ITEC 334 Fall 2011

Online (Business) Application Development

Thursdays 3:35 - 5:15 pm

Classroom: KSB 39 & FSIT Lab

Professor: J. Alberto Espinosa

Last updated 11/19/11 Rev grade weights due to IP alternative

 

[Objectives] [Grading] [Requirements] [Course Policies]

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:

The objective of this course is to help students develop an understanding and hands-on experience on how to develop and implement web business applications online. The course will take students step by step through this process while learning the fundamentals of web application programming. Students will also learn how to manipulate and access data from databases through the web. The course is very practical and hands-on oriented, alternating between short lectures and lab work to implement what you have learned in the class. The course covers topics like: introduction to web programming; HTML forms; client-side scripting and server-side scripting; embedding database queries in web pages; and introduction to other web programming languages like Java and XML. [Top]

(35%) Implementation Project (IP) - INDIVIDUAL

or if IP alternative is chosen:

(10%) IP Deliverables 1 through 4

(15%) IP Alternative

 

(15%) Research Project (RP) - IN TEAMS

(30% -- 40% if Alt IP is chosen) Homework - INDIVIDUAL

(10%) Lab Exercises - INDIVIDUAL

(10%) Attendance and participation - INDIVIDUAL

Implementation Project (IP)

Students are required to submit a specification proposal for a simple online business application. Once approved by the instructor, the project must be implemented according to the deliverable schedule specified in the course schedule. Please refer to the specific IP instructions on the course's web site and Blackboard.

Note: The best and most productive software application developers are excellent at re-using software code, adapting software code written by others, and debug existing software. In fact, the whole "open source" movement is based on this premise. Therefore, some form of cooperation among students and the instructor is not only be allowed, but also encouraged. Students will be allowed to copy and adapt software code written by other students and the instructor (and even external sources) for their term project, provided that: (1) students get the explicit consent from the software code author and the author gets an acknowledgement; and (2) the software is "adapted" to the students program needs, not just "copied".

Research Project (RP) -- in Teams

There is such a broad and diverse choice of web application technologies, that it would be impossible to cover all of them in a single semester course. Therefore, the course focuses on a particular set of popular technologies among practitioners. Furthermore, the objective of the course is to familiarize students with the process of developing online applications with these technologies, but expertise with these technologies can only come with years of practice. The research project will provide the students with the opportunity to identify, research, test and explain one online application development technology not covered in the course. The instructor will provide the students with a few choices of technologies to research for this assignment, but students can also propose other technologies for the instructor's approval. Once approved by the instructor, the project must be implemented according to the deliverable schedule specified in the course schedule. Please refer to the specific RP instructions on the course's web site and Blackboard. [Top]

Homework

There are several individual homework assignments that each student needs to complete. The purpose of the homework assignments (an their preceding lab exercises) is to give students hands-on experience with specific aspects web application development and implementation methods so that students can complete their projects successfully. All homework assignments are STRICTLY INDIVIDUAL. Students are allowed an encouraged to help each other, but each student is responsible for turning in his/her own individual work. [Top]

Lab Exercises

These lab exercises are intended to help students get off to a good start on their homework, so progress on lab exercises will be graded at the end of each lab exercise. All lab exercises are STRICTLY INDIVIDUAL. Students are allowed an encouraged to help each other, but each student is responsible for turning in his/her own individual work. [Top]

Attendance and Participation

Attendance is mandatory in this class. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class. Most problems observed with students are attributed to low attendance or limited attention in class.  Historically, students with high attendance who are engaged in class do substantially better in the course. Furthermore, some course material builds upon previously covered material, so missing even one lecture can put a student at a substantial disadvantage with respect to the rest of the class. Therefore, it is important for students to have high attendance. Some students often earn extra points due to outstanding participation, which results in extra credit. Other students some times lose participation points due to negative participation and non-businesslike behavior in class. Please see the participation policies for this class.  Attendance to lab sessions, special discussions (e.g., case), invited speaker presentations, and other important sessions will be more heavily weighted in the participation grade.

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Other Important Course Requirements

1. Students are required to be thoroughly familiar with this syllabus and the related Class Schedule. This class has several sessions and demos scheduled in the Kogod Lab.  You need to consistently check the class schedule to make sure that you are aware of any changes in meeting venues or assignments.

2. Similarly, students are required to check all announcements and other materials posted on Blackboard before each class.

3. Students are required to check their American University e-mail regularly for class announcements.  Not having read an e-mail class announcement will not be accepted as a valid excuse for not meeting a course requirement.  Students who do not use their AU e-mail regularly are responsible for forwarding their AU e-mail to their personal e-mail accounts.

4. Students are required, per University policy, to be familiar with AU's Academic Integrity Policy.  Please read carefully the policies and read the Academic Integrity Policy section below.  These policies will be strictly enforced in this course.

5. This class requires regular attendance and consistent week-to-week commitment on the part of the student.  A large portion of the lectures will cover material that is not on the textbook.  Therefore, low attendance will impair a student's ability to learn the material and earn a good grade in the course.  Past course statistics have shown evidence of the importance of regular attendance. 

6. Students are expected to complete reading assignments prior to class, participate actively in class discussion, and take a proactive role to maximize their learning from this class and in helping others benefit from the course.  This is a business course, so businesslike behavior is expected from all students.  Please read carefully the respective policies on businesslike behavior section below.
   
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IMPORTANT COURSE POLICIES

This course has important policites that describe the responsibilities and expectations about both, students and your professors. Please ensure that you read these policies carefully so that students and professors have a mutual understanding of what is expected from each other. In addition, please pay special attention to the following AU policies and facilities.

Academic Integrity Policy

Academic integrity is paramount in higher education and essential to effective teaching and learning. As a professional school, the Kogod School of Business is committed to preparing our students and graduates to value the notion of integrity. In fact, no issue at American University is more serious or addressed with greater severity than a breach of academic integrity. Standards of academic conduct are governed by the University’s Academic Integrity Code. By enrolling in the School and registering for this course, you acknowledge your familiarity with the Code and pledge to abide by it. All suspected violations of the Code will be immediately referred to the Office of the Dean. Disciplinary action, including failure for the course, suspension, or dismissal, may result. Additional information about the Code (i.e. acceptable forms of collaboration, definitions of plagiarism, use of sources including the Internet, and the adjudication process) can be found in a number of places including the University’s Academic Regulations, Student Handbook, and website at http://www.american.edu/academics/integrity. If you have any questions about academic integrity or standards of conduct in this course, please discuss them with your instructor.

Violations of the code include, but are not limited to: cheating in exams, copying parts of another student's homework, re-using papers presented in other courses, using any material prepared by others and submitting it as the student's own work, and using verbatim text materials from sources without quotes and appropriate citation references. All lab exercises, homework assignments and the exam are individual. You MUST complete all your individual assignments INDIVIDUALLY and turn in your own work.

Academic Support Services

If you experience difficulty in this course for any reason, please don’t hesitate to consult with me. In addition to the resources of the department, a wide range of services is available to support you in your efforts to meet the course requirements.

Academic Support Center (x3360, MGC 243) offers study skills workshops, individual instruction, tutor referrals, and services for students with learning disabilities. Writing support is available in the ASC Writing Lab or in the Writing Center, Battelle 228.

Counseling Center (x3500, MGC 214) offers counseling and consultations regarding personal concerns, self-help information, and connections to off-campus mental health resources.

Disability Support Services (x3315, MGC 206) offers technical and practical support and assistance with accommodations for students with physical, medical, or psychological disabilities.

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please notify me in a timely manner with a letter from the Academic Support Center or Disability Support Services so that we can make arrangements to address your needs.

Pandemic Planning

In the event of a declared pandemic (influenza or other communicable disease), American University will implement a plan for meeting the needs of all members of the university community. Should the university be required to close for a period of time, we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of our educational programs will be delivered to our students. These may include altering and extending the duration of the traditional term schedule to complete essential instruction in the traditional format and/or use of distance instructional methods. Specific strategies will vary from class to class, depending on the format of the course and the timing of the emergency. Faculty will communicate class-specific information to students via AU e-mail and Blackboard, while students must inform their faculty immediately of any absence due to illness. Students are responsible for checking their AU e-mail regularly and keeping themselves informed of emergencies. In the event of a declared pandemic or other emergency, students should refer to the AU Web site (www. prepared. american.edu) and the AU information line at (202) 885-1100 for general university-wide information, as well as contact their faculty and/or respective dean’s office for course and school/ college-specific information.

Kogod Center for Business Communications

To help improve your writing, public speaking, and team assignments for this class, contact the Kogod Center for Business Communications. You can get advice for any type of business communication, including memos, reports, individual and team presentations, and PowerPoint slides. Hours are flexible and include evenings and weekends. Go to kogod.american.edu/bizcomm and click on "make an appointment," visit KSB 101, or e-mail cbc@american.edu.

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