Harris Web Page

NOTE: If you could not come to the optional orientation, you'll find everything we discussed on this page. 

Welcome: Welcome Everyone! My name is Hal Harris, Jr. I'll be your Instructor for CIS 146 via the Internet. I hope you will enjoy your study of Microsoft Office 2000 via the Internet this term - and I hope you learn a lot from this class. If you have any problems or questions or just need to get in touch with me, here's how:

Contact Me:
Email: hharris@jscc.cc.al.us
I check this email often (weekends & at all hours)
Scrushy campus phone: (205) 520-5950

Home phone: (205) 979-5000 (before 9:30pm please)

For my class schedule, office hours, office location, phone numbers, email, etc., click on Contact Me link here.

Let me begin by asking you to email me with any problems or questions you come across in the materials I am posting on the web. Although I am trying to present this class in exactly the same manner that I present it in a regular classroom environment, I'm sure that I will make some mistakes and leave out something important that you really need to know. I'll probably have typos that I would really appreciate your letting me know about. Please don't be afraid to email me about something you are unclear about. Your email will help me to improve the way I present Internet classes in the future as well as allow me the opportunity to clear up something I did not explain adequately.

This link is also available directly from our class web page for this class. You can get to my web page by pointing your browser to: http://www.halharris.com and clicking on the CIS 146 via Internet link on the main page. 

Course Requirements: Now that we're all acquainted, let's take a look at the course requirements. We will divided this class into four basic sections:
1. Introduction to Computer Terminology, Windows, DOS and PowerPoint
2. Word Processing using Microsoft Word 2000
3. Spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel 2000
4. Databases using Microsoft Access 2000

We'll spend the first quarter of the term learning about Computer Terminology, Windows, DOS and PowerPoint. Not too much DOS, but just enough to know our way around. 

We'll spend the second quarter of the term learning about word processing using Microsoft Word 2000. Since this is an introductory class, you will not necessarily become an expert at using all the features of Word. You will, however, become familiar with basic word processing features such as word wrap, line spacing, margin and tab setting, print preview, fonts, bold, underline, italic, etc. You will work through exercises in our textbook to get practice using the features we learn.

We offer full term classes on Word, Excel and Access for students wanting to learn more of the features of each program. And, more advanced full term classes that cover even more about each software package. This introductory class will give you the basics of each package all in a one semester class.

Midterm Exam: We will have our first exam on what we've covered in these first two sections. It will be on Monday, March 4, 2002 at 3:00pm in room RSH 200. Since I will not know your faces, you will need to bring your drivers license or other photo ID. More about the format of the exam in a few minutes, plus we'll discuss homework assignments in detail.

We'll spend the third quarter of the term learning about spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel 2000. Since this is an introductory class, you will not become an expert at using all the features of Excel. You will become familiar with basic spreadsheet features.

Finally, we'll spend the last quarter of the term learning beginning database concepts using Microsoft Access 2000.

Final Exam: Our second and final exam will cover the second half of the term which will include our study of Excel spreadsheets and Access databases. Our final exam will be on Wednesday, May 1, 2002 at 3:00pm in room RSH 200. Since I will not know your faces, you will need to bring your drivers license or other photo ID. 

Exam Format: Each exam will consist of True False, Multiple Choice and Matching questions. You will take your exam on the computer using a computer program I wrote in Visual Basic. It is designed to be exactly like taking an exam on paper - only difference is that you get your grade immediately, as soon as you click FINISH. 

After you have clicked FINISH to have your exam graded, you will be able to look back at any questions you missed. It will show both your answer and the correct answer. Sorry, you can't see this screen until after you've clicked FINISH to have your exam graded.

I will be glad to help anyone with any questions concerning how to operate the exam program since this is not something we're learning in this class. However, I think you'll find it to be very simple to operate. 

I expect each exam to be approximately 100 questions total with approximately 20 true false questions, 40 multiple choice questions, and 40 matching questions (in sections of ten matching questions).

Deadlines: Most of you have already decided that you can handle this class as an independent study class via the Internet. It will require that you be self motivated to keep up with the class and meet each weekly deadline in order to successfully complete this class via the Internet. Although you will not be required to come to a specific class meeting, you will have deadlines each week. You'll have weekly homework assignment deadlines and two specific exam deadlines. If you are planning to be out town one week and know you will not be able to turn in your assignments that week, try to do them early - before you leave. 

You will not be penalized if you get in a bind and have to turn in ONE assignment one day late - BUT, this is how people start getting behind. You don't want to get behind because it will cause you to miss important study time for the exams. I will be reasonable, in terms of allowing an extra day to turn in ONE (or maybe two or three) late assignment(s). However, I can NOT accept more than three late assignments. So, please save your three FREE passes for late assignments for something that comes up that is out of your control.

Homework Assignments: Assignments are due to be completed and turned in each week. See the ASSIGNMENT link off the WebCT page at http://virtual.jeffstateonline.com.

Turn In Homework Assignments Electronically: All homework assignments must be saved in a file and turned in using WebCT.

Keep two copies of every homework file. Keep at least one copy on your floppy disk and one on your hard drive (or another disk). This will prevent a disk crash from causing you to lose an assignment. If my computer disk crashes, you can send me another copy. If your disk crashes, I can send you my copy of the one you turned in.

To turn in your files electronically, log on to WebCT by clicking here, then click on our class link CIS 146 - Microcomputer Applications.  Click on Content and Related Materials link, then click on Assignments link. From here, you can click on your assignment number link and you should get complete instructions and have the option to turn in your assignment using the SUBMIT button.
 

How to Log on to WebCT: Go to WebCT by clicking on the WebCT logo at the bottom of my web page at http://mail.jscc.cc.al.us/~hharris/owp/index.htm or you can point your browser to http://virtual.jeffstateonline.com. 

Your WebCT User Name is your Pipeline email address - the first part of your email address, the part before the @ symbol. Your WebCT password is your social security number (student ID) without the dashes.

If you do not know your Pipeline email address, you will need to log on to Pipeline in order to find out your email address. Your Pipeline username is your social security number (student ID) and your Pipeline password is your six digit PIN number that was sent to you in the mail. If you do not know this PIN number, you will need to stop by enrollment services and show them your drivers license so that they can give you your Pipeline PIN number.

If you have problems logging in, you can temporarily use the guest account to view the materials. Use guest_cis146 as your temporary user name, and use guest for the password. Be careful to type these EXACTLY as they are case sensitive. 

In order to log on, you must close all open browser windows, then open a new browser window. The WebCT system remembers your login and keeps it active until the browser window is closed. Although this will probably not be an issue, if you logged in as guest and later got your personal user name, you would have to close all open browser windows before you could log on as a different user.

Please do not turn in any assignments while logged on as guest_cis146. This is a temporary guest account that is open to everyone in our class. In order to get credit for your assignments, you must be logged on to your own account. 

You can contact enrollment services by calling 853-1200 to find out your Pipeline username and PIN number if you have problems.

Software Needed: Some of you may be wondering about the software. You may have questions as far as the specific software you have on your computer at home or work. Check out my web page on taking CIS 146 via the Internet to make sure that you have the right software and dedication to successfully complete this class via the Internet. This link is also available directly from my web site from the link via the Internet?. 

POSSIBLE PROBLEM: Check your version of your software to make sure it is Office PROFESSIONAL EDITION. If your copy is not Office PROFESSIONAL, you will be missing Access. No problem. You just may have to use the computer labs at the school the last few weeks of the term when we are using Access.

Syllabus: Let's take a look at the course syllabus. You may want to click the link, open the document from its current location, and print it so that you'll have a printed syllabus to refer to during the term. The SYLLABUS link can be found on our class web page - or just click on this link to go directly to the syllabus.

Course Competencies: Each course has specific learning objectives and you will find all the objectives for CIS 146 Microcomputer Applications in the course competencies link.

Grades: Your grade will be determined by the following:

Midterm Exam - 35% Final Exam - 35% Homework Assignments - 30%

You can check your homework assignment grades on WebCT.

Student Data Files: You will need to create a couple of student data diskettes in order to complete the assignments during the term. You can download the files by clicking on the text book image on our class web page. This will take you directly to the publisher's web page. Once there, click on STUDENT RESOURCES link. If you are not familiar with extracting compressed files, click the DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTION link. After reading the instructions, click on the FROM FTP SITE link to download your files needed.

You will find complete instructions in the back of your textbook on the inside back cover. 

Or better yet, just click here.

Any changes made to this orientation page after January 7, 2002 at 5pm will be made in red type so that you can quickly see any new information or changes by quickly scrolling through the page.

Good Luck! Please let me know if you run into any problems.
Hal