Username and Password:

You must use a username and password after the first week of class. Without these words you will not be able to access the course materials.

EACH USERNAME AND PASSWORD IS UNIQUE TO EACH STUDENT!
                                               EXAMPLEUSERNAME:smit1234                                             
EXAMPLE PASSWORD: smit1234

In the box below please explain your understanding of usernames and passwords:

ON-LINE INSTRUCTIONS: YOU MUST FILL OUT THIS SYLLABUS IF YOU INTEND TO TAKE THE COURSE!

It is your responsibility to make sure the instructor has the all the contact information stated at the top of this syllabus by the start of classes!! It is your responsibility to e-mail the instructor if you have any problems or do not understand this syllabus. 

It is your responsibility to confirm your enrollment either via the Internet at https://ias.barstow.cc.ca.us/ or by calling (760)252-2411 x7236 if you are having problems accessing the course material.  After you have confirmed your enrollment, go to http://www.bcconline.com/orient/ and read the password link.  Following this procedure will ensure you are helped in the fastest manner possible.

By enrolling for this class, the assumption is that you possess the necessary skills to read at the college level, to enter and perform research on the internet, to email using proper email etiquette and to post to the discussions.

When emailing your instructor: ghenderson@bcconline.com  include your full name. Send all e-mail with the name of the course in the subject line and Lesson Number or use the words: problem, question or comment. Many times I have received e-mail with no name in the body of the email.  Sign all e-mail with your name as registered at school, or else you will not receive a reply and your assignment will not be graded.

You must explain the problem in the subject line, for example: Windows Problem. E-mail without an appropriate subject line will be deleted and will not be read. With the current high incidence of viruses and unsolicited email, I delete all email without appropriate subject lines automatically.

Remember I do not answer e-mail on the weekends, Therefore, to determine the 48 hours response time, do not include Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. If an e-mail with the word “problem, help, or question” in the subject line is sent on Monday through Thursday you can expect a response within 24-48 hours.  If an e-mail with the word “problem, help, or question” in the subject line is sent on the weekends, there will be a longer turn around time, but the e-mail will be answered by Tuesday of the following week. 

E-mail assignments will have a one week turnaround time, and you should not expect an answer to a successfully submitted and completed assignment before the end of the one week turnaround time period.  Receiving graded assignments or answers to your questions before the above stated timelines have passed does not guarantee that you will receive replies that quickly in the future. 

Online classes are NOT conducted via instantaneous transmission.  Just as I am giving you a NINE day period to complete your work, I am to be given SEVEN days to reply to your assignments.  In addition, the above stated timelines apply to ALL students and ALL responses to your questions and concerns. 

I appreciate your understanding of the above stated timelines and will respond to ALL questions and concerns about this class within the timeframes stated above.

A posting place at the top of the discussion page indicates the instructor’s message board to you. Be sure to check this each week so that you don’t miss messages and clarifications; remember that sometimes no instructor posting will have been made.  Students are not to post in the instructor's posting area.  Should you have a concern with your class please e-mail me your question.  It is not appropriate for students to post their concerns in the instructor's posting area. Students who post in the instructor's posting area will receive a warning and their posting will be deleted unanswered.  Students who ignore the warning and post again to the instructor's posting area will be dropped from the class. 

At the conclusion of the class students may find out their grades by calling (760) 252-6868 (local or out of state) and (877) 336-6868 (toll free within California).  You may also find out your grade by going on the Internet at https://ias.barstow.cc.ca.us. 

In the box below type: I understand and agree to abide by the online instructions written above.

Course Description

Units: 1.5    Lecture: 18    Lab: 27   

This course introduces students to the WINDOWS operating system. Topics include navigating the desktop, shortcuts, desktop icons, taskbar, help, explorer, customization, control panel, disk maintenance, drag and drop, pad and paint, and Windows accessories.

Outcomes and Objectives

The objective of the Windows course is to provide the student with a solid understanding of the Windows Operating system. The course provides a realistic context in which the student can learn how to use and navigate in the Windows environment. After successfully completing this class students will be able to:

• Understand the history of operating systems
• Navigate the desktop
• Know how to develop shortcuts and other desktop icons
• Use the Taskbar
• Access and print Help
• Understand and use Windows Explorer
• Customize Windows, using Control Panel and Taskbar settings
• Perform disk maintenance
• Use the Find Utility
• Practice drag and drop with WordPad and Paint
• Explore Windows accessories

Course Materials

Text: Microsoft Windows XP - Illustrated Introduction, Steven M. Johnson, Course Technology, 2002 (which includes a student data disk with the book or project files that the student downloads from the Internet) ISBN 0-169-05701-7

Microsoft Windows XP Operating System (Home or Professional Edition)

Please list the required book and software in the box below.

Course Completion Requirements

• Read assigned readings for each unit, and complete practice assignments on the computer.
• Complete all assignments in the unit but only submit those assigned. When an assignment is complete, proofread it carefully before submitting it via e-mail attachments. 
• Assignments must be clearly marked with student’s name and unit or exercise.
• Participate in on-line discussions at least once a week.
• Complete quizzes for each unit.
• Take final exam on campus or with instructor-approved proctor.

Should you decide to stop participating or turning in assignments, it is your responsibility to drop the class, not the instructor’s. If this is not done, a grade of "F" may result.

Grades will be based on the following items:

Special Projects

Special Windows projects are required in this course. These project will be built on skills that you have learned in each unit. Students will send the homework to the instructor by e-mail with attachments.

Quizzes

Quizzes for each unit (True/False and/or Multiple Choice) will be given online.

Discussion Board

A discussion grade will be included as part of your project's grade for the class. You are expected to post a message at least twice a week.

Exams

You will take a midterm, worth 20 percent of your grade, and a final exam that is also 20 percent of your final grade. The midterm is not proctored. The final exam is proctored and can be taken at either the main campus library, computer lab, or the Ft. Irwin or Miramar Barstow College lab area.

In the box below, list items on which you will be graded:

Grading Scale

The following grading scale and grade distribution are predicted; however, the instructor reserves the right to curve final grades (upward or downward) based on overall class performance.

Final grades will be based on the total points earned during the semester. Grades will be assigned based on the following standard:

Grading Standards: A perfect assignment that is turned in on time will receive a grade of "A." One full letter grade will be deducted for each error. Thus, grading standards are: 0 errors = A, 1 error = B, 2 errors = C, 3 errors = D, 4+ errors = F. Any assignments not turned in by the end of the course will receive a letter grade of "F." High-quality discussions of 16 or more=A, 15-14=B, 13-11=C, 10-8=D, 7 or less= F.

Notice: All work for each unit is due before the scheduled midterm and final. Late assignments turned in after the scheduled midterm and final may not be accepted. Any student that submits another student's work will receive an "F."

Final Grading Scale

4.0 - 3.5 = A
3.4 - 2.5 = B
2.4 - 1.5 = C
1.4 - 0.5 = D
0.4 - 0.0 = F

Homework: It is expected that students will complete all assignments in the unit, even though the exercises are not turned in to be graded. Learning software packages takes time and continual practice, so it is important that students not skip any of the exercises. Exercises are good practice for learning the material. Students should submit only the work that is required for grading purposes. 

Late Work: All work for each unit is due before the scheduled midterm and final. Late assignments turned in after the scheduled midterm and final may not be accepted. Late assignments receive half credit. Any student that submits another student's work will receive an "F."

Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on exam, paper or project; failure in course; and/or expulsion from the college. If more than one person turns in the same work, both people will be punished for the offense. You may do perfect work and still fail the course, if you are caught plagiarizing, cheating, or giving someone else your work that they submit as their own.

Need for Assistance: If you have any condition, such as a physical or learning disability, for which you need extra assistance, please let me know immediately. If you have already met with Special Services, please provide me with information regarding your special needs as soon as possible so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

Checking Grades:

Grades are not recorded instantly after assignments are submitted. It takes time to grade, record scores, and prepare progress reports. Since I grade all assignments at the same time to assure consistency, I will not be grading any assignment until the due date, even if they are submitted early.

On a regular basis, I will e-mail you a progress report showing the grades that I have recorded for you to date. Let me know immediately if you have any questions about the progress report.

Class Procedures

Since this is a nine-week course, it is expected that most students will need to spend about 4-5 hours per week practicing on the computer. While this may sometimes be frustrating and time-consuming, there is a very real feeling of accomplishment when a program suddenly performs as you expect, and you realize you can control the computer.

How much time are you expected to spend doing the work needed for this course?

Class Participation

It is important that each student post on the discussion board each week for attendance purposes. Students are encouraged to post questions to the discussion group, especially with respect to asking questions when the subject under discussion is not clear. For each unit, a critical thinking question will be posted to which each student must respond.

High-quality discussions that are posted for each critical thinking topic will earn an A grade. High-quality discussions are demonstrated by critical thinking, original ideas, and appropriate grammar. Spelling is important. If any of these items are missing from your postings, your grade will be lowered one point for each item. Postings made after the due date will receive an F grade.

Also, students are encouraged to communicate with the instructor by sending e-mail, when the question is about grades or is personal or when the subject under discussion is not clear.

What reasons would you have to post on the discussion board?

Final Exam and Proctor

The final exam is given the last week of class. If you cannot take the final at Barstow College, Ft Irwin, or Miramar sites during the last week of the course, then it is your responsibility to find an instructor-approved proctor and fill out the Proctor Request Form for this course.

A proctor is someone that you must find who will guarantee to give your final exam. The proctor must meet the Barstow College requirements for proctoring your exam and must be instructor approved. A family member, friend, coworker, or neighbor is not an acceptable proctor. A good place to look for a proctor is at your local library, church, college, school, or library. Find a military educational officer, a librarian, a clergy member, or educational officer and an approved site, such as a military educational center, a church, a library or an educational center (school) for the exam. The approved site will need Windows XP.

Disclaimer Statement 

A syllabus is not a contract between instructor and student but rather a guide to course procedures on attendance, requirements, grading and objectives. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus when conflicts, emergencies or situations arise that necessitate a change. Students will be notified of any changes.