Course Prerequisites

None.

Course Description

From the course catalog: Introduces students to the field of computer science and the patterns of thinking that enable them to become intelligent users of software tools in a problem-solving setting. Examines several important software applications so that students may develop the skills necessary to use computers effectively in their own disciplines.

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will know how to:

Required Texts

There is no required textbook for this course. All materials will be provided through Canvas.

Required Software

The course uses Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access. If your class meets in a lab, you must use a lab computer during class and in-class exams. If your section meets in a classroom, you must use a computer that runs the appropriate software for exams and homework. Support is provided to install Windows on your Apple computer so that you can run Microsoft Excel and Access. Students must use the Horizon Virtual Machine application that can be installed on a personal laptop. Instructions and links to the installer are located under the “Resources” section on this site. The University provides plenty of computers that run Microsoft Excel and Access. You can check out laptops from the library, and use library computers for assignments.

Weekly Topic Schedule

Both the web site and Canvas list the schedule for each week and the topics each class will cover. Topics become visible only after the most recent assignment’s due date. See the Class Calendar link in Canvas or your Canvas home page. Note that the assignment may not be visible until you submit the topic quiz at least once.

Course Methodology: Hybrid Course Structure

To maximize learning and allow for ample lab time and hands-on practical work, the course is delivered in a "hybrid format" where students are expected to watch the lectures prior to class. During class, instructors will focus on applying what was learned to solve problems. Instructors also reinforce and go deeper on the more difficult parts of the topic and individually work with students to answer questions about the lab.

Each week, students are expected to:

  1. Review the week’s learning objectives
  2. Review the slide decks and lecture notes
  3. View the video lectures before class
  4. Complete all lessons for the week
  5. Complete the topic quiz before class
  6. Participate in discussions on the discussion board (Canvas)
  7. Complete and submit all assignments and assessments by the due date

Attendance

Attending class is required and attendance is taken. Usually this should be your regularly scheduled class. If you make up an absence by attending another class, you must let the instructor or TA know so they can update your attendance in your instructor's section.

Assessments and Grades

Achievement of learning outcomes will be assessed and graded through:

All lab assignments, projects, quizzes, and exams must be submitted through Canvas. No submissions will be accepted via email.

The topic quizzes must be completed after watching the lecture and reviewing the readings. For many topics, a minimum score is required to view and submit the topic's assignment. Topic quizzes can be taken an unlimited number of times and the maximum score for each quiz will be used in your final grade calculation. The topic quizzes are meant to gauge a student's understanding of the material.

There will be separate take-home and in-class exams on Excel and Access (four exams in all). If a student receives a higher grade on the in-class exam than the take-home, the take-home exam grade will be raised to match the in-class exam grade. If the take-home exam score is better than the in-class exam score, the take-home exam grade will not change. A higher take-home exam score never replaces the in-class exam grade.

There are two optional make-up exams, one for Excel and one for Access. They are administered in-class during the last week of the semester and the dates of these makeup exams will be announced mid-semester. You may take one or both of the make-up exams. The make-up exam grade replaces the corresponding in-class exam grade even if it is lower. If you miss an in-class exam, the make-up exam’s grade will be used instead. For example, if you miss the Excel in-class exam, you can then take the Excel make-up exam, which will replace you 0 for the in-class Excel exam.

Final semester letter grades will be awarded using the following scale:

A
≥ 94
A-
91 - <94
B+
87 - <91
B
83 - <87
B-
80 - <83
C+
77 - <80
C
73 - <77
C-
70 - <73
D+
67 - <70
D
63 - <67
D-
60 - <73
F
<60

Submitting Work

All work for the course is expected to be completed by the due date and time and must be submitted on Canvas. No email submissions are accepted. Due dates and times are posted on the class calendar on Canvas. Assignments are associated with course topics, so you will have a separate assignment for each course topic covered during a specific week. Make sure you submit ALL assignments due for that week.

To submit an assignment, follow these steps

  1. Go to the Current Week in Canvas for the current topic and click on the Assignment link to view the submission link.
  2. Attach the submission files or documents
  3. Click Submit to turn them in.
Once an assignment has been graded, students will be able to view the grade and feedback by clicking on Grades on the left panel of the Canvas page.

You may submit an assignment multiple times before the due date. All assignments are due by 11:59 PM. Please, do NOT wait until the last minute to submit your assignment. The Canvas server might slow down if a barrage of students try to submit at the same time. You might run the risk of missing the deadline! (See the late work policy) Also, remember email submissions are not accepted and do not count as a placeholder for a late Canvas submission.

Late Work Policy

No late submissions are accepted!! The link to submit an assignment will disappear once its deadline passes. If you miss an assignment, you are still encouraged to complete them to practice the material covered and to study for the tests.

CS1100 Clinic

You may require more one-on-one instruction than what can be provided in class. The CS1100 clinic provides students the opportunity for additional one-on-one instruction. See help for locations and times.

Participation/Discussion Board

In addition to clinic hours, there is also an online discussion board using Canvas. There is a discussion link for each week of the course. Please post your question only for your questions pertaining to that week's material. Students should:

Communication

Communication between instructors and students is through:

Students and instructors can connect with each other using:

Collaboration

Students may discuss assignments with other students in the class, although all of the work submitted for grading must be the student’s own, and may not be copied in whole or in part from anyone.

Conflicts with University-Sponsored Activities

From the Undergraduate Catalog: Participation in University-sponsored activities, where the students are representing their University ... may cause absences from class that qualify as excused absences [which] are not subject to penalty, and missed work may be satisfied through agreement between the students and the instructor. Work is assigned well in advance for students to complete the work on time. Take-Home exams can be made up with in-class exams and in-class exams can be made up with the make-up exams. All lecture content is available online for review. Teaching assistants hold help sessions weekly for additional questions.

Accommodations For Students With Disabilities

If a student has a disability-related need for reasonable academic accommodations in this course and has not yet met with a Disability Specialist, then visit www.northeastern.edu/drc and follow the outlined procedure to request services.

If the Disability Resource Center has formally approved an academic accommodation in this class, the student must present the instructor with a “Professor Notification Letter” during the first week of the semester, so that the instructor can address specific needs as early as possible.

Any requests for taking an exam at the Disability Resource Center must be received by the instructor in writing at least seven (7) days prior.

Academic Integrity Policy

The University views academic dishonesty as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit while in college and imposes appropriate punitive sanctions on violators.

Students are expected to read and understand the Northeastern University Academic Honesty Policy found here. In general, unauthorized collaboration is any collaboration that has not been specifically authorized. However, in this course all forms of file sharing are unauthorized.

Any form of cheating or sharing of files or assignments (whether receiver or provider) will result in a grade of 0 for that assignment, a report to OSCCR, and a full two letter reduction in the final grade. These penalties apply for each instance of cheating or file sharing.

Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects individuals from sex or gender-based discrimination, including discrimination based on gender-identity, in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

Northeastern’s Title IX Policy prohibits Prohibited Offenses, which are defined as sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship or domestic violence, and stalking. The Title IX Policy applies to the entire community, including male, female, transgender students, faculty and staff.

If you or someone you know has been a survivor of a Prohibited Offense, confidential support and guidance can be found through University Health and Counseling Services staff (http://www.northeastern.edu/uhcs/) and the Center for Spiritual Dialogue and Service clergy members (http://www.northeastern.edu/spirituallife/). By law, those employees are not required to report allegations of sex or gender-based discrimination to the University.

Alleged violations can be reported non-confidentially to the Title IX Coordinator within The Office for Gender Equity and Compliance at: titleix@northeastern.edu and/or through NUPD (Emergency 617.373.3333; Non-Emergency 617.373.2121). Reporting Prohibited Offenses to NUPD does NOT commit the victim/affected party to future legal action.

Faculty members are considered "responsible employees" at Northeastern University, meaning they are required to report all allegations of sex or gender-based discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator.

In case of an emergency, please call 911.

Please visit http://www.northeastern.edu/titleix for a complete list of reporting options and resources both on- and off-campus.