Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
CAS 283 Communication and Information Technology I (3): Introduction to communication technology and information management; intended for students in the Liberal Arts.
Overview
Welcome to CAS 283: Communication and Information Technology I.
Communication and Information Technology I is designed to provide a foundation of general computing knowledge and skills that may be applied in both your college career and out in the workforce. The course material provides you with guidance on which aspects to focus on, with clear learning objectives, key terms, assignments, and self-mastery exercises. The commentaries and assignments will help you integrate and apply the information and develop skills that are to be learned.
This course provides you with an overview of the Web and helps you to develop a variety of ways to interact with the Web. You will learn various social media tools; issues related to the Web and communication; how to use search engines to locate information on subjects that interest you; how to tell if the information is reliable; how to use several computer mediated communication vehicles via the Web; and how to differentiate between Web addresses so that you have an idea of what subject area they stem from, such as education, commerce, military, etc. The lessons are designed to give you some basic skills as well as understanding in using your computer and the Internet.
Assignments and Schedule
CAS 283 is composed of 9 lessons and 6 Journal Reflections for a total of 15 submissions. Each lesson (with the exception of Lesson 1 and the Journal Reflections) contains the following:
Learning Objectives: These statements provide you with the focus of the lesson. You should be able to identify the important aspects of the lesson by reviewing the learning objectives.
Practice Exercises: Some of the lessons in this course include ungraded practice exercises. These are distributed throughout the commentary where relevant. Make sure to perform the Practice Exercises since they are designed to prepare you for your graded assignments.
Key Terms: Be aware of these as you progress through your lessons, and make sure you understand their definitions. A Glossary is provided on the Lessons page for your reference.
Commentary: This section of each lesson is offered both to teach and reinforce your mastery of the course software.
Lesson Assignment: Lesson assignments are designed to help you apply the information covered in each lesson. Lessons must be submitted for grading. See below for lesson submission instructions, or contact your instructor if you have questions.
Note: There are no exams in this course.
In addition to the major assignments, you will complete other activities throughout the course. Below you will find a summary of the learning activities for this course and the associated time frames. Specific details for each activity can be found in each lesson.
Course Objectives
Upon the completion of this course you will be able to:
- identify key terms of computer use
- use the basic MS Office programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- recognize computer mediated communication basic theories
- identify online communities and issues
- recall basic knowledge of social media tools
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Software
Students are required to use Microsoft Office 2010 for Windows or Microsoft Office 2011 for Macintosh.
Note: Please disregard the Technical Specifications below for the Software requirements.
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Buying Software section of the Course Materials page.
As a Penn State student, you have access to lynda.com, your one-stop shop for video tutorials on Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and hundreds more topics--all free to active Penn State faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students. Take tutorials to help with coursework, learn techniques for your own projects, and build tech skills to boost your resume.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the assignments.
| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Lesson 1 Assignments due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Lesson 2 Assignments due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Journal Reflection #1 due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Lesson 4 Assignments due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Journal Reflection #2 due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Lesson 6 Assignment due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Journal Reflection #3 due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Lesson 9 Assignment due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Lesson 11 Assignments due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Journal Reflection #5 due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Lesson 13 Assignment due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Lesson 14 Assignment due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday. |
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| ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES: |
Journal Reflection #6 due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Friday. |
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Course Requirements and Grading
CAS 283 is composed of 15 graded lessons. The total of the graded lessons will comprise your final grade. There are no exams.
| Lesson | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | Getting Started | 5 points |
| Lesson 2 | The Internet | 10 points |
| Lesson 3 | Journal Reflection #1 | 2 points |
| Lesson 4 | Social Media | 10 points |
| Lesson 5 | Journal Reflection #2 | 5 points |
| Lesson 6 | Microsoft Word | 10 points |
| Lesson 7 | Journal Reflection #3 | 2 points |
| Lesson 8 | Computer Mediated Communication | 10 points |
| Lesson 9 | Social Networking and Online Communities | 10 points |
| Lesson 10 | Journal Reflection #4 | 2 points |
| Lesson 11 | PowerPoint | 10 points |
| Lesson 12 | Journal Reflection #5 | 2 points |
| Lesson 13 | Excel I | 5 points |
| Lesson 14 | Excel II | 15 points |
| Lesson 15 | Journal Reflection #6 | 2 points |
| Course Total = 100 points | ||
Grading Scale
| Letter | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 95 |
| A- | 91 |
| B+ | 87 |
| B | 82 |
| B- | 77 |
| C+ | 73 |
| C | 69 |
| D | 60 |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Late Policy
The grade of assignments received up to one week after the due date will be reduced by ten percent. Each additional week late will result in an additional 10 percent grade reduction. Work more than 3 weeks late will not be accepted. If an emergency arises that prevents you from completing your work on time, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements for you to keep up in the course.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.