CIS225 Spreadsheets and Databases for Professionals

Berkshire Community College

Instructor:
E-mail:
Telephone:
Office:
Spring 2016:

Greg Panczner
gpanczner@berkshirecc.edu
(413)236-4574
M208
Section 01 ~ online

Course Description:
A course designed for students who have prior hands-on experience with computers and software such as
Windows, word processing applications, spreadsheet functions/formulas and presentation/slideshow
applications, this course explores the power of spreadsheet and database productivity software. Specific
course topics may include advanced spreadsheet concepts, statistical functions, specialized functions,
what-if data analysis, large workbooks, macros, VBA, PivotTables, and Pivot-Chart reports as well as
basic database concepts, tables, forms, queries, and reports. Prerequisite: C+ or better in CIS102 or
permission of the Instructor.
Course Objectives:
As a result of this course students will be able to:
Use Microsoft Excel to:
Create, edit and save datasets and tables
Create, edit and save subtotals, PivotTables and PivotCharts
Analyze What-if analysis
Create, edit and save specialized and statistical functions
Use Microsoft Access to:
Create, edit and save tables and queries in relational databases
Customize, analyze and summarize query data
Create and use professional forms and reports
Validate and analyze data for error reduction and to better extract information
Text & Supplies:
Microsoft Office 2013 Plus; written by Poatsy; published by Pearson
ISBN 978-0-13-341216-1
Office Hours:
Not applicable for this course all communication will be done through Private Mail on the course
management system. Please note that when contacting me though email or through the discussion board
that I logon and check for messages twice a day Monday through Friday when the college is open. I try
to respond to messages within 24 hours however, it may take longer.
Evaluation:
Interactive Discussions
Online Lab Assignments
Capstone Projects
Final Exam

10%
36%
40%
14%

Homework:
Homework will be assigned and graded. Homework assignments are designed to incorporate the material
from the assigned readings, hands-on exercises and what is available through the online course
management system. All assignments are to be done individually using Microsoft Office 2013.
Assignments that are not submitted on time will receive a grade of zero.

Attendance:
In this course you are expected to participate in online discussions and log on at least 4 days a week, your
success depends on it! If you miss more than 5 sessions during the course, you may be withdrawn from
the class. In all cases it is your responsibility to consult with me regarding any attendance issues.
Access Statement:
It is BCC policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to
students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course requirements. Students
with disabilities are encouraged to contact me in my office or contact the Coordinator of Services for
Students with Disabilities, in the Student Development Center, to discuss their individual needs for
accommodations.
Course Topics and Schedule:
The following is a tentative schedule that we will be following during the semester and will be subject to
change depending on the overall pace of the course. Tests however will immediately follow the
completion of a given section.
Learning Module

Open

Close

1 IceBreaker

Now

1/30

2 Using Microsoft Excel 2013

(part 1)

1/31

2/13

Assignment

Points

Due

Discussion Contribution

1/30

Discussion Contribution

Multiple
Dates

Chapter 4 Exercise(s)

2/6

Chapter 5 Exercise(s)

2/13

3 Excel 2013 Project #1

2/14

2/20

Capstone Exercise(s)

10

2/20

4 - Using Microsoft Excel 2013

2/21

3/12

Discussion Contribution

Multiple
Dates

Chapter 6 Exercise(s)

2/27

Chapter 7 Exercise(s)

3/5

Chapter 8 Exercise(s)

3/12

(part 2)

SPRING BREAK

COLEGE CLOSED

3/14

3/20

5 Excel 2013 Project #2

3/21

3/26

Capstone Exercise(s)

10

3/26

6 Using Microsoft Access 2013

(part 1)

3/27

4/9

Discussion Contribution

Multiple
Dates

Chapter 1 Exercise(s)

4/2

Chapter 2 Exercise(s)

4/9

7 Access 2013 Project #1

4/10

4/16

Capstone Exercise(s)

10

4/16

8 Using Microsoft Access 2013

(part 2)

4/17

4/30

Discussion Contribution

Multiple
Dates

Chapter 3 Exercise(s)

4/23

Chapter 4 Exercise(s)

4/30

Capstone Exercise(s)

10

5/7

14

5/11

9 Access 2013 Project #2

5/1

5/7

10 Final Exam

5/10

5/11

Total Points:

100

Please note that no work will be accepted for credit after 5pm on May 11th