

WEBPAGE: http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~comp100

INSTRUCTOR

• Dr. Dung X. Nguyen (pronounced "Zung Gwen", it’s Vietnamese!): See home page for contact information.

TEXT BOOKS:  

The publisher, Course Technology, has bundled the following 3 books into a specially priced package for Comp 100:

These books have a many examples with very clear step-by-step instructions. Read them and practice!

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Students taking this course are NOT assumed to be computer literate at all. Though some of you may already be familiar with the computers, we will assume you know nothing about computers, start from scratch and teach you how to use the IBM PC, Windows, and Microsoft business application software. By the time you are done with the course, you will be computer literate, knowing how to talk like a "computer geek", and knowing how to use the two most popular business application software, Exel and Access, to solve common business problems and build a relational database to model the information system of a fictitious business. In addition, we will teach you how to use Microsoft Powerpoint to produce dazzling presentations of your works.

We plan to spend approximately 45% of the course on Excel and 50% on Access and 5% on Power Point.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of the course, the students should know:

• For Computer Systems:
• Hardware basics
• Networks basics
• Information systems basics

• For EXCEL 2007:
• Spreadsheet Design, Spreadsheet Formatting, Charting data
• Financial functions
• What-if analysis and optimization problems.

• For ACCESS 2007:
• Designing and creating a database, Database normal forms
• Queries to look up for information in the database, Forms to view and enter information into a database
• Reports to output data from a database.
• Create Dynamic Access Page for accessing database over the WEB

• For the PowerPoint 207:
• How to create a presentation.

Ultimately, you will learn how to fend for yourselves in this maddening world of high technology. You will learn how to read and carry out instructions or how to use computer software. Our goal is to teach you to learn by yourself. There will be lots of demonstrations in class. So it is vital that you come to class regularly.

GRADING

The course grade will be based on in-class exercises, homeworks, a database project, and exams. Homeworks' due dates and rules will be clearly stated at the time they are assigned.

• In-class exercises: 10%
• Homework:  15%
• Database Project:  15%
• Three exams:   60% (20% each)

Letter grade distribution is as follows:

100 >= A >= 93 > A- >= 90 > B+ >= 87 > B >= 83 > B- >= 80

80 > C+ >= 77 > C >= 73 > C- >= 70 > D+ >= 67 > D >= 63 > D- >= 60 > F

Make-up Policy:

• No make-up exams will be given unless there is a legitimate excuse such as medical emergency.
• No make-up in-class exercises will be given unless there is a legitimate excuse such as medical emergency or Rice related athletic activities.
• All make-up works must be done within one week of the original due dates.
• All excuses must be accompanied by appropriate documents.  For examples, doctor's note for medical emergency or coach's note for school related activities.

ADA:

Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with us during the first two weeks of class. All discussions will remain confidential. Students with disabilities should also contact Disability Support Services in the Ley Student Center.