Course Syllabus

CS160A: Introduction to Unix/Linux

 

Course Description

Introduction to using the Unix/Linux operating system. Unix/Linux file management and common text processing utilities including searching.

Prerequisites/corequisites/advisories

None

Student Learning Outcomes

Class Meetings

No face-to-face meetings.  The class is taught entirely online.

Instructor Contact

Constance Conner

CCSF Email: cconner@ccsf.edu
but please use Canvas Inbox (see left frame) for course related email
Here is Canvas Student Guide How to Use Inbox

CCSF Phone: (415) 239-3963 (but please email me)

Office: Batmale Hall Room 424 (50 Phelan Ave, San Francisco, CA)

Office Hours: By Appointment (via CityZoom)
You must email me (using Canvas InBox) for an appointment at least 48 hours in advance. I will be using CityZoom in Canvas.

I will respond to all course email within 48 hours Monday-Friday, exclusive of school holidays.

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas Learning Management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, taking quizzes/tests, posting to discussions forums, and viewing grades.

Textbook

The textbook is integrated into the online content. All readings are available online. No additional textbook needs to be purchased. If you do want an additional reference, I recommend The Linux Command Line by Schotts. Here is free online pdf version:

http://linuxcommand.org/tlcl.php

Required Hardware/Software

You will need the following software for this course:

• Secure Shell (ssh) this will be discussed the first week of class.
• Update your browser

Required Materials

All materials needed are online.

Weekly Effort

My assumption is that everyone who is motivated and adequately prepared can succeed in this class. It does take the time to do the readings, exercises, tests/quizzes and complete the homework assignments. The amount of time needed varies widely among students and topics. How much is this? One guideline is 2 - 3 hours/week outside of class for every hour in class. A 2 unit, semester-long class meets 2 hours per week so it is normally recommended you spend approximately 6 hours per week for a 17-1/2 week course.
So, in order to have a good chance of success, I suggest you plan on spending a minimum of 12 hours per week for this class.

Important Dates

Class Begins: Aug 30
Last Date for Refund: Sep 2
Last Date to Drop without a W: Sep 8
ABSOLUTE Last Date to drop (W will be on transcript): Oct 18
Class Ends: Oct 22

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%).
You must login to the course (ccsf.instructure.com) AND post to the Introduce Yourself Discussions forum (under Topic 0) by the end of the first week or you will be dropped from the class as a 'no show'.

Also, I may drop a student who has not 'actively participated' in the class (not submitted first assignment).
NOTE: Dropping may affect 'Free City College' fees.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

P/NP Available.

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by the date listed on the online schedule. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade.You must receive a grade of 70% or more for a P.

Where to Get Help?

Post all questions in the Discussions forums. There is a Discussions forum for each assignment and a Forum on Grading and Tests. You can make an appointment to come to my office hours if you want to talk with me face-to-face. I check the forums at least once Monday thru Friday (exclusive of holidays). Remember: If you have a question about the course someone else probably has that same question and will benefit when you post it on the discussion forums. Use the class discussions for any questions that you would ask in class. You are also invited, encouraged and required to post answers to other students' questions. You could also post any resources that you want to share with the group. When you post to the class discussions, please use appropriate "Netiquette". If there are questions about how to approach an assignment, use the discussion forums. Post questions about tests in the Forum on Grading and Tests.
Online instructors are asked to wait a few days before responding to student questions, in order to give other students time enough to have a chance to answer and give their response to the other student questions. If I am absent for a period of more than three working days, expect an announcement with special instructions.

Attendance

You must login to the course (ccsf.instructure.com) AND post to the Introduce Yourself Discussions forum (under Topic 0) by the end of the first week or you may be dropped from the class as a 'no show'. You are required to participate in the course by reading all discussion forum postings; submitting assignments and taking tests. In accordance with City College rules, if you miss the equivalent of one assignment and one test (back-to-back) OR do not academically participate, you *may* be dropped. Note: It is a student's responsibility to drop themselves from a course.  I am allowed to drop students for non-participation but in a short-term course such as CS160A this can be hard.  Please drop yourself if you have abandoned the course.

Participation is Required

Students and I will post questions on the Discussions forums which must be answered by at least one student within 48 hours or 2 school-days (M-F).
Note: Any student whose has not posted at least one response to any question, nor asked any questions, nor shared any Unix/Linux related resource, will lose one point from their final average.

Late Policy

All homework assignments are due no later than 11:55pm on due date.
If you cannot finish a homework assignment on time you can turn it in up to (but no later than) one week late but it will be penalized 10%. 

NO ASSIGNMENT RESUBMISSIONS ALLOWED.

Tests/Quizzes cannot be made up, instead, I drop the lowest of your first 3 test/quiz scores. This way if you miss one of the first 3 tests/quizzes you will not be penalized. The final test/quiz is NOT dropped.

Deadlines will be extended if we have a problem on the CCSF network that prevents you from doing the work. This does not include problems with your home computers.

Methodology

Your time will be spent reading and practicing Unix commands through exercises, as part of for-credit assignments, and taking for-credit tests/quizzes. By the end of the class, I expect that you will be able to solve common data processing problems using Unix with more confidence.

Exams/Tests/Quizzes

There will be 3 tests/quizzes plus a final test/quiz. The lowest of the first 3 test/quiz scores will be dropped (this does NOT include final test/quiz).
This means there are NO MAKE-UP Tests/Quizzes.
The material comes from the online course materials. If any test is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online tests by the due date. Each test may be taken only once.

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade one a week and post grades and comments on the online Canvas grade book. Click here Canvas Student Guide on viewing your 'Grades'

Here is how grades are calculated:

Grades will be assigned as follows:

SEE NOTES BELOW 

Standard Grading Used

A	90+%
B	80-89%
C	70-79%
D	60-69%
F or FW	<60%

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points.

An “F” grade indicates that a student attended, participated and completed the course but failed to master the course curriculum.

An “FW” grade indicates the student stopped attending a course after the “last day to withdraw” deadline and subsequently did not submit any work or participate in any exams. Please check with your counselor and financial aid advisor for possible implications of the FW grade on residency and financial aid status.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in CCSF classes are required to abide by the
CCSF Student Code of Conduct (please read).
Violation of the code is the basis for referral to the Student Conduct Coordinator or dismissal from the class or from the College. For more information, see the
Office of Student Affairs and Wellness.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
Encourage Academic Integrity and Prevent Plagiarism

Special Needs

If you need classroom or testing accommodations because of a disability, or have emergency medical information to share with me, or need special arrangements in case the building needs to be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. My office hours are listed above. Students seeking disability-related accommodations are encouraged to also register with Disabled Students Programs and Services located in Room 323 of the Rosenberg Library (415) 452-5481. Please see the DSPS website for more information and alternate locations.

Anti-Discrimination Policy

The San Francisco Community College District is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and the prevention of discrimination and harassment in any program or activity of the District on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, religion, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, disability or AIDS/HIV status, medical conditions, or status as Vietnam-era veteran, or on the basis of these perceived characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
 If you believe you have been subject to discrimination, please contact the Title 5/EEO/ADA/Title IX Compliance Office, at (415) 452‐5053.

 In addition, here is the Computer Science Department Statement for Social Justice.

 

List of assignments

There will be 4 FOR CREDIT assignments/homeworks. There are common ways to lose points on homework assignments that are listed at the bottom of each assignment. Be sure to check these out before submitting homework assignments. Within one week, I will grade your assignments.
Assignments are accepted one week late, with a 10% penalty, but no later. 

Note to students: the assignments listed below do not include all course content. To view all course content, go to Modules.