BA60 – Introduction to Computer Concepts (3 credits – 4 hrs/wk)
Required for Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurial Studies, Retail Merchandising, Tourism and Hospitality, and various Biology Majors – No Prerequisites (revised Spring 2006)

A. BULLETIN DESCRIPTION: Introduces the “Big Four” applications: Electronic spreadsheets, data management, word processing, graphics. Concentrating on business software, students learn conceptual and operational skills necessary to successfully compete in the modern computer business environment. (Not open to CIS majors or those who completed CP11 or CIS11).

B. OUTCOMES: Students will…
1. Know the terminology of modern computer systems and their effects on business with the stress on microcomputer applications.
2. Be able to operate an IBM compatible microcomputer, Windows operating system, and the Microsoft Office “suite” including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access, as well as an Internet browser (see skills list on back).
3. Further individual interests and understanding of computers for personal and career use.

C. RESOURCES:
1. Discovering Microsoft Office XP (Martin, Wiley, 2004) – Lab Manual
2. Getting Started with Computer Concepts (Prentice-Hall, 2002) -Text
3. One 3 1/2″ HD (high density) diskette for lab.

D. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
1. Classroom lecture and discussion.
2. Microcomputer Lab Demonstration/Instruction.
3. Microcomputer use: tutorials and lab projects using application software in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation graphics.
4. Extra Credit projects and additional readings from current periodicals.

E. METHODS OF EVALUATION:
1. Class attendance and participation 5%
2. Computer Lab Projects 40%
3. Class Examinations: Midterm & FINAL 50%
4. Homework assignments & readings – 5%
5. Extra Credit Projects as appropriate

NOTE: Prepared in Word 2003 using a Pentium4 2-GHz computer and printed on a Hewlett-Packard Laser printer.

F. NOTES:
• 4 absence limit! 2 lateness = 1 absence
• Excessive absence may result in penalty grade.
• No make-up exam for Mid-Term.
• All cell phones & beepers must be silent!

G. TOPICS:
1. Overview of Computer Concepts
2. Hardware: System Unit, Input, Output, Secondary Storage
3. Application and Systems Software
4. Telecommunications and Networks
5. The Internet & World-Wide Web
6. Security, Ethics, and Privacy

Concurrent Lab Work:
• Hardware, disk formatting, Windows
• Word Processing – Word
• Spreadsheets and Charts – Excel
• Presentation Graphics – PowerPoint
• Internet Browsing – Netscape Navigator

H. LABORATORY PROJECTS
1. Word Processing – Word XP
2. Spreadsheets – Excel XP
3. Presentation Graphics – PowerPoint XP
Note: Up to five mastery exercises are assigned in each software package. Additional EXTRA CREDIT may be submitted in Access XP and/or MailMerge.

I. COURSE TRANSFERABILITY (3 credits):
Baruch (CIS3650), Bklyn (CIS5.2), JohnJay (MAT260), MedgarEvers (CIS211), NYCTech (DP309). Elective at City, Lehman, Queens, Hunter (if AAS)

J. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
• Beekman. Computer Confluence (5e), Prentice-Hall, 2003. • Fuller/Larson. Computers: Understanding Tech-nology, EMCParadigm, 2003.
• Long/Long. Computers (10e), Prentice-Hall, 2003.
• Martin, Mastering Today’s Software, Dryden, 2000.
• Shelly/Cashman. Discovering Computers, Course Technology, 2002.’

J. SKILLS LIST

A. BASIC WINDOWS SKILLS
1. Hardware – Components and processing for Input/Output/Secondary Storage: CPU, keyboard, mouse, screen, printer, disks, tape, scanners, digital cameras, etc.
2. Windows Fundamentals – use of mouse, desktop, launching programs
3. Formatting a Diskette
4. Managing Files with “My Computer” – copy, rename, delete

B. WORD PROCESSING
1. Launching and Exiting Word
2. Entering Text
3. Saving and Opening a Document
4. Fixing Mistakes with Autocorrect, Overtypes, Spellcheck, Inserting, Deleting
5. Using Find and Replace
6. Centering, Underlining, and Bolding Text
7. Setting Margins, Tabs, and Line Spacing
8. Moving and Aligning Text
9. Printing Documents
10. Managing Files with the Open Dialog Box
11. Indenting Paragraphs
12. Adding Footnotes and Page Numbers
13. Using Tools-Spelling, Grammar, and Thesaurus
14. Changing Fonts and Adding Clip Art

C. SPREADSHEETS
1. Launching and Exiting Excel
2. Entering Data and Issuing Commands
3. Saving a Workbook
4. Changing Data
5. Using Formulas and Built-In Functions
6. Changing Cell Appearance
7. Copying Cell Contents
8. Inserting and Deleting Rows or Columns
9. Printing Worksheets
10. Using the IF Function
11. Freezing Titles and Absolute Addressing
12. Creating Charts
13. Enhancing Worksheet Appearance

D. PRESENTATION GRAPHICS
1. Launching and Exiting PowerPoint
2. Creating and Saving a New Presentation
3. Viewing the Presentation through Normal, Slide Sorter, Outline, and Slide Show
4. Enhancing with Text and Graphics
5. Printing Presentations
6. Changing the Presentation’s Look – Layouts and Designs 7. Adding Transitions and Builds
8. Adding Special Effects
9. Getting Images from the World Wide Web

E. DATABASE (Extra Credit Option)
1. Launching and Exiting Access
2. Creating a Table Structure
3. Entering Data and Exiting
4. Adding New Records
5. Editing Records
6. Viewing Table Data
7. Creating and Using Queries
8. Deleting, Sorting, and Finding Records
9. Creating and Printing Reports
10. Modifying a Report Template

F. OTHER SKILLS
1. Linking and Embedding Objects
2. Using Mailmerge to link Word and Excel
3. Using an Internet Browser (Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer)
4. Understanding URLs and hyperlinks
5. Understanding E-mail
6. Researching topics on the Web via a search Engine