IS 101 Syllabus Spring 2008IS 101 - Introduction to Information Systems - I01/I02/IK1 Spring 2008, 3 credits January 19 - May 17, 2008 Please read completely through this syllabus and print it for future reference. Instructor:Cindy Hyslop E-mail:Contact me by email through WebCampus Office:Room 128 - 775 -753-2307 (voice mail) Check office hours on WebCampus Homepage Text:Fluency with Information Technology: Skills, Concepts, and Capabilities, 2/E - ISBN: 0-321-35782-5 Order online or available at the Great Basin College Bookstore. - Order online or available at the Great Basin College Bookstore. Software:This class requires that you use Microsoft Office: Word - Excel - PowerPoint. If you do not have these - you will have to go into one of the Great Basin College computers labs. Student Responsibilities:Be able to access the class website through WebCampus. Have and maintain Internet access throughout the semester. Have and maintain access to all software used in the class throughout the semester. If you have computer or Internet problems you must find some alternative solution: GBC computer lab, Library, or friend is a few suggestions Have and maintain a virus-free computer throughout the semester. Have knowledge of Windows and file handling. An important note about online classes:Do not assume that online classes are easier than traditional "face-to-face" classes. Online classes can actually be more difficult than traditional classes. They require constant motivation and self-direction on the part of the student. You are responsible for reading, studying, asking questions, completing assignments, being organized, and staying on schedule. Catalog Description: Introduction to computer-based information systems management including: hardware/software relationships, business applications usage, system theory, current technology, networking, the Internet, computer security, and privacy issues. Disability Access:“Great Basin College supports providing equal access for students with disabilities. An advisor is available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students. Please contact the ADA Officer (Julie Byrnes) in Elko at (775) 753-2271 at your earliest convenience to request timely and appropriate accommodations.” Welcome to IS 101, Introduction to Computer Information Systems. To meet the demands of today's world and to adapt to future technology advancements, individuals must use technology as a tool for organization, communication, research, and problem solving. To help you become effective users of today's technology and place them on the path of lifelong learning. Fluency covers three types of knowledge: Skills, Concepts, and Capabilities. Skills consists of competence with contemporary computer applications; Concepts are the fundamental principles upon which information technology is founded, including basics ideas relating to information, computers, databases, and networks; Capabilities is the ability to apply reasoning in complex situations, which allows students to master higher-level thinking in the context of information technology. Major Class Objectives: The objectives for this class are to provide students with a working knowledge of technology, primarily computers, as used in modern society and the essentials of both computer hardware and software use in the workplace will be covered. Some topics that will be covered in this class include: How computers can augment and enhance many traditional human activities, but rarely, if ever, replace such activities; Computers and networks as communications medium, e.g. the Web and email; Enhancing both quantitative and qualitative information analysis, e.g. information systems are useful for collecting, organizing, and analyzing data but only if the assumptions behind the data are understood and the formulas used in their correlation are accurate; An essential of understanding the complex relationships between computer hardware and software; Ethics and confidentiality when collecting, analyzing, and using personal information, e.g. database use and privacy issues; Intellectual property rights, e.g. patent, copyright and fair use doctrine; Health ramifications of computer use, e.g. carpel tunnel syndrome, eye strain, and possibly long term problems; Upon Successful Completion of this class a student will be able to: Illustrate the relationships between computer hardware, applications, and operating systems Demonstrate computer and network usage as communications tools Demonstrate and critically evaluate computers and the Internet in information analysis Discuss ethical and privacy issues relating to computer use in the business environment Discuss benefits and risks relating to computer use in the work place List and define computer technology related careers and career requirements This class uses Discussion Topics, but includes a significant hands on component in which computers are used to complete Projects, Quizzes, Research Paper and a Presentation. If you do not have Microsoft Word 2000/2002 to complete your assignments then save files as a “rtf” (Rich Text File). For the Presentation you will have to use MS PowerPoint 2000/2002. Chapter Information Covered in the Class - Check the Class Schedule for more information I. BECOMING SKILLED AT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1. Terms of Endearment: Defining Information Technology 2. What the Digerati Know: Exploring the Human-Computer Interface 3. Making the Connection: The Basics of Networking 4. Marking up with HTML: A Hypertext Markup Language Primer 5. Searching for Truth: Locating Information on the WWW 6. Searching for Guinea Pig B: A Case Study in Online Research II. ALGORITHMS AND DIGITIZING INFORMATION 7. To Err is Human: An Introduction to Debugging 8. Bits and the "Why" of Bytes: Representing Information Digitally 9. Following Instructions: Principles of Computer Organization 10. What's the Plan? Algorithmic Thinking 11. Sound, Light and Magic: Representing Multimedia Digitally III. DATA AND INFORMATION 12. Computers in Polite Society: Social Implications of IT 13. Fill in the Blank Computing: Basics of Spreadsheets 14. Getting to First Base: Introduction to Database Concepts 15. A Table with a View: Database Queries 16. HAI! Adventure Database: Case Study in Database Design 17. Shhh, It's a Secret: Privacy and Digital Security IV. PROBLEM SOLVING 18. Get with the Program: Fundamental Concepts Expressed as JavaScript 19. The Bean Counter: A JavaScript Program 20. Thinking Big: Abstraction and Functions 21. Once Is Not Enough: Iteration Principles 22. The Smooth Motion: Case Study in Algorithmic Problem Solving 23. Computers Can Do Almost {Everything, Nothing} Limits to Computation 24. Commencement: A Fluency Summary Communication: The student will communicate with the instructor through WebCampus e-mail and the Discussion Board. Students will be encouraged to communicate with each other through WebCampus Email and the Discussion Board. I check class WebCampus Email, Discussion, and Assignment Drop Box on Monday and Thursday. Assigned assignments will be sent to me through the Assignments area through WebCampus. Grading and Attendance: This class will be for a letter grade. This class is intensive and requires attendance and work to be completed each week. It is good practice to check your WebCampus class at least twice a week. Percentage Letter Grade 94-100 A 90-93 A- 87-89 B+ 83-86 B 80-82 B- 77-79 C+ 73-76 C 70-72 C- 67-69 D+ 63-66 D 60-62 D- <60 F or less or W=Official Withdrawal if done before the withdrawal deadline. There is no curve in this grading scale. To determine your final course grade, all assignment grades will be calculated on a percentage scale and then recorded as the corresponding grade point value and letter grade as shown above. The most significant assignments include: a Research Paper using MS Word, Presentation using MS PowerPoint, Quizzes, Projects, and Discussion Topics. You will receive guidance in the construction and delivery of one Research Paper and one PowerPoint Presentation. The four Quizzes will be composed of questions from your book. Each quiz, may be composed of multiple choice, true/false, matching, fill-in-the-blank or short answer questions. Each student must complete his/her assignments, individually. If two or more students turn in the same assignment or collaborate on a test, punitive measures as described in the Rules and Disciplinary Procedures for Members of the University Community will be enforced. The worst part of an online class is procrastination!!! Anyone not in communication with me for any two-week period (without prior approval) will have an F grade recorded for the class. Grading will use + and - on assignments, tests and the final, recorded grade. Some times, and for very good reasons, a student is not able to finish a class, and needs to withdraw from the class. A grade of W (withdrawn) will be recorded for anyone who formally withdraws by meeting with the instructor and filling out a withdraw form. A grade of F will be recorded for anyone who simply does not participate any more. It is important to realize that for any one withdrawing from the class, the difference between earning an F and a W on the official class recording is the process of meeting with the instructor. After week 12: Anyone not withdrawn from the class will receive a grade based on the entire semester's Research Paper, Presentation, Discussions, Quizzes and Projects. Schedule: Check under Learning Modules or the Calendar for due dates: the schedule of Reading Assignments, Quizzes, Discussion Topics, Projects, a Presentation, and a Research Paper due dates are found on WebCampus. Research Paper = 100 points ( 20% of your grades) Presentation = 100 points (20% of your grades) Discussion Topics (7) = Discussion Topics - each is worth 100 Points (20% of your grades) Chapter Quizzes (15) = 100 - each quiz is worth 100 Points (20% of your grades) Projects (4) = Roster, Word, Excel and Internet Search = each worth 100 Points (20% of your grades) Research Paper – Worth 20% of your grade · Your Research Paper is a topic concerning “some aspect of technology” (computers) in the workplace. · Topic description has to be posted in the Discussion Area (in your group) through WebCampus for approval by Wednesday, February 20,by midnight. · Check under “Research Paper Information” for more information and the Research Paper Rubric Grading. · The Research Paper will be due on Wednesday, March 19th – no late Research Papers will be accepted. · Research Paper will be submitted to check for plagiarism. · When the Research Paper is completed it will be turned in through WebCampus in the Assignments area – located on the left hand side of the screen under Course Content. · Review the Rubric Grading for your Research Paper. Academic Integrity Policy: Academic dishonest is defined as an act of deception in which a student claims credit for the work or effort of another person or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic work. Academic dishonesty is a violation of the GBC Student Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated in this class. Any evidence of academic dishonesty/plagiarism in this course will result in a failing grade on the assignment and/or a failing grade for the course. Appropriate institutional consequences will also be employed if necessary such as academic probation or suspension. This is a very critical offense. If you are ever uncertain about your use of another person’s work (ideas, language, data, etc.) you must contact me about it. Acts of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following: CHEATING – unauthorized copying or collaborating on a test or assignment, or the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials. TAMPERING – altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and/or documents. FABRICATION – falsifying experimental data or results, inventing research or laboratory data on results for work not done, or falsely claiming sources not used. PLAGIARISM – representing someone else’s words, ideas, artistry, or data as one’s own, including copying another person’s work (including published and unpublished material, and material from the Internet) without appropriate referencing, presenting someone else’s opinions and theories as one’s own, or working jointly on a project, then submitting it as one’s own. (I have a computer program that will search your words on the Internet . . . so do not make the choice to plagiarize). Presentation – Worth 20% of your grade You have to use Microsoft PowerPoint 2002/2003 for this assignment. If you are using MS PowerPoint 2007 you have to save as MS 2003. Your Presentation will be on a topic concerning "some aspect of technology" (computers) in the workplace. Your Presentation may be related to your written paper. If you choose not to use the same topic as your Research Paper please email me through WebCampus email by April 9th. I will post sample presentations. The Presentation will be due on April 30 by midnight through the Assignments area that is located on the left-hand-side menu in WebCampus. Check under Presentation Information on the homepage for additional information. Review the Presentation Rubric Grading for your Presentation. Discussion Topics: Worth 20% of your grade The Discussion Board is a vital part of this class. Listed below is the Rubric Grading and how Discussions work. Make sure you check this area out. Discussions are due by midnight – always on Wednesday. IS 101 Online Participation Rubric Objective/CriteriaPerformance Indicators ExceptionalMeet ExpectationsNot Acceptable Response Quantity - Instructor(20 points) Respond to instructor within the first six days of the initial posting (10 points) Responded to instructor only and not during the first six days (0 points) No responses submitted Response Complete - Instructor(20 points) At least 250 words for initial response (saying I agree or disagree is not enough) (10 points) Less than 200 for the initial posting. Incomplete posting to another student. (0 points) Less than 50 words for initial posting and not response to another student. Response Answers Instructors Question(s)(15 points) Good response that thoroughly answers the instructor question(s) (10 points) Response answers very little of the instructor questions (0 points) No responses submitted Response Quality(15 points) Response uses correct grammar, capitalization, spelling, and sentence structure (10 points) Five or fewer errors (0 points) Over six errors * Response Quantity - Student (15 points) Respond to one student on a different day during allotted time (10 points) Responded to student only (0 points) No responses submitted * Response Complete - Student (15 points) At least 100 words in response to other student and complete response (saying I agree or disagree is not enough) (10 points) Less than 100 words and incomplete posting to another student (0 points) Less than 25 words response to another student. Discussion Instructions During the semester, you will have approximately seven graded discussion topics. Each discussion is worth a total of 100 points. Respond to ALL parts of the question to earn the maximum number of points. Discussions count for 20% of your total grade. Reponses should be thoughtful, concise, and in your own words. Do not post discussion responses as attachments or 10 points will be deducted. Correct grammar, capitalization, spelling, and sentence structure are expected. Responses should not be in the format of a Yahoo chat room or a casual email to a friend. IS 101 is a college-level class taking place in an academic environment. Abusive language and profanity is considered disruptive and unprofessional student conduct that will lead to a reduction of points and/or removal from class. Responses maybe randomly selected and run through plagiarism detection software. Contact the instructor immediately if you suspect that your discussion response has been copied or if you receive class communications that are not appropriate. Topics will be posted under the Discussions link on the left-hand-side menu in WebCampus. Check the Leaning Module or Calendar for due dates. Use appropriate net etiquette. Flaming is not appropriate and is defined as e-mail responses that are considered hostile and as a personal attack. Flaming occurs when two or more individuals engage in responses that escalate, thus limiting and disrupting the discussion by the rest of the class. If you have any questions concerning the discussion questions, please contact me through WebCampus email. Quizzes: Worth 20% of your grade · Check under Learning Modules or Assessments for due dates. · There is a quiz for each chapter. · All quizzes are due no later than the date listed by midnight (alway Wednesdays) - no late quizzes will be allowed. · You have one hour to complete the quiz and all have approximately 20 to 30 questions (multiple choice & True/False). · Once the quiz date has passed you will be able to see your grade. · All quizzes will be timed and taken through WebCampus. · The quizzes will be composed of questions from your book. I do not give makeup tests. Assigned Projects: Worth 20% of your grade Check for information on Projects on the WebCampus Home page under Projects. Due dates are listed under Course Schedule Information - Due Dates for Projects. Four Projects total - they include: (1) Roster, (2) Word assignment, (3) Excel assignment, (4) and Internet Search. Each project is worth 100 points. When the Projects are completed they will be turned in through WebCampus in the Assignments area – located on the left hand side of the screen. If you do not have the software you will have to go to a Computer Lab to complete these assignments.