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SURVEY OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
CIS 130
POLICIES, HINTS FOR SUCCESS, EXPECTATIONS

 

Why Are We Here?  Will it be Hard?  What are the Benefits?

We come from a wide variety of circumstances.  Some are full time students.  Others are full time workers, part time, or self-employed (you get to choose which 16 hours per day you want to work).  We also are here for a variety of reasons.  Some are here to get certification for thinks learned on the job or through self-study.  Others are here to learn the material for the first time.  Some are here for practical training.  Others are preparing for a 4-year academic program.  Some are here to bolster grades to reenter a large university.
The answer to the second question is:  Yes.  It is better not to sugar coat it.  This course will demand your time and energy.  
The material in this course is oriented toward producing an entry-level business computer professional at the working level.  You will gain experience in this course with systems common on personal computers.  Understanding the principles of this course will greatly reduce the effort of learning specific new systems.  Each operating system requires in-depth knowledge of that particular system.  You will still need to learn those details at your place of work.
The Windows 95 Advanced labs and UNIX labs will prepare you for today's entry-level workforce.  The ideas and most of the procedures of Windows 95 explored in the lab carry over to Windows 98.  You will find the transition easy.  The practical workforce will always be faced with the problem of keeping up with current procedures.  Systems are changing and new systems are being introduced faster than any one person can master.  This introduction should give you the basis for the next 2 to 3 years.  This is long enough to continue building on your knowledge.
UNIX is used in the academic and scientific environment, and also in the world of the Internet.  It has been around for a long time, and will continue to be.  You will find some variations from one system to another, but what you learn here are the basics.  You will be prepared as a user of a UNIX system, and prepared for entry-level work as a trainee to become a system administrator.

Grades and Time Commitment

I do not grade on the curve.  You will sink or swim on your own performance.  You are not in competition with anyone else.  This means that you can study with each other and help each other.  I will be delighted if everyone excels, and I will be heartbroken if everyone fails.  It is to your advantage to teach each other.  Form study groups.
Grades depend on your performance on exams, homework, quizzes and labs.
You must spend 3 hours outside of class studying and doing homework for every 1 hour (or 50 minutes) of class lecture.  This is the level of effort required to really know the material.  This is what is required for academic excellence.  This is what is required to make an A if you do not already know the material.  This is the normal expectation for study requirements per class at major universities.  Choose the grade you want.  The table below will give you an idea of how much time an average student needs to spend outside of class for every hour (or 50 minutes) of lecture.
Grade A B C D F
Hours/Class 3 2 1 1/2 1/4
Those of you who are balancing work and family life and taking courses deserve great respect.  Taking a course under such circumstances requires a commitment of scarce time and money.  Honoring your job and family commitments first is expected.  The decision to attend class and complete assignments is your responsibility.  Understanding this does not make the course easier.  This will cause stress during the class.  When you complete this course, you will be able to take pride in your accomplishment.
Programming courses require more programming time per class.  Expect to spend 5 to 6 hours in study, homework, and programming per hour of lecture.
Time for lab preparation depends on the course.  For this course, 1/2 hour is adequate for the Windows 95 labs, and 1 hour for the UNIX labs.  Labs for natural sciences and engineering usually require about 2 hours preparation before lab.  Advance preparation is the key to being able to get a lab accomplished during the time the lab facilities are available to you.
The final course grade will be weighted according to the following table:
Lab Assignments, weighted equally 25%
Quizzes 10%
Exam 1: Chapters 1, 2 9%
Exam 2: Chapters 3, 4 9%
Exam 3: Chapters 5, 6, 7 14%
Exam 4: Chapters 8, 11, 12, 14 18%
Final Exam 15%
The following grading scale is standardized for FTCC:
93 <= x A Excellent command of material and ability to apply it to new problems. Taking an accelerated follow-on course is a reasonable goal.
85 <= x < 93 B Mastered course material. Is fully qualified to proceed to the next course immediately.
77 <= x < 85 C Brief review is adequate preparation for the next course.
70 <= x < 77 D Significant review effort and practice is needed to be prepared for additional study.
x < 70 F Inadequate knowledge to continue without repeating the course.

Absences

A person will be permitted to make up work or delay turning in work due during classes for which an absence is excused.  Absences will be excused for the following circumstances:

An unscheduled medical emergency for self or a dependent child or dependent spouse.  Routine medical and dental appointments that are scheduled after class schedules are issued are not excused absences.
Active duty military ordered by an immediate military superior to perform a military duty during the scheduled class time.

Even if all your absences are excused absences, you are still subject to the absence percentage rules for being dropped from the class.  If you already know the material and are taking the class to get certification, let me know.  If your work has been excellent, I will consider retaining you.  Otherwise, it really is best for you to drop the class before the last drop date.  You don't want your grade point average lowered because your personal schedule does not accommodate the class schedule.

This is college, not high school.  The absence reporting requirement is driven by external funding requirements.  Grin and bear it.  Your decision to attend class is your responsibility.  If you miss classes, you do not have to hide from the teacher out of fear of being yelled at.  If you know in advance that you must miss class, let the teacher know so you can schedule to make up exams and other work.  The goal is to do what is necessary to keep you on track so that you can complete the course successfully.

Class Participation

Everyone will be required to participate in class discussion.  It is an established fact in educational theory that listening to lectures is a bad way to learn.  Doing things and explaining ideas to others is an effective way to learn.  Everyone will be called on to work through ideas on the board.  Everyone will be required to present ideas to the class.  This is not an option.  Some of you, like me, will be scared to death the first several times you do it.  The fear will not completely go away, but this will help you gain confidence both in your knowledge of the material and also in your own capabilities.

Classmates are expected to help each other.  When a person falters in a presentation, members of the class who have insight to the material or problem are expected to ask leading questions and make helpful comments.  It is not to show that you know more than the person who is doing the presentation.  That game ended in high school.  Our class goal is to learn.

We will occasionally work in groups in class to solve problems and discuss ideas.  Groups will be called on to present their solutions.

Lab Preparation

Skim lab text before coming to lab so you know generally what the topic is.  Be prepared to start working through the lab when you come in.  You have only 50 minutes per lab.
Make a list of each bold-faced word in the reading assignment that also appears in the text glossary, Reference 5, beginning on page ADVWIN 432.  These are terms that are in the regular text.  You do not need to include words that appear in gray shaded boxes or section titles.

Lab Assignments

Windows 95 labs will take 3 lab periods.  The first two periods will be used to read the lab manual Tutorial and perform the steps it directs.  You can identify where the first two parts are split in the text by a set of three bullets.  Look at the page numbers of the reading assignment.  You should see the set of three bullets on one of these pages.  The "Tutorial Assignment" will be done during the second lab period.  Case Problems will be done during the third lab period.
Turn in printed output and written assignments identified in the lab text.
Turn in a hand-written vocabulary list of each bold-faced word in the reading assignment.
Print your name and section number on every page you turn in.

Course Summary Note Sheet

This is one sheet of paper that will contain brief notes on the whole course.  Notes on this sheet are to be reminders of important topics.
Take one sheet of paper.  Fold it in half so the crease forms two vertical columns.
Every lecture class, add 2 to 5 key ideas from that class to the list.
EVERY DAY, look at every entry on this note sheet.  This should only take a few minutes.

Class Preparation

Read a chapter of the class text before it is presented in lecture.  Here is how to do it.
* Read the major subtitles of each section of the chapter.  Get an idea of the chapter organization.
* Copy the list Key Terms found at the end of the assigned chapter.  Copy the definitions from the back of the book.  Leave space to explain them as you encounter these terms in your reading.
* Read the chapter introduction carefully.
* Read the chapter conclusion to get an idea of what the chapter is trying to achieve.
* Read the chapter for understanding.
Make a list of the 3 to 5 main concepts of the chapter.
Write questions about concepts you did not clearly understand.
Prepare your class notebook to take notes.
List class date, chapter, topic at the top.
Draw a vertical line down the note paper 3 inches from the right edge of the paper.
Bring your course summary note sheet.

During Class

Take lecture notes on the left side of the prepared note paper.
As you listen and look at your notes, identify key concepts and abstractions of ideas.  Briefly write these on the right side of the note paper close to the related notes.

After Class

Identify 2 to 5 key ideas from that day's lecture and assigned readings.  Add these to the course summary note sheet.

Daily Review

Review your course summary note sheet every day for 1-3 minutes.

Weekly Review

Read your class notes taken since your last exam.
Work (or rework) one problem for each chapter since your last exam.

Class Assignments

FM = Flynn and McHoes, "Understanding Operating Systems".
I must be able to read your work.  I expect your work to be neat and organized clearly.  Use good spelling and grammar.  It may be hand-written.  You may use the spelling and grammar checker features of a word processor.
Key Terms: Write the definition of each term.  Underline the term being defined.  Begin each term on a new line. You may use more than one line per definition.  Many of these are defined in the glossary on pages 399 - 423.  You may copy them.
Exercises:  Skip a line between exercises.  Label each exercise.  Copy the problem statement of the exercise before doing the problem.  For multiple part problems, you may answer one part before writing the problem statement of the next part.
Print your name and section number on every page you turn in.

Material You are Responsible for Learning, Exams, and Lectures

It is not physically possible to say everything in a lecture that you need to know.  You will still be tested on readings and assignments, even if specific items are not said in class.

It is not possible to test you on everything you should learn.  A test is a random sample to measure your understanding.  It is not a check list against which you determine if you have learned everything you should to know.

Intelligence Gathering for an Exam

Find out

what material the exam will cover,
if the teacher will provide a review sheet, formula sheet, checklist, or other study aids,
the number of questions of each type (true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, essay, problem solving),
how much time is allowed,
what notes, references, and tools can be used during the exam,
if scratch paper will be provided,
teacher preferences for pen or pencil,
if a special test booklet is required, and
if you will get the test back.

Preparing for an Exam

Keeping up with class reading, homework, and labs on a routine basis is the best preparation.
Don't wait to the last moment to cram.
Get a full night's sleep for the two nights before the exam.   Routinely exercise.  You will always do better on an exam if you are awake, rested, and in good health.
If a calculator is permitted during an exam, make sure your calculator batteries are fresh.  You should replace batteries at the beginning of each semester.
If the exam will have essay questions, formulate questions of your own and prepare answers.  Ask a classmate to check your answers for organization, grammar, and spelling.  You do the same for others. 

Test Taking Strategies During the Exam

Put your name at the top of every page of your test.  On the first page, also write the test date, course number, and teacher's name.

Leave 1.5 inch margins on the left and right edges of your paper for teacher comments, and for you to make last-minute additions near the end of the exam period.

Read the directions for the test.

Before answering any questions, rapidly read through the test. 

Quickly decide how much time to spend on each part of the test. 
On a 50 minute test, schedule only 40 minutes for answering questions. 
3 - 5 minutes at the beginning of a test period is for test preparation. 
5 minutes at the end of a test period are for reviewing the test for omissions, spelling and grammar errors, and simple mistakes. 
If points are marked on the exam, use those to help allocate time for the associated questions.

On a scratch sheet of paper:

Brain dump formulas, terms, definitions, and other list-type information you are afraid you might forget.
If you have essay questions, write down academic reference citations to use later in the test.  For example:  Alfred E. Newman, "What, Me Worry?", MAD Magazine (1960).
Write notes to remind you of ideas related to essay questions.
Turn your scratch paper in with your test, even if the teacher did not ask for it.

Multiple Choice and True/False Questions

Unanswered questions get no points.  Answer every question, even if you have to guess.
Advice on changing answers: Unless you are absolutely certain your marked answer is not correct, do not change your answer.  Most of the time when people change answers, the first answer was correct and the new choice was wrong.
Go through each question twice.  On the first pass, eliminate choices that are obviously wrong.  Use your knowledge to pick the best answer from the remaining choices.  If you are unsure of which one is best, you can put a light question mark by the question and come back to it later.  Sometimes, other questions might add information that will help you decide.
In the last few minutes of an exam, return to these unanswered questions and choose an answer.  If you have to, randomly choose from the choices you have not eliminated.

Short Answer and Fill in the Blank Questions

Short answer questions can usually be answered with just one to three sentences. 
Make your first sentence the best one-sentence answer possible for the question.
If the question is ambiguous, then tell the teacher the different meanings the question can have.  Ask the teacher to clarify the question for the class.  Sometimes doing this will give away the answer, and the teacher cannot comply.  If this is true, then (2) pick the meaning that fits the context of class lecture or text presentation, and (3) answer the question with the meaning you chose.

Calculator Use

If a calculator is relevant to your course, learn to use it well.
Clear all variables before starting each new problem, unless it is a multiple-step problem.
Save intermediate steps in named variables.  Recall these intermediate steps for subsequent computations when needed.  Choose variable names that correspond to variables in your formulas.
Write a note on your test paper to the teacher that you saved intermediate results in your calculator.  If the teacher tries to reconstruct your results by using the numbers you write, this may  help explain differences in answers.  You only need to write this note once during the test.  It will be assumed that you did this throughout the test.
Document key computations on the test paper by recording variables.  For mathematical and engineering courses, record numbers to three significant digits.

Short Answer Problems

For derivations:  List what you know as starting conditions.  Carefully write what you need to show or prove.  Write a short plan of how to solve the problem.  List the basic theorems, formulas, and principles involved.
For computational problems:  List the inputs.  Identify the variables to be solved for.  Write the relevant formulas in algebraic form.  Draw diagrams, schematics, or other illustrations if relevant and helpful in formulating and explaining the problem and its solution.
Write the solution in list format, with each step of the solution below the previous step.
Draw a box around your final answers, and around key intermediate variables.

Multiple Step Problems

Correct Answers versus Correct Procedures:  Both count.  A brilliant engineer, knowledgeable of theory and remembering all the formulas, fails if the bridge breaks.  The Tacoma River Bridge is the classic example.  You must both know procedures of problem solving, the basic facts and data, and be successful at constructing a correct answer.
Before solving the problem, make a list of key steps. This is not a waste of time.  Your object is to convince the grader you know how to solve the problem.  If you make a mistake, this list helps demonstrate you have a valid approach to solving the problem.  This might get you partial credit.
Draw diagrams,

Short Essay Questions

Make it easy for the grader to decide that you know the answer, can organize your thoughts, and express them clearly.
Spelling errors and poor grammar will hurt your grade.
Use vocabulary that is appropriate for the question and level of the class.  Do not use slang or street language.  If answering a technical question, use proper technical terminology.
Skim all essay questions before answering any of them.
If you have a choice of which questions to answer, choose to answer the ones you know the most about.  Ask your teacher if you get extra credit for answering more questions than required.  Often, the answer is "no".  You are usually much better off spending the time writing high quality answers on the required number of questions.
As you work through the exam, write reminders of ideas about questions on a scratch sheet of paper.  Usually, just one or two words per idea is sufficient.
Before writing your answer, write an outline on your scratch paper of what you need to say.  Good organization of an answer reduces the amount of words you need to write.
An essay question normally should take 7 to 15 minutes to answer, and should require 0.5 to 1.5 pages of normal handwriting.
Start the answer to each essay question on a new sheet of paper.  Write on only one side of the paper.
Identify the question you are answering.  Write the question number.
Title your essay.  Invent a title that is not more than 5 words long.  The title must be related to the question and answer.
It is neither possible, nor desirable, for you to write all there is to be known about a topic.  Your goal is to demonstrate that you know the major points and to give evidence of depth of knowledge.
Make your first sentence the best one-sentence answer to the essay question.  The first paragraph should be an introductory paragraph.
Make the first sentence of each paragraph contain the key thought of the paragraph.  Each major point should have its own paragraph.
Underline key words you want the grader to see.

Long Essay Questions

The basic approach is the same as for short essay questions, with the following changes.
After writing your outline on scratch paper, quickly plan how to use your time.  Allocate about equal time to each major point, and a similar amount of time to the introduction.
Leave space for a title to your essay at the top of the paper.  On your scratch paper, write possible titles for your essay as you are writing the essay.  After you have finished the essay, write a title that best describes the essay.
The introduction should take two to three paragraphs, and take most of the first page. 
The first paragraph of the introduction should be the best one-paragraph description of what the essay topic is.
The second paragraph of the introduction should briefly list the main points to be discussed.  Write this paragraph after you have written the rest of the essay.  You should list the points in the order they are discussed.  Arrange the order so that the most important point is first.  The other points should be arranged in decreasing importance to the answer or conclusion.
The third paragraph should summarize your conclusion if you are asked to do more than merely give an  explanation or description.  Do not write this paragraph until you have written the rest of the essay.
Identify three to five main points of the answer. 
Start the discussion of each point on a new page
Write your name on every page.  If the paper gets disassembled and shuffled with papers by other students, this will help reassemble papers.
After finishing the essay, number every page.  Examples: Page 3 of 10, or  3/10.

Final Exam

The final exam will be only true/ false, multiple choice, or fill in the blank.  This is because grades must be turned in within 24 hours of administering a final exam.  Questions that lend themselves to this type of testing include:

Vocabulary:  Know definitions of words.  You do not need to memorize glossary definitions word-for-word, but familiarity with those definitions may help in rejecting false choices.
Acronyms: Know the meaning of acronyms used by the text.
Understand concepts and be able to make simple comparisons.
Questions will be taken from the class text, lab text, and lab handouts.
 
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