BENTLEY COLLEGE -- COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Course Syllabus

Office Hours: Morison 149A
Other Times: By Appointment

2. COURSE DESCRIPTION :

This half semester (1.5 credit hour) General Education IT Component course explores the World Wide Web as an educational and business resource. The emphasis is on the use of HTML and JavaScript to develop Web pages that include text, graphics, animation, internal and external linkages, frames, forms and, with JavaScript, alert boxes, remote windows, events and cookies. In addition, such concepts as the architecture of the Web, the use of browsers, effective search strategies, multimedia and Web security are addressed to familiarize the student with the Web as a business tool and resource. The course requires the student to make extensive use of the Bentley Information Resource, the CIS Web Server and the student's own computer.

3. COURSE OBJECTIVES :

The primary objective of this course is to expose the student to the breadth, depth, versatility and usefulness of the Web as information resources. Upon successful completion of the course and the assignments, it is expected that the student will:

• understand the terminology associated with the Internet and the World Wide Web;
• be proficient with a Web Browser (principally Netscape, but also Internet Explorer);
• be able to develop interesting and effective Web pages;
• have an understanding of the technological infrastructure of the World Wide Web; and
• have an appreciation of the emerging Internet technological trends.

4. REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS :

    TEXT Reference:

1. New Perspectives on Creating Web Pages with HTML - Comprehensive, Patrick Carey, Course Technology - ITP, 1998

    OTHER References:

1. Designing with JavaScript, Creating Dynamic Web Pages , Nick Heinle, Songline Studios, Inc. and O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1997
2. Academic Network Resource Guide, Academic Computing Services, Bentley College, August, 1997 ( http://erebus.bentley.edu/bir/anrg)

5. EVALUATION :     The final course grade will be determined approximately as follows:

Total points accumulated during the semester will be converted to the Bentley Grading Scale at the end of the term. Letter Grades are not used.

Each student is expected to keep track of his or her class standing throughout the course and to schedule a meeting with the professor outside of class to discuss any significant class standing issues. All returned quizzes and assignments should be retained by the student. Students are expected to complete all course work to the best of their ability within the half semester time frame; a course grade of I (Incomplete) will be given only under extenuating circumstances.

6. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND QUIZZES:

Any quizzes that are given are meant to demonstrate to you (and to me) that you understand the material being assigned. In all cases, homework quizzes must be completed and passed in on or before the class following the one in which they were given; late quizzes will not be accepted for credit.

Unless otherwise stated, homework assignments should be completed by the next class meeting after they have been assigned. A pro-rated percentage will be deducted for assignments that are turned in late; missing assignments will receive no credit in calculating that component of the Final Course Grade. All assignments and the term project are intended to be individual efforts.

7. STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC HONESTY :

The provisions of the Honor Code and other aspects of the Academic Honesty System apply to this course. In conducting the classes, every effort will be made to uphold the responsibility of the faculty to foster an environment of mutual trust and fairness. Students are responsible for acting ethically and not tolerating dishonesty on the part of others. Should any questions arise in this regard, or if clarification is needed at any time, please contact me.

8. CLASS ATTENDANCE :

Class time can be the most productive time in any course. Except for illness, religious holidays, personal or professional emergencies, or other extenuating circumstances, students are expected to attend every class. Since each succeeding class builds on the material that will have been covered in the preceding classes, it is each student's individual responsibility to arrange for getting missed notes and classroom material following an absence. Whenever possible, the professor should be notified of an absence, either in advance or immediately upon your return.

Faculty members can recommend denial of course credit for excessive absences. Students with excessive, unexcused absences (three or more days, two or more evenings are considered to be excessive) should arrange a meeting with the instructor to avoid possible loss of points or course credit.

9. CLASSROOM CONDUCT :

Throughout the course, it is expected that students will practice common classroom courtesy. This includes behavior that respects both your classmates and your professor. Conducting private conversations during class is not only impolite and unfair to others, but it also draws negative attention to yourself. Late arrivals and early departures are disruptive and are to be discouraged; please inform me ahead of time if you need to leave class early.

10. NOTE REGARDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE :

Please let me know as early in the term as possible and in whatever way is comfortable for you if there are circumstances (for example, a learning disability or physical problem, or English is not your first language) that might cause you to have difficulty in keeping up with the course material.

Should you find that you are having trouble with anything in the course, please contact me in my office, by phone or by e-mail, so that we can meet to discuss the issue(s) involved. Even if you are having no problems, a visit to my office to get better acquainted and your input are always welcome.

Since one of the more commonly used methods of communications on (and off) campus is by e-mail, feel free to use that medium to get in touch with me. When doing so, however, please include your Section Number and an appropriate description of the contents in the Subject Field; this will make it easier for me to organize my messages and to ensure a response to you in a timely fashion. When a response is required, it may not be immediate, but I will respond as soon as possible.

11. TENTATIVE GRADING SCALE :