WinterOnline

CST-133 Computer Concepts and Competencies -- eLearning (Distance Learning)

Overview

Winter 2007

CST-133, Computer Concepts and Competencies, is a four credit-hour course. Being four credit-hours, it is relatively rigorous. In the standard face-to-face section during Fall or Winter semester that lasts 15 weeks, two hours a week are spent on theory in a lecture setting; two hours a week are spent on lab in a hands-on setting.

The distance learning sections of this course give the student the opportunity to do much, if not all, of the assignments away from campus -- the Internet is used to provide communication between student and instructor. The Educator application is used to provide the student with announcements from the instructor, with the schedule of assignments, and with their status with regard to points attained on each completed assignment. Discussion groups using Educator are used in a limited way.

For the THEORY PORTION of the course, the same textbook is used that the face-to-face students use. Instead of attending lectures to complement the 14 chapters of the textbook and help the student master their content, students are expected to read and thoroughly STUDY the textbook. HOMEWORK assignments are given; these often access web sites provided by the author of the textbook and require students to answer questions about the site material via Educator Worksheets. Other assignments may include such things as a "Virtual Field Trip" where the student records uses of computers in their normal daily activities. We will also look up definitions of important terms as part of this homework. Once a chapter is studied, the student will take an on-line, open-book QUIZ; this quiz is automatically graded by Educator and points are automatically recorded. To round out each chapter, students take a closed-book, multiple-choice EXAM in the LLIC (Library) Testing Center. If students are not able to come to campus for tests, individual arrangements will be made with the instructor -- perhaps at an educational institution near the student's home.

For the LAB PORTION of the course, students will use the same Lab Packet used by face-to-face students. This packet has been created by the CST full-time faculty and is professionally published. The assignments use the following software:

Windows XP

Microsoft Office 2003 (Professional Edition)

WORD

EXCEL

PowerPoint

ACCESS

Visual Basic 6.0 (If you do not have access to Visual Basic, special arrangements may be able to be made)

So, having access to Windows and MS Office 2003 will allow the student to do work away from campus. If any of these are not available, the student may use Delta College software on main campus and at our off-campus centers. On main campus, the software is available in K-111 and on designated systems in the LLIC (Library) Open Lab.

Students will be provided with some tutorials and student work files.

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Winter 2007: Four sections of CST-133 are being offered as distance learning in the Winter 2007 semester. All four start on 1/08 and end on 4/23. Open-Entry/Open-Exit is NOT being offered -- all four sections are scheduled within the normal Winter 2007 semester.

CST-133W-93

Kevin Wyzkiewicz kmwyzkie@delta.edu Office: A-068 Phone: 686-9420

CST-133W-94, CST-133W-95 and CST-133W-96

Bob Hoag rdhoag@delta.edu Office: A-069 Phone: 686-9188

ALL SECTIONS:

Orientation will be done on-line; students will receive an e-mail explaining the procedure. If students are uncomfortable doing the orientation by themselves, they may request a face-to-face session with their instructor.

Throughout the semester, students may request (and are encouraged) to meet with their instructor on campus to obtain help with the assignments. Sheduling of these meetings will be done by the student via e-mail to their instructor..

Students in all four sections may complete their responsibilities to the class ahead of schedule and before the scheduled end-date of the class.

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