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   CNIT 101: Operating Systems I - Windows Vista

Last Updated 11/12/09
 

Syllabus - Fall 2009 and Spring 2010

Instructor Information
Name Nancy Webb
Email nwebb@ccsf.edu, or use Insight email.  If you email me at ccsf.edu, be sure to put CNIT101 on the subject line of the message!
CCSF Phone 415 239-3205  (but email is the best way to reach me.  I rarely get phone messages)
Home Page http://fog.ccsf.edu/~nwebb
Office Batmale 460, 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco

Course Information
Course title: CNIT101 - Operating Systems 1 - Windows Vista
Semester Units 3
Prerequisites There are no prerequisites to the course.
Course description: A technical course about the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system for students who have some computer experience. Learn techniques to manage a personal computer through the use of operating system utilities. Practice setting up and customizing the interface and manage programs and data. Manage the computer system hardware.
Required Operating System Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, or Business editions.
Required Materials Two USB flash drives. 

Textbook
Required textbook: New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista, Comprehensive.  Parsons, Oja, Carey, Carey, Ruffolo, Course Technology. 
ISBN-13: 9781423906025
Available at the CCSF bookstore or from Course Technology

Office Hours
: Use Insight email as office hours, or make an appointment with the instructor to meet in a chat room.

Course Goals
Course goals: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Explain the function of the essential hardware components of a computer system
2. Identify the major elements of a computer operating system and explain their functions
3. Describe the differences between application and system software and list examples in each category
4. Identify what impact the graphical user interface (GUI) has on routine computer work
5. Recognize and use the various features for manipulating Windows (menus, title bars, dialog and message boxes, cascading menus, dragging and dropping, pop-up menus, icons and toolbars)
6. Define and use the basic functions of the Desktop
7. Explain and use the features provided in Windows Explorer
8. Identify features of Control Panel and utilize it to customize the Desktop
9. Explain and use basic command line prompt commands (DOS)
10. Explain and use the features of system maintenance
11. Explain the basic concepts of connectivity

Required Materials
   A  USB Flash drive or other external media  that will be used ONLY for this class (so that other files will not be present.). 
Access to a computer with Windows Vista Home, Professional or Media Edition installed.

Grading
   
Homework assignments 30%
Tutorial Quizzes 30%
Discussion and class participation 10%
Midterm Exam 15%
Final Exam 15%

Special Instructions
    Your textbook has hands-on tutorials for every chapter. This means you will sit at a computer, read the material from the book and perform the hands-on exercises. This is how you will acquire the necessary skills.   You must do your homework at a computer with Windows Vista installed; Windows XP will not give you the correct answers.

Student data files can be downloaded from the Course Technology website, instructions are in the back cover of the textbook.  There is a link to this website inside Insight, in the top section of our class.
 

Tutorial Quizzes
    There will be a quiz given for each tutorial, which you will be allowed to take up to three times.   Only the highest score will count.  The questions are randomly chosen and will be different each time you take the quiz.  Be sure to take the quiz by the due date.
There are also practice quizzes that you can take, but the score will not count toward your grade.  It will help prepare you for the quiz. 
 

Homework Tasks
   Every week there will be a number of tasks to perform. These will be listed in the week's section. For nearly every week you will be assigned a new tutorial to read and follow. You will usually be required to do the following:
  1. Read the tutorial and perform the hands-on tutorial
  2. Turn in a document, screen print, or post to a forum.  (detailed instructions are in the week's task list.)
  3. Take a quiz on the week’s chapter
There will be additional tasks that fall into 2 categories:
  1. Print Screen Assignments – your task will be to upload a file that contains a “screenshot” of a specific screen from the hands-on tutorial for the chapter assigned that week. This is to assure me that you have actually performed the hands-on tutorial.
    Detailed instructions are included in the Course Content for the weeks that this will be required.
  2. Discussion and reply postings – your task will be to post to a graded forum based on a specific topic and to reply to another student’s posting.
Due Date: A weekly deadline will be posted but you will have a 2 day grace period beyond that time. That will give you a 2 weekend period in which to complete and submit the assignment. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ALLOWED. Instructions are included in the Insight section for each week.

Class Participation
    You will be expected to participate in all the class assignments, including reading messages in the forums on a weekly basis, reading all the online material, and responding to or creating forum postings. Your participation will be a factor in your final grade.  I expect each student to make a meaningful post on a forum at least 3 times a month.

Technical Difficulties
    You should have a backup strategy for turning in assignments and performing hands-on tutorials in case you experience technical difficulties. This backup could include using a friend’s computer, the public library, or computer labs on campus.  Regular mail can be used in some cases if email is not available. Continued technical difficulties will not be accepted as an excuse for not turning in assignments.

Computer Labs
    If necessary, you will be able to access computers running Windows Vista Professional in the ACRC computer lab on the 3rd Floor of Batmale Hall on the Ocean Street campus.  You can also use the computers in the library.

The hours of availability and the particular rooms you will have access to will be described at a later time. You should bring your student identification to the lab.

Free Download
    Because you are a student in this class you will receive a free copy of Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista Business edition. This is possible due to a Microsoft Alliance Agreement that City College of San Francisco has for students in some CNIT courses.  Please do not install a different operating system on your computer during the semester. 

You will be receiving an email through the email account (pine email) you automatically acquire when you become a City College of San Francisco several weeks into the course which will explain this.

WARNING: Upgrading to another operating system is a major undertaking and should be attempted only if you feel confident doing it yourself or are willing to hire technical support.