Georgia Highlands College

Freshman College Computer Studies

FCCS 1100

Syllabus

Fall

Goal:

Students will demonstrate their ability to use computers and other electronic technology as a means to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in learning, to gather information, to manage and interpret data, and to enhance communication.

Course Description

FCCS 1100 - Freshman College Computer Studies
Credits: 2-0-2. Prerequisite: None.
This introductory course acquaints the student with the fundamental structure of the microcomputer, its operating system, and some of its applications. Particular attention is given to word processing. Other uses explored include tutorials, spreadsheets, databases, and communication. Internet access and utilization is included. This course must be completed during the first twenty hours of enrollment at the college.

Instructor:  Xiuming Quan 

 E-mail :

Text book: 

Microsoft Word  by Shelly Cashman Vermaat
Microsoft Office Powerpoint   by  David Beskeen

Grading: In this course you will have two (2) major tests, nine (9) assignments using Microsoft Word, and a final project using the Internet and Microsoft PowerPoint. Grades for each will be assigned. The relative weight of each assignment in relation to your final grade is shown below.

Grades will be assigned

as follows:

The mid-semester date for Fall is September 24, 

Academic Policies:

If a student simply quits attending class without officially withdrawing, the student will receive a grade of F in the class.

The last day for officially withdrawing from any class without grade penalty is mid-semester. Withdrawals after mid-semester are subject to approval by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and will be issued only in cases of extreme emergency or hardship.

Attendance: This course will involve a combination of tradition classroom instruction and online instruction using the Internet. It is important that you attend each class meeting and monitor the class webpage for assignments and instructions. Please inform your instructor in advance if an absence becomes necessary. If you are absent on the day of a test without informing the instructor in advance, you will not be allowed to take the test late and a grade of zero (0) will be assigned for that test.

There is NO RE-TEST and NO MAKEUP.

Outside Work: It will be necessary for you to do a great deal of work outside of class. This will include some reading as well as working on the computer. Please note that we have limited access to printers in this class, so if you do not have access to a printer at home, you will need to make arrangements to use the printers available in the Floyd College library or at off-campus sites.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate the ability to perform quality academic research using Galileo and GIL in addition to other online sources.

• Students will demonstrate the ability to prepare course assignments and communicate with faculty using computer technology.

• Students will be able to develop a research paper using online research and word processing software.

• Students will demonstrate proficiency in using presentation software.

Academic Dishonesty:

Cheating will not be tolerated in this class.  If the instructor suspects a student of cheating, the instructor will notify the student of the allegations outside of class.  Then, the allegations will be referred to the Director of Student Life for appropriate action.  The procedures and penalties implemented both by the instructor and the Director of Student Life shall be in accordance with the college's Academic Integrity Policy.  Additional information regarding the college's Academic Integrity Policy is available at:

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance:     

Students who feel they need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with the Access Center (Disabilities Support office, Rome campus, 706.802.5003).  Access Center personnel will offer information and guidance, as well as coordinate reasonable accommodations under ADA. Students are welcome to contact the instructor privately, outside of class, to discuss specific accommodation requests.

Extended Absence Policy (NEW)

            “Students, who have circumstances that prevent them from continuing to attend classes over an extended period of time, sometimes request that the faculty member permit them to submit work in absentia to receive credit to complete the course.

If the concurrent absences will constitute more than 15% of the class sessions for the term, then written permission from the Division Chair is required before any course assignments can be completed while missing class.  The student must be in good academic standing in the course to make the request.  All approved coursework must be completed by the end of the semester in which the course was begun.”

(Note: If a program has a more stringent absence policy than this, then the program policy prevails.)

Exam Make-Up Policy

Policies on student conduct and academic integrity are in the College’s “Student Rights & Responsibilities” document.  This can be accessed by including on the syllabus the following URL:

Disability Statement: “Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with the College Access Center (706: 802-5003) to coordinate reasonable accommodations.  The students are also welcome to contact the instructors privately to discuss one’s specific needs.”

This message applies only to students receiving financial aid:  Federal regulations state that if a student did not attend classes and received failing grades, then the grades were not earned and financial aid needs to be reduced accordingly.  Please be advised that any student receiving a 0.00 GPA will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by attending classes or completing requirements for each class.  Students who have earned at least one passing grade for the semester will not be affected by this regulation.  If a student has properly withdrawn from all classes, the student’s financial aid should be adjusted from the time they signed the withdrawal form. 

This course proudly supports the mission of IC @ GHC.

The mission of the Georgia Highlands College (GHC) Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is to create a curriculum-wide culture of information competency (IC) among students, which will be demonstrated through writing or other modes of communication.

This course proudly supports the mission of IC @ GHC.  To learn more about this program visit our website at www.highlands.edu/ic

This is a tentative schedule and the instructor reserves the right to alter it as and when necessary

This is a tentative schedule and the instructor reserves the right to alter it as and when necessary