SYLLABUS

CGS 2531 -- Problem Solving Using Computer Software
Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering Department
University of Florida Fall 2014

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Credits: 3; Prereq: MAC 1147 or equivalent
A problem-solving introduction and thorough exploration of word processing, spreadsheet analysis, database management, multimedia presentations, e-mail and the Internet. Topics also include hardware, software, and information technology. The problem-solving approach also aids students in their majors. (M)

COURSE OBJECTIVES: This introductory course is designed to help make the student proficient in text editing and formatting, spreadsheet design and calculation, presentation preparation, as well as integration of spreadsheets and presentations with documents in an interactive environment. The student will gain modern computing skills to excel in a business environment. This course will focus mainly on Microsoft technologies with a necessary introduction to open source or proprietary software that supplements and supports the main course emphases.

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Mark Schmalz, office: CSE/E446, phone: 352-505-1561
OFFICE HOURS: As stated on instructor's Web page (www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz), or by appointment via email (see below)
E-MAIL: mssz@cise.ufl.edu

CLASS WEB PAGE: http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CGS2531-MSofc/Top-Level.html

CLASS PERIODS:

CLASSROOM: CSE/A101

TEACHING ASST: OFFICE HOURS: http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~mssz/CGS2531-MSofc/TA-hours.html

REQUIRED TEXT:

Please purchase from Pearson Website unless your financial support requires a physical textbook:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

(1) Sign up to Piazza Website:

(2) Microsoft Office 2013 Training Videos (freely available on Internet, to be assigned throughout course)

SCHEDULE:

    Week  1     - Intro to MS Office 2013, Purchase Text, Signup to Piazza
    Week  2     - Microsoft Excel - Beginning Level
    Week  3     - Microsoft Excel - Intermediate Level
    Week  4     - Microsoft Excel - Advanced Level    
    Week  5     - Microsoft Excel - Advanced Level    
    Week  6     - Microsoft PowerPoint - Beginning Level
    Week  7     - Microsoft PowerPoint - Intermediate Level
    Week  8     - Microsoft PowerPoint - Advanced Level    
    Week  9     - Microsoft PowerPoint - Advanced Level    
    Week  10    - Microsoft Word - Beginning Level
    Week  11    - Microsoft Word - Intermediate Level
    Week  12    - Microsoft Word - Advanced Level
    Week  13    - Microsoft Word - Advanced Level
    Week  14    - Integrated Excel/PowerPoint/Word Document Production
    Weeks 15-16 - Producing Webpages with Microsoft Office Software

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance at lecture sessions is required. Students are expected to arrive on time. Cell phones must be turned off throughout the class period.

GRADING POLICY: Homework(best 7 of 8): 70% -- Midterm Exams(2): 15% -- Final Exam: 15%

GRADING SCALE: NO CURVING OF ANY SCORES, as follows: 

             93 - 100  : A       4.00 Grade Points
             90 - 92.9 : A-      3.67 Grade Points
             87 - 89.9 : B+      3.33 Grade Points
             83 - 86.9 : B       3.00 Grade Points
             80 - 82.9 : B-      2.67 Grade Points
             77 - 79.9 : C+      2.33 Grade Points
             73 - 76.9 : C       2.00 Grade Points
             70 - 72.9 : C-      1.67 Grade Points
             67 - 69.9 : D+      1.33 Grade Points
             63 - 66.9 : D       1.00 Grade Points
             60 - 62.9 : D-      0.67 Grade Points
              0 - 59.9 : E       0    Grade Points

QUALIFYING GRADE: A C- will not be a qualifying grade for critical tracking courses. In order to graduate, students must have an overall GPA and an upper-division GPA of 2.0 of better (C or better). Note: a C- average is equivalent to a GPA of 1.67, and therefore, it does not satisfy this graduation requirement. For more information on grades and grading policies, please visit: http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html

HOMEWORKS are Pearson assignments done outside of class. These are INDIVIDUAL projects. Any collaboration, beyond working together in study groups to get the technique right, will be considered cheating. Copying is cheating, and will be punished severely.

Please understand that there is a not-so-subtle difference between discussing your homework with a colleague or friend and copying it wholly or in part. The former is permissible, while the latter constitutes cheating and will be dealt with accordingly (see Honesty Policy, below).

HOMEWORKS ARE DUE AT THE POSTED DATE/TIME. LATE HOMEWORK IS PENALIZED BY TEN PERCENT OF SCORE FOR EACH CALENDAR DAY LATE. HOMEWORKS MORE THAN 4 CALENDAR DAYS LATE (UNEXCUSED) WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A DOCUMENTED VALID EXCUSE!

Homework extensions may be allowed only for documented, un- avoidable conflicts REPORTED IN ADVANCE AND ALLOWED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. Only DOCUMENTED emergency medical or court (e.g., jury duty or trial) or police (e.g., arrest, crash) excuses can be accepted after a project is due.

The homeworks will all be equally weighted.

EXAMS are take-home Pearson assignments that follow the same rules as homeworks, and are to be turned in at a specified date and time posted on the website (see above).

MAKE-UP POLICY:

  • Homeworks may be turned in late, as dicussed above.
  • Exams may be Made Up only when the student has a permissible absence (e.g., court appearance, illness or hospitalization, death of immediate family) with documented excuse.

    • RETURN POLICY: Every attempt will be made to grade your homeworks and exams as soon as possible. When they are graded and recorded, they will be released for your viewing on the Pearson course website.

    UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACCOMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/). The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodation. You musdt submit this documentation prior to submitting assignments or taking the quizzes or exams. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contacdt the office as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations.

    UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the University community. Students should be sure that they understand the UF Student Honor Code at http://www.dso.ufl.edu/students.php.

    Under no circumstances will acts of academic dishonesty be tolerated. Any suspected incidents of dishonesty will be promptly referred to the Director for Student Judicial Affairs and the Student Honor Court.

    GETTING HELP: For issues with technical difficulties for E-learning in Sakai, please contact the UF Help Desk at:

    Other resources are available at http://www.distance.ufl.edu/getting-help for: Should you have any complaints with your experience in this course please visit http://www.distance.ufl.edu/student-complaints to submit a complaint.

    NETIQUETTE: COMMUNICATION COURTESY: All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages, threaded discussion and chats. Please refer to http://teach,ufl.edu/docs/NetiqutteGuildeforOnlineCourses.pdf .

    DISCLAIMER: This syllabus (and the course website) represents the current plans and objectives for our course. As we go through the semester, those plans may need to change to enhance the class learning opportunity. Such changes, communicated clearly, are not unusual and should be expected.