BUSINESS APPLICATIONS OF MICROCOMPUTERS

INFS 320


Class Schedule:Tue and Thu, 3:05-4:20 p.m.


Date            Coverage                            Lab #
==================================================================
Jan 	11	Course Intro- Objectives, Philosophy
	16 	DOS         : Overview, Commands
	18 	DOS         : Advanced Commands
	23 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Overview   		     1
	25 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Functions  		     2
		*** Lab 1 Due ***
	30 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Adv. Functions  
Feb	1 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Data Mgmt.  		     3
		*** Lab 2 Due ***
	6	Lotus 1-2-3 : Adv. Data Mgmt.   
	8 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Macros	                     4
		*** Lab 3 Due ***
	13 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Macros
	15	Lotus 1-2-3 : Macros                         5
		*** Lab 4 Due ***
	20 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Macros
	22 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Macros 
	27 	Lotus 1-2-3 : Macros 
	29	Assign: Mini-Project
		 *** Lab 5 Due ***
Mar	5 	DOS/Win     : Application's Integration
	7	Databases   : concepts/design/modeling
	19	Networks    : concepts/environment
	21	Internet    : concepts
	26	**** Mini-Project Due  **** 
		Assign : Group project
	28	Applications Development concepts/criteria
Apr	2	Group Project : Report - System design
	4	Group Project : Report - Data design
	9	Group Project : Report - Module design
	11	Group Project : Report - Module design
	16	Group Project : Report - I/O design
	18	Group Project : Report - I/O design
	23 	Group Project : Report - I/O design
	25	Group Project : Report - System Testing
	30	**** Group Project Presentation ***
May	7	**** Final Exam ****	 3:30-5:30pm

MATERIALS   

Required: Inside 1-2-3 Release 5 for Windows, published by NRP.

Optional: Advanced Spreadsheet Design Using Lotus Macros,by M.C. Thomes, Boyd & Fraser

All students will be required to purchase at least two 3.5" doublesided diskettes.

ATTENDANCE Class attendance is expected but not mandatory. Some of the material presented in class is not available in any textbook. If you miss a class, you are responsible for all material covered in the class.

OFFICE HOURS You will find me in my office or in the Business Computer Lab (BAS-137), Monday through Friday, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Meetings with students at other times will be by appointment only. Office hours are NOT intended for repeating material missed due to an absence.

SOFTWARE PROJECTS A major portion of this course will involve the solution of a number of computer-based exercises using the tools presented in the course. Software projects will be due at the BEGINNING of the hour on the announced project due date. Late Projects will be subject to a severe grade penalty.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Plagiarism, or cheating of any kind, will meet with the most vigorous punishment. Cheating on any exam or lab project will result in a grade of zero for ALL involved students. Other penalties may be pursued through the office of the Dean.

All software projects are to be the individual independent work of the person who submits the project. ANY electronic sharing of work will be considered to be plagiarism. Suspected abuses on software projects will be evaluated on two bases:

1. The work MUST be the independent work of the student who submits it.

2. A student must FULLY understand the contents of any work which he submits as his own.

GRADE DETERMINATION Points will be awarded for successful performance on software projects, presentation assignments, and examinations.

Lab Assignments 10%

Mini-Project 30%

Group Project 30%

Final Exam 30%

Lab Assignments: Laboratory Assignments will be grade on the following scale:

Lab 1 2 points

Lab 2 2 points

Lab 3 2 points

Lab 4 2 points

Lab 5 2 points

Mini-Project.- Individual 1-2-3 project covering data entry, data management, query, graphics, reporting, macros, presentation and windows integration. Easy of use and documentation will be graded accordingly.

Individual Presentation.- A topic will be randomly selected or student proposed. The presentation will make use of Freelance Graphics. It will cover the topics in a clear and professional way . It will include all necessary materials: documentation, references, etc. Evaluated on contents and delivery.

Final Exam.- A hands-on exam based on a Lotus 1-2-3 case problem. The student will implement an automated macro solution for the problem. Optional questions based on class lectures, related handouts, library readings and research topic of individual presentations.

Group Project.- A very significant, commercial quality project will be assigned. Include program development, documentation, formal presentation.

Your final grade will be determined by computing the ratio of the points you actually made in the course to the total number of points available in the course. The percentage grade will be converted to a letter grade on the basis of the following scale:

90% or better = A

80 89% = B

70 79% = C

60 69% = D

less than 60% = F

A note about Course Philosophy: The class uses a "deep water" approach. There may be times when anxiety levels are very high. Please take it easy, and enjoy your work. At the end you will be very pleased with your accomplishments (if everything goes right...)

Learning Disabilities.- If you have a learning disability, you must identify yourself early in the course in order to be considered for special accommodations. The instructor has the right to require that you provide specific, written documentation of your disability and how that disability affects your participation in the course. The documentation must originate from a professional who is qualified to diagnose such conditions. Please note that ADA does not require the instructor to "take any action that would result in the fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program, or activity, or in undue financial and administrative burdens."