Course Information

Santa Rosa Junior College
Fall 2023 Semester, Online

¹Office Time by phone or e-mail (see SRJC Canvas for contact info):

• Mondays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Course Description

Designed for the skilled computer user. This course introduces students to the basics of working with the Microsoft Windows operating system. Topics covered will include: customizing Windows, optimizing a hard drive, using File Explorer for file management, enhancing computer security, troubleshooting Windows, evaluating system performance, editing the Windows registry and using the command line environment. (P/NP option)

Prerequisites: Although this course has no administrative prerequisites, it is not designed for beginners, and the instructor recommends basic familiarity with computer usage.

Materials

Required Text: Rather than a printed textbook, this course uses a large selection of the material from the TestOut corporation's online, simulation-based training product TestOut Client Pro, including video lectures and demonstrations by TestOut instructor Robb Tracy.

TestOut Client Pro uses TestOut's LabSim system, and costs $129 direct from the publisher, or $172 from the SRJC bookstore (if you are on financial aid, you may need to choose this option). To purchase and set up TestOut Client Pro for this course, please follow the Setting up "Client Pro" on SRJC Canvas instructions in your course Canvas site.

TestOut's LabSim system will run in a Windows or Mac web browser; please see TestOut's technical specifications.

Although this course doesn't cover all of its content, you will have access to the entirety of TestOut Client Pro for 18 months after your purchase. And Client Pro is targeted at three certification exams:

• TestOut's own Client Pro certification
• Two Microsoft exams for Windows certification, currently named Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate.
  • The current exams are MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops.

Therefore, if you go through the rest of the material in Client Pro, it will prepare you well for the above certification exams, which carry weight among employers with Windows networks.

• Software Required:
  • A web browser supported by Instructure Canvas, to open the SRJC Canvas course material. If your web browser doesn't open all the material, try a different one.
    
    

Assignments, Exams, and Grading

How to submit assignments:

• In the Modules section of the SRJC Canvas course, there are direct links to each Client Pro LabSim assignment. For scores to be returned from LabSim to Canvas each respective LabSim assignment must be accessed from the Canvas course.
• If you do not follow Canvas links to each of your assignments, your scores cannot be submitted to the Canvas gradebook. You must return to Canvas after you complete each LabSim assignment and link to the next assignment.
• Please see Setting up "Client Pro" on SRJC Canvas for details.

GRADING:

• I will assign letter grades based on exams and assignments, using the following percentages:

PASS/NO PASS: You may apply for a Pass/No Pass option in this course no later than 30% of the course duration; please see the Assignment Schedule for the date. You get Pass (P) for "C" level work or better, and the units don't affect your grade point average.   To change to Pass/No Pass, visit the SRJC Student Portal.

WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASS: YOU have the responsibility to withdraw from class if you decide to not complete the course. Please see the Assignment Schedule for the withdrawal deadline date. To officially withdraw from a class, you must visit the SRJC Student Portal, or submit a drop form to the Admissions and Records Office.  After the withdrawal deadline, I cannot give you a "W" grade, but instead must give you an A, B, C, D, or F, based on the assignments and tests you have completed (normally resulting in an F). Before withdrawing, please contact me; perhaps I can help.

Academic Integrity

CONDUCT: Please follow the SRJC Student Conduct Standards.  Please expect violation of any of these rules to reduce your grade, result in your removal from this course and/or other disciplinary action, which can appear on your record and transcripts.

The system maintenance and administration skills covered in this course require self-reliance and independent effort. As such, this course follows the Harvard rules on Plagiarism and Collaboration. Collaboration in the completion of assignments is prohibited. However, you may collaborate in some non-assignment activity, as described below.

• Permitted Collaboration
  • Exam and homework preparation
  • Lecture & chapter review
  • Lecture notes exchange
  • Practice problems not contained in assignments

• Prohibited Collaboration
  • Joint or cooperative development of answers
  • Modification and/or use of another's answers
  • Plagiarism or copying from other sources
  • Revealing and/or giving answers to another student
  • Viewing and/or receiving answers from another student

• Consequences of Prohibited Collaboration
  • The first offense will result in a penalty (rather than credit) of the assignment's maximum score.
  • A second offense will cause the student to be dropped from the course, or to receive an F grade in the course.
    

Special Needs

Every effort is made to conform to accessibility standards for all instructor-created materials. Students should contact their instructor as soon as possible if they find that they cannot access any course materials. Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (707-527-4278).