CIS120

Welcome to the Class

CIS120, Introduction to Computer Information Systems, may be one of your first classes taken through Umpqua Community College (UCC). For some students, it will be their first ever college course! Don’t worry - this course will give you a head start on the digital tools and knowledge you will need to navigate your future courses as well.

Here, you will learn the basics of information technology. You will develop the skills you need to succeed in a digital world, including navigating the Internet, organizing your files and folders, and using essential tools like Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and Presentations.

Welcome to TestOut Digital Literacy Pro

TestOut Digital Literacy Pro gives students a starting point that builds excitement, and confidence that inspires learning more about technology.  It's not too hard, with lots of handholding, yet robust enough to give real-world experiences to explore without the hazards of the World Wide Web or the worry of breaking expensive gear.

TestOut Digital Literacy Pro is the online course you will be connecting with through the TESTOUT buttons each week in your Canvas course shell.

If you have limited experience using computers, spreadsheets, word processing, online cloud collaboration, operating & file systems, internet media, social media, and IoT don’t worry! You can do it. Digital Literacy Pro makes it easy to learn and boosts your confidence.

In learning what will make you digitally literate, it takes time to master the skills you need for success. As you go through the course, take advantage of the opportunity to really practice what you are learning. Go through the simulation labs multiple times. The real-world skills you gain will prepare you to operate safely on the World Wide Web and gain the confidence to assuredly manipulate today’s rapidly changing informational technology.

What to Know Before You Start

Course Materials

Instead of using a traditional textbook, TestOut Digital Literacy Pro’s tools for learning, practice, and assessment are all provided online using this courseware. Students do best when they follow the recommended steps for learning.

Step 1: Watch the Short Instructional Videos

Each section begins with a few short videos that demonstrate the new skills you’ll be practicing. For most students, watching the videos is the best way to gain initial exposure to the new material. If you prefer the playback speed is adjustable, and adding captions in a color and font you prefer is possible too.

Step 2: Review the E-text Lessons

Digital Literacy Pro provides essential information sheets in many sections.

• Text Lessons review key terms and facts covered in the videos and discuss the lesson topics in additional detail. There may be graphics, schematics, and other methods of conveying the meaning and context of the information.

Step 3: View the Demonstrations

Demonstration Videos are in some lessons, providing examples of practicing the skills being taught.

• Demonstration Videos will give students a video presentation showing how something is done and with explanations of the process. These are excellent preparatory lessons leading to the labs students will perform on their own.

Step 4: Complete the Lab Simulations

Most of the time spent in Digital Literacy Pro will be in the many practice labs. These labs simulate various types of technologies, software, hardware, keyboarding, applications, and so much more. Each has a purpose in improving memory, speed, technology awareness, and confidence. Digital Literacy Pro uses simulations instead of live software because they allow for hands-on experience and multiple attempts by going through the labs as many times as needed. The scoring of the lab provides instant feedback of performance and assessment. It also means the simulations will not stop you from making a mistake, just like if you were performing an action using the actual software. Learning from mistakes is a critical part of the learning process. In the Give It a Try section below, you will have an opportunity to try one of the labs.

For the Best Online Experience

Depending on how fast your computer can process information, your experience can vary greatly in terms of loading times, responsiveness, and overall time needed to complete the lab.

Be Patient - TestOut is going to space and back!

Yes, it really is! The videos, text lessons, and labs are going into space, bouncing off satellites, then returning to wherever you are, so give it a few seconds. However, if the labs don’t load or seem extra slow, reach out to our amazing support team.

Browser tips

• For the course, we recommend using the Google Chrome web browser. For other online courses, always use the browser recommended by the course provider.
• Close any browser tabs you aren’t using to take the course, as well as all other web browsers.
• The simulation labs will only work on a desktop or laptop computer system.

Computer Requirements

We've created a list of specs your computer should have for this course to help things run smoothly.

Internet Speed

To check internet speeds, we recommend freshly restarting the computer, resetting your router, and turning off any other devices that use your internet connection to reduce the possibility of interfering factors. Then navigate to Fast.com (chosen for its simplicity and acceptable accuracy).

Labs require an internet speed of 3.6 Mbps per user to have good loading times. After initial loading is completed, the lab uses very little internet, although it is crucially important to maintain an internet connection. (Do not close your laptop or put it to sleep during a lab or your results may not communicate properly to our server.)

Fast.com will automatically begin to run its test and tell you your download speed. If you suspect the result you see is inaccurate, reload the test once or twice. If you see Kbps instead of Mbps then your internet speed is inadequate. 1000 Kbps = 1 Mbps.