Northwest Indian College – CMPS 101 Computer Applications

Computer Applications is a one-term course that will introduce the student to relevant technology in the work force. Tools used will be Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Open Office and Google Drive (also known as Google Docs). Open Office and Google Drive are both free and work on any computer. Students develop a professional web-based portfolio with Edublogs.org throughout the course.

Course Outline

• Total Quality Management techniques and andragogy structuring of class expectations
• Building a professional portfolio (blog)
• Brainstorming with Mind Mapping programs
• Creating presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint, Open Office Presentation and Google Drive
• Word processing with Microsoft Word, Open Office Text Document and Google Drive
• Creating spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel, Open Office Spreadsheet and Google Drive
• Working with social media tools, to be determined in class

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to use popular computer software for word processing, spreadsheet, presentations, blog publishing at Edublogs.org (portfolio), social media applications like Flickr.com (images) and Slideshare.net (presentations) and Internet email (gmail.com).  Specifically, students will know the meaning and operation of icons of commonly used menu items in Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Open Office, and Google Drive.  The student will be proficient in using the help system and online tutorials to be able to figure out new versions of software and use features not covered in this course.
• Students will be able to explain important computer concepts using vocabulary in online help.
• Students will acquire and apply computer related knowledge.
• Students will locate instructions (help) that are needed to select and employ the appropriate feature to solve problems.  (Features of computer application software change over time and the student will encounter different software at home and at work. Thus, just learning the features of the specific computer application software used in class is not as important as learning how to learn the features of any end-user computer application software.)
• Students will create professional looking presentation, documents, and spreadsheet as expected from a  “college educated” person.  Timely professional work (good grammar, proper spelling, etc.) is required.
• Students will be able to THINK and apply knowledge rather than simply repeat it.
• Students will apply assignments to real life situations, as relevant to each individual as possible and as varied as possible to appeal to different learning styles.

Student Projects

• Presentations
  • Autobiographical presentation
    • Project resources
• Word Processing
  • Résumé
  • Biography page in the portfolio
  • Word art for biography page
• Spreadsheet
  • Car or home purchase requiring a bank loan

Grading Scale

Attendance

• Since you will receive an attendance grade, it is essential that you understand the attendance policy.
• Daily attendance is extremely important to your passing this class successfully.  If unavoidable problems arise, see me personally for help in keeping up with your assignments.  You will receive 10 points per day if you are present.  Since this is an attendance grade, you must be present to receive the points.  The only exception to this rule is if you were on a school activity trip.
• It is your responsibility to find out what work you have missed and to make the work up.  You will have a short period of time to complete all missed work. Since a majority of your work will be done at the computer, it will be extremely difficult for you to make up this work unless it is done before class or at home.

Classroom Rules

Rules for the classroom are as follows:

• Because this classroom contains expensive equipment, there will be absolutely NO FOOD OR DRINK allowed at the computer tables. No cell phone use, please.  We will take at least one break for you to use your phone.
• PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK THE INSTRUCTOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.  TRYING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS.  IF YOU TRY, YOU CANNOT FAIL.

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