ITEC 200 Spring 2008

The Edge of Information Technology

Syllabus

 

Wednesdays 2:10 - 4:50 pm

Classroom: Watkins G02 & Kogod Lab
 

Professor: J. Alberto Espinosa

Last updated 1/14/08

 

E-mail: alberto@american.edu
Voice:

202-885-1958
Fax: 202-885-1992
Office: KSB 33
Office Hours: Tuesdays 2-5 pm and Wednesdays 5-8 pm

Text: 

Note, no textbook is used in this course. The course content will come from lecture slides and the glossary and external readings provided below. The books listed here are training materials provided by Microsoft and Macromedia.

ITEC 200 Glossary

ITEC 200 Readings

Highly Recommended:

  • Microsoft Official Academic Course: Microsoft Office Access 2003 (with MS Office software trial CD -- good for 6 months, includes MS Access and Excel). Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, ISBN: 047006904X

  • Microsoft Official Academic Course: Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (with MS Office software trial CD -- good for 6 months, includes MS Access and Excel). Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, ISBN: 0470069015

  • Macromedia Dreamweaver 8: Training from the Source (with Dreamweaver software trial CD -- good for 4 weeks only). Publisher: Macromedia Press, ISBN-10: 0321336267, ISBN-13: 978-0321336262

Important Notes:

  • The two Microsoft books above (MS Access and Excel) come with companion trial software, which will allow you to work from home. The MS Access book comes with the MS Office software suite, which already includes Excel.

  • If you have your own computer with MS Office 2007, you may consider getting the MS Office 2007 versions of the Microsoft books and software above if you wish. But be mindful of the fact that AU (including the Kogod Lab and your instructors) will only support Office 2003 until some time in 2008.
Optional Suggested:

For students who need help with database queries in SQL, this inexpensive pocket guide is very useful:

SQL Pocket Guide, O'Reilly, 0-596-00512-1


Blackboard Site:  http://www.american.edu/blackboard
Syllabus URL:  http://auapps.american.edu/~alberto/itec200/syllabus.html
Class Schedule URL:  http://auapps.american.edu/~alberto/itec200/schedule.html
MIS Student System:  http://www.jibe4fun.com/scripts/mis/misuserlogin.asp

 

Objectives | Grading | Exams | Homework | Lab Work | IT Reviews | Attendance
Academic Integrity | Requirements | Course 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 in an information technology environment in a 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 basic IT design, management and strategic issues for business. Hands-on experience with common software packages will be stressed. [Top]

GRADING COMPONENTS:

(25%) 1 Exam

(30%) 6 Homework, 5% each

(10%) Lab work (progress in each practice lab session will be graded)

(25%) IT Review: individual work (5%), team work (20% -- 5% deliverables, 5% presentation, 10% written report)

(10%) Attendance (5%) and participation (5% plus or minus)

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.

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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, therefore implemented something incorrectly, or omitted it all together. Your professors want to give you credit for your good work, so please ensure that you read the homework instructions carefully to avoid losing points unnecessarily.

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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. 

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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 doing some individual research on one topic of interest to you and then work in teams to select one 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 joined a team and communicated this to the instructor by the due date will be randomly assigned to a team. Students will not be allowed to change teams once team assignments are finalized. IT Review teams need to pick an IT topic, which needs to be approved by the instructor. The instructor will provide you with a list of suggested topics, but you can select your own if approved by your professor. For further details about the IT review project click here.


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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 attend 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 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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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Academic integrity, the body of ethical standards, practice, and behavior, 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.

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 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.

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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.

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In conclusion, we believe that information technology is an important component of any successful business these days. Your instructor is committed to help you acquire IT skills that will help you become successful in your business careers.  Success is not only achieved by receiving job offers upon graduation, but by retaining those jobs and excelling at what you do.  We can only help you move to this end with your proactive and diligent participation in the course.  It is your own future, so give it your best.

Your professor looks forward to having you as a student and helping you achieve your goals!!