Welcome to Computers Class!!

OK, I want to welcome you to the class and lay down a few basics about the class.

Overview
We will be covering a wide range of topics in this class. Most of these topics will deal with different software programs and how to best make use of them. We will also spend some time studying Computer Science, and basic programming. We will have units that deal with Microsoft Office, Website Design, Programming, and Images, as well as other various computer details.

A large portion of the things we cover in the class will deal with the interests of each of you as students, but I will not limit my topics to what you want to learn!

Pre-Assessment
These next few days we will be used to find out some of the topics you already know, and little about some of the things you hope to learn. As you complete these assessments, don't worry about a grade for them. Simply do the best you can and show off as many skills as you know. If you don't know anything about a given program, that's OK, you'll learn as we go!

Once we finish with this part, you can read on to see what I'm expecting you to do over the next few days.

Daily Procedures
There are just a few things I expect from you so that we can learn as much as possible this term:

1. When the bell rings I expect you to be at your computer and logged in!
2. Your first task will be to visit this website to find the instructions for the day. Each day you should check here, even if you think you know what we are doing, as I may have changed my mind overnight, or I may have found some good information to help you.
3. Get to work on whatever task I have given!

Assignment Procedures
You will soon have access to the folder "V:\Classes\Computer9". All assignments will be turned in by placing them in a particular folder inside that directory. I will give specifics about each assignment as the time comes to turn it in.

Important note:
It is important that you keep a copy of each document in your own folder. You only place the file in the public folder when it is time to turn it in.

Grading Procedures
Most of the grades in this class deal with individual assignments and projects. We may have a couple of quizzes, but won't have exams. There will also be some grades dealing with participation in class and ability to keep on task.

Quiz

OK, first task is the quiz that I will be handing out shortly. A simple 60 questions dealing with all aspects of computers and terminology. Do the best you can, don't worry if you can't get half of the questions, I'd be surprised if you could!

Hands-On Activities

You will now be creating some projects of your choosing in each of the given programs. In all cases your goal is to show your ability to use the program, and to show all of the aspects that you can. If you consider yourself to be an advanced user of the program, you need to prove it to me! When choosing what operations to use and how to show your use of them, be creative and use the highest level of functions that you know!

Microsoft Word

You are to create a one page document showing your ability to perform different formatting options on your document (font, alignment, etc.) In the text you should explain how to perform some of the higher functions and tools in Word, the things that can’t be directly shown (such as SpellChecker, etc.) Remember to use as many different tools as you know how! If you know Word very well, don’t bother wasting time on simple functions, as I see your knowledge of some of the higher functions, I will assume some of the other functions as well.

Microsoft Excel

You are to create a spreadsheet. Your spreadsheet should show your ability to format a spreadsheet in an attractive design. It should also show your ability to use formulas and functions. If there is any doubt as to the use of a function, a comment would be a good plus. The spreadsheet doesn’t need to include a lot of information, but it should include as much as is necessary to show a wide variety of functions!

Microsoft PowerPoint

You are to create a simple presentation. Your presentation should show the things you can do and give explanations of what powerpoint is used for and how to do some of the more important parts of design.

Internet

You will be researching two different topics. Using your research I want you to create a Word Document that displays the results of your research. Make sure you also include the websites that you use.

Topic 1: I really enjoy a sport called “Disc Golf.” You are to do some research for me. I want to find the nearest course to the country of Singapore. List the course, the country, and the distance from Singapore in miles and kilometers. I also want you to find the course that is the nearest to Cairo, Egypt. So, you are finding a total of 2 courses, and with each of them listing the country, and the distance from the given location.

On the same topic I want you to find the cost in Singapore dollars of purchasing a disc. So we have the same thing to compare, I want you to find the cost of an

Innova Beast in Champion plastic. Find the cost of the actual disc, don’t worry about shipping. List the website, the cost in US dollars, and the cost in Singapore dollars.

Topic 2: I want you to find a page that lists the first 1,000,000 digits of the number e.

We will be working on these tasks until Thursday of this week. All work needs to be completed by the end of class on Thursday! So, you cannot spend hours on these documents, be short and concise, but as extensive as possible. DO NOT USE THIS TIME TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT NEW THINGS TO INCLUDE, ONLY INCLUDE THINGS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW!!