8.7 KiB
CSIS 1 — Computer Literacy: Materials Guide (Summer 2026)
All materials are FREE. No textbook purchase required.
Primary Textbook
OpenStax: Workplace Software and Skills
- Read online (best): https://openstax.org/books/workplace-software-skills/pages/1-chapter-scenario
- Full PDF download (276 MB): Saved locally in
csis1-materials/OpenStax_Workplace_Software_Skills.pdf - License: CC BY 4.0 (free to use, share, remix)
- Published: 2023, updated 2024
- Instructor resources: Free test banks, PowerPoint slides, Blackboard/Canvas import packages at https://openstax.org/details/books/workplace-software-skills
Full Chapter List
| Ch | Title | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology in Everyday Life and Business | 17–70 |
| 2 | Essentials of Software Applications for Business | 71–152 |
| 3 | Creating and Working in Documents | 153–234 |
| 4 | Document Preparation | 235–338 |
| 5 | Advanced Document Preparation | 339–414 |
| 6 | Preparing Presentations | 415–480 |
| 7 | Advanced Presentation Skills | 481–550 |
| 8 | Content Management Systems and Social Media in Business | 551–604 |
| 9 | Working with Spreadsheets | 605–678 |
| 10 | Advanced Excel Formulas, Functions, and Techniques | 679–752 |
| 11 | Advanced Excel Spreadsheets: Statistical and Data Analysis | 753–840 |
| 12 | Using Excel in Accounting and Financial Reporting | 841–864 |
| 13 | Understanding and Using Databases | 865–938 |
| 14 | Advanced Database Use | 939–1010 |
| 15 | Integrating Applications | 1011–1090 |
Supplementary Textbook (Weeks 5–6)
OpenStax: Introduction to Computer Science
- Read online: https://openstax.org/books/introduction-computer-science/pages/1-introduction
- Full PDF download (51 MB): Saved locally in
csis1-materials/OpenStax_Intro_Computer_Science.pdf - License: CC BY 4.0
- Published: November 2024 (very current)
Relevant Chapters for CSIS 1
| Ch | Title | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Computer Science | Week 1 — history, what is CS |
| 5 | Hardware Realizations: Computer Systems Design | Week 1 — hardware deep dive |
| 6 | Infrastructure Abstraction Layer: Operating Systems | Week 1 — OS concepts |
| 8 | Data Management | Week 3 — database overview |
| 14 | Cyber Resources Qualities and Cyber Computing Governance | Week 5 — security, cybersecurity, ethics |
Note: This book is CS-major oriented. Only assign selected chapters/sections. Ch. 14 is the most valuable for this course.
Free Online Resources (No Download Needed)
GCFGlobal — Digital Literacy Tutorials
Free, interactive, beginner-friendly. Great for students who need extra help.
| Topic | URL | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Basics | https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/ | Week 1 |
| Internet Basics | https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/ | Week 4 |
| Internet Safety | https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetsafety/ | Week 5 |
| Email Basics | https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/email101/ | Week 4 |
| Digital Media Literacy | https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/digital-media-literacy/ | Week 6 |
| All tutorials | https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/topics/ | Reference |
Other Free Resources
| Resource | URL | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Have I Been Pwned | https://haveibeenpwned.com | Week 5 — check if data leaked |
| How HTTPS Works (comic) | https://howhttps.works | Week 4 — visual explainer |
| Explain That Stuff: Computers | https://www.explainthatstuff.com/howcomputerswork.html | Week 1 — hardware basics |
| Code.org: How the Internet Works (videos) | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzdnOPI1iJNfMRZm5DDxco3UdsFegvuB7 | Week 4 — short video series |
Week-by-Week Reading Assignments
Week 1: Hardware, Software & Operating Systems
- WSS Ch. 1 — Technology in Everyday Life and Business
- WSS Ch. 2 — Essentials of Software Applications for Business (sections on hardware, OS, file management)
- GCFGlobal — Computer Basics (optional, for beginners)
Week 2: Word Processing & Spreadsheets
- WSS Ch. 3 — Creating and Working in Documents
- WSS Ch. 4 — Document Preparation
- WSS Ch. 9 — Working with Spreadsheets
Week 3: Presentations, Databases & Networks
- WSS Ch. 6 — Preparing Presentations
- WSS Ch. 13 — Understanding and Using Databases (skim — conceptual only)
- WSS Ch. 1, Sec 1.2 — Computer Hardware and Networks (re-read networking sections)
Week 4: The Internet, Email & The Web
- WSS Ch. 1, Sec 1.3 — The Internet, Cloud Computing, and the Internet of Things
- WSS Ch. 8 — Content Management Systems and Social Media in Business
- GCFGlobal — Internet Basics + Email Basics
- Code.org — How the Internet Works (6 short videos)
Week 5: Security, Scams & Protecting Yourself
- Intro to CS Ch. 14 — Cyber Resources Qualities and Cyber Computing Governance
- WSS Ch. 1, Sec 1.4 — Ethics, Privacy, and Security
- GCFGlobal — Internet Safety (full module)
- Have I Been Pwned — Check your own email
- Instructor-curated materials — Real scam examples, deepfake demos, AI threat articles (TBD)
Week 6: AI, Emerging Tech, Info Literacy & Final
- WSS Ch. 15 — Integrating Applications (selected sections)
- GCFGlobal — Digital Media Literacy
- Instructor-curated materials — AI tools overview, hands-on exercises (TBD)
Downloaded Files
Located in projects/peter-writing/csis1-materials/:
| File | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
OpenStax_Workplace_Software_Skills.pdf |
276 MB | Full textbook, all 15 chapters |
OpenStax_Intro_Computer_Science.pdf |
51 MB | Full textbook, all 14 chapters |
Notes for Peter
-
WSS is the backbone — covers weeks 1–4 well. Chapters are long (80–100 pages each) because they include both MS Office and Google Workspace side-by-side. Students only need to follow one suite, so effective reading is ~half a chapter.
-
Weeks 5–6 need curated content — No OER textbook adequately covers 2026-era AI scams, deepfakes, and LLM literacy. Plan to build a reading packet from:
- News articles (Ars Technica, Wired, Krebs on Security)
- YouTube demos (deepfake detection, voice cloning)
- Hands-on exercises (ChatGPT/Gemini comparison, haveibeenpwned)
-
The WSS PDF is 276 MB — too large for most LMS uploads. Students should use the web version. You can upload the Intro to CS PDF (51 MB) if needed, or just link to it.
-
Instructor test banks — Register at OpenStax.org (free) to access quiz banks, PowerPoint slides, and LMS packages for WSS. These can save significant course prep time.
-
West Hills College Computer Concepts — Another CA community college OER. Web-only at https://sites.google.com/view/cis007-oer-westhills/home. Covers similar ground but less polished. Could be useful for alt readings on networking/security. No PDF available.