LSU home page
EXST home page

[Instructor info] [Objectives] [Course Materials] [Grading] [FAQ] [Getting Office]

See the Schedules page for the lecture and lab schedules.

EXST 2000 An Introduction to Microcomputers Spring 2005

Lecture Instructor Information
Fall & Spring Summer		TTh 12:40-1:30 p.m. MTWTh 8:40-9:40 a.m.		Tureaud 105
	William N. Coxe, Jr.
		Office Hours: Office: Phone: E-mail:	9:30-10:30 a.m. M-Th Ag. Admin. Room 42 (225) 578-8361 wcoxe1@lsu.edu
Fall & Spring		MW 9:40-10:30 a.m.		Coates 145
	Elizabeth A. Swoope   (rhymes with "rope")
		Office Hours: Office: Phone: E-mail:	8:30-9:30 a.m. M, W or by appointment Ag. Admin. Room 38 (225) 578-8355 eswoope@lsu.edu
[Top of Page]

Objectives Catalog Description: EXST 2000 Introduction to Microcomputers (3) F,S,Su 2 hrs. lecture; 2 hrs. lab. A user-oriented introduction to microcomputers and applications software; terminology; hardware; software: the operating system, word processing, spreadsheets, data management, graphics, communications. Course Objectives: This course is designed to provide you with a working knowledge of microcomputers. The microcomputer is a tool and you are expected to learn to use this tool effectively. Most of this course deals with hands-on use of applications software used to solve various everyday business problems. Although you will learn skills that will be valuable to you while you are a student, the primary purpose of this course is to teach you the computer skills you need in the workplace. When you complete this course, you should be able to: Discuss how the various hardware and software components of a personal computer system work and work together. Operate a personal computer using both Windows and basic business applications software. Use a word processing program. Discuss various word processing features. Discuss desktop publishing. Use an electronic spreadsheet. Create business graphics and discuss other types of graphics software. Use a data management program. Compare different kinds of data management software. Discuss viruses. Discuss various types of utility software. Use e-mail. Search the Internet for information. Discuss the capabilities of computers for communicating with each other. Learn the basics of web page and web site design. Evaluate and select IBM-compatible computer hardware and software. [Top of Page]

Course Materials
Class Notes:	Obtain the required class note packet from the LSU bookstore. It costs about $42. The class notes include lecture notes (outlines, crossword puzzles, and sample exams) and a lab manual. The lab manual includes all the lab homework assignments. You must take the lab manual to all lab classes. Three diskettes that you must have for class are bound inside your spiral-bound lab manual. You should always take these to lab also.
Tiger Card:	You will need money in your Tiger Card account so you can print your lab assignments if you print somewhere other than our labs.
Optional Software:	You must use Microsoft Office XP Professional or Microsoft Office 2003 Professional (either the regular commercial version or the Academic Edition) to complete your lab assignments. You will be using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. The software used in lab (Microsoft Office XP Professional) is available on computers in labs in the Ag. Admin. Bldg., Middleton Library, CEBA, and the chemistry library. If you want to work on your lab assignments on your computer at home or work, you can get a copy of Microsoft Office 2003 Professional AE at http://msstudentselect.com/ for about $80 plus $13.50-$22 shipping, depending on how fast you want it here. (This information is subject to change without notice and is correct as of 12/13/2004.)
[Top of Page]

Grading

Grades:
	Grading scale:
	90-100 80-89.99 70-79.99 65-69.99 0-64.99	A B C D F

The instructors reserve the right to adjust the scale. The scale will not be adjusted higher (that is, the score necessary to make a particular letter grade will never be raised), but it may be adjusted lower for any one or all letter grades, at the instructors' discretion.

Your overall grade will be based on:
Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Lab* Comprehensive final Total	15%  15%  15%  35%  20% 100%	(detailed breakdown below)
* Your lab grade will be based on:
Homework assignments Quizzes Practical exam Attendance Total	60%  15% 15% 10% 100%

Bonus points: You can earn a maximum of 15 bonus points. Each bonus point is equivalent to one point on a regular exam. You can earn bonus points on pop quizzes given in lecture and you can also earn one bonus point for each error you find in any of the course materials if you are the first person to report it to either Mr. Coxe or Ms. Swoope. The best way to report errors is to e-mail Ms. Swoope. Include detailed information (lecture notes, lab manual, syllabus, etc; chapter or lab; page; numbered step on page; error and correction).

Tracking your grade: You will have your own grade worksheet in which you can record all your exam, homework, and quiz grades so you will know what your average is at any time. At the end of the semester, that worksheet will also calculate what score you must make on your final exam to get a particular final letter grade in the class.

Grade Expectations

Final Grade	Typical	Range
A	15-20%	10-25%
B	50%	30-60%
C	25%	20-50%
D, F	<10%

• Overall end-of-semester average: 81-84%
• End-of-semester lab average: low to mid 90s
• Regular exam average: mid 70s
  (range: low 70s to low 80s)
• Drop rate: 10% or less
• WARNING! You cannot pass this class if you do not do well in lab. You must do your homework reasonably carefully, turn it in on time, and take the quizzes.

[Top of Page]

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I am in class four hours per week, and I have to spend a lot of time outside of class working on homework for this class. Why don't I get more than 3 hours credit?

A. The University allows 1 hour credit for each hour per week spent in lecture and 1 hour credit for each 2-3 hours spent in lab. Since you attend lecture two hours per week, you receive 2 hours credit for lecture, and since you attend lab two hours per week, you get 1 hour credit for that, for a total of 3 hours credit. The amount of outside work required has no bearing on the amount of credit you receive for a course.

Q. Why does the lab require so much time outside of scheduled lab time?

A. The lab assignments are homework. The amount of work you do is the minimum amount of work that we feel is necessary for you to become reasonably comfortable with the software. Depending on your typing skills, your ability to follow directions, and your quickness at grasping the subject matter, you can expect to spend as much as 10 or 12 hours outside of regular class time, although most people spend less time than that.

Consider the homework as practice, just like an athlete or dancer practices. To become competent, you must practice.

Q. Why doesn't the lab count more?

A. Since you receive 2 hours credit for lecture and 1 hour credit for lab, the 65%/35% ratio reflects that 2/3 - 1/3 ratio. In addition, there is no way to be absolutely sure that the assignments turned in were in fact done by the student submitting them, so we do not want to place too much emphasis on the lab. Also, much of the material covered on lecture exams is actually learned in lab, so a portion of the lecture grade reflects material learned in lab.

Q. Why don't we cover a topic in lecture before we cover it in lab?

A. We have found that it is easier for students to deal with a new topic in lab, where they can work through the material at their own pace, asking questions and reviewing material when needed. The lectures cannot be paced, and concepts are much more easily learned when the first exposure is in a lab situation where the student can experiment.

[Top of Page]

[Home] [Syllabus] [Schedules] [Exam Info] [Lab Alerts] [Lecture Alerts][Lab Info] [Demos]

EXST 2000, Department of Experimental Statistics, Louisiana State University