Fall 2020 Course Syllabus
Course: BCIS-1305- Section: 71
Business Computer Applications 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor James Cammack
E-mailcammackje@lamarpa.edu
Phone(409) 350-8068
Office
Location:Student Center - Room: 405
Hours:Mon: 10-2:30, Tues 10-2:30, Wed 10-11 Note: if I am not in my office, please check MMED 203 or call my cell to locate (409-350-8068)
Department
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Dr. Michelle Davis
E-mail:davisml1@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6341

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Course Information
Description Students will study computer terminology, hardware, and software related to the business environment. The focus of this course is on business productivity software applications and professional behavior in computing, including word processing (as needed), spreadsheets, databases, presentation graphics, and business-oriented utilization of the Internet.
Prerequisites Basic skills competency in reading
Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
-Describe the fundamentals of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure components: hardware, software, and data communications systems.
-Explain the guiding principles of professional behavior in computing.
-Demonstrate proper file management techniques to manipulate electronic files and folders in a local and networked environment.
-Use business productivity software to manipulate data and find solutions to business problems.
-Explain the concepts and terminology used in the operation of application systems in a business environment.
-Identify emerging technologies for use in business applications.
-Complete projects that integrate business software applications.
Core Objectives * Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication.
* Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Program Student Learning Outcomes PSLO ALPHA: Reading skills - Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material.

Identifies all main ideas, supporting details, and vocabulary in reading material; demonstrates a full understanding of the reading.

PSLO 1: Critical Thinking Skills - Uses creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.

Creatively identifies problem, argument, or issue (to determine extent of information needed); differentiates the facts from opinions as relates to situation; constructs possible solutions or prediction or consequences; uses logical, sound reasoning to justify conclusion.

PSLO 2: Communication Skills - Demonstrates effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and/or visual communication.

Expresses a strong thesis; organizes information with effective transitions & sequencing of ideas; uses substantial, logical & specific development of ideas; details are relevant, original, credible and correctly documented when appropriate to show an effective development and interpretation of ideas; and presents ideas in appropriate mode of expression for the task.

PSLO 4: Teamwork Skills- Shows the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.

Helps the team move forward by discussing merits of alternative ideas; Treats team members respectfully; uses positive facial, vocal or written tone, or language to convey a positive attitude; Motivates teammates by expressing confidence about the importance of the task; Provides assistance/encouragement to team members; Completes all assigned tasks by deadline; Addresses conflict constructively; or helps the group avoid conflict completely.

PSLO 6: Personal Responsibility Skills - Integrates choices, actions and consequences in ethical decision-making.

Recognizes ethical issues when presented in a complex, multilayered (gray) context; recognizes cross- relationships among the issues; discusses in detail/ analyzes core beliefs; the discussion has greater depth and clarity showing the independent application of ethical perspectives/ concepts to an ethical question accurately; and is able to consider full implications of the application.
Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Textbook: Course content will be provided with handouts, videos, etc. There is no required textbook for this course.

Computer and Software: You must have access to a computer running Windows 10 and which has an acceptable version of Microsoft Office (also called Office 365). We will use Office 2016 or Office 2019. Other versions of Office may be acceptable with instructor permission. LSCPA students may obtain the full Office 365, at no cost, through LSCPA. Details will be provided when we get to the Office 365 section of the course. Computers with Windows and Office 365 capability are also available on campus and other places, such as public libraries (see Lab Access below). Macintosh computers may be used for some assignments, however, there are certain assignments which will require Microsoft Windows. Note that all exams must be completed on an LSCPA computer. Students attending class on campus are encouraged to bring laptops to class.

Materials: You will need access to a web camera with audio capability. Many laptop computers, tablets, and phones already have a camera installed. If you are taking the course on campus, you will need headphones or ear buds to hear course audio in the classroom.

User Accounts: You will also be required to have user accounts for various services, such as Google, OneDrive, etc. These can be obtained at no cost to the student. The instructor will provide details when we get to that section of the course.

Login and Student ID: For password and login help, call IT Technical support at 409-984-6150.

Lab Access: A computer lab is located in the LSCPA library and is available during normal library hours. If the software is not available on a lab computer, ask someone on staff if there is another computer with the appropriate software. A valid Student ID is required in order to use lab facilities available on the Lamar campus. You may also check with the Port Arthur Public Library or other public libraries for computer access.
Lecture Topics
Outline		 No Assignments Accepted Late: Assignments for each week are typically due at the end of the day on Sundays, unless otherwise directed in the assignment, or on the syllabus/schedule. New assignments for the next week become available at 8 AM on Monday. All assignments, quizzes, and exams must be completed and submitted before the due date. Because you have ample time to complete assignments, late work will not be accepted. You should start early enough so that if/when you experience problems, we can work them out prior to the due date. Working with technology can be challenging. You will have problems. Websites will go down, Internet connections will not work, devices will not charge, etc. If you wait until the due date, you risk not completing your work on time. When you have technical issues, contact me early. Technical problems on the due date are NOT an excuse for turning in assignments late. I do occasionally extend due dates if you have a good reason for asking for the extension and if you have contacted me early.

Resubmitting Assignments: For most assignments, you are allowed two attempts prior to the due date (this does not apply to exams). If you submit two attempts, only the second attempt will be graded and you will receive a zero for the first attempt. You are not allowed to resubmit after an assignment has been graded.

Missed Exams: If you are absent and miss an exam, you will receive a grade of zero. If you have special circumstances which require you to miss an exam, you may contact the me to see if other arrangements can be made. Requests for makeup exams or other arrangements are granted only if you have an exceptional reason for missing an exam, such as a medical emergency, or death in the family. It is your responsibility to initiate arrangements for a makeup or other arrangements. Approval should be cleared with me prior to the date of absence. If it is not possible to contact me prior to the exam, within 24 hours after missing the exam, you must email me and cite the reasons you missed the exam. The format of a makeup exam may differ substantially from that of the regularly scheduled exam.

Academic Honesty: Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. You are expected to complete all assignments yourself. All exams must be completed on your own, with no assistance from anyone else and without the use of notes or textbook or any other materials, unless specifically expressed in the exam instructions. This includes, but is not limited to, accessing previous homework, accessing websites, or communicating with others when taking the exam. You are also NOT allowed to share information about exams with others. Some exams may be password protected. You are NOT allowed to share passwords with anyone else for any reason.

Additional Policies for Campus Classes Only
Turn your cell phones to vibrate when in the classroom.
No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom.
Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission.
Electronic devices (including, but not restricted to, watches, cell phones, tablets, and laptop computers) shall not be used during examinations unless specifically allowed by the instructor.
Unless specifically designated otherwise by your instructor, exams must be taken in the classroom, during class time, and without access to any outside resources and without communication with anyone other than the instructor. You are not allowed to share exam login passwords with anyone else and you are not allowed to take the exam outside of the classroom.
Use of electronic devices during normal class hours distracts other students, disrupts the class, and wastes valuable time. Your instructor has an obligation to reduce such disruptions and may impose such restrictions as he deems necessary.
If you are tardy for any exam or quiz, you will be allowed to take the exam or quiz only with the instructor’s approval. If you are allowed to take the exam, you will only have the timeframe allocated to the class to complete the exam. You will not be allowed additional time for the time you missed by being tardy.
Missed quizzes and missed in-class assignments (assignments to be completed during a class period) will each be recorded as a zero. No makeup quizzes or in-class assignments will be given. Quizzes and In-class assignments are considered Assignments & Project grades.
You are responsible for completing and submitting all assigned homework when due, and for being prepared for each class meeting. This applies even if you were absent for the previous class meeting. Late homework assignments will not be accepted.
Major Assignments
Schedule		 BCIS_1305_1H_202090_P00197789.pdf
Final Exam Date December 3, 2020 - 2:00 PM   Through  May 8, 2020 - 10:00 PM
Grading Scale 90 - 100 = A 80 - 89 = B 70 - 79 = C 60 - 69 = D Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Projects & Assignments – 40% * To pass the course, you must have a 70 average on Projects and Assignments
Proctored Exams – 60%

Notes:
To pass the course, you must have a 70 average on Projects and Assignments.
If you have accommodations from the Office for Disability, talk to your instructor about these during the first week of the semester.
Grade calculations displayed in Blackboard may not always be accurate. You should average your own grades using the syllabus grade calculation. Report any discrepancies to instructor.

Additional Notes For BCIS Campus Students:

If at some point in the semester, a BCIS campus class converts to online instruction, then from the point the class converts to online, the online policies here in the syllabus will apply instead of the BCIS campus policies
Students taking the BCIS class face-to-face on campus will take exams in the classroom, during the regular class time and using a LSCPA computer (no laptops). However the final exam will be taken online as follows. Exam 3 (Final Exam): Thursday December 3, 2020, 2 PM or Monday, December 7 at 11 AM. You will be observed with a monitoring program while you complete your exam. For these exams, you must have a computer with with audio capabilities (mic and speakers) and a camera. You may use your phone for a camera, but you will also need a computer for the exam. If you have any issues or time conflicts, you must talk to your instructor during the first week of the semester. For exams, you will be required to produce a valid TDL or other approved photo ID. You will have 1.5 hours to complete each exam.

Additional Notes For For BCIS Online Students:
For BCIS online students, exams will be proctored and must be taken at the designated day and time. You will be observed with a monitoring program while you complete your exam. For these exams, you must have a computer with with audio capabilities (mic and speakers) and a camera. You may use your phone for a camera, but you will also need a computer for the exam. If you have any issues or time conflicts, you must talk to your instructor during the first week of the semester. For exams, you will be required to produce a valid TDL or other approved photo ID. You will have 1.5 hours to complete each exam.
Exam Dates
Exam 1: Wednesday September 30 at 5 PM, or Thursday October 1, 2020 at 9AM
Exam 2: Wednesday November 4 at 5 PM, or Thursday November 5, 2020 at 9AM
Exam 3 (Final Exam): Thursday December 3, 2020, 2 PM or Monday, December 7 at 11 AM.
Course Policies
Instructor Policies No Assignments Accepted Late: Assignments for each week are typically due at the end of the day on Sundays, unless otherwise directed in the assignment, or on the syllabus/schedule. New assignments for the next week become available at 8 AM on Monday. All assignments, quizzes, and exams must be completed and submitted before the due date. Because you have ample time to complete assignments, late work will not be accepted. You should start early enough so that if/when you experience problems, we can work them out prior to the due date. Working with technology can be challenging. You will have problems. Websites will go down, Internet connections will not work, devices will not charge, etc. If you wait until the due date, you risk not completing your work on time. When you have technical issues, contact me early. Technical problems on the due date are NOT an excuse for turning in assignments late. I do occasionally extend due dates if you have a good reason for asking for the extension and if you have contacted me early.

Resubmitting Assignments: For most assignments, you are allowed two attempts prior to the due date (this does not apply to exams). If you submit two attempts, only the second attempt will be graded and you will receive a zero for the first attempt. You are not allowed to resubmit after an assignment has been graded.

Missed Exams: If you are absent and miss an exam, you will receive a grade of zero. If you have special circumstances which require you to miss an exam, you may contact the me to see if other arrangements can be made. Requests for makeup exams or other arrangements are granted only if you have an exceptional reason for missing an exam, such as a medical emergency, or death in the family. It is your responsibility to initiate arrangements for a makeup or other arrangements. Approval should be cleared with me prior to the date of absence. If it is not possible to contact me prior to the exam, within 24 hours after missing the exam, you must email me and cite the reasons you missed the exam. The format of a makeup exam may differ substantially from that of the regularly scheduled exam.

Academic Honesty: Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. You are expected to complete all assignments yourself. All exams must be completed on your own, with no assistance from anyone else and without the use of notes or textbook or any other materials, unless specifically expressed in the exam instructions. This includes, but is not limited to, accessing previous homework, accessing websites, or communicating with others when taking the exam. You are also NOT allowed to share information about exams with others. Some exams may be password protected. You are NOT allowed to share passwords with anyone else for any reason.

Additional Policies for Campus Classes Only
Turn your cell phones to vibrate when in the classroom.
No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom.
Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission.
Electronic devices (including, but not restricted to, watches, cell phones, tablets, and laptop computers) shall not be used during examinations unless specifically allowed by the instructor.
Unless specifically designated otherwise by your instructor, exams must be taken in the classroom, during class time, and without access to any outside resources and without communication with anyone other than the instructor. You are not allowed to share exam login passwords with anyone else and you are not allowed to take the exam outside of the classroom.
Use of electronic devices during normal class hours distracts other students, disrupts the class, and wastes valuable time. Your instructor has an obligation to reduce such disruptions and may impose such restrictions as he deems necessary.
If you are tardy for any exam or quiz, you will be allowed to take the exam or quiz only with the instructor’s approval. If you are allowed to take the exam, you will only have the timeframe allocated to the class to complete the exam. You will not be allowed additional time for the time you missed by being tardy.
Missed quizzes and missed in-class assignments (assignments to be completed during a class period) will each be recorded as a zero. No makeup quizzes or in-class assignments will be given. Quizzes and In-class assignments are considered Assignments & Project grades.
You are responsible for completing and submitting all assigned homework when due, and for being prepared for each class meeting. This applies even if you were absent for the previous class meeting. Late homework assignments will not be accepted.
Attendance Policy The instructor reserves the right to drop you from the class if you do not submit course work regularly. Submitting course work regularly means you submit coursework weekly. If you are inactive for more than one week and/or if you do not submit assignments for a week, the instructor reserves the right drop you from the class. To be successful in the class, you are expected to exert sufficient effort. If at any time you have failed to complete at least 50% of the weekly assignments, you may be dropped from the class.

Additional Attendance Policy For Campus Classes Only: If you have missed more than 4 hours of class at the end of the semester, the instructor may assign you an F for the course. Every three times you are late for class will count as one absence. On any days you are tardy, you should check with the instructor after class to be sure you are counted present. If you do not do this on the day you are tardy, the tardy will be counted as an absence.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies
  1. No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom.

  2. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission.

  3. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA.
Other
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.