If you click the links in this document or on the class website and get a logon screen:

Transcription

1 Introduction The enclosed information is required reading by the end of the first day of class. Hopefully it will answer your questions and get you on the right track for successfully completing the course. If you click the links in this document or on the class website and get a logon screen: Just click the Cancel button. The document or Web page will open up on your screen. Sometimes you will have to click the Cancel button more than once. Also, if you have problems with the links in this document you can access the links to the documents and Web pages directly from the class website. To be completed by the end of the first day of class: Make sure your MyCerritos account and TalonNet account has your current address Go through the TalonNet Student Tutorials (see below), especially the Assignments tutorial. Class Website the class website is located on TalonNet at At the above website you will find the Welcome page. Follow these steps to login to TalonNet and find the course. 1. Go to or and click on the TalonNet tab, located along the top of the page.

2 2. Log in using your student number and birth date. The birth date should be in the MMDDYY format. For example, if your birth date is July 7, 1979, then you would enter Once logged in, you will see the My Workspace, courses, and My Sites tabs. 4. Next click the CIS 101 course tab. If you do not see the CIS 101 course tab, then click the My Sites tab and then click the CIS 101 course link.

3 Please note that while viewing pages on the TalonNet website you should set your monitor resolution to 1024 X 768 or higher. The steps are: 1. Display the Windows desktop 2. Right-click the desktop to get the shortcut menu: 3. Select the Properties menu option 4. Click on the Settings tab on the Display Properties dialogue box 5. Set the resolution to 1024 X 768 or higher 6. Click the OK button

4 After you have logged in and have found the class website your screen should look similar to the following screen shot. (OK, not exactly. The screen shot is for the CIS 151 class. Your class will have CIS 101 on it.) On the class website you will find important information, resources and links for completing the class. The first thing you should review is the course outline which is located on the Syllabus page. Click the Syllabus link to view this important information. If this is the first time using TalonNet, then you will want to go through the Student Tutorials that are located on the My Workspace page. The steps are: 1. Click the My Workspace tab (upper left corner) 2. Click the Student Tutorials link to see the available tutorials 3. You will only need to go through the tutorials that we will be using in the class.

5 To get started you should review the following tutorials: 1. Home 2. Syllabus which contains the course outline with important information such as the textbooks, materials, office hours, and the class schedule 3. Assignments 4. Gradebook 5. Announcements very important to read the announcements every time you log in Objectives of this course Transferable to CSU/UC To become computer literate Computer terms How computers can be used in our world Computer assignments to introduce you to: o Windows and File Management o Excel - electronic spreadsheets o Access - database management system o Word word processing o PowerPoint presentation management system Prerequisites and Recommendations: Prerequisites: technically none Be self-disciplined meaning you need to read and do your assignments every week, read the website announcements and your every day. Also, please remember that this class is normally an 18 week class. If you are in the 9 week class, then you are going to do twice the work each week. What you should know: o Windows How to name and save files Windows Explorer file management: how to find, save, copy, rename, and delete files & folders. o Compose a simple Attach a file to the o Internet browser Used to access the class website on TalonNet

6 Hardware and Software requirements: You need a computer that has: An Internet connection high speed is preferred such as DSL or Cable Windows XP Microsoft Office Professional 2007 A browser such as IE 6.0 or Netscape 4.0, or later versions Microsoft Office Professional 2007 is cheap (around $89) at Cerritos College has provided many computers in various labs with all of the above. Data files: Some assignments will require data files and some won t. If a data file is needed, then the directions for getting the files are in the instructions for each lab assignment on the class website. Hmm. Not too many files needed. Well that means you will be creating your lab assignments from scratch. So plan on spending from 1 3 hours on each assignment. In most cases at least 3 hours. An account: Preferably a Hotmail account Or, you may use your current account Suggestion create a new account just for this class Important reminder: please be sure to enter your address in to your MyCerritos student account and in TalonNet as well. They should match in order for consistent communications from me. The steps in TalonNet: MyWorkspace, Account, Modify Details button, make corrections, and then click the Update Details button. If you don t have any of these things or you are having problems with your computer, that s OK. Use the computers in the CIS computer labs in the Liberal Arts building. Rooms LA3 LA6, Fall & Spring hours are posted in the hallway. o Summer Session Notice: Please note that in the second six weeks of summer the CIS labs are not open. Please use the computer labs in the Library. Also, the college is only open Monday through Thursday including the Library. Plan ahead and work ahead. If you have problems with your computer you should come to campus and use the computers here. My response to your computer problems will typically be Use the computers on campus.

7 So how s this class going to work? Reading the Discovering Computers textbook: You will need to read 1-2 chapters each week depending on whether you are in the 18 week or 9 week section See the Class Schedule section on the Syllabus/Course Outline The exam questions will be taken from the Discovering Computers, Fundamentals textbook Practice Tests are Computer Assignments: The instructions and deadlines for each computer assignment will be posted to the class website in TalonNet and on the Assignments page You will do your computer assignment and then upload the file(s) to the specific assignment in TalonNet. The assignments have strict deadlines. See each assignment web page for the due date and deadline date and time. The assignments must be submitted by the due date and time, Pacific Standard Time. Assignments will not be accepted late. It simply is not fair to those students who submit and complete the assignments on time. Grading process --- after the assignment has been graded please check your score in the specific assignment from the Assignments page in TalonNet. Make sure you scroll down to read any Instructor s Comments I may have written to give you feedback. Near the end of the course please be sure to check all of the scores in the Gradebook. I try to do the grading at least once a day, but I too have meetings, other classes and family obligations. So, don t panic if I have not graded your assignment right away. Please give it a couple of days before you me about a missing grade. Important Note: Please buy the books before the class starts. This is especially important if you are in the 9 week section. I do not recommend buying the books online. You may not get them in time for class which will cause you to miss assignments. Remember, late assignments are not accepted. Tests: Please check the Syllabus/Course Outline for the test dates. As stated above the questions will be from the Discovering Computers, Fundamentals textbook. Practice Tests are A good study habit would be to read a chapter, and then do practice tests for that chapter.

8 Submitting Assignments: Please go through the Assignments tutorial found on the Welcome page on TalonNet to learn how to submit assignments Important note: o Carefully read and follow all instructions! This is critical to your success in this class! o When naming your files be sure to use the filenames in the lab assignments. Checking Your Lab Assignments: o Thoroughly check your lab assignments before submitting them. It is your responsibility to correctly complete the assignments. Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy Please be sure to read the college s Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy found in the catalog. A copy of the catalog is located at How does it apply to this class? For the homework assignments, make sure you create your own files from scratch and do your own typing. I know some of you work together, share books and computers. That s OK. What is not OK is having one person type the assignment and then submitting that file for multiple students. This is plagiarism! All parties involved will receive no points for a plagiarized assignment. Announcements Please check the class website everyday for announcements. Communication Please check your everyday I may send you an that is time sensitive and so you must check your s daily to be sure you don t miss an important message It s your responsibility to keep up with the Don t worry I don t send out that many s, but when I do my expectation is that you have read it When sending an to me: o On the Subject line, be sure to put CIS 101 and the class number with a brief description of your message. o Make sure you put your name as it appears on the class roster and student number in the message o Be sure to CC (courtesy copy) yourself on every VERY IMPORTANT: Important messages will also be in the Announcements section in the TalonNet class website. Be sure to read the Announcements daily. problems could be due to the following: o The address is incorrect in your MyCerritos account. The address is incorrect in TalonNet. Verify that the address is correct in both accounts. o Your system thinks my is spam and it is filtering it out.

9 o Check your settings and put my address in your address book as a safe address. o Check your Junk folder. Sometimes your system will think my is junk mail. Questions or need help? If you are having technical problems or need assistance with TalonNet, then please contact the Academic Support Center at: o During business hours: (562) x2404 o After hours: (866) o TNStudentHelp@cerritos.edu o cc me as well at bnegrete@cerritos.edu. Also, I suggest that you put the above addresses in your list of contacts. If you are having problems specific to an assignment, then come to my office during my office hours for help. See my web for my office hours. You may also call me at (562) , extension 2735 Contact Information: Come by my office at SS24 during office hours. o See my web for my office hours. Call me at (562) , extension me at bnegrete@cerritos.edu