COURSE SYLLABUS

Business Office Technology	CSA 140		Database Applications (Access)
____________________	___________________		_____________________________________________________________________
Department	Course No.		Course Title
3	1.5		1.5
____________________	____________________		_____________________
Credit Hrs.	# Lecture hrs/week		# Lab hrs/week
	Donna Hylton			11/10/06
Prepared by	______________________________________________________________			___________________________
	Faculty Member			Date
Course prerequisites:		Prior knowledge of keyboarding for computers and windows operating systems is recommended.
		_________________________________________________________________________________
Course Location (building/room number):			Online
			______________________________________

Scope of course:

CSA 140 Database Applications (Access) is an introduction to database software.  Students will learn how to design, create, and manipulate databases using Microsoft Access.  Topics will include table design, forms, queries, and reports.  Upon completion of this course students will be able to successfully create, use and maintain databases in the work environment.

Textbooks and other required readings/computer software/materials/library reserve room:

Textbook:       New Perspective Series Comprehensive – Access 2003 2^nd Edition by

Joseph J. Adamski and Kathleen T. Finnegan

Course Technology

Software:         Microsoft Access 2003 (part of the Microsoft Office XP suite).

Office Location (Building/Room Number):	Wheaton Hall room 313	Office Hours:	online
Office Telephone:	(860) 343-5774	Office e-mail:	dhylton@mxcc.commnet.edu

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to participate in on online course through assignments, projects, exams, and chat sessions. An online course allows the student to establish a flexible schedule to do work. Chat sessions will be scheduled to facilitate group discussion during the semester. When chat sessions are scheduled, students are encouraged to participate. 

Evaluation (exams, term papers, projects, etc., and percentages towards final grades):

Student will be given assignments that develop problem solving and analytical skills.

Your grade will be determined as follows:

     Two Exams                                                                        40%

     Home Work                                                                       40%

     Quizzes/Projects                                                                 20%

THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS OR QUIZZES GIVEN UNLESS ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE PRIOR TO THE EXAM OR QUIZ.

Getting the most out of your ONLINE course

Preparing for online learning: If this is your first online course, you may be wondering what the experience will be like and how best to prepare. The following information will help to get the most out of this course.

1. Understand your role
1. Be Organized
1. Set aside a specific time in which you will complete the work required for each chapter. Treat this as your time to be ‘in school’ and avoid distractions. Assume that you will have at least two ‘class’ sessions per week for learning the new material. Allocate time for completing home work.
2. Communicate with the instructor or other classmates when you are having difficulty and in need of further assistance.
3. Stay current with all assignments. Do not let assignments slide. Be sure to hand in all assignments on the due date. Assignments will be released weekly.
2. Be Prepared

1. Get the required textbook and software (listed above). You will have to read and follow the instructions in the textbook. There are also additional resources on WebCT to supplement your learning.
2. Make sure that you have Internet access and have room on your computer for downloading files.
3. Be sure that you have a copy of the syllabus. It is the guideline for the course. (The syllabus is subject to change).
4. When you begin the course, it will be important to be able to navigate the Web site with ease. Visit the Welcome icon on the Homepage for a quick tour of the course and its features.
2. Avoiding Roadblocks

1. Sometimes the site may be down and you cannot access the work.  Be sure the time you selected as convenient works online as well.

2. Many of the instructions of how to accomplish specific tasks will be in writing rather than visual or audio.  You will experience different ways of learning.

3. Do not spend excess time to complete a task if errors on the system are displaying.  Contact me.            

2. Understand my role

a. Facilitate, not lecture. My role is to be there as a resource to provide guidance through your learning experience, to discuss problems you may encounter, and to review your progress.

2. Evaluate.  Computerized projects will be completed through the semester. My role is to evaluate and grade your work.

3. Manage the course.  I will manage the pace of the course and keep us all moving forward at a steady pace. The calendar and assignment areas will be used to communicate what material you should be working on at any given time.

ADA Accommodations Statement

“Students with physical or learning disabilities who may require accommodations are encouraged to contact the Counseling Office.  After disclosing the nature of the disability, students are urged to discuss their needs with individual instructors.  This should be done at the beginning of each semester.  Instructors, in conjunction with appropriate college officials, will provide assistance and/or accommodations only to those students who have completed this process.”

Academic ethics and classroom behavior

“At Middlesex Community College we expect the highest standards of academic honesty.  Academic dishonesty is prohibited in accordance with the Board of Trustees’ Proscribed Conduct Policy in Section 5.2.1 of the Board of Trustees’ Policy Manual.  This policy prohibits cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration on assignments, unauthorized access to examinations or course materials, plagiarism, and other proscribed activities.  Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s idea(s) or phrase(s) and representing that/those idea(s) as your own, either intentionally or unintentionally.”  (Board of Trustees’ Policy 5.2.1)

Use of Computing Resources

All resources and facilities of the Data Processing Labs, including the computer classroom sites, are to be used solely for the legitimate and authorized academic and administrative purposes.  Any unauthorized or illegitimate use of the computer systems, resources, and/or facilities will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including but not subject to criminal prosecution in accordance with Section 53a-250, et seq., of the General Statutes.

Unit Outlines/Unit Objectives/Expected Outcomes/Assessment Measures:

Each unit will cover specific objectives with the chapter.  Students are expected to read the assigned chapters and do the assignments listed.  The assessment measures of quizzes, exams and computer assignments are listed below.

Week	Session	Topic	Material
1	1	Introduction and Overview	---
	2	Orientation to WebCT Office: Using Common Features of Microsoft Office 2003	OFF3 MS Office 2003 Tutorial
2	3	Tutorial 1: Introduction to Microsoft Access 2003	Session 1.1
	4	Working with Queries	Session 1.2
3	5	Tutorial 2: Creating and Maintaining a Database	Session 2.1
	6	Modifying, Obtaining and Updating Records	Session 2.2
4	7	Tutorial 3: Querying a Database	Session 3.1
	8	Defining Criteria and Performing Calculations	Session 3.2
5	9	QUIZ (1-3)
	10	Tutorial 4: Creating Forms and Reports	Session 4.1
6	11	Creating Forms with Subforms and Reports	Session 4.2
	12	Tutorial 5: Enhancing a Table’s Design and Advanced Queries	Session 5.1
7	13	Advanced Queries	Session 5.2
	14	Advanced Queries	Session 5.3
8	15	Review Chat Session & Projects
	16	MIDTERM EXAM (1-5)
9	17	*****SPRING RECESS******
10	18	Tutorial 6: Creating Custom Forms	Session 6.1
	19	Advanced Custom Form Functions	Session 6.2
11	20	Working with Sub-Forms	Session 6.3
	21	Tutorial 7: Creating Custom Reports	Session 7.1
12	22	Designing Customized Reports	Session 7.2
	23	Adding Sub-Reports	Session 7.3
13	24	Additional Report Functions	Session 7.4
	25	Tutorial 9: Using Action Queries and Defining Table Relationships	Session 9.1
14	26	Table Relationships	Session 9.2
	27	Tutorial 10: Automating Tasks with Macros	Session 10.1
15	28	Macros	Session 10.2
	29	Creating Switchboards	Session 10.3
16	30	Review Chat Session & Projects
	31	FINAL EXAM ( 6, 7, 9, 10)

Course schedule and assignments may be subject to change