CSC 220: Operating Systems

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Syllabus

• Instructor: Ron Poland
• Office Number: Room 530
• Telephone: 562-4194
• Email: ron.poland@clinton.edu
• Credit Hours: Three

Appointments are easily available outside of these hours. Contact the instructor to arrange an appointment.

I. Course Description:

Students will be introduced to both open-source coded (Linux distribution) and proprietary operating systems ( Microsoft's Windows 2000 Professional and XP Professional). Students will install, configure and learn to use the built-in tools of each operating system. This course covers most objectives for the OS portion of CompTIA's A+ Service Technician exam.

II. Course Prerequisites:

CSC121 Fundamental Concepts of Computing and CSC102 Intro to Microcomputer Applications

III. Textbooks and Supplies: Enhanced A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC,
6th Edition. Jean Andrews

IV. Course Objectives and Methods of Instruction:

Upon completion of this course students shall be able to:

• Describe the purpose and function of an operating system.
• Use and understand the basics of a command line interface and graphical user interface.
• Install, configure, and perform basic administration chores of the various operating systems.
• Configure various Windows operating systems for peripheral devices.
• Describe the common threats posed by malicious software.
• Demonstrate proper techniques to combat malicious software.

If you have questions regarding the content of this class, feel free to contact me and discuss them during my assigned office hours or during a scheduled appointment. This course will be taught by a combination of hands-on activities, audio-visual materials, lecture, class participation and internet interaction.

V. General Education Goals:

VI. Course Outline and Schedule:

The course is divided into modules. In many cases the modules are based on a chapter from the textbook but not in every case. Always check the reading assignment table for each module.

 

CSC 220 Spring 2008 Schedule

Week Number	Dates	Topics/Activities	Quiz - Assignment Due Dates
1	1/28-1/30	Module 1 - Intro to Operating Systems	Syllabus Quiz (1/30) Module 1 Assignment (1/30)
2	2/4-2/6	Module 2 - Boot Process/Command Line Interface	Module 1 Quiz (2/4) Module 2 Assignment (2/4)
3	2/11-2/13	Module 2 - Boot Process/Command Line Interface	Module 2 Quiz (2/13)
4	2/18-2/20	Module 3 - Linux	Module 3 Assignment (2/18)
5	2/25-2/27	Module 3 - Linux	None
6	3/3-3/5	Module 3 - Linux	None
7	3/10-3/12	Module 3 - Linux	Module 3 Quiz (3/10)
N/A	3/17-3/21	Spring Break!!!
8	3/24-3/26	Module 4 - Installing Windows 2000/XP	Module 4 Assignment (3/24) Module 4 Quiz (3/26)
9	3/31-4/2	Module 5 - Maintaining Windows 2000/XP	Module 5 Assignment  (3/31) Module 5 Quiz (4/2)
10	4/7-4/9	Module 6 - Supporting Windows 2000/XP Users and Their Data	Module 6 Assignment (4/7) Module 6 Quiz (4/9)
11	4/14-4/16	Module 7 - Troubleshooting Windows 2000/XP Startup	Module 7 Assignment (4/14) Module 7 Quiz (4/16)
12	4/21-4/23	Module 8 - Malware	Module 8 Assignment (4/21) Module 8 Presentations
13	4/28-4/30	Module 8 - Malware	Module 8 Presentations Module 8 Quiz (4/30)
14	5/5-5/7	Module 9 - Desktop Support	None
15	5/12	Monday 10-12:30 Final Exam

CSC 220 Reading Assignments

Module Number	Topic	Chapter or Page Numbers
1	Intro to Operating Systems	pg 41-69
2	Boot Process/Command Line Interface	Chapter 3
3	Intro to Linux	Appendix G and Internet Sites
4	Installing Windows 2000/XP	Chapter 11
5	Maintaining Windows 2000/XP	Chapter 12
6	Supporting Windows 2000/XP Users and Their Data	Chapter 13
7	Troubleshooting Windows 2000/XP Startup	Chapter 14
8	Malware	Internet Sites
9	Desktop Support	Handout

VII. Assignments, Attendance and Makeup Policy:

• All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified date, they may not be turned in late.
• Assignments may be emailed (must be emailed using the CCC student account).
• Assignments should be word-processed or printed neatly. Sloppy work will receive less credit.
• Students are expected to follow the college's attendance policy. Failure to do so will result in involuntary withdrawal from the class.
• There are no excused absences; failure to attend class for any reason is an absence.
• Arriving late for class or leaving early will count as half an absence. 
• A student who is absent from a scheduled quiz or exam because of some unavoidable circumstance may be allowed a make-up after discussing the situation with the instructor. The instructor will determine the time for the make-up.

VIII. Evaluation and Grading:

Students will be evaluated by 7 Assignments, 9 quizzes, a research paper and a final exam during the semester. Everything shall be graded on a scale of 0 - 100. Final grade point distribution is as follows:

• Malware Research Paper 10%
• Quizzes 45%
• Written Assignments 35%
• Final Exam 10%

Percentages for the final grade will be rounded to the nearest whole point, and a letter grade will be assigned. The grading scale is as follows:

95 - 100=A, 90 - 94=A-

86 - 89=B+, 83 - 85=B, 80 - 82=B-

76-79=C+, 73 - 75=C, 70-72=C-

65 - 69=D+, 60 - 64=D, 0 - 59=F

IX. Student Ethics:

• Any form of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero on said assignment, quiz or test.
• Repeat offenders may be subject to formal proceedings.
• Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) handing in work that you did not do, attempting to use another student's answers during an exam, copying material from another student and allowing another student to use your work. It is not acceptable to work with another student and each turn in the same work.
• It is the responsibility of the student to officially withdraw from class according to the procedures and time limitations described in the college catalog. Any student who does not officially withdraw by the deadline will receive a letter grade.
• Interruptions to the classroom setting will not be tolerated. All beepers, cell phones and the like shall be off in the classroom under normal circumstances. If the circumstances are not normal please bring it to the instructor's attention.
• Any student who acts in a disruptive manner will be dismissed from class and marked as absent for the day.

X. Student Needs:

As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, if an accommodation is needed, contact me privately after class or during my office hours as soon as possible so I can help you obtain any assistance you may need to successfully complete this course. The Academic Assistance Center, may also be contacted for further assistance.

XI. Emergency procedures:

School cancellations due to inclement weather will be announced on local radio stations as listed in the CCC student handbook. Class cancellations due to instructor absence will be posted on the class web site, placed on my telephone answering service and posted on the classroom door. Room changes will be announced in advance whenever possible and posted on the classroom door.

This page last modified on 08/25/2008