CS 1001 - Introduction to Computer Science
for
Non-majors

Labs



One of the major parts of the Computer Science 1001 class are the labs. The labs are a way to bring computers to life. To actually make real sense of what you are learning in the classroom. And also to teach some practical skills along the way.

To do this, this summer session, there are four different labs which will lead you through the fundamentals of operating systems, applications, the internet, word processing and spreadsheets. These web pages were designed to provide even more flexibility in learning styles and speeds, and will hopefully help all the students to learn as much as they can.

Below is a brief synopsis of each of the labs, and a list of the objectives that should be accomplished.



Pre-Lab 1

Lab 1 -- Introduction to Everything!

Description:

Objectives:

  1. Learn the basics of operating systems and operating environments by using Windows and DOS.
  2. Be able to move around comfortably in Windows by knowing its parts and operations.
  3. Understand the concepts of applications, files, folders/directories, and drives from using File Manager.
  4. Know what the internet is, different methods of utilizing it, and an understanding of its history.
  5. Understand and be able to use a browser to search the WWW using http by using Netscape.
  6. Be able to send, receive and print out e-mail.
  7. Above all, know that there is no reason to fear computers.


Pre-Lab 2

Lab 2 -- Electronic Communications

Description:

Objectives:

  1. Learn the styles of communicating over the internet, and how they differ from each other.
  2. Be able to download pictures and documents from the internet.
  3. Reach reasonable proficiency with Netscape.
  4. Perform a web search to find specific information and get the address.
  5. Better understand the information available at the University and the world in general.

Pre-Lab 3

Lab 3 -- Introduction to Microsoft Word and Word Processing

Description:

Objectives:

  1. Be able to use button and pull-down window commands to alter the text and formatting of a Word document.
  2. Become comfortable with some more advanced features of Word, like frames, footnotes, tables, and pictures.
  3. Modify a few unformatted documents in lab to the desired specifications.
  4. Be able to use Word or another word processor environment when creating papers, assignments, for your classes.
  5. Learn how to incorporate your own style into your documents while still maintaining a professional looking format.

Pre-Lab 4

Lab 4 -- Introduction to Microsoft Excel and Spreadsheets

Description:

Objectives:

  1. Use the basic buttons and pull-down windows in Excel to create and deal with numerical data in an easy fashion.
  2. Learn how to edit a spreadsheet data cell, change cell formatting, use formulas in your sheet, and sort the data, respectively.
  3. Be able to fashion and display your own chart of a data set.
  4. Learn how to use Excel to your advantage when placing data into a document.