Class Page

Instructions for downloading handouts

Announcements

08/23/06

Welcome to BIS 101 Introduction to Computers Online, Fall 2006!

Please read all the way through!

Be sure to get started right away!!! The biggest problem students have with this kind of class is keeping up with the work. There is no more work than in a regular class, but you have to motivate yourself to get it done. It is easy to get too far behind and have to drop the class or worse get a failing grade.

Also, there are a lot of new technical skills you will need to acquire right away to become familiar with the tools you will be using.

To start with you will be posting to a Message Board which may be slightly different than other message boards you have posted to so you will need to become familiar with it.

Then your Computer Concepts book contains a BookOnCD located inside the back cover. With this BookOnCD you will complete many assignments such as New Perspective Labs, Quick Checks, and Practice Tests. You will need to become familiar with how to use this BookOnCD, how to save your assignments because saving is not done in the usual way we save files (it is done in a file setup process) and then identify the where the file is to send to me as an attachment.

Finally, you also have four lab tutorial books (Windows XP, Word, Excel and PowerPoint). You will need to complete all tutorials from a book and zip them together using a program called Filzip, that will be provided, or any other zipping program. You will send all your completed lab tutorials for each book as one zipped file.

All of these will be explained as you complete assignments, but as you can see there are a great deal of new skills you will need to acquire just to get started so getting started right away is imperative.

First, become familiar with the options on this class web page. Notice that there are currently three links in the Class Pages section: Assignments, Message Board and Final Project Description. Click on all three of these to view the pages you are linked to.

Then look at the Handout Section. You should be able to click on the Syllabus link in the Handout section to download a copy of the syllabus. If necessary, click on the Instructions for Downloading Handouts link or scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the directions for downloading.

There are three things that you should make sure and do EACH WEEK for this class!

1. First, check this announcement board for notices. You are currently reading the Announcements section of this web page.
2. Second, leave your replies to the new topic posted on the Message Board each week. There are more complete instruction on using the Message Board in the handouts section at the top of this page. The two handouts are: How to Register and How to Login, Update Your Profile, and Post Replies. Please be sure to read all the way through, before you call for help!
3. Third, Check the Weeks Assignments. Under the Class Pages section above, you will see a link called Assignments. This will take you to the top page of the Assignment sections. On this page you will see links to each week's assignments. Only the assignment link is complete at this time. You will start with the link to Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3: August 23rd to September 10th. You will click on this link to go to the page that has the first assignments. Due dates are posted for each assignment, but you may work ahead on assignments if you wish.

SOFTWARE VERSIONS
Because there are differences in Office versions, you  must use Office 2003 for your assignments. Older versions of Office may not work for all the assignment. If you don't have this version at home, you'll probably have to use the CSM lab computers, which do have Office 2003.

If you are in need of software, and want to take advantage of academic pricing, you can visit the UNO bookstore (take your student ID with you), or check out the CDW web site (http://www.cdwg.com/shop/profiles/education.asp). You'll need to verify your academic status with them, but their prices are pretty good.

If you do decide to purchase Microsoft Office 2003, be aware that there are different "packages" you can get. The most common is the Student and Teach Edition, which often runs for about $120.00.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU VALIDATE. I'll be sending out e-mails to those students I have on the class list who have not yet validated. Remember that if you fail to validate, CSM will remove you from the class list, and I believe, charge you a fee for reinstatement to the class.