HOW TO BEGIN YOUR----ITC117 'ONLINE' CLASS
STEP 1: On the FIRST DAY OF CLASSES-- (NOT EARLIER) students should log onto: www.salemstate.edu/mywebcourses/ I'M CERTAIN THAT YOU’LL BE DELIGHTED WITH THIS ON-LINE COURSE!! Overwhelmingly students tell me they love
learning on-line.
DR. CAMPBELL WELCOME VIDEO: Click on the Photo to see a YouTube.com
video titled: Welcome to ITC117
Though I hope you’ll read
ALL the items listed above, it is ESSENTIAL that you at least check out these items; COMPUTER SYSTEMS
REQUIREMENTS ; SYSTEMS SOFTWARE
REQUIREMENTS ; APPLICATION SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS and VIRUS
SCAN SOFTWARE . Read on! I hope
you’ll join me for a great time!
Welcome to the world of
on-line education at Salem State College. If you are motivated, self-sufficient
and interested in a unique learning experience, then this is the place for
you. Together we will go on a journey that will help you discover more about
yourself as a student while you acquire great new skills that will enhance
your career potential and desirability to employers. I’m pleased that
you are considering signing up for my ON-LINE Microcomputer class.
Please feel free to browse around this WebPage
to get an understanding of what’s involved in taking this on-line course
and learn about system requirements, skill requirements, grading procedures
and more.
ITC117 MICROCOMPUTERS IN THE PROFESSIONS
Course Description: An overview of information
processing that is applicable to all career areas, with consideration
of societal trends and issues arising from the use of computers. A major
focus will be to increase the student’s personal and professional productivity
through the use of the microcomputer and various software packages. Applications
to be covered include: operating systems, spreadsheets, data base management,
word processing, graphics, telecommunications, and programming techniques,
Internet and e-mail.
About BLACKBOARD: (NOTE:
We are using BLACKBOARD software for all courses including this one.
IN ADDITION we MAY be using SAM software for part of the course. IF
we do use the SAM software it is available to you free and you will get
access to it through the Internet. (SAM is a 'self learning package
with audio and video modules and IF we use it this semester I think you'll
enjoy it--some assignments MAY be given through SAM). About BLACKBOARD
software---You DON'T have to buy or install any software. If you
have trouble using or understanding BLACKBOARD there's 24 hour help available.
From 8:30am to 5:00 pm call (978-542-2036). After 5:00pm
call (800-569-6505). Your instructor is also available to help
you--e-mail me or call me--contact numbers will be posted on your syllabus
which is online in your Blackboard account once classes begin.
This is an On-Line
course.Work whenever you find most convenient.
Also, there are NO 'on-line
group meetings' at all. Just be sure to watch your syllabus
and e-mail and the ANNOUNCEMENTS on WebCt for DUE DATES.
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Introductory
Note: All personal computers
have TWO kinds of software. First is the SYSTEMS software (Windows XP Professional)
that makes the computer run—most of us don't even care about this because
it runs in the background. Second is the APPLICATIONS software that makes the
computer useful—it is this software that allows us to do word processing,
spread sheeting, database, and to make presentations (Micrsoft Office 2007).
Read about these requirements below.
You must
have the following operating system. WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL WITH SERVICE PACK 2. (or you may use VISTA).
NOTE: If you don't have SERVICE PACK 2 installed you
won't be able to install the REQUIRED Office 2007 software. The 'pack'
is a FREE download from Micrsoft's homepage website. Contact Dr.
Campbell if you need help on this. However almost all computers
have the Service Pack already installed.
ABOUT THE NEW VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM: You 'may' use the new
VISTA Operating System but it is NOT required at this time. However,
be advised that the current textbooks is written and illustrated for the
VISTA operating system but it has little impact on the hands on component
of this course. If you have any difficulties simply e-mail or call
your instructor for specific directions. But Windows XP Professional
users should be able to easily manage the differences. Thinking of
INSTALLING VISTA on your OLD computer? CAUTION: VISTA is a powerful
operating system with exceedingly demanding system requirements. Unless
you computer is LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD I strongly advise NOT installing
it. It should only be installed on computers that are virtually NEW
with appropriate system requirements. You can 'test' your computer
for VISTA Compliance by going to Microsoft's Website. Don't even THINK
about installing VISTA until you've been to that website and run your 'test'
for VISTA compliance. Once VISTA is installed IT CANNOT BE 'UN-INSTALLED'
so be certain that you know what you want and that you are confident on
the installation process.
WE WILL BE
USING M.S. OFFICE 2007 IN THIS COURSE----YOU CANNOT TAKE THE COURSE
WITHOUT IT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT THEN YOU CAN BUY A VERY LOW COST
(Approx $19) 6 MONTH TRIAL VERSION. This version has ALL the required
applications of WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT, and ACCESS. THIS
TRIAL VERSION IS AVAILABLE FROM THE SALEM STATE COLLEGE BOOKSTORE ONLY!!!
You can't get it from any 'on-line bookstore' like Amazon.com.
Check out Salem State's Online Bookstore Website for details, or
contact the SSC Bookstore for details.
OFFICE 2007 USERS CAREFULLY
READ THIS SECTION
Be aware that there are several different ways
in which Microsoft Office is packaged and sold. You MUST have
the package that contains all the following Applications:
M.S. WORD
EXCEL
POWERPOINT
ACCESS
NOTE!!! Just
because you have Microsoft Office 2007 it doesn’t mean that YOUR VERSION
has all the FOUR applications. Check to be sure that
you have all FOUR application programs.
WHAT MS OFFICE VERISONS
ARE ACCEPTABLE IN THIS COURSE?
NOTE!! You MUST use MS OFFICE 2007 in this course. NO
OTHER VERSION is acceptable because the entire book and all support materials
are written and ILLUSTRATED for MS Office 2007. Again, IF
YOU DO NOT HAVE MS OFFICE 2007 you may get a low cost ($19) 6 month
TRIAL version from the SALEM STATE COLLEGE BOOKSTORE. A nice thing about buying that 6 month Trial version is
that at the end of the 6 months you can by a full, completed, unlimited time
copy for (as of this writing) $59. That's a huge bargin for this software.
However when ordering that version you must use your SSC E-Mail
account ONLY because this version is only available for registered college
students.
HOW CAN I TELL WHICH
VERSION OF M.S. OFFICE THAT'S ON MY COMPUTER?
1. Open up M.S. Word and from the menu list across the top of
your screen and click on HELP
2. From the short 'drop down list' click on the choice option:
ABOUT M.S. WORD
3. A dialogue box pops up with a 'blue bar' across the top that
says: ABOUT MICROSOFT WORD.
4. Directly under the blue bar it tells you what 'year' (version)
you have. If it says Microsoft Word 2007 you've got the REQUIRED
version for this course. If you have any OLDER version then you must
either buy a full copy or buy the ($19) 6 month trial version from the
Salem State College Bookstore.
WHAT
IF I MY OFFICE 2007 VERSION DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS?
This is and ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT of the course. Any
Virus Scan software that is ‘up datable on-line’ is acceptable. For example Norton AntiVirus,
or McAfee AntiVirus software. Both
(and others) are reasonably priced and you can update them weekly on-line
without any additional cost.
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TEXT BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SALEM STATE COLLEGE BOOKSTORE:
IT IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU
PURCHASE YOUR BOOK AND COURSE MATERIALS DIRECTLY FROM THE SALEM STATE
BOOKSTORE, THAT WAY YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE RIGHT BOOK! BUYING TEXTBOOKS
FROM ONLINE WEBSITES CAN BE A VERY TRICKY BUSINESS. THEY OFTEN
SEND THE WRONG TEXTS OUT OR CLAIM TO HAVE THEM ON 'BACKORDER' AND THEY PROMISE
THEY WILL SHIP THEM SOON---BUT EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT MANY STUDENTS HAVE
TROUBLE WITH THESE PURCHASES AND THEY GET A LATE START ON THE COURSE. ALSO:
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED OFFICE 2007 SOFTWARE
YOU CAN PURCHASE A VERY LOW COST '6- Month Trial Version' DIRECTLY FROM
THE SALEM STATE BOOKSTORE.
THE TEXTBOOK IS:
MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007, Introductory Concepts and Techniques, Windows
Vista Edition. Authors: Shelly, Cashman & Vermaat. It is
a large book that has separate sections for Microsoft Office PowerPoint
2007, Microsoft Office Word 2007, Microsoft Office Access
2007, and Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Publisher: Thompson
Course Technologies. ISBN Number: ISBN-13: 978-1-4239-1228-6
You can get rapid response help by contacting your instructor via any
of the methods listed below:
(In Person, Phone, or On-line)
Get
in-person help by calling your instructor for a personal help session
(352-391-1316)
Contact your instructor thru e-mail for a rapid response at:
robert.campbell@salemstate.edu
A phone conference with your instructor while
you are on-line
Chat line thru Blackboard
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· Ideally
you should be able to type reasonably well. If not you can purchase a
“Learn to Type” program like Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing for only about
$12.
· You
must be motivated to do your work and keep up with the suggested (and
sometimes required) due dates for assignments. Don’t wait to the
last minute to do assignments.
· Be
willing to ask for help if you need it.
* CHECK YOUR BLACKBOARD E-MAIL AND THE ANNOUNCEMENTS PAGE ON BLACKBOARD
VERY OFTEN
· KEEP
YOUR VIRUS SOFTWARE UPDATED WEEKLY!
· Be willing to learn new things in new ways.
· Have
a sense of humor and a willingness to have fun while you learn.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COURSE DOES
NOT
CURRENTLY SUPPORTING MACINTOSH COMPUTERS--Unless you are running a dual
drive Windows Explorer with PC emulation!
This course involves coverage
of MICROSOFT OFFICE: Word Processing, Excel, Access,
and Powerpoint. We will
also cover e-mail, the Internet, and active processing and manipulation
of e-mail and attachments. Two electronic (open book)
exams will be given. These are ON-LINE exams. You will take
the exam and submit it electronically where it will be INSTANTLY graded.
You will automatically get a 'grade report' back which shows the correct
response to each question along with the response that you submitted.
Computer theory will be
covered in the course thru the use a required textbook. You
will be given two exams on this materials .
Both will be multiple choice , open
book, online exams.
The course is currently taught using BLACKBOARD software. You DO NOT
have to purchase it. It is already on Salem State College's system
and it is used to each the courses so YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT. If
you'd like to check it out the BLACKBOARD system currently in use just click
on the link here: webct.salemstate.edu
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A copy of the course syllabus will be posted in on
BLACKBOARD for you to download and print as soon as you log onto the
course.
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Dr. Robert Campbell graduated from Salem State College
in 1972 from what was then called the Business Education Department.
Upon graduation he became a business education teacher at an area secondary
school. After completing his Master of Education Degree at
A VIDEO CLIP WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
FROM DR. CAMPBELL: To see a Video Clip welcome from Dr. Campbell
just scroll to the top of the webpage and click on Dr. Campbell's photograph.
That will take you to a YouTube.com video introduction to ITC117
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