DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES
 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:   This course provides a solid foundation in end-user productivity software for word processing, spreadsheet analysis and modeling, database management, charting, presentations, and appropriate applications for interacting with the World Wide Web and the Internet. Students learn the conceptual basis of each of these tools, how they are used for today's organizational management, the limitations of current technology, and possible future developments. The emphasis is on using software to organize, analyze, and communicate information. Students should expect to spend 12 or more hours each week working on assignments in the microcomputer lab. The course demands a high level of commitment to keeping up with class assignments and to learning the use of the software tools. (4 units: UN, GR, NC; Prerequisite: basic experience using either Windows 95/98/NT or the Macintosh operating system)

OBJECTIVES:   A student in this course should expect to receive an overview of the capabilities, uses and limitations of computers. The major focus of the course is to present these topics in the context of the impact of computers on functions such as decision-making, information storage, research and personal productivity. The course is not designed to provide in-depth training on specific software packages but allows for a general understanding of the utilization of such packages in modern organizations. The general discussion is reinforced by skills-oriented lectures, demonstrations and software-based lab assignments.
 

REQUIRED TEXTS

REQUIRED SOFTWARE & OTHER MATERIALS

GRADING CRITERIA & WITHDRAWAL INFORMATION

GRADING SYSTEM:   Points will be accumulated throughout the semester and the total point accumulation will be converted to the Extension School grading scale at the end of the semester. The following score/grade criteria will be used:
 

WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSE:   If a student wants to withdraw from a course, written permission must be secured on course withdrawal forms provided by the Registrar's Office. Informing an instructor, giving verbal notification to staff, stopping or withholding payment, or not attending classes does not constitute withdrawing from a course.
 

COURSE AND GRADING POLICIES

ACADEMIC HONESTY:   The provisions of Harvard University's Academic Honesty Policy fully apply to this course. Students are responsible for acting ethically and not tolerating dishonesty on the part of others. In particular, students should review the sections regarding plagiarism and the copying of homework. If the teaching assistants encounter two or more students submitting duplicate assignments, each student will be given a zero grade for that assignment and each student will be subject to subsequent disciplinary action by the University.

FINAL GRADE:   The final grade will be determined using the following weights:
 

EXAMINATIONS:   A comprehensive final will be administered. The examination will cover the assigned texts and outside readings as well as lecture material. No makeup exams will be given. The instructor reserves the right to issue unannounced quizzes to check class progress in which case the quiz weights will be subsumed under the examination weighting.

USER AND E-MAIL ACCOUNTS:   Student user and e-mail accounts are issued and maintained by Harvard University--not by the teaching staff of CSS-400--and are necessary when using Harvard University's computer resources. Questions concerning those accounts should be directed to the Help Desk in the Science Center. It is the student's responsibility to have their accounts activated before coming to sections or labs. Students will not be permitted to use teaching assistant accounts under any circumstances, and students will not be granted an assignment extension because they have not yet activated their accounts.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS (TAs)/SECTIONS & LABS:   Talented professionals have been contracted to assist students during scheduled Section and Lab times (TA contact information and section/lab times will be posted on the CSS-400 Web page). I expect every student to treat all TAs with respect and courtesy at all times. A "section" is a hands-on class wherein the TA performs portions of a relevant tutorial or assignment on a computer which will be viewed by students via an overhead projector. Students will follow the TA's work on their own computers to complete tutorials or assignments on a near-simultaneous basis. From time to time during the section, the TA will pause to answer questions. Due to time constraints, however, a class assignment is usually not demonstrated to completion in a single section. A "lab" is also a hands-on class, but there are usually no overhead visual aids employed. Instead, students work on their individual assignments and ask questions of the TA as they arise. Labs are an opportunity to work on a more one-to-one basis with the TA. However, one lab is usually insufficient to complete an entire assignment. Therefore, students are strongly urged to attend multiple sections and labs to complete their assignments.

During section and lab times, the TAs will help you in any way they can to learn the material and to complete assignments. However, TAs do not provide assignment "answers," nor do they relieve students from any other personal responsibility for satisfactorily completing assigned work. Furthermore, TAs are not required to provide instruction at any time other than scheduled section and lab meetings. Students are welcome to e-mail questions to any TA at any time--TAs may be able to give you a brief answer outside these scheduled meetings (but they are in no way required to do so). Usually, however, you can expect a TA to direct you to a section or lab so that the TA can investigate your concerns firsthand.

Teaching assistants will be responsible for grading all assignments (grades will be posted periodically on the CSS-400 Web page). Students should review all returned material. If a student believes an assigned grade is incorrect, that student must first contact the TA who graded the assignment. One TA cannot change the grade issued by another TA. If the student still believes he/she is due a grade change, the matter should be referred to the Chief TA (listed on the CSS-400 Web page). The instructor will be the final arbitrator should the need arise. Students should retain all graded materials until the final class grade has been issued. The teaching staff is not responsible for any unclaimed graded material after the return period has expired.

ASSIGNMENTS:   In order to successfully complete the assignments issued in this class, students are required to commit a substantial amount of time and effort by attending scheduled Sections and Labs. The TAs will review the proper submission format for each assignment during scheduled meetings. Some general assignment notes:

1. All assignments should be submitted with a cover sheet that includes the following information: student's full name (do not use shortened versions of your name or a nickname), course number and title, scheduled day/time of the course, instructor's name, and assignment number.
2. All printouts should be clearly labeled as to what problem is being addressed, and detailed labeling should appear throughout every page to indicate specific subsections of a problem. Each page should be numbered, and all pages should be in proper sequence. Remember: Answer all questions and/or carry out all assigned instructions in the order in which they are given in the assignment.
3. Students usually lose points on assignments by not doing preliminary reading or tutorial work before attempting the class assignments, which usually build on that work. Students should seek clarification from one of the TAs during a session or lab if they are unsure what an assignment requires.
4. Students should save their work to disk often.
5. All assignments are due according to the schedule outlined in this syllabus. Late submissions will be penalized. Computer malfunctions or other technical problems are NOT acceptable excuses for missed deadlines.
6. Assignment extensions are granted only under severe extenuating circumstances. All extension requests should be directed to the Chief TA (not to individual TAs).
7. Students should make a copy of all submitted work for use in class discussion, quiz/exam preparation, research, etc.

DISABILITY SERVICES:   The Extension School is committed to creating an accessible academic community where students and instructors with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from its academic programs. Services for students with disabilities are approved and coordinated by the Registrar's Office. Students should contact Christopher Jones (495-0977 or 495-9419 TTY) to complete request forms for accommodations and should be prepared to provide current clinical documentation of their disabilities.