SYLLABUS -- LA 483 ================================ Course Instructor: Gerry Santoro, Ph.D. Lead Research Programmer - Center for Academic Computing Asst. Professor. - Speech Communication 215-C Computer Building 863-7896 userid = GMS@PSUVM.PSU.EDU office hours: by appointment NOTE: I have many electronic mail addresses. If you wish to send me a binary, please send it to gms3@psu.edu and then send a note to gms@psuvm.psu.edu to let me know it is there. I check gms@psuvm.psu.edu regularly and my other ids only sporadically -- so be sure to send any correspondence only to gms@psuvm.psu.edu. OVERVIEW OF LA-483 ------------------ LA-483 can best be thought of as an extension of LA-283. This definition is important because it is *ASSUMED* that the LA-483 student has mastered the access and IBM-PC skills covered in LA-283. (Well, perhaps 'mastered' is a tad strong -- lets just say that you should know this stuff.) Any 483 student in doubt of what this means should talk to me ASAP. One distinction between 283 and 483 is in the target audience. LA-283 was aimed at the Liberal Arts student who (a) has had little or no computer experience, and (b) is likely to graduate and look for a job in an area where computers may be used to manage information. LA-483, on the other hand, is aimed at the Humanities student who (a) had had some previous computer experience (particularly with the resources at Penn State), (b) is (or should be) interested in instructional/research computing applications and (c) is likely to go on to graduate school or an information-intensive profession. The focus of LA-483 is on the Internet/Multinet and the National Information Infrastructure. The outline for the course is intended to help the student develop technical skills for using Internet/ Multinet information resources and services. A brief outline of the subjects we will cover: - The unix operating system. - The intermainframe networks (uucp/bitnet/Internet) - Telnet for remote host access. - The World Wide Web sustem - The GOPHER information system. - The WAIS information system. - File transfer with FTP. - File archivers and compressers. - The LISTSERV conferencing system. - Social Issues for NII. - Viruses and other nasty software. We will utilize a range of computing resources, intended to give the student a firm skills grounding in the use of the Internet. In particular, we will utilize the IBM-PC's and Macs at the CAC public microcomputer labs. We will also extensively utilize Sun Cluster (unix) accounts. COURSE GRADING -------------- The purpose of a grade is, ideally, to give the student feedback on the degree of their success in assimilating course content. The following grading structure is based on the required plus/minus system of the University. 100 percent total possible 95 - 100 -- A 91 - 94 -- A- 87 - 90 -- B+ 82 - 86 -- B 77 - 81 -- B- 73 - 76 -- C+ 69 - 72 -- C 60 - 68 -- D 0 - 60 -- F Total points will be determined according to the following structure. 40% -- four small papers/projects. (10 points each) 50% -- group project and presentation 10% -- Attendance Attendence. An attendence sheet will be made available for each class. Every student is required to sign this sheet next to their printed name. Students will be permitted 2 unexcused absences. Other absences will require a written excuse. One point will be deducted from the 10% allocated for attendence for every unexcused absence above the 2 permitted. PROBLEMS AND EXCEPTIONS ----------------------- It is inevitable that some students will encounter problems during the semester and require an exception to a due date, a makeup test or something similar. If a problem should arise YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR INSTRUCTOR BY ELECTRONIC MAIL OR TELEPHONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Failing to contact your instructor promptly may be grounds for denying the exception. OFFICE MEETINGS --------------- Private meetings with Dr. Santoro may be arranged by appointment. Electronic mail is by far the best way to setup meetings. Meetings can be arranged to discuss class work or other computer-related interest areas. TEXTS AND READINGS ------------------ Two texts are required for LA-483, these are: "The Whole Internet" by Ed Krol "Learning the Unix Operating System" by O'Reilly Assoc. There will also be a number of readings from the online library, which may be accessed through your friendly, neighborhood gopher or WWW browser. This will be demonstrated in class. HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS CLASS ------------------------------------- The Internet is a real hot area today, and will continue to be so for the forseeable future. To get the most out of this class the student should approach the class in the spirit of a seminar and EXPLORE! Make use of all online resources and all computing resources. Play, examine, test, try and wander. Do it now and enjoy the feeling of exploration. OUTLINE OF SESSIONS CONTENTS ---------------------------- A listing of the propsed session topics is on the online library. THE LA-483 ONLINE LIBRARY ========================= An online library has been established for LA-483. This library may be accessed through gopher or WWW. The library will contain administrative files (syllabue, readings, etc.), required readings and optional readings for the course. THE LA-483 PRIVATE NEWSGROUP ============================ A private NETNEWS newsgroup (private.la483) has been established to provide for online conferencing. This is the place where announcements will be made and discussion will be held. Also, the four short projects will be posted here.