SOSC 10 Computer Applications for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

Section 2   M/W 5:30 – 6:45 Butte 207

Instructor:         Kim LeBlanc

Office : Butte 632        

Office Hours: Wednesdays 4:30 – 5:30 and by appointment

Phone:              898 –6020 and 828-9740

Email:               Kleblanc@csuchico.edu

 

Class Description:  This class is designed to provide you, the student, with a basic understanding of the computing systems and applications available to students in the Behavioral and Social Sciences.  The emphasis is on skill development.  By the end of this course, you will have developed skills in a number of different areas.  You will be familiar with Microsoft Office XP, and will be comfortable using word processing (Word), spreadsheet (Excel), presentation (PowerPoint), and relational database (Access) applications. You will become introduced to SPSS, statistical software.  In addition to the hands-on work of acquiring skills for the computer, you will also learn about the history of computers, and how social scientists utilize computer software for problem solving and research. By the end of the course you will be able to communicate to others what you have learned.

 

 

TEXT: A Guide to MICROSOFT OFFICE XP PROFESSIONAL for Windows

B. Presley, B. Brown, E. Malfas, and J. Marrelli (Available in the Bookstore)

 

Reading Packet including articles from:

Composing CyberSpace: Identity, Community and Knowledge in the Electronic Age by Richard Holton. And The Soul of the Internet: Net Gods, Netizens and the Wiring of the World by Neil Randall

 

SUPPLIES:     Five (5) 3.5" High Density (1.44mb) Disks formatted for IBM compatibles.

                        About $5 on your WildCat Card to pay for printing @ $.08/pg.

 

Class Assignments:

Textbook Readings: Each week students are expected to read assigned chapters from the course textbook and any articles assigned.

Textbook Practices: Each week students are expected to work through the practices in the assigned chapters.  These are not turned in for a grade, but they are instrumental in learning the material.

Textbook Exercises: Each software application will have assigned exercises. Each week you will need to turn in assigned exercises.

Projects: Four projects will be assigned throughout the semester (word, excel, database, and powerpoint).

Quizzes: Four quizzes will be given throughout the semester.

Final Project: There will be no final exam in this class. Instead, a final project will be completed, which will demonstrate your knowledge of the material covered throughout the semester.

GRADING:

Exercises =                 200 points total

Projects =                  100 points total

Quizzes =                    100 points total

Final Project =             50 points total

Total =                        450 Points TOTAL

A =          93%  to 100%

A- =        90%  to 92.99%

B+ =       87% – 89.99%

B =          83% to 86.99%

B-=         80% to 82.99%

C+=        77% to 79.99%

C =          73% to 76.99%

C- =        70% to 72.99%

D+=        65% to 69.99%

D =          60% to 64.99%

F = below 60


 

Class Schedule:

This schedule is subject to change. Changes will be announced in class, but it is your responsibility to check the webpage and user folder for any changes.

Week One (August 25 – August 28): Introduction to the Course and to Windows 

Meet your fellow students, obtain the textbook, set up an email account, and learn about your Wildcat card. Introduction to Windows.

Week Two (Sept. 3): History of Computers and the internet

Reading and Practices Assignment: Chapter One and assigned article.

Week Three (September 8 and 10): Powerpoint

Chapter 17

Week Four (September 15 and 17): PowerPoint

Presentations

Week Five (September 22 and 24): Introduction to Word Processing

Chapters 4 and 5

Week Six (Sept. 29 and October 1): Advanced Word Processing

Chapters 6 and 7

Week Seven (October 6 and 8:) Spreadsheets

Chapters 8 and 9

Week Eight (October 13 and 15):  Spreadsheets

Chapters 10 and 11

Week Nine (October 20 and 22): Database

Chapter 13

Week Ten (October 27 and 29): Database

Chapter 13

Week Eleven (November 3 and 5): Database

Chapter 14 and 15 

Week Twelve (November 10 and 12): Integration

Chapter 16

Week Thirteen (November 17 and 19): Technology in the Classroom

Assigned Readings

Week Fourteen (November 24 and 26): SPSS

Assigned Readings

Week Fifteen (December 1 and 3): Presentations

Presentations: Attendance Required.

Week Sixteen: Finals Week

Presentations: Attendance Required.