Course Syllabus

CNIT 131 Introduction to the Internet & Beginning HTML 

This class is entirely online. There are no face-to-face meetings.

Start 08/29 - End 12/20

Important Dates

Professor: Carmen Lamha  

Course Description 

Methods of using the Internet. History, design, and protocol methods used on the Internet including: electronic mail, mailing lists, Usenet, connection to remote computers, file transfer, World Wide Web, basic web page creation, and publishing. Additional topics include: file compression and expansion, computer security, copyright, and electronic commerce, and basic Unix shell commands.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

  1. Explain the historical development of the Internet, the World Wide Web, and their services.
  2. Define the different types of computer networks, connectivity methods and security threats that may exist within networks.
  3. Use main features of different browsers and different communication tools offered over the Web.
  4. Describe the various tools available on the Web and ethical issues related to some of those tools.
  5. Create a simple Web Site, upload to the server (with an understanding of permissions) and maintain it with the latest standards of HTML, CSS, and other web development techniques.

TRANSFERRABLE TO CSU||Computer Networking& Info Tech, Computer Science

GE CCSF area  A: Communic./Analytical

Class Meetings

There are no face-to-face meetings.

Professor Contact

Carmen Lamha

Email: carmen.lamha@mail.ccsf.edu

Office Hours: Online by appointment

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

Communication with professor

The Discussion Forum will be the preferred method for communication. You can also use the email in this course (Inbox icon on the left side - gray area). If you need t use the external email, you should write CNIT-131 in the subject line in order to not go to the Spam folder. I also receive a large number of emails. Your email is important to me. I want to make sure I do not miss it.

You have an e-mail account issued by City College that ends in @mail.ccsf.edu. This is where all the important information from the school goes. You will find more information about the CCSF email account in your Web4 account.

I respond to emails and discussion forums within 24-48 hours EXCEPT for Friday late afternoon until early morning Monday - I generally do not open my computer during that time!

 Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas Learning Management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmates' work, sharing resources, communicating with the instructor, and viewing grades.

Required Course Materials

Textbook

The textbook is required, but please do not buy a new copy.  Although this is an older book, it still has the best content for our course. 

I have done a lot of research on it. There are some newer books, but they do not cover with the same depth as this one. Try to find a used copy or look for other alternatives. You could also rent it for the semester.

  1. Textbook: Discovering the Internet - Complete - 5th Edition by 
    Jennifer T. Campbell - Publisher: Cengage  ISBN: 978-1-285-84540-1 

  2. HTML book : free or give a donation. Required. Please get it.

Required Software 

You will need the following software for this course. I will guide you in getting it.

  • FTP Software - free download
  • Text editor - free download
  • Browser - free download
  • Computer with an Internet connection

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%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with Web4 (Links to an external site.) or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by the deadline. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade.

Some certificates do not accept a P/NP option. You will need to do some research here and decide if this option matches your educational goals. Check with your counselor if you have questions about this.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Discussion Forum 

The professor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their Notification Preferences.  A “Discussion Forum” is also available on Canvas to ask for assistance from your classmates.

Notification Preferences

Canvas includes a set of default notification preferences you can receive for courses in which you have enrolled. Notifications are sent to Canvas contact methods, as specified in your account. However, you can change the default settings by setting your own notification preferences. Take a few minutes to set it how you would like to see the new class information. You can try different methods and decide which one fits better fits your schedule.

Attendance

Attendance and Dropping: 

Attendance in this online class means:

  • Logging in regularly every week
  • Actively participating in the discussions
  • Turning in homework assignments on time
  • Taking quizzes and exams

You need to make sure that you participate every week by reading the material, submitting assignments, and participating in the discussion forums.

Students who do not log-in to the class after the second week will be dropped. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class or assignment deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.

Please, contact the instructor for any help you may need!

Late Policy - No late assignments - You will need to tell me if you will be late so we can discuss it.

All assignments are due on Weds at 11:59.

Deadlines are important in any work or life situation, and it is the same with this class. Late submission will not be accepted unless there is a very strong reason for the late submission, but you will need to let me know beforehand. 

Methods of Evaluation

Grading

  • One or Two tests, Comprehensive Final, 20%
  • Weekly Homework assignments, 70%
  • Discussion Forum online participation, 10%
  • Total = 100%

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade once a week and post grades and comments on the online Canvas grade book.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

A - 90%

B - 80%

C - 70%

D - 60%

F - <60%

If taking Pass/No Pass, you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the final project to pass the class.

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 (Links to an external site.). Violation of the code is the basis for referral to the Student Conduct Coordinator or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Office of Student Affairs and Wellness for more information (Links to an external site.)

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 (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

Citing Information Sources (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

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 online. 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 (Links to an external site.) for more information and alternate locations.

Expected Behavior

Each student should help in providing an environment that helps everybody to learn.

Always address any questions in the Discussion forums. Avoid writing personal messages to me as your question might be somebody else's questions.

Try answering other students' questions without being afraid of committing mistakes - nobody will lose points for that and, at the end of the course. Remember, that this participation represents 10% of your grade.

Students with Disabilities

Students will be required to create web pages with images, different layouts, sounds, animations. If you have a visual or hearing impairment or any other disability that requires special accommodations, please don’t hesitate to discuss the issue with the instructor via email.

DSPS (Disabled Students Program and Services) is available in City College - take a look at the Services for Students in the Getting Started module.
 

Changes to the schedule/syllabus: 

I reserve the right to change any of the policies or schedules established here during the semester. I will let you know about the changes in my weekly announcements.

 Important Note

 Plagiarism and cheating are considered serious offenses and may be punished by failure on a project, assignment, or exam. Please, review the Student Conduct rules on the following web page: http://www.ccsf.edu/Offices/Student_Advocacy_Rights_and_Responsiblities/rules.htm (Links to an external site.)

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due