CS 110 - Introduction to Information Technology

Spring 2008

 

Instructor:                  Matthew Cettei, mcettei AT virginia.edu

Office:                         Olsson 226B

Office Hours:             MW 2:30-3:30pm, OR by appointment

Lecture:                      Section 1, MWF 11:00-11:50;                                      Section 2, MWF 10:00-10:50

Class Website:                       http://www.cs.virginia.edu/cs110

 

Course Description: This course is suitable for non-technical students with little or no computer experience. Primary goals are exposure to important areas of information technology: ethics, the impact of information technology on society, proficiency in modern tools for communication, presentation, word processing, spreadsheets, and other information processing activities.  Elementary web page design will also be introduced. Upon completion of the course, students will better understand the appropriate application of technology to problem solving and have an increased ability to learn and explore new technologies with confidence.

 

Textbook:  We are using a Fluency with Information Technology: Skills, Concepts, and Capabilities, 2^nd Edition, L. Snyder, ISBN:  0-321-35782-5

 

Grading Criteria:

• Tests
• 20% in-class midterm:                March 12^th (in-class)
• 20% in-class final exam             Sec 1 (11am section):  Friday, May 9^th (9am)

                                                      Sec 2 (10am section):  Friday, May 2^nd (9am)

• 10% unannounced and announced quizes
• Assignments
• 30% homework assignments      (at least 6 assignments)
• 20% final project                        

 

This grading criteria is subject to adjustment but will be announced in class if adjustments are made.  Progress in the class can be easily calculated via grades posted on ToolKit.  It is unlikely that final grades will be curved, so do not miss any assignments.

 

 

 

Class Participation:

Exam questions are based on material covered in lecture. In certain classes computer skills needed to complete homework assignments will be covered. Missing these classes makes it much more difficult for you to quickly and effectively complete your assignments.  Occasionally there will be an in-class quiz on particularly important class material.  Missing most or all of the quizzes will negatively impact your grade.

 

Policies:

Absences from exams:  If you must miss an exam, send email to the instructor a minimum of one week beforehand.  Acceptable reasons are limited to very serious personal problems, religious observances, or participation in University sanctioned events (official notification is required for this.)  Examples of unacceptable reasons are job interviews, weddings, long weekends.  No make-up tests will be given without prior written permission of the instructor.  Anyone who fails to take the midterm exam may be dropped from the course.

 

Homework Assignments: Documented on the class website.  You are free to exchange ideas with your fellow students but you should do the work yourself.  This means that any assignment you turn in must have been typed or input by you.  A late assignment loses points exponentially, 2 points the first day, 4 points the second, 8 points the third day late, 16 the fourth, etc. No assignments will be accepted more than five days late.  Late days include weekends.

 

Change of Grade Policy:

All recorded grades will be posted on ITC Toolkit. It is the STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY to check the grade for correctness. Students will have one week after the grades are posted to correct any inaccuracies.  After that time, the recorded grade will be assumed to be correct - REGARDLESS of what the mistake is! Such things as a missing grade or incorrect recording of the grade are included under this policy.

 

Public Computing Facilities and Assistance:

You may use any public computing facilities on Grounds - all will have the general software needed to do almost all of your assignments.   Additional general help may be obtained at the ITC Help Desk (924-3731).

 

Honor Policy:

The UVa Honor Policy will be in effect in this class.  As a student in the course you are agreeing to the following principles.

• Talking about assignments and projects is permitted, but each student should create their own documents.  The point of this course is to make each student more skilled with a computer.  This is best achieved by each student interacting with the applications.  DO NOT COPY FILES!
• When there is doubt regarding the honorability of an action, you will ask before doing it.
• When possible to do so with honor, you will help your fellow classmates learn and improve.
• You can get help from classmates and course staff before succumbing to frustration.
• Unless otherwise noted, exams and individual assignments will be pledged that you have neither given nor received unauthorized help.
• By default, the only allowed collaboration is the discussion of ideas. No code or solutions are to be distributed to other students either electronically or on paper. Any exceptions to this policy will be specifically noted on an assignment.
• You are not allowed to describe problems on an exam to a student who has not taken it yet.
• You are not allowed to show exam papers to another student or view another student's exam papers while working on an exam. An academic irregularity on any exam or assignment may result in failure of the course and be brought to the honor committee.

If you have questions on what is allowable, ask! (The class website has an anonymous feedback e-mail link.)

 

Important!

• Check email every day:  Important class-related information will be announced through email messages
• Check the class website often. Changes will be posted there. You are expected to be current on all matters pertaining to the class.
• Be sure to keep a copy of all your work. 
• Communicating via email: 
• Questions about grades, homework, absences, rescheduling: cs110 AT virginia.edu
• Anonymous feedback:  ITC Toolkit