Sacramento City College

CISC 355: Introduction to Data Communications

 

Instructor: Kevin M. Anderson, MBA, MCT, MCSE, MCDBA, MCP + I, CCAI, CCNA, CNE, Security +, N+, Inet +, A+,

                                                                CIW Associate

Office Phone: (916) 650-2926

Office: B229  

Office Hours:  Mon 6PM to 7PM Online

                         Tues 9PM to 10PM

                         Wed 6PM to 7PM and 9PM to 10PM

                         Thurs 9PM to 10PM                                            Email: andersk@scc.losrios.edu

Instructor Website: http://www.scc.losrios.edu/~andersk          Course Website: http://www.someprofs.org

Prerequisites: None

Units: 1.5 Credit units

Course Advisory: CISC 300 (formerly CIS 1) or CISC 310 (similar to former CIS 2 or 6) with a grade of “C" or better.

Acceptable for credit: CSU

Mandatory Orientation:  Monday, August 24, 2009 at 4:30-5:20pm in B204.

Course Description: This course will introduce business data communications. Students will learn about media, telecommunications, protocols, interfaces and packet switching. Independent assignments will include research using the Internet for locating, viewing, printing, and downloading information.

Student Learning outcomes:

What you need to take this course:

1.    Textbook: Textbook: Shelly, Cashman, & Serwatka. (2001) Business Data Communications: Introductory Concepts and Techniques. Fourth edition. Course Technology.  ISBN: 0-7895-6806-3.  NOTE: It will not be possible to complete this course without the text book.

2.    You must have access to a computer with Internet access. The course materials are only accessible online by logging in to http://www.someprofs.org – using your student identification number without using a “W” is required.  If you do not own a computer with Internet access, the computer labs on campus will be open during this semester.  Here is a link to the SCC Computer lab that shows times, and days it is available: http://busdiv.scc.losrios.edu/stre_lab.html .   Tutors are also available in the SCC computer lab.

3.    You must have a working e-mail account.  If not already done, activate your Los Rios iMail account – you should already have one assigned, and will need it for this course. This is free to currently enrolled students at SCC.  Go here to activate it: https://imail.losrios.edu/ you can have your Imail account forward email to your current email account.  To do this click on Preferences located on the left-hand side of the screen, then click on Forwarding your Imail to set this up.  I have step by step instructions on my website http://scc.losrios.edu/~andersk  if have any problems.

      Please note: 

o    Because of e-mail viruses, Prof. Anderson does not accept e-mail from unknown sources. Therefore, all e-mail messages must include the subject CISC 355 and your full name typed in the message, or the e-mail may be ignored. Example: CISC 355 Jill Jones.

o    It’s impossible for Prof. Anderson to be familiar with every e-mail software application on the market, so please don’t ask for technical assistance.

4.    You must check your e-mail account regularly throughout the course, I recommend checking your email a minimum of four times each week. Official announcements will be made by e-mail or in the News Forum area on the course web site at http://www.someprofs.org/moodle .

5.    You should be comfortable using word processing software, and have reasonable keyboarding skills. All assignments must be typed, and you are responsible for saving all assignments correctly.  All work submitted must be typed and submitted through Moodle.  It is your responsibility to ensure that I can open the files you send.   Your work must be compatible with Microsoft Office 2003 applications.  Some labs may require you to paste screen shots into a MS Word document.  You may also use Microsoft Wordpad which comes with every Microsoft operating system(Windows XP, Vista etc.)

     The Microsoft Office Suite can be purchased relatively inexpensively at this website http://www.collegesoftware.org . This web site and the software they sell are sponsored by the Foundation for California Community Colleges. They sell the entire MS Office Professional suite, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Publisher.

          If you would prefer not to spend any money, you can download the OpenOffice Suite for free at; http://www.openoffice.org  OpenOffice is 99%+ compatible with all MS Office applications, and best of all, it’s FREE. You will have to make sure that you save the document you submit in Word document format.   I have step by step instructions on the course website if you have any trouble.

6.    Supplies:  HD floppy disks, adequate storage space on a hard drive or USB drive.  I recommend making two copies of each assignment.

7.    All assignments must be typed, and you are responsible for saving all assignments correctly.  All work must be submitted through the course website.  It is your responsibility to ensure that I can open the files you send.

 

Initial Course Requirements and Submittals:

Within the first 2 days of class, all students are required to perform the following requirements:

1. Activate your Los Rios iMail account:  It is required that all students activate their iMail account during the first 2 days of class. This E-mail address will be used for all communications from your professor for this class.  If you want your mail forwarded to another E-mail address, you can change it in the iMail system.  See the following link for instructions and more information about iMail. http://scc.losrios.edu/~andersk/online_orientation_moodle.htm

Activate your iMail account here:  https://imail.losrios.edu/

2. Syllabus and Online Orientation document: This course syllabus and the online orientation document must be read carefully and in their entirety -- they contain important information about the course content, policies and procedures. The online orientation document is located at: http://wserver.scc.losrios.edu/~andersk/online_orientation_moodle.htm  and it may also be accessed from a link on my SCC home page at: http://scc.losrios.edu/~andersk  We will go over this at the orientation meeting as well, but if you don’t remember the information it is available on the course website.

3. Online Orientation Quiz: During the first 2 days of class, all students must take a short quiz to verify that you understand how to access the course materials and use the Moodle online course delivery system. The syllabus and course documents at the top of the course website have the information to answer the orientation quiz questions. The quiz is located on a link in the course website. NOTE: You must score at least 90% or better on the quiz, or it must be taken again. If this requirement is not completed within the first 2 days of the class, you may be dropped and a student from the wait list will be selected to take your place.

4. Practice Assignment.  There is a small practice assignment document on the course website.  You will need to fill out the document and then submit it through the proper assignment link on the course website.  The main purpose of this is to make sure everyone knows how to properly submit assignments before the first assignment is due.

THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE MANDATORY. If any of these requirements are not completed by the end of the first 2 days of class, you may be dropped and a student on the wait list will be selected to take your place.

 

 

Moodle :  In this course we will be using a course management tool called Moodle.  The Someprofs.org web site will be where you will take online quizzes, obtain copies of assignments, a copy of the course outline, etc.  The course uses a weekly format to make it simple to see what readings, and assignments are due.  There is a Calendar that shows the due dates for assignments, and you will also see an Upcoming Events block that shows the assignment due dates.  An easy way to keep track of assignments is by clicking on the Assignments link and you will see all of the assignments and their due dates.  I recommend clicking on the Assignments link and then printing the information.

 

Assignments: Assignment information will be on the course website. Although this is an online course, it is not self-paced.  All assignments will be due by 11:55Pm (midnight), Pacific Time, on the announced due date.   We will be using the end-of-chapter materials in the textbook for assignments. There will be quizzes on each chapter & a cumulative final exam.  The Discussion Forums in the course web site will be used for some assignments.  You will submit assignments directly through links on the course website; we will go through this during the orientation.  After you submit an assignment through the link you should see “File uploaded Successfully”, if you don’t see that message upload the file again.  I have instructions on the course website about how to submit assignments, and how to know that they uploaded properly.

When saving assignment files, add your first and last name to the beginning of the filename.  Example:  AndersonKevin_Chapter1Assignment.doc.  Since many people will be submitting the same assignment, it is important to differentiate each file with a unique identifier (your name).  Failure to do so may result in your file being overwritten by another student’s file.  Putting your name in the filename will be part of the grade for each assignment.

It is your responsibility to check your grades, by checking the online grade book, and notify the instructor if an assignment you submitted has not been graded.  All grades will normally be posted in the grades area in Moodle within 4 days after the due date for the assignment.  If you submitted an assignment but do not see your grade posted within that time, please contact me immediately via E-mail. If you do not contact me within 1 week of the assignment due date to let me know there is a problem with a grade on an assignment the current grade in the grade book will not be changed.

Due Date Policy for Assignments and Exams: All homework, labs, quizzes and exams are due on or before their due date. Assignments turned in late for any reason will not be accepted for credit and will receive a grade of zero.

 
Forums (Discussions): You are responsible for completing selected Discussion Questions (DQ) from certain chapters.  Always refer to the online instructions, because many of these assignments have been modified from the original instructions in your textbook.  You are required to submit a posting for each assigned Discussion Question, prior to the announced deadline. You should type your answer in a word processing document, spell check it, then copy-and-paste into the Forum. Your name, assignment name, and date should be typed in your posting to the Forum, in order to guarantee that proper credit is awarded.

                                         

Internet Projects: Selected Internet Projects (IP) will be assigned from some chapters. Create a single word processing document for each chapter. Microsoft Word format is preferred, but Rich Text Format (.rtf) is also acceptable. Save all Internet Projects for the chapter in the same file, and turn it in through the appropriate Assignment Link. Your name, chapter #, page #, and date should be typed above your answer(s) to the Internet Project(s) in order to guarantee that proper credit is awarded. All resources used (web site URL, printed source, etc.) should be properly cited at the end of the document. Points will be deducted if sources are not listed.

 
Chapter Quizzes: For each chapter, you will complete a Quiz online. All chapter quizzes are available on the first day of the semester, and will stay available for the rest of the class session until a few days before the final.  If you have technical difficulties (such as losing your Internet connection) while taking a quiz, you may be “locked out” from taking that quiz.  Notify your instructor in an e-mail message if you are not able to take any open quiz. Please note that the instructor may not be immediately available, but will “unlock” the quiz as soon as possible.   Chapter Quizzes can only be taken one time.

How to reach me:  If you email me, remember to put CISC 355 and your name in the subject line of your email so that I can identify it quickly.  I will check my email Monday – Friday a few times between the hours of 9:00am – 4:00pm, excluding holidays.  Since generally I will not be checking my email or discussion boards after 4:00pm on Fridays, I recommend starting your assignments early, so that you will have time to ask questions.

Changes to Syllabus: The instructor reserves the right to make adjustments in the operation of this course that are warranted to better meet the needs of the students and the objectives of the course.  I will inform the class of any changes.

Learning Accommodations:  If you are a student with a learning disability, a physical disability, or other special needs, please let me know as soon as possible if you need special accommodations.  These discussions are best handled during my office hours or by appointment.  All needs which have been verified through the disability centers on campus will be accommodated.

 

Student Code of Conduct

Academic Honesty Policy:  Students are required to do their own work on assignments and to work alone on exams.  Examples, and the consequences, of cheating are given below.  Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct in the Sacramento City College Student Guide for additional examples and information.

 

Cheating on Exams

·         Obtaining answers from another student during an exam (in any form and with or without his/her knowledge).

·         Providing answers to another student during an exam (in any form).

·         Using material during an exam that is not allowed.

·         Copying of quiz or exam questions.

 

Consequences of Cheating

·         If cheating is identified, all individuals involved will receive zero points for the assignment/quiz/exam.  All students involved in cheating will receive a grade of zero on any work in which cheating occurs.  The matter will be referred to the Business Division Dean and Campus Discipline Officer for appropriate action.

Student Conduct:

In addition to the above, to provide quality education for all students, the integrity of the learning process must be maintained. It is important that all students understand exactly what is expected and what is considered inappropriate during the teaching/learning process.

Class Drop Policy: If you miss 2 consecutive week's assignments, you will be dropped from the class. Note: If you are dropped from class after the last date to withdraw from a class, you will receive a final grade of "F".  Neither the instructor's signature nor approval is required to drop a class. Students should drop themselves "officially" through the online registration system, or they may receive an "F" in the class. Although I may drop students for not submitting work and/or participating, DO NOT assumes that the instructor will automatically drop you from the class roster. It is the student's sole responsibility to officially drop classes.

 

The final grade in this class will be based on the following

Percent                              Grade

90% - 100%                            A

80% - 89%                              B

70% - 79%                              C

60% - 69%                              D

0% - 59%                                F