Page 1 of 5 Instructor: Mr. Bryan Craven Phone: (978) 758-9767 E-Mail: b.craven@neu.edu Course Description This course focuses on the Microsoft Access database management system. Coursework includes creating, querying, and maintaining a database; creating forms, reports, and combo boxes; creating an application system using macros and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE); and two-way integration of data among applications. SQL and Visual Basic concepts are introduced. The Courseware used is approved for the Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) program. Content is delivered through lectures, video demonstrations, cases, supplemental web-delivered tutorials and extensive assignments that apply the skills and techniques required Prerequisites IT 4114, Introduction to PC Productivity Tools, or equivalent. Course Objectives Students that successfully complete this course will have the opportunity to become conversant and experienced in the use of database technology as an information delivery system in the PC environment. Attendance Students are required to attend classes and to maintain an active presence in the on-line environment by frequently visiting the site and contributing to the conversations and by offering well defined solutions to the processing problems presented in class. Students are required to sign-in to the web based discussion area at least twice a week. Participation in the discussions will be a considerable factor in assigning a participation grade.
Page 2 of 5 Teaching Procedure Each week, you will be expected to: 1. Review the week's learning objectives. 2. Complete all assigned readings. 3. Complete all lecture materials for the week. 4. Participate in the web conversations. 5. Complete and submit all assignments and tests by the due dates. The student can reasonably expect to spend 5-8 hours per week reading the material and completing the practical assignments. Homework There will be homework assigned for each week's lessons. The homework assignments will be structured in such a manner that they will build upon each other. It is imperative that the assignments are completed when assigned so as to maintain continuity. All homework assignment due dates will be posted in the Course Material assignment section. In the event of an unavoidable occurrence that will delay homework submittal a revised date can be arranged if I am notified in advance. Renegotiation after the submittal date will not be permitted. In the Assignments folder, click on the View/Complete Assignment link to view each assignment. Attach your completed assignments here and click Submit to turn them in to me. Once your assignment has been graded, you will be able to view the grade and feedback I have provided by clicking on Tools, View Grades from the Northeastern University Online Campus tab. Exams There will be two exams in this course. There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam. Both exams will be constructed using a combination of written questions and hands-on MS Access problem solving. Required Texts Text Title Author(s) Publisher ISBN Exploring: Microsoft Access 2013, Comprehensive. 1st Edition Mary Anne Poatsy, Cynthia Krebs, Eric Cameron Prentice Hall 978-0-133-41220-8 Software Requirements The student will need access to a PC that has either Microsoft Office Professional 2013 or Microsoft Access 2013 stand-alone version installed. Although many tasks can be completed in Access 2007 the tools and functionality will not be identical between those versions and Access 2013. Additionally the text will not match the Access 2007 interface. Using Access 2003 in this course will not be acceptable. A trial copy of MS Office Professional, which contains Access 2013, can be obtained at: http://office.microsoft.com/ Microsoft now also offers a cloud version of MS Office that includes all Office products and will work on some mobile devices. Check Microsoft.com for pricing plans.
Page 3 of 5 Participation/Conversation Area You are required to participate in the web-based discussion area on a weekly basis. Your weekly participation is defined as one primary response per week (answering a discussion questions/comments) and two secondary responses (responses to other students' questions/comments). Primary responses are due in the conversation area board no later than midnight Friday of the scheduled week. Responses are always to be clear, well thought out, thorough, and professional. Short blurbs will not be considered as meeting the requirement for discussion board contributions. Course Grading Mid-term 25 % 2 parts 15 and 10 points each Homework 25 % 6 assignments 4.16 points each Final 30 % 1 final exam 30 points Discussion Board 20 % 6 Weeks 3.33 points each Total 100 %
Page 4 of 5 Course Topics and Assignments 1 Introduction to Access: Finding Your Way Through an Access Database 2 Tables and Queries in Relational Databases: Designing Databases and Extracting Data Customize, Analyze, and Summarize Query Data: Creating and Using Queries to Make Decisions 3 Creating and Using Professional Forms and Reports: Moving Beyond Tables and Queries Data Validation and Data Analysis: Reducing Errors and Extracting Better Information Mid-term Exam 4 Action and Specialized Queries: Moving Beyond the Select Query Advanced Forms and Reports: Moving Beyond the Basics 5 Get Connected: Exchanging Data Between Access and Other Applications Fine-Tuning the Database: Analyzing and Improving Database Performance 6 Using Macros and SQL in Access: Advanced Techniques Final Exam Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 All chapters above Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 All chapters above.. Assignment will be incorporated into the final exam
Page 5 of 5 Academic Honesty Statement Academic Honesty and Integrity Statement The University views academic dishonesty as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit while in college and imposes appropriate punitive sanctions on violators. Here are some examples of academic dishonesty. While this is not an all-inclusive list, we hope this will help you to understand some of the things instructors look for. The following is excerpted from the University s policy on academic honesty and integrity; the complete policy is available at http://www.spcs.neu.edu/ Cheating intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in an academic exercise. This may include use of unauthorized aids (notes, texts) or copying from another student s exam, paper, computer disk, etc. Fabrication intentional and unauthorized falsification, misrepresentation, or invention of any data, or citation in an academic exercise. Examples may include making up data for a research paper, altering the results of a lab experiment or survey, listing a citation for a source not used, or stating an opinion as a scientifically proven fact. Plagiarism intentionally representing the words or ideas of another as one s own in any academic exercise without providing proper documentation by source by way of a footnote, endnote or intertextual note. Unauthorized collaboration Students, each claiming sole authorship, submit separate reports, which are substantially similar to one another. While several students may have the same source material, the analysis, interpretation and reporting of the data must be each individual s. Participation in academically dishonest activities Examples include stealing an exam, using a pre-written paper through mail order or other services, selling, loaning or otherwise distributing materials for the purpose of cheating, plagiarism, or other academically dishonest acts; alternation, theft, forgery, or destruction of the academic work of others. Facilitating academic dishonesty Examples may include inaccurately listing someone as co-author of paper who did not contribute, sharing a take home exam, taking an exam or writing a paper for another student. Northeastern Online Policies and Procedures For comprehensive information please go to http://www.spcs.neu.edu/online/ Northeastern Online Copyright Statement Northeastern Online is a registered trademark of Northeastern University. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This course material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved by Northeastern Online. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the express prior written permission of Northeastern Online. Copyright 2008 by Northeastern Online All Rights Reserved