CPTE-107-A Introduction to Databases

Using Access 2010 On-line

Text: To Be arranged - Previously: New Perspectives Microsoft Office Access 2010, Introductory, by Adamski and Finnegan, Course Technology, 2011. ISBN-10: 0-538-79848-3. ISBN-13: 978-0-538-79848-8. In addition, Dr. A may provide camtasia videos of all the Tutorials. In case you get stuck these should be your first recourse for help! The second is to seek the help of a Lab Operator in HSC 1303.

Software: You will need to use Microsoft Access 2010 for this class. The HSC 1303 Lab will be open and lab consultants there may be able to help you with problems you encounter (hours are posted at http://lab.cs.southern.edu). You may not use Microsoft Access 2007 for this class. The textbook assumes you are using MS Access 2010. The final exam will require the use of MS Access 2010. This course introduces the concepts of defining table relationships and normalization.

Course Description: This course includes skills to create and maintain a database, query a database, create forms and reports, enhance table design, and integrate Access with other programs. This course introduces the concepts of table relationships, cascading updates and deletes and normalization.

Course Objectives: The major objective of this course is to provide the students with the skills necessary to make intelligent use of a database, not only as students, but also as professionals in their chosen fields.

Course Components: This class has one quiz, 14 required assignments with absolute due dates, and a final exam. The class is administered via eclass. All necessary information and data files are available there.

Data Files for Assignments: Current data files you will need to do the assignments are available to you via eclass. You MUST use those data files. Do not use files from the book web site, previous classes, or any other source. There are two ways to get the data files needed. First you can download the files one-by-one as needed from links below each assignment. You will then be responsible for saving them where you can find them using your own folder organization. Second you can download all the files needed at one time as a zip file and then expand and save them for use on your computer. I think that most students will find that downloading and expanding the zip file containing all the needed files is the better of the two choices for this class.

Printing: Printing is not required for any of the assignments. But, whenever printing is called for in a step in the text, you must set up the file for printing. That is, you have to do everything to get it ready for printing; you just do not have to click on the button to actually print.

Previous Work: It is expected that the work done for this class will be current work. No files with work done before the current semester will be accepted for credit. You MUST use the files available only via eclass for doing the assignments.

Academic Honesty: It is assumed that the work done on assignments is your own. Consider them somewhat like a take-home exam that you are allowed to ask for help on, but must do yourself. This means that you must work through the tutorials and cases yourself and not in conjunction with others. Any assignment submitted which is not your own work, such as submitting a copy of an assignment file not created by you will result in failure of the class and disciplinary action by the University. See the policy on cheating in the Catalog for the procedure which will be followed for Academic Dishonesty.

Two Students – One Computer: In the case of two students using the same computer, it is your responsibility to keep your files separate. If you are sharing one computer, I suggest that you include your name in the file name. For example, if your name is John Doe and the file you download is named Datafile.docx, you should save the file as Datafile-John-Doe.docx, so there is no possibility of getting files mixed up. If the instructions call for attaching Datafile1.docx, then you may attach Datafile1-John-Doe.docx. Make sure that the extension of the file is the same as the one required in the instructions. Files named like Datafile1.docx-John-Doe or Datafile1.John.Doe.docx will not be accepted.

Submitting assignments: There is a button available when submitting an assignment in eclass marked "Send for Marking." This lets the readers know that you have completed the assignment and that it is ready to be graded. If teh due date has passed, then the assignment will be graded even if you don't send it for marking. If you are unsure, don't send it for marking. I will NOT accespt an assignment via email. Please do not email me a missed assignment (See below for consequences).

Missed Assignments: There is no such thing as a late assignment. They are either on-time or missed. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN IN A MISSED ASSIGNMENT! Absolutely no extensions will be given on missed assignments without a Nurse or Doctors note, or an obituary notice. FOR THOSE WHO EMAIL A REQUEST, WE HAVE SPECIAL NEGATIVE POINTS - ONE FOR EACH REQUEST. Any such request should be made in person. However, I will drop the three lowest (missed) assignments. Of course, you should do any missed assignments in preparation for the final exam.

Dropping or requesting an Incomplete: We commonly have people drop/add a CPTE 10XA/10XB because they didn't start on time. I'll be happy to sign these requests. Just drop by the office and talk to me or the Office Manager. There is virtually no reason you can give me to get an incomplete. Come by and drop the class or change sections instead. If you are in the last trimester, drop before the deadline. If you waited until after the deadline (and you are going to get an F) retake the course next semester.

Time to do the Assignments: The normal amount of homework for a college class is two hours of homework per hour of class per week for the average student. This is a one hour class, but we do not meet in class for one hour a week, which means I can reasonably require 3 hours of homework each week for the approximately 14 weeks of the semester giving a total of 42 hours of homework for the class. But, the class schedule may be blocked, that is, it is offered over only 7 weeks. This means that I could reasonably require the average student to do six hours of homework each week for shorter classes. It most likely will require you much less time, but if you are a student that needs additional time for computer work, it may require you more time. Note that the videos of the tutorials, in which I read, out loud, all the instructions (but not the white sections of the text) and do all the instructions totals less than 14 hours. I think it is reasonable to expect that it will not take the average students more than three times as long as it did me to do the assignments. Bottom line – it may take you up to 3 hours to do an assignment.

Help: If you need help on an assignment, you should first consult the Videos of Assignments which are available via the Course Contents page in eclass. You will be able to jump to the particular place you are having a problem with and see the steps being done. These videos require a high speed connection to the Internet, so may not be available at all locations. You may also consult with one of the Lab Operators in the HSC 1303 Lab. They "should" be able to help you. You may also request help via email. When emailing about a particular problem, please attach a copy of the file you are having the problem with to the email. This allows me to be much more helpful. If you get stuck and can't figure something out in 30 minutes or less, I highly recommend that you get help directly from me during my office hours.

Contacting Me: The best way to contact me is in person during my office hours or via normal email to scot@southern.edu. There may be extended periods of time that I will not be able to reply to phone mail messages. Please do not assume that I know who you are and what class you are in. I have hundreds of students in several different classes, so please identify the class you are in with your emails.

Messages on Submissions: Please do not include messages with your assignments that you intend for me to get. I have readers for grading the assignments so I will not get any messages sent with an assignment. Send all messages via normal email to scot@southern.edu .

The Final Exam: There are two ways you may take the final exam.

1. If you are on campus, you must take the final in the HSC 1303 lab. The final needs to be taken on or before the date listed in the course schedule. You will be notified when the final becomes available.
2. If you are not able to come to campus to take the final on or before the exam date, you will be responsible for obtaining an approved proctor for the final exam. An approved proctor is normally a non-relative pastor or teacher. Getting approval for a proctor and making other arrangements for the final exam should be done no later than 2 week before the final exam date. I prefer to communicate with the proctor via email, but their email address must verifiably belong to the teacher or pastor. Yahoo, GMail, Hotmail etc. address may not be used. I will be happy to communicate with a proctor via snail mail if verification is problematic. If you are using a proctor, you should plan to take the exam on or before the due date just as if you were on campus.

Grading: Grades will depend on the following tables.

*Note: You can take the quiz as many times as you need to to get 100%, so do not loose points here unnecessarily.

Grade Break Points

Email: If you do not have a southern email account, get one. A southern email account is a requirement for this class. Each student is assumed to have an active southern email account that they check daily. You will also need access to eclass. If you can not get into eclass, please contact mailto:eclasshelp@southern.edu , or 236-2086 (x2086). I cannot help you gain access to eclass.

Need for Assistance: In keeping with university policy, any student with a disability who needs academic accommodations should call Disability Support Services at 423-236-2574 or visit Lynn Wood Hall, room 137, to arrange a confidential appointment with the Disability Services Coordinator (DSC) before or during the first week of classes. (Students who request accommodations after the third week of the semester might not complete the process in time to receive accommodations for that semester.) Legally, no retroactive accommodations can be provided. For more details, visit the Disability Support Services website at www.southern.edu/disability support.

Accommodations for disabilities are available only as recommended by Disability Support Services. Students whose accommodations are approved will be provided confidential letters which students should review and discuss with their professors in relation to particular course requirements.