BUS 125 – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS COMPUTING

SYLLABUS FOR SPRING 2011

CLASS SESSIONS: Mon/Wed 1:30-2:45 pm Folsom 101-A

INSTRUCTOR: Travis Durepo EMAIL: durepo@gmail.com
PHONE: (207) 227-3149
OFFICE HOURS: Can meet by appointment.
CLASS CANCELLATION: You will be notified via Blackboard if a class is cancelled due
to instructor illness. To check on a class cancellation due to inclement weather, please call
768-9400, then choose “3” from the menu.

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COURSE MATERIALS:
Text: Microsoft Office 2007 Introductory Premier Edition, by Gary B. Shelly, Thomas J.
Cashman, and Misty E. Vermaat

This course also utilizes SAM (skills assessment and training module). All of your pre-
assessments and exams will be done on SAM2007. We will work through the SAM registration
process together in class. Students will be able to access SAM2007 from the computer lab or
their home computers.

Optional: If students wish to have access to the Microsoft Office 2007 software at home, they
may purchase it at a much reduced rate from Computer Connection at University of Maine (at Orono).
All interested students, please call 207-581-2617.

We are using Blackboard for this class. Blackboard’s web site is http://www.courses.maine.edu.
You will be using this site to check your grades and communicate with others in the class. You
will receive more information in class on how to get into Blackboard. All students must make
sure that their @maine.edu email has been activated no later than the end of the day on
Friday, January 21, 2011, at 4:00 pm. See Computer Services in the basement of the library to
activate your email account.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:
This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of MS Office 2007 products as
pertained to a desktop productivity tool for managers. It also explores basic relationships of
computer products and concepts. It is intended to give students and computer users skills they
can use to analyze data and streamline office tasks. This course would allow the students hand-
on practical analysis of real business problems. Focus will be on how to analyze data and present
it in a way the managers can use.

OVERVIEW OF TOPICS:
The course content is divided into the following main areas:

1. General computer operation: Students will learn the basics of operating a computer,
how to set up file folders, how to do academic research with the use of the Internet, how
to set up a personal email account, the basics of google; including google mail, google
docs, google maps, and google earth. The students will also learn the basics of storing
photographs and other personal files on a personal computer as well as how to protect
those files.
2. MS Word: Students will learn how to create document templates in Word that will help
businesses streamline their correspondence, use mail merge, print mailing labels,
templates newsletters, and flyers.
3. MS Excel: In Excel students will learn how to create Macros in spreadsheets, link
spreadsheets, perform queries within Excel and use Excel to perform queries against
Access databases. Students will also get experience importing data from a transaction
system into Excel and into Access. Use pivot tables in Excel to analyze data and create
a professional looking report for upper management. Embedding an Excel worksheet
into a Word document for managerial reports.
4. MS Outlook: In Outlook the student will learn how to import mailing addresses,
manage contacts, contact lists, and groups, link to other email servers, and manage
multiple email accounts. The students will learn how to integrate the other functions of
outlook, such as calendars and reminders to increase their productivity, as well as how
outlook will be used in conjunction with other business computing software packages.
5. MS PowerPoint: In PowerPoint students will learn how to set up professional
presentations to be used in both academics as well as in the business or chosen career
field. Students will learn how to integrate other applications in an effort to maximize the
presentations’ message.

ASSIGNMENTS:
The assignments for this course are hands-on assignments using the software. Students are
expected to attend class, bring a USB drive to back up their files and bring their textbook.
Lectures will be interactive and require the student to work on a computer and follow along with
the instructor.

GRADING:

SAM Pre-Assessments (credit for completing the exam) 10%

Homework – chapter work and lab assignments 35%
Exams (2 total – each worth 15%) 30%
Final exam 15%
Attendance 10%

POLICIES:
• Homework/computer assignments will not be accepted late. Individuals can appeal to the
instructor and only extreme cases will be heard.
• Exams must be taken on the scheduled day. If you have a conflict, please communicate that
with the instructor prior to test day.
• Students may help each other out during the work periods, as long as they are not disruptive
to others and as long as everyone works on their own assignment.

UMPI WRITING CENTER

The UMPI Writing Center offers one-on-one consultations for writers at all levels of course
work, at all stages of the writing process. Call 768-9615 or stop by the first floor of South Hall to
set up an appointment. Center hours and additional information is also available on the writing
center web page, http://www.umpi.edu/programs/cas/english/writing-center.

IT TRAINING
IT training sessions are available to answer your questions on the use of technology at UMPI.
This is a great way to ask questions, try out software you have been wondering about, or
generally become more familiar with what is available to you. The sessions are drop in and are
scheduled Monday through Friday from 2-3pm in the Library Conference Room during the
semester.

DISABILITY SERVICES
Students with disabilities needing accommodations or assistance with coursework or testing
should contact Mary Kate Barbosa, Director of Student Support Services, at 768-9613, or by
email; mary.barbosa@umpi.edu. Please note that students with disabilities must present current
and complete documentation to receive accommodations.

TUTORING
Student Support Services offers tutoring to all students via experienced professional and peer
tutors. If you are interested in receiving tutoring, please contact Meghan Lightbown SSS
Assistant Director, at 768-9614.