COT 1008
Desktop Publishing

Course Information:

Course Description:Desktop Publishing

This course is an introduction to desktop publishing using Microsoft Publisher 2003. In six projects, you will learn to prepare a variety of publications ranging from advertisements and brochures to newsletters and creating Web sites. Particular emphasis is given to learning the elements of layout and design. Experience in Windows is recommended.

Course Objectives:

In this course, a student will learn to: 

  • Define desktop publishing software. 
  • Create and save a publication. 
  • Enter, edit, and format text in a frame. 
  • Insert, resize, crop clip art and graphic images. 
  • Align, group, rotate, and layer images and clip art. 
  • Use layout and ruler guides. 
  • Use auto formats and wizards if available. 
  • Add tables, bullets and numbers, sidebars, and pull quotes. 
  • Modify and apply a style. 
  • Work with multiple pages. 
  • Work with background and foreground. 
  • Create header and footer and page numbering. 
  • Work with frames and text overflows.

Prerequisites and Co-requisites:

This course covers a full trimester and assumes that students have basic Windows navigation and file management skills. It would be helpful to have basic Internet skills for on-line courses.

  

Course Topics:

  
  • Creating and Editing a Publication (5 hours)
  • Designing a Newsletter (5 hours)
  • Publishing a Tri-Fold Brochure (5 hours)
  • Personalizing and Customizing Publications with Information Sets (5 hours)
  • Creating Business Forms and Tables (5 hours)
  • Creating an E-Commerce Web Site (5 hours)
  

Specific Course Requirements:

  

Students will need to be motivated and self directed with the ability to follow an objective based calendar timeline completed the weekly demands of assignments. 

  

Textbooks and Supplementary Materials

  

Required Textbooks:

  

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course:  http://rodp.bkstr.com

Hardware Requirements:

  

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm.

  

Software Requirements:

  

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific hardware requirements for this course include...(A list of software the student is required to purchase or download for the course, Real Player, Media Player, Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, Esc).You must have Publisher 2003 complete installation to complete this course.

  

Instructor Information

  

Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.

  

Assessment and Grading

  

Testing Procedures:

  

Exams:

There will be exams covering each of the six projects of the course. All exams will be similar in format, difficulty, and length.

Assignments:

Students will have an assignment at the end of each project to complete.

Class Discussions:

Students are required to participate actively in all discussions. Every week during the trimester, the instructor will post questions concerning a specific topic. Students will have the opportunity to respond to these topics and to other students' responses. Students may also begin their own discussion.  

  

Grading Procedure:

  

Your grade will be based on Project Assignments (50%), Exams (25%), and Participation (25%).

The Skills(Project Assignments) score is the average of the six projects lab assignments. This will be 50% of your grade.

The Related Work (exams) will account for 25% of your grade. This score is the average of the grades for the six project exams and the compressive final.

The Participation grade will be based on your involvement in the discussion board, email communications, and completing assignment on time. This will also be 25% of your score.

Students are required to participate actively in discussions. During the course, the instructor will post questions on the discussion board concerning a specific topic. Students will have the opportunity to respond to these topics and to other students' responses. Students may also begin their own discussion.

Students MUST also post an introduction of themselves on the discussion board the first week of the course as well as email the instructor notifying that they have successfully gotten into the course materials.

  

Grading Scale:

      

93-100--A
85- 92-- B
77- 84-- C 

  

A score of 77 or better must be achieved to receive credit for this course

  
 

Assignments and Participation

  

Assignments and Projects:

  

A sequenced list of assignments and projects arranged by course section or module with due dates if applicable.

  

Class Participation:

Students are expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning resource and must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements. Students must also participate in threaded discussion events with the instructor and other students. The instructor will post topics for student comments.

Students will email the instructor at the beginning of the course using the WebCT email to notify the instructor they are in the system and have master this communication medium.

  

Punctuality:

  

Students are permitted to work ahead of the timeline in this course. There is specific project completion dates posted on the calendar. Assignments are required to be turned in by these dates. 

  

Course Ground Rules

  

The following are recommendations for students taking this class: 

  • Learn how to navigate in WebCT if you are not familiar with the system.
  • View the Course Calendar at least twice a week for exams and assignment deadlines.
  • Check the Discussion Board several times a week for course announcements, course information and discussion topics.
  • Manage your time wisely. Give yourself enough time complete assignments and properly prepare for exams.
  • Keep in contact with the instructor on a regular basis by emails and discussion board.
  • Use the assigned e-mail address as opposed to a personal e-mail address for everything related to the course.
  • Address technical problems immediately by contacting the technicians or myself for help.
  • Students must respect the rights of others at all times when communicating in chat, email, or discussions.
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.
  • Participation in this course is the key to doing well. Be sure all assignments are completed by the due date as posted on the Course Calendar.
  • If you have a technical issue address it at once to avoid falling behind in the class.
  • If you have questions, the discussion board is a great place to ask it. Remember that the only bad question is the one not asked. So, if you are unsure of something, ask. If you prefer, you may also email the instructor.
 

Guidelines for Communications

  

Email:

  
  • Always include a subject line. 
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emotions might be helpful in some cases. 
  • Use standard fonts. 
  • Do not send large attachments without permission. 
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication. 
  • Respect the privacy of other class members.
 

Discussion Groups:

  
  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant. 
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic. 
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas. 
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks. 
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks. 
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions. 
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
 

Chat:

  
  • Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session. 
  • Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements. 
  • Be concise in responding to others in the chat session. 
  • Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time. 
  • Be constructive in your comments and suggestion.
 

Resources:

  

Web:

 
 

Library

  

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses.  

  

Students With Disabilities

  

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

  

Syllabus Changes

  

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

  

Technical Support

  
Telephone Support:
  
If you are having problems logging into your course,
timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please contact the Eduprise Help Desk by calling :

1-866-550-7637 (toll free)

or go to their website at:

http://help.rodp.org