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UMUC European Division-Term v/99-00  
INSS 510 COMPUTER CONCEPTS

COURSE OUTLINE

Class Times: Tues and Thur                          Class Location: Harrowgate, Eng.
Lecturer: Joyce M. Rowe, Ph.D.                   Office Hours:  1/2 hr. before class
Phone: TBA                                                                                1/2 hr. after class
e-mail: jrowe@faculty.ed.umuc.edu                                             by appointment

Pre-requisite: All undergraduate prerequisite courses or permission of the lecturer

Course Credit: 3 semester hours

TEXTBOOK: Systems Architecture: Hardware and Software in Business Information Systems, by Stephen D. Burd. Third Ed, 2001. Publisher: Course Technology, Cambridge, MA.

HANDOUTS: Will be distributed from time-to-time; you will be responsible for this material also.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides an overview of basic computer concepts as they apply to MIS professionals. Emphasis is on basic machine architecture including data storage, data manipulation, and the human-machine interface including the basics of operation systems, algorithms, and programming languages. In addition, the basic concepts of data organization including data and file structures are examined. Emerging trends in computer technology and their impact on organizational systems are also discussed. Students will be required to complete programming projects.

COURSE CRITERIA  
Participation
10 % 
Hardware/Software Project
20 %
Subject research
20 %
5 Quizzes
20 %
Exam
30 %

 GRADING SCALE:
 

90-100 points = A 80-89 points = B 70-79 points = C Below 70 = FA

 
ASSIGNMENTS:

Hardware/Software Project -- Each student will be expected to develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) that describes a unique user situation of the student's choosing. This Request must be specific to two business situations and must include the complete analysis and design of the software and hardware requirements including supporting reasons. Once the RFP has been reviewed by the instructor and the proposal presented to and critiqued by the class, the student will program one of the modules. 

Vocabulary Quizzes -- Six vocabulary quizzes covering the key terms presented at the end of the chapters covered in the immediately preceding classes (since the last quiz). These quizzes will likely be of the fill-in-the-blanks/short answer/matching variety. Only the highest 5 quiz grades are recorded.

Contributions to Literature Review -- Students are expected to develop a gradute-level research paper on a hardware-related topic approved by the lecturer. This paper must: 1) provide a list of at least five references, one from the text and four external to the text, and 2) present a brief synopsis of a topic in some hardware area related to the class. The paper will be presented in class (approx 15 min) with supporting visuals and should include a 1-page handout for each class member. Plagiarism is not condoned and will receive a 0.

Class Participation -- Students will be graded on the quality of their classroom participation. Graduate students are expected to be able to discuss the concepts in the book and demonstrate their application of the materials through discussion of real-world problems.

Exam --The exam consists of essay questions related to the goals listed at the beginning of each chapter similar to that actually given on the comprehensive exams. This portion of the tests (worth 100 points) will be graded exactly like the comprehensives; that is: 75% for content, 15% for English and organization, and 10% for references.

COURSE POLICIES/EXPECTATIONS
The following policies apply to this class. These policies are generally reflected in the graduate catalog. n ATTENDANCE POLICY: Regular class attendance is expected. If you should miss a meeting, it is your responsibility to obtain information concerning the material covered and upcoming assignments. If there is a quiz or other assignment due on that class period, previous arrangements should be made with the instructor whenever possible. Please note that those students receiving tuition assistance from the Federal Government must not miss three consecutive class meetings without prior approval, or the education Services Officer (ESO) must be notified by the instructor.

n ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students are expected to do their own work. Cheating on tests, plagiarism on written assignments, or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in a "0" for the assignment. Note that a D or an F usually results in at least 60 or 50 points, where violation of academic honesty results in none. See the European Division Catalog for the UMUC policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

n ASSIGNMENT/TEST SCHEDULES: Students are expected to hand in all assignments and complete all tests on the date due. Failure to do so will be a 0.Any other assignments will be marked down half a letter grade for each half week the assignment is late. Quizzes cannot be made-up unless the student had an excused absence. The exam can be made up only if prior arrangements are made with the instructor.
  • CLASS PREPARATION: Students are expected to come to class prepared. This means they should have read the materials assigned for class for that session and have prepared any pertinent assignments. Quizzes may be given on the reading assignments before they are discussed in class.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objectives for this course are listed as "Chapter Goals" at the beginning of every chapter. The questions on the midterm and final will be directly related to these goals, even though the topic may not be covered in class. At the end of the class the students should be able to:
  1. Define/describe the basic terms and processes related to computer systems architecture
  2. Describe the various types of operating systems and be able to distinguish among them so as to apply the appropriate one to a given situation
  3. Explain how the various major components of computer operating systems perform their tasks and relate to the hardware used to perform said tasks so as to be able to use the appropriate component or diagnose problems in a given situation
  4. Describe the various types of computer languages (machine, assembly, and high-level) used to perform tasks and demonstrate the use of one or more of these computer languages
  5. Illustrate the concepts related to data base and data storage management (both hardware and software) and apply such knowledge in a computer program
  6. Illustrate the concepts related to data communications (both hardware and software) and apply such knowledge in a computer program
  7. Describe the process for developing applications and be able to apply the process to a real-world situation
  8. Describe the technological trends in computer development and discuss ethical issues surrounding the use of computer technology in the global community
  9. Be prepared, at an introductory level, for the more advanced Management Information Systems courses that follow
Please note that there are various levels of learning that must take place before a subject matter is fully mastered. These levels (Bloom, 19xx) are: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. An introductory course of this nature focuses on the first three levels, while the more advanced courses focus more on the latter levels of learning. The activities and assignments for this course are designed to help the student know, comprehend, and apply the basic concepts of systems architecture.

In addition to the academic objectives, students are expected to improve their skills in the following areas:

1. Critical Thinking: Students should improve their ability to analyze computer user situations and make appropriate suggestions for resolving computer software and hardware needs. The application programming project in this class encourages students to think critically about real-world situations.

2. Writing Skills: Students should improve their writing skills through the development of the Request for Proposal (RFP) and formal reporting on the major project and on the mid-term and final.

3. Oral Presentation Skills: Students should improve their presentation skills through their oral reports on the major project, class discussions, and group presentations.

4. Computer Skills: Students are expected to improve their computer skills by using word processing and programming language(s) for the completion of the assignments in this class. The use of the Internet and e-mail are also encouraged.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE 
 
Topics Discussed
Activities
Class 1

Jan 15

 Introduction to course, lecturer, and class members; Architecture overview; Careers and Resources; Systems Admin.; RFP; Computer Systems Security and Physical Environment; Trends; Ethical Issues Lecture(s); board analysis of existing level of knowledge; Group development of RFP and presentation to class; Group discussion on security and discussion on ethics; Assignment: Read Chapters 1 & 15; Find web site that publishes IS job #'s and needs
Class 2

Jan 17

 History of Computer Hardware: processors, functions, components; Performance Measures and Design; History of Software; Languages; Systems Software; Development Lecture(s)/discussions; vocabulary review; Team assignments; Discussion of project; Assignment: Read Chapters 2 & 3; Find web site that discusses History of Computers
Class 3

Jan 22

 Data Representation: math, physics, signals, goals; representation of numbers, characters, and functions; memory addressing; data structures Lecture(s)/discussion; Chapter 4 exercises; Projects; Quiz 1: Chapters 1, 15, 2; Assignment: Read Chapter 4; Find web site that discusses Unicode 
Class 4

Jan 24

 Processors; Instruction Sets and  Formats; Clock rates; RFP; CPU registers, word size; Processor Implementation; Future Trends Lecture(s)/discussions; Oral presentations; Chapter 5 exercises; Discussion/ vocabulary Review exercise; Assignment: Read Chapter 5; Software Application Module RFP due
Class 5

Jan 29

 Data Storage Alternatives and Tradeoffs; Storage Devices; CPU Memory Access Lecture(s)/discussions; Hardware demo; Chapter 6 exercises; Assignment: Read Chapter 6; Quiz 2: Chapters 3, 4, 5
Class 6

Jan 31

 System Integration, Performance; System Bus; Logical/Physical I/O; Device Controllers; I/O Processing; Storage Device Performance Issues Lecture(s); Group Exercise-Chapter 7, problems 1&2; Discussion/vocabulary review exercise; Assignment: Read Chapters 7; Software Application Program Module due
Class 7

Feb 5

 Application development: Compilation; Support libraries; Intrepreters; Debugging; Programming languages and development tools Lecture(s)/discussions;  Chapter 7 exercises; Assignment: Read Chapter 11; Review of Hardware Application Module; Find web site that discusses pipelining and parallel processing 
Class 8

Feb 7

 Data and Network Communication: Encoding Methods; Transmission Media; Channel/Media Organization and Coordination   Lecture(s)/discussions; Demonstration; Chapter 8 exercises; Assignment: Read Chapter 8; Quiz 3: Chapters 6, 7, 11; Find www for 64-bit words and need for caches
Class 9

Feb 12

 Distributing Computer Resources; Network services; Network Architecture; OSI Network Layers; Standard Network Architecture Lecture(s);  Discussion/vocabulary review exercise; Group exercise on distributing systems; Assignment: Read Chapter 9; www that discusses network media advances
Class 10

Feb 14

 Input/Output Devices and Technology: Keyboards, Pointers, Printers, Displays, Scanners, Optical Devices, Audio devices Lecture(s); discussions; Hardware demo/possible field trip or guest speaker; Assignment: Read Chapter 10; Quiz 4: Chapters 8, 9; Find www that discusses new storage media
Class 11

Feb 19

 Operating Systems: Overview; Resource Allocation; Process Management; CPU Allocation; Memory Management Lecture(s); discussions; Possible Field trip/video on Process Control; Hardware/Software Projects presented and turned in;  Assignment: Read Chapter 12
Class 12

Feb 21

 Mass Storage Access and Management: Storage Allocation; Directory Content and Structure; File Organization, Operation, Security, and Administration Lecture(s); discussions; Discussion/vocabulary review exercise; Hardware/Software Projects presented Assignment: Read Chapter 13; Quiz 5: Chapters 10 & 12
Class 13

Feb 26

 Input/Output Service Functions; Command Layer; Network I/O Lecture(s); Group discussions of projects and Presentation of experiences to class; Discussion/vocabulary review exercise; Assignment: Read Chapter 14; Literature references due and paper outline
Class 14

Feb 28

 Solving User Problems; The Role of a Systems Developer Presentation of Programming Modules by students; possible Guest Speaker; Quiz 6:  Chapters 13, 14
Class 15

Mar 5

 Final Exam for course Final on Chapters 1-15
Class 16

Mar 7

 Summary of class concepts, Review of the Course Content; Analyzing Systems Design and d RFP Responses Papers presented

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