Caldwell College

Course Syllabus

 

Instructor: Arnold Toffler Phone: (973) 618 3459 Office: 4-250                               

email: atoffler@caldwell.edu

Business/Computer Information Systems

Caldwell College

9 Ryerson Ave

Caldwell, NJ 07006

Office hours: W, R 10:00 – 12:00

                      or by appointment

CS115-004, Albertus Magnus Hall / 207

Class Hours: T, R 1:30 – 2:45 PM

CS 225– PC Operating Systems

Learning to Use PC Operating Systems

 

 

 

 

Course Objectives

1.    Learn the basic Concepts of Operating Systems

2.    Learn the basic Concepts and Techniques for Windows and Linux Systems Administration

3.    Learn to use and manage File Systems in Windows and Linux

4.    Learn Performance Criteria and optimization techniques for PC Operating Systems

5.    Learn to install and manage hardware and software on PC’s

Course Description

The course is designed to teach students key elements of system administration and maintenance of the Windows and Linux Operating Systems as used on Personal Computers. In addition, the course presents some essential concepts in implementing and maintaining PC’s as servers and clients on data networks. At the end of the course, diligent students will be able to perform basic maintenance for most personal computers in common business environments.   

Required Text Books and Materials

  1.  Phillips, New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows XP Professional for Power Users, Course Technology, 2001.
  2. Wells, The Complete Guide to LINUX System Administration, Course Technology, 2006.

 

Examination and Project Assignment Requirements and Schedule

In order to participate in this course, you need access to the Internet in order to use the Caldwell College Blackboard System and the Professor’s web site. You will need to obtain and use a college NetID account. Your College email account and the ability to use email to send and receive messages and attachments. NetID and College email accounts can be obtained from the college IT staff (x2222).

 

In addition, you will need diskettes formatted for IBM compatible computers, compatible CD-ROMS, zip disks or flash drives for file storage and transfer to save your class work and submit projects.

 

Class presentations, project assignments and other materials will be presented on the instructor’s web site at Caldwell College. The course requires the completion of six projects. Projects will be presented in class and will be posted on both Professor Toffler’s web site and on the course Blackboard site. These projects will be emailed to you, posted on Professor Toffler’s web site and on the course Blackboard site at least two weeks before the due date.

 

Projects may be submitted using one of the following methods:

  1. Using Blackboard’s “Digital Drop Box”,
  2. Using email or ftp to send your project to the Professor
  3. Submitted in class, sent (Postal Mail) or Delivered to the Professor’s mail box (or office) on a floppy diskette, compatible CD-ROM, zip disk or flash drive. (These will be given back to you after the project is graded.)
  4. Submitted using remote access to Business Division Virtual Private Network or Linux Server

 

You must submit your completed project (computer files) to Professor Toffler by the due date. Be sure to clearly print your name on the CD or diskette, etc. If the project is submitted after the due date, points will be deducted from the grade. The grade for projects submitted late will be decreased by ten points for every week or part of week that it is late. No project will be accepted two weeks after the due date. If this occurs, the project grade will be zero. In addition, there will be a midterm exam and a final exam (12/15/2009, 2:30 PM). All project and test grades will be numeric. The final grade will be a letter grade based upon Caldwell College guidelines.

Project

Percent of Grade

Due Date

Introductory  Project

10%

TBA

File System Project

10%

TBA

File Management and Security Project

10%

TBA

Mid-Term Exam

15%

10/15/2009

System Performance Project

10%

TBA

System/Network Project

10%

TBA

Server Project

10%

TBA

Final Exam

25%

12/15/2009

TBA = To be announced


Course Schedule

It is important to complete the projects and reading. The projects and exams will be based upon the reading materials. It is the responsibility of each student to learn the material before attempting the projects. Class materials, including projects and class presentations will be on Professor Toffler’s Blackboard and college web site. You will be provided with additional instructions regarding the use of the Blackboard System. The Web Site is linked to the faculty listing on the Caldwell College web site or directly accessible as http://faculty.caldwell.edu/atoffler/. Questions regarding the course materials can be emailed to Professor Toffler. In addition, students may call the Professor or meet during office hours.  Students may arrange appointments at other times as well.

Course Week

Date

Assignment

Week 1

9/3/2009

Review course objectives, Characteristics of Operating Systems

Windows XP for Power Users, pages 1.03 – 1.77

Guide to LINUX, Chapter 1, Supplemental Materials

Week 2

9/8/2009

Introduction to Windows XP, LINUX Desktops, Commands

Windows XP for Power Users, pages 2.01 – 2.73

Guide to LINUX, Chapters 2, 3

Week 3

9/15/2009

File Systems

Windows XP for Power Users, pages 3.01 – 3.62

Guide to LINUX, Chapter 4, 10

Week 4

9/22/2009

Network Client Tools, Windows Supplemental Materials

Linux Network Tools, Guide to LINUX, Chapter 7

Week 5

9/29/2009

Using OLE Technologies, Windows Web Technology

Windows XP for Power Users, pages 5.01 – 5.58

Linux Processes, Guide to LINUX  Chapter 6

Week 6

10/6/2009

Windows Hard Disk Management , Linux Hard Disk Management

Windows XP for Power Users, pages 6.01 – 6.70; 7.01 – 7.67

Supplemental Materials

Week 7

10/15/2009

LINUX text processing, Guide to LINUX, Chapter 5

Mid-Term Exam

Week 8

10/20/2009

Windows Computer Security

Windows XP for Power Users,  pages 8.01 – 8.55

Week 9

10/27/2009

Windows XP Troubleshooting

Windows XP for Power Users,  pages 9.01 – 9.69

Week 10

11/3/2009

Linux User Management, Guide to LINUX, Chapter 11

Week 11

11/10/2009

 Windows XP System Performance

Windows XP for Power Users, pages 10.02 – 10.63,

Week 12

11/17/2009

LINUX System Initialization, LINUX Kernel Management

Guide to LINUX, Chapters 9, 13

Week 13

11/24/2009

 Windows Registry, LINUX Shell Programming,

Windows XP for Power Users,  pages 13.01 – 13.33

Guide to LINUX, Chapter 14

Week 14

12/1/2009

LINUX and Windows Network Configuration

Guide to LINUX, Chapter 12, Supplemental Materials

Week 15

12/7/2009

LINUX and Windows Server and Services Configuration

Week 16

12/15/2009

Final Exam 2:30 PM

Policies and Additional Information

All Caldwell College policies and procedures regarding class attendance, behavior, academic integrity, including all remedies and penalties will be followed exactly. These policies and procedures are well documented in the catalogues and other documents. Please consult with me if you have any questions.

 

Please read and follow all rules as set forth in the "Academic Integrity Policy."

All exams will be closed book. Exams are constructed primarily from a pool of questions supplied by the textbook publisher and questions that the instructor devises. Questions are selected based on the importance of the topic and the amount of class time spent on the material. If you miss an exam, you will be required to take a make-up exam. Questions for the make-up exam will be more difficult than the ones selected for the scheduled exam. The grade for assignments submitted late will be decreased by ten points for every week or part of week that it is late and will be accepted for two weeks following the due date.

 

Anyone detected submitting material that is plagiarized will receive an “F” for that assignment and the dean of academic affairs will be notified.  Anyone caught cheating on an exam will be taken to the dean of academic affairs and will automatically receive an “F” for the course.  

 

If you are absent, you are responsible for all class notes and projects that you have missed. If you are not present for a class during which a project is demonstrated, the project will not be demonstrated again. If you are absent more than five times for any reason besides extended illness during the semester, your grade will be reduced by one complete letter grade. Any extended illness must be verified with the Assistant Dean’s office.

 

Each Computer Lab has a schedule of hours posted on the door or in the room. Please feel free to use computers in any lab during the scheduled hours.

 

A Student ID and Password are required for network access to print facilities, E-Mail, and the Internet. If you do not have a Student ID and Password for Network Access, please visit room 4205. There will be Computer Operational Staff Members to assist you in obtaining the necessary credentials.

Each Student is cautioned that they do not have exclusive use of any PC nor any reserved space on the Hard Disk of any classroom or college computer. Any files written to the hard drive may be erased by others. All Student files are to be saved on the CD-RW or flash drives as the security of such files can then be guaranteed by the Student. .

 

My email address is Atoffler@caldwell.edu. Contact me about concerns or requests for special help. I will be available to assist Students on matters related to course material during office hours or during a requested appointment. My on-campus telephone number is also listed on page one of the Syllabus. Please call if you need to discuss anything. Leave a Voice Mail message if am not in my office and I will return your call as soon as possible.

 

For a Student to attend class, they must be on the official Class Roster as provided by the Registrar. An alternative is to have a stamped Registration Form from the Registrar. In the absence of either credentials, it is incumbent on the Student to leave the class and visit the Registrar's Office to resolve the problem.

 

In case of severe weather, call 618-3100 for an announcement on whether the college is open. Classes may be canceled due to severe weather conditions.

 

Grades will be issued based on Project Assignments and exam results (see chart on previous page). Assignments and exams will result in numerical grades. For each exam, assignment and the midterm exam, students will be advised of their grade shortly after the exam or assignment is submitted. This will keep each Student apprised of their approximate cumulative grade. Final Grades will be letter grades based upon Caldwell College guidelines.

 

Any student who has a documented disability and is in need of academic accommodations should notify the professor of this course and contact the Office of Disability Services (973-618-3645). Accommodations are individualized and in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992. Please make an appointment for a private discussion in my office if you need course adaptation or accommodations because of a documented disability.

Any student that needs to take an incomplete must meet Caldwell College’s policy for “incompletes”. The process for receiving an incomplete for a course due to unusual hardship is also discussed in the handbook.  However, to qualify for an incomplete you must have submitted, on time, at least 80% of the required work.  Allowing yourself to fall behind and then deciding to apply for an incomplete will result in a non-approval of your request. 

Students are expected to submit well-written assignments with a logical organization and clear, concise use of the English language. This may require several rewritten attempts. In IT or business, no one will take the time to translate badly presented talks, memos, proposals, or reports into understandable language, regardless of the power and insight of your hidden ideas.  You must proof read and correct your own work. If you need help, consult a good text on writing or on-line resources such as:
Purdue University On-Line Writing Lab:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index2.html
Jack Lynch’s Grammar and Style Notes:
http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/

 

STATEMENTS OF OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT

 

The full statement of the Caldwell College Business Division Outcomes assessment program is contained in the college catalog.

 

This course will address the following program outcomes:

 

Outcome 1-  Essential Business Topics. This will include topics in:

 

  • Information systems
  • Quantitative Business Analysis

 

Outcome 2- Essential Business Skills. This course will address the following skills:

 

  • Written communication
  • Secondary research
  • Use of Information Technology

 

Outcome 3- Essential Business Interpersonal Skills. Thus course will address the following skills:

 

  • Critical thinking

 

Means of outcomes assessment: the general methods used to assess outcomes in this course will be exams, assignments and hands-on projects.