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Contact

Instructor: Linda Perkins

I don't have office or phone contact hours, so I rely on e-mail contact for all communication. All e-mail is answered during off-hours, so my responses will usually be on a "next-day" basis. (See small exception for students below.)

perkinsl@mala.bc.ca (for non-student contact)

instructor@keypost.com(for Cost student contact)

Cost students: If you are unable to attend a class, or have an emergency situation you would like me to be aware of, you can leave a written message through our front office staff (248-2096), or e-mail me.
 

Location:

Computer Studies 067 (Cost 067) has one classroom session per week, and several lab blocks available. The class session is held in Room 263, at the Parksville/Qualicum Campus of Malaspina U-C, P.O. Box 42, 100 Jensen Ave. East, Parksville, B.C. Canada V9P 2G3.
Campus Phone: 250.248.2096 Fax: 250.248.9792

CLASS/LAB SCHEDulE: Please see the schedule page.

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Rationale

Our Cost 047 & Cost 067 Computer Studies courses were implemented in 1997 for four main reasons (these reasons are as applicable in 2003 as they were in 1997):

1. Many of our students don't own a personal computer, or have the economic resources available to take advantage of other training opportunities, so our courses were developed...
   
   
• To provide our students with the opportunity to learn to travel the Internet and join the millions of people already enjoying its many advantages.
  
• To provide our students with the opportunity to learn the basics of typical office applications used in many businesses and post-secondary institutions.
  
• To provide our students with the opportunity to learn about, and explore, future career possibilities related to some aspect of the range of Information Technology & software applications offered in this course.
  
• To raise students "comfort level" with the general use of computers, better preparing them to learn and use even proprietary systems they may encounter in routine employment situations these days. (e.g. gas stations, restaurants, various retail outlets, offices, etc.) We understand that many employers look for at least some degree of computer knowledge.
  
  
2. The implementation of ABE Advanced (047) & Provincial (067) Level Computer Studies enhanced the credit course offering choices available to our students working toward attaining their Adult Graduation Diploma (Grade 12).
   View all the ABE course offerings here.
   
   
3. Thanks to our local Foundation Committee, whose volunteer work raised the funds, the Parksville/Qualicum Campus was able to create a second computer lab, allowing the space and time to provide computer courses for the ABE students.
   
   
4. Students were asking for courses like these.
   
   View the Cost 047 course through this link.

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Description

Cost 067 has two areas of study:

1. An introduction to the creation of a small web using XHTML 1.0, and driven by external style sheets (CSS level 2). The students "hand code" their web pages and style sheet in a text editor.
   
   
2. An introduction to the MS Office XP (Pro version) programs PowerPoint 2002, and Publisher 2002.

The course has been designed to comply with the Advanced Level curriculum suggested by the British Columbia Adult Basic Education (ABE) Articulation Guide.

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Objectives

Web Component:

On successful completion of the course, the student will have created a small (5 page minimum) web site, and be able to demonstrate:

• the ability to generate HTML/XHTML code with hand coding (direct typing of HTML tags in a text editor)
  
  
• the ability to create a working external style sheet.
  
  
• the ability to troubleshoot coding errors on pages
  
  
• good web design principles (e.g. clear message(s), interesting content, good readability (grammar, spelling), good navigation between pages, fast download speeds, inviting appearance, etc.)
  
  

MS Office Component:

• An basic understanding of MS PowerPoint 2002, and MS Publisher 2002 software applications.
  
  
• The ability to use each of the above programs, at least to the degree that the tutorials cover. (See the Cost 067 Outline for a more detailed breakdown of each assigned lesson.)

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Delivery Method

This course is primarily delivered through a self-paced, independent-learning format. The rationale for this approach is:

1. Learners vary widely in their learning styles, and information processing time. This approach allows each to work through the lessons at his/her own pace. It is an equitable approach for most students, but the Internet component does not serve (primarily) auditory learners well.
   
   
2. Other than short (15-30 minutes) lectures, and some group work exercises, it's very difficult to keep 20 students "attending" in a noisy lab.
   
   
3. All students must attend the class, but those who have a computer and Internet connection at home are able to work through the lessons off-campus. Some students even use a friend's computer to work through their lessons off-campus. This is most helpful for them, and relieves pressure on our labs. (I estimate that the percentage of students with off-campus computer availability has risen from 0% in 1997 to about 50% in 2003.)
   
   ( Extra lab time is available for those that don't have a computer at home.)

Web Component:

This component is delivered through online lectures (see top menu—Web Site Lessons), and is the only activity pursued during the class time. The instructor moves around the lab, giving individual help as required, and direct instruction when there's a "group exercise" within a lesson, or as required.

MS Office Component:

This lessons in this component must be completed almost totally independent of any direct instruction. Each student has a tutorial book, and is expected to complete the various learning sections according to the weekly schedule (see MS Office - left menu). There are instructor-designed, hand-in assignments which provide ongoing assessment of the students' progress through the Office suite. Feedback is written, and one-to-one direct instruction is given when required.

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Prerequisites:

COST 020:

There are no pre-requisites to enter Computer Studies 020.

COST 047: 

Must:

1. Have a typing speed of 25 wpm—no errors. (See Cost 020 for these skills)
   
   
2. Have a comfortable working knowledge of one of: Windows 95/98/2000/ME.  
   (Basic computer skills are NOT taught at this level. See Cost 020 for these skills)
   
   
3. Be able to attend the Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday class times of 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All students must be in attendance, and can be removed from the roster if more than two classes are missed. (Students should bring a substantial snack to take them over the dinner hour.) 

Recommended:

• A mature, self-motivated attitude toward learning is a must. Students should also be able to retain their focus in a busy and (sometimes) noisy lab setting.
  
  
• Lots of available time. This course, plus one other, usually provides a demanding schedule for our average student (unless single, and not working).
  
  
• The ability to read (and understand) well enough to get through a fairly substantial volume of assigned reading.
  
  
• The ability to accurately follow written instructions, in a step-by-step manner.
  
  
• Caution: Individuals who MUST have lots of oral instruction, or one-to-one tutoring may not do well in this course - particularly the Web Component. In-depth written lessons are developed by the instructor and backed up with direct class instruction, but there are not enough hours to give one-to-one instruction to every student, on every aspect of a lesson.
  

COST 067- Prerequisites:

Must:

1. Meet all the prerequisites for Cost 047.
   
   
2. Have completed Cost 047 with a minimum grade of C. Occasionally a student is accepted without having completed Cost 047. These individuals are those whose knowledge of the Internet, and general computer literacy is such that he or she can be expected to succeed at the Cost 067 level.
   
   

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Materials/Software

Web Component:

• One 3 ½" floppy diskettes, IBM-compatible formatted, and labels
  
  
• Recommended: floppy diskette holder for installation in a binder
  
  
• Minimum: 2" binder and some lined paper. (The binder is used for notes, and for storing lesson and other web pages, and returned assignments.)
  
  
• A textbook is required; the textbook lessons are guided through instructor-created instructions on web pages at this web site. Book: one of two can be used: either the old book - Sams Teach Yourself HTML & XHTML in 24 hours, or the new book - Sams Teach Yourself HTML and XHTML in 10 minutes, available through our office - $22.95)
  

MS Office 2002 Component:

• (If not acquired for Cost 047) Required book:  Microsoft Press Step-by-Step Microsoft OfficeXP (Microsoft Press) ISBN: 0-7356-1294-3. CAN $ 64.99 (Can be obtained at the front desk - Parksville office).
  
  
• Separate (from the Web component) - another 2" binder. This binder is for the MS Office study notes and returned assignments.
  
  
• One or two 3 ½" floppy diskettes, IBM-compatible formatted, and labels
  
  
• Recommended: floppy diskette holders for installation in a binder
  
  

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Grading Policy

Letter grades are earned by attaining points for:

• Each completed MS Office and Web assignment
  
  
• Bonus points for completing all MS Office and Web site assignments (double the earned marks when all completed)
  
  
• Exams
  
  
• Class attendance

The individual points available, plus % totals are itemized on the course outline.

Notes:

• Assignments handed in two weeks after the assigned week will be docked 0.5 points per late week.
  
  
• 0.5 points will be docked from assignments that don't clearly show:

1. The lesson or guide#, week #, and assignment letter or number. 
2. The student's name (if not part of the assignment work).
3. The date submitted.
4. The name of the file used (MS Office assignments)
   
   

• Partial attendance points for a class may be given if a student has extenuating circumstances and:
  
  
  1. contacts the instructor prior to the class time
     
     
  2. completes whatever weekly assignment there are—within two weeks.
  
  Note that this type of arrangement is an "unusual" situation—it can't be routinely used by students to skip classes.

Marking Grid:

The following grid is used when assigning letter grades.

A+ = 95+%	A = 90 to 94%	A- = 85 to 89%
B+ = 80 to 84%	B = 75 to 79%	B- = 70 to 74%
	C = 60 to 69%
	D = 50 to 59%
	F =   0 to 49%

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Due Dates

Because this course is delivered on a weekly basis, both Web Studies Lesson assignments, and MS Office assignments are due no later than 4 p.m. on the Thursday after the week the assignment was assigned.

• In other words, you have two school weeks to complete an assignment.

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Copyright/Usage

This web site, all course content & pages have been created on my own time and equipment, and are therefore copyrighted by me, Linda Perkins. 

However, unless for commercial purposes, I will grant usage rights to whomever might find any of the content useful. Please contact me if you wish to use all or part of the content of this site. 
perkinsl@mala.bc.ca

All Malaspina University-College Instructors have the right to use any, or all, of this material without my permission (but acknowledgement would be appreciated :] ).

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Related Links

(The following links open in a separate window.)

• Course Outline
• Course Dates
• Class & Lab Schedule
• Lab Use Agreement

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Parksville Computer Studies: www.keypost.com/mala/
Malaspina University-College: www.mala.ca/
Copyright © 1997-2004 Linda Perkins