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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Microcomputers for Constructors
Course: CON251

First Term: 2018 Fall
 Lecture   3.0 Credit(s)   3.0 Period(s)   3.0 Load  
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S - Standard Load


Description: Effective application of computers in support of construction management, administration, and technical aspects of the construction industry. Uses of the computer as a problem-solving tool, including multimedia software, information management, and spreadsheet applications in construction.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Identify and describe computer hardware and peripheral equipment. (I)
2. Describe the functions of word processing software and the desktop environment. (II)
3. Identify and explain uses of the distributed information system and internet for construction projects. (III)
4. Use word processing software to create, manipulate, and print documents. (IV)
5. Use spreadsheet software to create graphs, and to build, format, and analyze data. (V)
6. Analyze construction problems, and design programming solutions to the problems utilizing Visual Basic tools. (VI)
7. Use presentation software to create, modify, and display a presentation. (VII)
8. Plan, design, develop, and publish websites, and enhance them with HTML. (VIII)
9. Demonstrate the use of common database management programs. (IX)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Computer hardware and peripherals
   A. Terminology
   B. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
   C. Other peripherals equipment
II. Functions of word processing software and the desktop environment
   A. Word processing software
      1. Text input and editing
      2. Loading documents
      3. Formatting
      4. Saving
      5. Printing
   B. Desktop environment
      1. Format
      2. Copy files
      3. Erase, delete, and edit
      4. Name files and create folders
III. Uses of networks and the Internet in construction
   A. Network fundamentals
   B. Terminology
      1. Role of the servers
      2. Connections
      3. Risks and benefits
   C. Network relationships with other computers
      1. Internet and related information sources
      2. Mailing lists
      3. Elements and types of websites
      4. Online databases
   D. Electronic mail
      1. Components and logistics
      2. Create, send, receive, and delete electronic mail
      3. Address books
      4. Attachment
IV. Use of word software to create and manage documents
   A. Load program and create a file
      1. Load a word processing file
      2. Enter the file creation command
      3. Keyboard the documents and use function keys
   B. Prepare document layout
      1. Set margin, tabs, and indents
      2. Set page lengths and numbers
      3. Set line space options
   C. Revise a document
      1. Delete and insert text
      2. Reformat paragraph or document
      3. Find and replace text
   D. Print and save file
      1. Save and name document
      2. Print document
V. Use of spreadsheet software to create and manage databases
   A. Introduction and terminology
      1. Define the data series
      2. Define the data categories
      3. Select and label graph type
   B. Output the results as a graph
      1. Save the graph
      2. Print the graph
   C. Formatting numeric data and enhancing appearance of worksheet
      1. Numeric format
      2. Text format
      3. Cell format
   D. Use of the summary, conversion, and selection functions
      1. Summary
      2. Conversion
      3. Selection
   E. Refine print options
      1. Scope and size of output
      2. Layout
VI. Use of visual basic tools to program solutions to construction problems
   A. Problem-solving techniques
      1. Define the problem
      2. Design the project user interface and flowchart
   B. Visual Basic tools and built in toolbox
      1. Visual studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE) development tool
      2. Form object
      3. Toolbox controls
   C. Visual Basic language concepts
      1. Common Language Run-time (CLR)
      2. Data type and scope
      3. Creation of variables and constants
      4. Array creation
      5. Structures
      6. Fundamentals of class modules
      7. Assignments and operations
      8. String operations
      9. Programming control structure
   D. File processing techniques
   E. Program documentation
      1. Overview of external documentation
      2. Internal documentation
VII. Use of presentation software to create presentations
   A. Load and create a new presentation
      1. Load a presentation package
      2. Select a design template and auto layout
      3. Define presentation terminology
   B. Prepare presentation outline
      1. Develop a topic
      2. Select outline feature
      3. Input text into outline
   C. Format text on slides in a presentation
      1. Master layout
      2. Select text
      3. Change fonts, style, color of the text
   D. Using self-contained graphics in a presentation
      1. Inserting graphics using auto layout template
      2. Inserting graphics into blank slides
      3. Use still pictures
      4. Picture editing
   E. Sound recording and video capturing
VIII. Uses of websites in construction-related settings
   A. Planning, designing, and publishing a website
      1. Variables in the web design
      2. Design principles
      3. Planning a site specification
      4. Planning site navigation
      5. Creating page templates
      6. Web typography
      7. Publishing and maintaining the website
   B. Enhancement of websites using HTML
      1. Tables and frames
      2. Relative links
      3. Cascading style sheets
IX. Use and manage databases in construction
   A. Overview of database software
      1. Main features
      2. Advantages and limitations
   B. Running database management systems
      1. Database environment
      2. Launching and quitting the program
      3. Issuing commands and making menu selection
   C. Creation of a simple database file
      1. Making elementary file structures
      2. Filling the file with proper data
      3. Alter the file`s structure by deleting and adding data
   D. Information retrieval
      1. Global and selective retrieval
      2. Elementary query methods
      3. Browsing, displaying and listing data on the screen
      4. Sending properly organized data to printers
   E. Database commands and selections
   F. Accessing multiple files
   G. Creating varied expressions
      1. Mathematical computations
      2. String manipulations
      3. Logical operators
      4. Sums, average, counts, and other statistics
      5. Functions
   H. Reordering the database
      1. Permanent reorganization
      2. Indexing
   I. Review of multiple relevant database management problems
      1. Estimating I
         a. Data organization
         b. Tables, relations and queries
         c. Simple forms
      2. Estimating II
         a. Using combined forms
         b. Changing views of the forms
      3. Estimating III
         a. Production rates and wastages (quantum)
         b. Combined forms
         c. Specificity of information
      4. Estimating IV
         a. Describing technologies for estimating
         b. Understanding quantum
      5. Estimating V: Append queries
      6. Estimating VI: Reports
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: May 1, 2018

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.