1. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 1 Assessment of Spreadsheet and Database Skills in the Undergraduate Student Jeanne Baugh Department of Computer and Information Systems Robert Morris University Pittsburgh PA

2. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 2 Computer Literacy “A computer literate student should not only know how to use computer application software, but should also understand how computers work and how to manipulate them” “A computer literate student should not only know how to use computer application software, but should also understand how computers work and how to manipulate them” (Goldweber 1994)

3. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 3 What do Students Know? Surf the net Surf the net Download music Download music Use email Use email Use word processing Use word processing Play games Play games

4. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 4 Information Systems University Core Courses CI212 – Principles of Information and Computing CI212 – Principles of Information and Computing CI310 – Information Systems Applications CI310 – Information Systems Applications

5. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 5 Information Systems Course (CI212) Word Word Excel Excel Access Access Basic Computer Skills Basic Computer Skills

6. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 6 Information Systems Course (CI310) Overview of technological concepts Overview of technological concepts Application software to enhance decision-making Application software to enhance decision-making Computer hardware and software Computer hardware and software Telecommunications and networks Telecommunications and networks Internet and intranets Internet and intranets Data management Data management Decision support systems Decision support systems

7. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 7 Components from IS2002 Model Curriculum in CI310 Course IS 2002.P0 – Personal Productivity with IS Technology IS 2002.P0 – Personal Productivity with IS Technology IS 2002.1 – Fundamentals of Information Systems IS 2002.1 – Fundamentals of Information Systems IS 2002.3 – Information Systems Theory and Practice IS 2002.3 – Information Systems Theory and Practice IS 2002.4 – Information Technology Hardware and System Software IS 2002.4 – Information Technology Hardware and System Software

8. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 8 Various Voices Heard Administration wants core IS courses reduced Administration wants core IS courses reduced Students say they already know topics (spreadsheet and database) Students say they already know topics (spreadsheet and database) Students say IS concepts not meaningful to them Students say IS concepts not meaningful to them Some CIS faculty say “Get rid of IS concepts in course” Some CIS faculty say “Get rid of IS concepts in course” Some CIS faculty say “Get rid of Software component in course” Some CIS faculty say “Get rid of Software component in course” Some professors (other departments) say students don’t need IS concepts Some professors (other departments) say students don’t need IS concepts Other Departments expect their students to know Excel and Access Other Departments expect their students to know Excel and Access

9. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 9 What to do?

10. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 10 Do students know as much as they think they do? Do students know as much as they think they do?

11. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 11 Assessment Test Excel Spreadsheet Excel Spreadsheet Enter data in cellsEnter data in cells Write Simple formulasWrite Simple formulas Insert Rows/ColumnsInsert Rows/Columns Format dataFormat data Access Database Access Database Add fieldsAdd fields Input dataInput data Create queryCreate query Create form (using wizard)Create form (using wizard) Create report (using wizard)Create report (using wizard)

12. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 12 Exam Details Was to be done during first week of course Was to be done during first week of course Was to be completed during class time Was to be completed during class time Was to be administered to all 350 students enrolled in CI310 Was to be administered to all 350 students enrolled in CI310 Spreadsheet and Database were to be emailed as attachments for evaluation Spreadsheet and Database were to be emailed as attachments for evaluation

13. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 13 Grading Rubric Excel Satisfactory Excel Satisfactory –No major mistakes with anything Access Satisfactory Access Satisfactory –No major mistakes with adding fields, input data and query –Could have mistakes with either form or report creation, but not both

14. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 14

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17. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 17 Curriculum Changes Take CI212 out of core (CI310 only IS course in core) Take CI212 out of core (CI310 only IS course in core) Do not take software out of CI310 (students would not get Excel and Access otherwise) Do not take software out of CI310 (students would not get Excel and Access otherwise) Excel and Access strengthened in CI310 Excel and Access strengthened in CI310 Create two new versions of CI310 (one for Nursing and one for Business) Create two new versions of CI310 (one for Nursing and one for Business) Limited discussion of IS concepts in CI310 (CIS majors will pick up some skipped topics in other IS courses) Limited discussion of IS concepts in CI310 (CIS majors will pick up some skipped topics in other IS courses)

18. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 18 Evaluation Continues

19. © 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from www.powerpointbackgrounds.com Slide 19 Thank You