CSC 200 Survey of Computing
Summary
This course uses the tools of contemporary computer technology including digital sound recording and editing, image editing, and video creation and editing on Mac or PC computers to explore the science behind today's information technology and these applications as well as the internet and basic web site creation. Students accomplish coursework on their own computers using software provided free in the course, which is taught in a modern online format. The course also covers issues of "safe" computing, basic ethics of the information age, careers in information technology, and the potential relevance of emerging information technologies to a variety of careers in other fields. This course fulfills a Liberal Studies Program "science, no lab" requirement, is geared toward non-computer science majors, and assumes no prior knowledge or experience in computer science.
Texts
The only required text for this course is the inexpensive workbook Contemporary Computing 2nd edition by James Janossy, which contains all of the formal reading, links to video lectures, tutorials, web resources, exercises, homework and projects. This book is published by Stipes Publishing, LLC, of Champaign, IL with ISBN 978-1-60904-156-4. The first chapter of this book is available for free download from the course web site to get you started in the course without delay. Link "B" the course web site at http://csc200.getclass.info provides links to the required text at both Amazon (print) and a method or ordering an electronic copy of the book; students decide which format best suits their needs.
Additional reference readings are accessed using the DePaul library "Books 24x7" database which is free for DePaul students access. The assigned text includes many web links leading to safe resources that students download and install on their own Macs or PCs and retain after the course ends.
Grading
This course is divided into five segments named "units". Each unit is designed to be accomplished within about two or three weeks. The specific schedule for the completion of each of the five units of the course is set by each student individually. Work within each unit is self-paced and the work of each student does not depend on the work of any other student.
Each unit 1, 2, and 3 contains readings and videos from Contemporary Computing and these assignments:
* a short repeatable online exercise
* required hands-on projects
* a written summary homework assignment.
Exercises are graded automatically and each is a repeatable learning device, not a "quiz". Your highest exercise score on each exercises is a component in computing your course grade. Exercises for all units are open all during the term. Project work and homework are "critiqued" by the instructor upon submission and feedback given, after which students have the opportunity to revise and resubmit the work for grading.
In Unit 4 you focus on capstone projects, each of which helps you learn a technique valuable for the workplace and of continuing benefit. There are no exercises or written homework in Unit 4.
The coursework in Units 1 through 4 counts for 75% of the course grade. Consult link "E" at the course web site at http://csc200.getclass.info for detailed information about how much credit is possible with each item of this work.
In Unit 5 you complete a reflective work assignment that accounts for 25% of the course grade. See Unit 5 of Contemporary Computing for detailed information about this assignment.
The course grade is based on a course score in a range 0 to 1000. This score is converted to a percentage and the letter grade for the course is assigned from the percentage using this scale:
94 and above = A
90-93.9 = A-
87.5-89.9 = B+
83.5-87.4 = B
80-83.4 = B-
77.5-79.9 = C+
73.5-77.4 = C
70-73.4 = C-
67.5-69.9 = D+
60-67.4 = D
less than 60 = F
See the course web site for detailed information on the way your course grade is computed. The online exercises, project and homework critiques and grading provide much more frequent and timely feedback than would a midterm exam so there is no midterm exam in this course. The ending weeks of the term focus on the assigned reflective work and there is no final exam. A detailed course grade "transcript" with feedback is provided to each student at frequent intervals during the course. Grades are not "curved." Every student can get an "A" or any other grade; you are not competing with anyone else in this course. Your grade results entirely from your own efforts judged objectively. Optional extra credit projects are provided in each of the first three segments of the course.
Prerequisites
The only prerequisite for this course is that you can access videos such as that using a desktop, laptop, smart cell phone, iPad, iPod, or other tablet computer, and that you have access to a computer on which you can load the software provided free to each student during the term. Both Mac and Windows/PC computers are supported. No prior background in computer science is required.
How this course meets Liberal Studies content and writing requirements
CSC-200 satisfies a Liberal Studies "Science, no lab" requirement though the use of carefully designed hands-on assignments using contemporary computer software, each such assignment preceded by reading and repeatable exercises that provide learning focused on the science behind the assignment and assess the level of such knowledge gained. These assignments cover the organization of raw data for comparative purposes, the technology of digital information storage and retrieval, the physics and biological basis for analog and digital sound recording, editing, and reproduction, the physics and biological basis for color perception and the reproduction of color vision, and the basics of internet operation and HTML coding. Students write concise original narratives for all assignments describing the science behind the software utilized, their experiences with the work, and perceptions they gained from it. The course concludes with four capstone projects that integrate the technology and skills acquired, and reflective work on how this contemporary information technology is likely to affect their chosen post-college careers. The totality of original writing exceeds the 10 page minimum required of liberal studies courses.
Individual coursework scheduling; optional teamwork
Online courses need not be constrained to have each student proceed at the same pace. The timespans for each segment of the course shown below are just my suggestions. In this course each students decides, within some simple guidelines, on the date they will commit to complete each of the five units of the course. The schedule is declared using the Confirmation of Participation form you download from the course web site and complete and return. You can adjust this schedule as your own circumstances dictate during the first seven weeks of the term (10-week quarter) or first 3 weeks of the 5-week summer term or first half of the 3-week December intersession term.
It's possible for students well acquainted with each other to work together in this course in a team of two. This is entirely optional, but any such arrangement must be confirmed in the first 20% of the term by the instructor, and the arrangement must last for the entire term. Working in a team-of-two can be a productive collaboration but an additional item of documentation is required for each assignment indicating how the work has been split up such that each member of the team-of-two receives the full benefit of the exercise, written assignment, or hands-on project work. Review link "F" of the course web site at http://csc200.getclass.info for more information on team-of-two work.
Weeks 1-3, Unit 1: Information encoding. Contemporary Computing chapter 1. Online exercise and assignments as indicated in Contemporary Computing. Note: this initial chapter of the workbook is available free for online download at the course web site (see above) to help you get started quickly in the course. The remaining chapters are available only in the published workbook.
Weeks 4-5, Unit 2: The Computer Evolution.
Contemporary Computing chapter 2. Online exercise and assignments as indicated in
Contemporary Computing.
Weeks 6-7, Unit 3: Contemporary Computing. Contemporary Computing chapter 3. Online exercise and assignments as indicated in Contemporary Computing.
Weeks 8-9, Unit 4: Capstone Propects. Contemporary Computing chapter 4.
Week 10, Unit 5: Reflective work. Contemporary Computing chapter 5.
Week 11: There is no final exam in this course.
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296