ITEC 200 Spring 2012

The Edge of Information Technology

Syllabus

Wednesdays 11:45 am - 2:25 pm

Classroom: KSB 234 and FSIT Lab  

Professor: J. Alberto Espinosa

Last updated 1/9/2012

Objectives | Requirements | Grading
Exams | Homework | Lab Work | IT Reviews | Attendance
Course Policies | Other Important Policies

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:

This course has been designed for the non-technical undergraduate business student.  The aim of the course is two-fold: (1) to provide you with a general overview of information technology (IT) as it is used in organizations; and (2) to provide you with intensive hands-on experience with popular tools used in companies today to manage and analyze large amounts of data and for personal productivity.  The course will introduce you to the essential components of information systems and the knowledge required to interact effectively within the information technology environment in business organizations.  You will be exposed to the role of information systems in organizations, the technical foundations of information systems, communication networks that interconnect information systems components, and the management and strategic aspects of IT for business. Hands-on experience with common software packages will be stressed. [Top]

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 FSIT 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. Announcements will be broadcasted via e-mail from Blackboard, so please ensure that your e-mail address recorded on Blackboard is correct. Not having read an e-mail class announcement will not be accepted as a valid excuse for not meeting a course requirement.

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. [Top]

(20%) 1 Exam

(30%) 6 Homework (5% each)

(15%) Lab work (progress in each practice lab session will be graded)

(25%) IT Review: individual exploration (5%), team work (20% -- 5% ITR draft, 7% presentation, 8% written report)

(10%) Attendance and participation

Exam (Individual)

Unless otherwise stated by the instructor, the exam will include all the material covered from the beginning of the course to the last class prior to the exam.  Exams will be CLOSED BOOKS and CLOSED NOTES. However, the objective of the exams is not to test your memory, but your understanding of key concepts covered in class. Therefore, you will be allowed to bring one 8-1/2"x11" sheet of paper with your study notes (TWO SIDES) for every textbook chapter covered in the exam. However, you can distribute your notes in those sheets in ANY WAY you wish and you can write ANYTHING you want. These sheets must be your own and MUST be HAND-WRITTEN. You MUST also write your name and sign these sheets and turn them in with your exams. NO COPIED, PRINTED or TYPED materials will be allowed. [Top]  

Homework (Individual)

There are several individual homework assignments that you need to complete. There are also a series of lab exercises intended to help you learn the skills you need to complete the homework assignments. The purpose of the homework assignments is to give you hands-on experience with computer applications like web design tools, databases and spreadsheets.  As such, all homework assignments are STRICTLY INDIVIDUAL and students need to turn in their own work. While helping peers and getting help from others is permitted during lab sessions, you are not allowed to give or receive help from anyone (except your professor) on any parts of the homework assignments.

IMPORTANT SUGGESTION: Often students lose points in homework for not reading the assignment instructions carefully, thus completing something incorrectly, or omitting it all together. Your professors want to give you credit for your good work and for what you have learned, so please ensure that you read the homework instructions carefully to avoid losing points unnecessarily. [Top]

Lab Work (Individual)

In order to help you complete your homework and learn important aspects of the IT tools that you will be using, there will be lab sessions almost weekly. Progress in all lab sessions will be graded. While attendance is mandatory in this class, attendance to lab sessions is particularly important because both, attendance and lab work progress will be graded. All lab work is individual. Generally, students tend to help each other in the lab. We encourage this and hope that students will learn from each other. However, you must complete your own lab assignment individually. [Top]

IT Reviews (in Teams)

Information technologies (IT) are now everywhere in business and in our daily lives.  It would be impossible to cover all ITs of interest in a single course.  The IT review will give you an opportunity to explore an IT that interests you and then share your findings with your peers in class.  You will start with some individual research on one topic of interest to you (i.e., individual exploration) and then work in teams to select one of the explored topic and work on the team's IT review. Teams must have no less than 3 and no more than 4 members.  You need to form a team with your class peers by the first or second week of class. Students who have not formed a team by the due date will be randomly assigned to a team. Students will not be allowed to change teams once team assignments are finalized. For further details about the IT review project click here. [Top]

Attendance and Participation

Attendance is mandatory in this class. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class session and after each break. Most problems observed with students can be attributed to low attendance.  Historically, students with high attendance do substantially better in the course than those with low attendance, so we encourage students to come to every class and lab session.  8 of the 10% of your final attendance and participation grade will be a straight percentage of your attendance to class. The remaining 2 (plus or minus) of the 10% will be based on your participation. You can earn this additional 2 points by participating in class or by contributing constructively to the class by interacting with your instructor. Reporting verifiable instances of cheating also counts as positive participation. On the plus side, student often earn more than these 2 points due to outstanding participation, which results in extra credit. On the minus side, student can lose participation points due to non-businesslike behavior in class. Please see the participation policies for this class.  Attendance to special sessions and invited speaker presentationswill be more heavily weighted in the participation grade. [Top]

This course has policies that are strictly enforced for things like makeup exams, individual and team work, lateness, attendance, business-like behavior in class, re-grade, etc. Students are required to be familiar with and observe these policies, which are describe in a separate addendum here. Please take the time to review these policies, which describe the esponsibilities and expectations about both, students and your professor. Please ensure that you read these carefully so that students and professors have a mutual understanding of what is expected from each other. [Top]

OTHER IMPORTANT POLICIES AND FACILITIES

In addition to the course policies described above, please pay special attention to the following important AU policies and facilities:

Academic Integrity Policy