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Assessed Outcomes

As a result of completing this course students will be able to:

  • Describe the role of technology in both the personal and the professional world, and identify appropriate technology to support personal productivity, learning, and future career growth.
  • Describe the basic principles of computer safety and security in a networked world. Demonstrate a working knowledge of operating system functions, installation of application software, and use of productivity suites.

Course Information

CSIS 1 is an introduction to computer concepts, including the history of computing. The course provides an overview of networking, security, the web, computer hardware, operating systems, and application software. The role of the computer in modern life, both personal and professional, and applications of popular productivity software are examined.

This is a 2-unit course. Letter grade or Pass/No Pass. No prerequisites.

6 week summer semester

  • lecture 36/6 = 6 hours/wk
  • study + homework = 6 - 12 hours/wk

Amount of work

This is a 2-unit course compressed into a 6-week summer semester. You will be covering multiple topics each week, so it is very important that you keep up and not get behind. During the 6 weeks of this class, you can expect to spend:

  • 4-6 hours per week with reading and online lectures
  • 4-8 hours per week studying and practicing

In total, about 2-3 hours per day during the summer session.

This course is not self-paced; there are weekly due dates.

All assignments are due on Sundays at 11:59 pm (unless otherwise stated.)

Follow the Module pages for what to do each week.

When communicating with the instructor, please use Canvas email. Gavilan email may be used if Canvas is unavailable. Peter Howell's Gavilan email address is phowell@gavilan.edu.

All assignments will be submitted through Canvas.

Materials

TEXTBOOKS — ALL FREE (Zero Textbook Cost)

No textbook purchase is required for this course. All readings are free and available online.

Primary Text:

Supplementary Text (Weeks 5–6):

Additional Free Resources:

SOFTWARE

You will need access to a productivity suite (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, or LibreOffice) for hands-on assignments. Any recent version is acceptable. The textbook covers both Microsoft Office and Google Workspace — you can follow along with either one.

A working computer with internet access is required.

Ongoing list of tips and tricks

File management basics

Get comfortable with creating folders, moving files, renaming things. This sounds simple but it's the #1 thing that trips people up. Know where your Downloads folder is. Know how to find a file you just saved.

Keyboard shortcuts

The more of these you have in muscle memory — not memorized, muscle memory — the faster everything goes.

- ctrl-c       copy
- ctrl-v       paste
- ctrl-x       cut
- ctrl-z       undo
- ctrl-s       save
- ctrl-p       print
- ctrl-w       close tab/window
- ctrl-t       new tab
- ctrl-f       find/search

- Alt-Tab      switch applications
- Win + D      show desktop
- Win + type   open files or programs    (Cmd + Space on Mac)

Browser skills

  • How to open a link in a new tab (ctrl-click, or right click → open in new tab)
  • How to use multiple tabs
  • How to clear your history/cache
  • How to recognize a secure site (https, lock icon)
  • How to install and manage extensions (ad blocker, etc.)

Full Outline of Course Topics (6 week summer semester)

(topic, assignment?, book ref, outside resources, ph video y/n)

For any given topic: What is it? What is it good for? How do I use it?

Week 1: Hardware, Software & Operating Systems (6 hours)

  • What is a computer? History of computing

    • Mainframes, PCs, mobile devices, embedded systems/IoT
    • Key figures: Turing, Von Neumann, Lovelace, Hopper

  • Components

    • CPU (Intel, AMD, ARM)
    • RAM vs ROM vs storage
    • Motherboard, power supply, bus
    • Input devices: keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, microphone, camera
    • Output devices: monitor, printer (inkjet vs laser), speakers
    • Ports: USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Ethernet, headphone jack

  • Storage

    • HDD vs SSD vs flash drive vs optical disc
    • Local vs cloud storage
    • Backup strategies: list 3-4 options for Windows and Mac

  • Peripheral devices

    • Connecting, installing, drivers
    • Wireless peripherals (Bluetooth, WiFi)

  • Caring for your hardware

    • Common cleaning mistakes
    • What to do if you spill water
    • How to care for a touchscreen
    • Battery and power management

  • What is software?

    • System software vs application software
    • OS, application, file — what's the difference?
    • List 4 examples of each

  • Operating systems

    • Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS, iOS, Android
    • What does an OS do? (manage hardware, run apps, file system)
    • Desktop vs mobile OS
    • Installing and updating software
    • Task manager / activity monitor

  • Working with files

    • File types and extensions (.docx, .pdf, .jpg, .mp3, .exe, etc.)
    • File management: folders, naming, organizing
    • Compression: zip, lossy vs lossless
    • Search and find files on your computer

  • The language of computers

    • Binary, bits, bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB
    • ASCII and Unicode
    • Analog vs digital
    • How data is represented (text, images, audio, video)

Week 2: Word Processing & Spreadsheets (6 hours)

  • Creating a document

    • New, open, save, save as
    • Importing and exporting formats (docx, pdf, rtf, txt)

  • Editing basics

    • Selecting text
    • Cut, copy, paste, undo
    • Search and replace
    • Spell check, grammar check, thesaurus
    • Autocorrect

  • Formatting

    • Bold, italic, underline, font size, font face, color
    • Character styles vs paragraph styles
    • The mindset: a document is a list of characters that flow across and down the page. We apply paragraph styles to alter this flow.
    • Line spacing and paragraph spacing
    • Indents, tab stops, the ruler
    • Lists: bullets and numbering

  • Document layout

    • Margins, page orientation, page size
    • Page breaks, section breaks
    • Headers and footers, page numbers
    • Inserting pictures: positioning, layout, text wrapping
    • Hyperlinks

  • Spreadsheet fundamentals

    • Workbooks, sheets, rows, columns, cells, ranges
    • Data entry and data types (text, numbers, dates)
    • Cell addresses: A1, B2, etc.

  • Formulas and functions

    • Basic formulas: +, -, *, /
    • Common functions: SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MIN, MAX, IF
    • Relative vs absolute cell references ($A$1)
    • Order of operations

  • Formatting a worksheet

    • Column widths and row heights
    • Number formats (currency, percentage, date)
    • Borders and backgrounds
    • Conditional formatting

  • Working with data

    • Sort and filter
    • Charts and graphs: bar, line, pie — when to use each

Week 3: Presentations, Databases & Networks (6 hours)

  • Presentation basics

    • What makes a good presentation?
    • Use it as a visual aid — not a teleprompter
    • Less is more: 5 ± 2 items per slide
    • Ways to engage your audience

  • Common presentation mistakes

    • Too many words on a slide
    • Unreadable colors or fonts
    • Distracting animations
    • Reading directly from slides

  • Building a presentation

    • Slides, layouts, themes
    • Adding text, images, shapes
    • Transitions and animations (use sparingly)
    • Speaker notes
    • Assignment: Create a short presentation on a topic of your choice

  • Databases (overview)

    • What is a database? Tables, rows (records), columns (fields)
    • How databases differ from spreadsheets
    • Where databases are used (Amazon, Netflix, your bank, your phone)
    • CRUD: Create, Read, Update, Delete
    • Queries: asking questions of your data
    • You don't need to build one — but you should understand what they are and why they matter

  • Networking fundamentals

    • LAN, WAN, WiFi, Bluetooth
    • Switch, router, modem
    • DNS — how names become addresses
    • Bandwidth: Mbps, latency
    • Cable, fiber, satellite, cellular
    • IP address, MAC address

Week 4: The Internet, Email & The Web (6 hours)

Week 5: Security, Scams & Protecting Yourself (6 hours)

  • What is at stake?

    • Theft of resources, data, identity
    • Impersonation, blackmail, ransom
    • Real-world consequences: self-driving cars, medical devices, infrastructure
    • Financial accounts (bank, crypto, etc.)
    • Your personal data is valuable — to you and to criminals

  • Authentication and authorization

    • Something you know, something you have, something you are
    • Passwords: old advice (complexity) vs new advice (length + 2FA + password manager)
    • Biometrics (fingerprint, face ID)
    • Multi-factor authentication — set it up NOW

  • Malware

    • Virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, spyware, keylogger
    • How malware spreads
    • How to protect yourself (updates, antivirus, common sense)

  • Phishing & social engineering

    • Phishing emails, texts (smishing), phone calls (vishing)
    • Spoofed caller ID, spoofed email addresses
    • How to spot a phishing attempt — real examples
    • Man-in-the-middle attacks
    • Public WiFi risks

  • Common scams (with real examples)

    • Gift card / wire transfer scams
    • Impersonating a loved one in an emergency
    • Romance scams
    • Tech support scams ("Microsoft called me")
    • Fake job offers, fake rental listings
    • Cryptocurrency scams
    • IRS / government impersonation
    • Package delivery scams

  • AI-powered threats (NEW — this is 2026)

    • Deepfake video and images — how they work, how to spot them
    • AI voice cloning — a 3-second clip of your voice is enough
    • AI-generated phishing emails — no more typos to tip you off
    • Chatbot scams and fake customer service
    • AI-generated fake news, fake reviews, fake profiles
    • "Verify before you trust" — the new default

  • Major breaches (discussion)

    • OPM, Equifax, Colonial Pipeline, MGM Resorts, 23andMe
    • What happened, what was the impact, what can we learn
    • What to do when YOUR data is in a breach

  • Protecting yourself — practical steps

    • Encryption (HTTPS, full-disk encryption)
    • Software updates — why they matter
    • Browser safeguards and privacy settings
    • Backing up your data (3-2-1 rule)
    • Privacy settings on social media
    • Credit freezes and monitoring
    • How to check if your data has been leaked (haveibeenpwned.com)

Week 6: AI, Emerging Tech, Information Literacy & Final (6 hours)

  • Artificial intelligence in everyday life

    • What is AI? What is machine learning? What is a large language model?
    • AI tools you're already using (search, autocomplete, recommendations, navigation)
    • ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot — what they can and can't do
    • Using AI as a tool: writing, research, coding, brainstorming
    • Limitations: hallucinations, bias, confidentiality risks
    • Academic integrity — when AI use is OK and when it isn't
    • The job market and AI — what's changing, what skills matter

  • Information literacy & critical thinking

    • Evaluating sources in the age of AI
    • Misinformation, disinformation, propaganda — what's the difference?
    • Reverse image search, fact-checking tools
    • Echo chambers and algorithmic bias
    • How to verify AI-generated content
    • "Just because it sounds confident doesn't mean it's right"

  • Emerging tech (overview/discussion)

    • Internet of Things (IoT) — smart homes, wearables, connected everything
    • Blockchain and cryptocurrency (basics — what it is, not investment advice)
    • Augmented/virtual reality
    • Quantum computing (what it is, why it matters, and why it's mostly hype right now)

  • The role of technology in your life and career

    • Digital literacy as a life skill
    • Technology in different careers
    • Lifelong learning and staying current
    • Your digital footprint

  • Final Exam (end of week 6)

    • Comprehensive — covers all 6 weeks
    • Mix of multiple choice, short answer, and practical scenarios

Welcome Announcement

Hello and welcome to CSIS 1 - Computer Literacy, Summer 2026!

I'm excited to have you in my class. This course is designed to give you a solid foundation in how computers work, how to use them effectively, and how to stay safe online. Whether you've been using computers for years or you're just getting started, there's something here for everyone.

I've opened up the course on Canvas. I will continue to add material throughout the first few days, including an introductory survey and a discussion forum where we can all get to know each other.

This is a 2-unit course compressed into 6 weeks — manageable but fast-paced. You'll want to set aside about 2-3 hours per day for reading, lectures, and assignments. The key is staying on top of the weekly modules and not letting things pile up.

You will need access to a computer with internet and a productivity suite (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, or LibreOffice all work). More details are in the Materials section of the syllabus.

You can message me any time via Canvas, or at phowell@gavilan.edu.

This class is fully online and asynchronous — there are no required times to attend. However, I will be holding weekly live demos on Zoom every Monday evening where I walk through the week's material and you can ask questions in real time. These sessions are optional but highly recommended — a lot of this material clicks faster when you can see it demonstrated live.

I will also have Zoom office hours available during the week. Times will be posted in the first module.

Again, thank you for being a part of this class. I am glad you're here.

I look forward to meeting you,

Peter Howell Gavilan College CSIS / Distance Education