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IFSM 300 (07t3 DE) Syllabus Supplement Faculty Contact Information: Phil Richardson, Collegiate Associate Professor Local address: The Old Bakery, Hale Road, Ashill, Thetford, Norfolk IP25 7AX (Great Britain). Grading Information: I prefer to give each student an 'A' in each of my courses. The grade, however, must be earned as I can only reflect the performance I observe. I do understand that students have many other responsibilities, but your own learning is your responsibility. Moreover, I also expect you to assist the learning of others in this class. I will work with every student within reason to help her or him complete this course successfully. It will come as no surprise that for a variety of reasons a number of students each term choose not to earn an "A". Students concerned with slow progress should seek help before getting into grade trouble. Contact me, your instructor, early. "Incompletes" will not be given unless thoroughly justified and backed up by a contract negotiated with the instructor allowing for completion within four weeks. Other Information: We will work through the issues raised in each chapter. You will post your response to my comments and questions in a designated class conference area. I also set up a private study group for each student so we may exchange messages within our classroom in privacy. You are required to review and comment meaningfully on the responses of your fellow classmates that are posted in both our class and study group conferences. A significant comment adds to, changes or challenges the facts and opinions presented by your classmates. You are expected to support your views with knowledge gained not just from your personal and professional experiences but also from your research during this course. Two such comments in each weekly class conference are typically a minimum. In this DE class, your "week" normally begins on Tuesday and ends about seven days later depending on a number of factors. So please, check the syllabus in advance to make sure you know when to check for your assignments and when they are due. My intent is to allow for you both to contribute and to comment on the contributions of your classmates. All times are keyed to Maryland time - USA Eastern time zone. I post your weekly tasking message in the Course Content area of our classroom. In addition to an introduction to the week's work, I confirm your study assignments, discussion topics and key due dates during the week. Your weekly participation will normally take place in the class conference area and occasionally in the study group area. Other assignments with specific due dates are normally submitted in your assignment folder; if you are late turning in an assignment, you may find the assignment folder locked. If so, put your assignment in your private study group. I will pick it up there and you will still have a record of turning it in. My feedback to you during the term will be placed in your private study group except for comments that I need to share with the entire class such as questions or elaborations on weekly conference postings. While we get organized in the first five days of class, I have a special set of assignments I want you to complete: ** Week One DE Assignments **: http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/initial_contact.html http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/wk1_assign.html You are responsible for keeping copies of all your work including graded exams and assignments and should be able to produce the same, if needed. Again, do not fall behind. Work ahead if possible. Do some work on this course every day or two. Set aside time to do this. If confused, in doubt, or in need of a clarification on any aspect of the course, contact me first. Two "Must's": Attribution : Give credit in your work to those whose ideas and words you use - and use them well. No one is expected to know everything. Indeed, we need to avoid "re-inventing the wheel". So look around and build on the ideas and words of others. Just take care to give them full credit. This includes prior works presented or published by you for other purposes or in prior or other classes. Use footnotes or endnotes where needed and construct a proper "Works Cited" or "Bibliography" page to accompany your work. Plagiarized papers, reports, projects, or exams will receive a grade of 0 (zero) whether copied in whole or in part. This includes "accidental" plagiarism. See the UMUC European Division Catalog policy on academic integrity. Effective writing is critical to the intellectual life of university students and graduates within the workplace. Effective managers are usually effective communicators. Your work in this course must demonstrate your ability to master and effectively communicate course content. We must be able to share our ideas with others properly. That means we need to pay constant attention to the way in which we present those ideas. Written and oral work which contains significant errors in English or presentation typically impairs the quality of the message you are trying to communicate. Use your eyes and brain to check your work -- a mechanical computer can hurt as well as help. Proofread and check your work PRIOR to submission. Poor English or presentation will reduce my evaluation of your work by one or more letter grades regardless of the brilliance of the ideas therein. Effective writing
Word Processor: Use Microsoft Word®. If your response will be more than 150-200 words, create a document in MS Word. If you do not have Microsoft Word, use "Save As" in your usual word processor and select the MS Word document option.
Supplemental Information: See my web site for further guidance on Class Policy: http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/class_policy.html Case Analysis: http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/case_analysis.html Distance Education Supplemental Policies: Web Tycho hints: http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/WebTycho.html http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/using_WT.html http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/Read_WT.html DE Assignments: http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/de_assign.html http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/documentation.html http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/de_wkly_articles.html http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/journal.html http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/indiv_assign.html DE Attendance: http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/de_attend.html DE Exam Instructions: http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/dist_ed/de_exam_instr.html Using email in this course (when needed): The first element of the subject line of every email in this course will begin "IFSM 300 07t3de" followed by a brief topic indicating of the content of the email. All electronic mail will be acknowledged so that you will know I have received your message. See also: http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/email_hints.html http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/email_attach.html Course Project: The Current Issues Paper: Use the detailed Table of Contents in your text and the companion web site as guides in your selection (you may propose a different topic, of course). Start reading as much as you can about your topic early in the course and expand your thoughts as you read. Start putting your thoughts in writing early as well. You will complete each section of the CIP separately and submit it separately to me on or before the due date in Microsoft Word format. [Create your documents in MS Word where possible; if not possible, you must change your document to MS Word format by using the "Save As" function. Only MS Word (MS Office) documents are acceptable as discussed below.] Include a cover page and follow all formatting requirements for each submission except CIP Topic Reservation (see below). All submissions except CIP Topic Reservation are to be placed in your assignment folder by the due date in the schedule. Files must be virus-checked before posting. If a virus is detected on any communication, it will not be opened or graded. A minimum of one letter grade will be deducted for each CIP (CIP-1 through CIP-4) for significant problems related to organization, grammar, verb tenses, pronoun use, spelling, punctuation, and writing competency and other requirements including following directions. This is in addition to any penalty for late submission. CIP Topic Reservation: As topics are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis in the CIP Topic Conference, please check the topics others have selected before you record yours so you do not duplicate any of them. Also create a new main topic in the conference with your selected topic as the subject so others can easily see which topic you have selected. Keep in mind that you will be spending the rest of this term researching your selected topic, so make sure you like your topic. If you are uncertain of a specific subject, explore your alternatives more deeply. Do not select a broad topic area that you could not possibly cover in 6-8 pages of critical analysis. Please be specific about the aspects of any topic on which you will be focusing. Record your selection in the CIP Topic Conference no later than 12 Feb. 2007. CIP-1: The task in CIP-1 is to explain your reasons for selecting your exploration area in no more than one page of text. Include a brief discussion of the special significance of your selected area to professional information system managers. Submit CIP-1 as a Microsoft Word document via your assignment folder no later than 20 Feb. 2007. CIP-2: Determine three critically important questions you would like to address regarding your CIP topic. Be aware that "asking the right question" is typically one of the most critical phases of research. Justify your selection of each question. Hint: Focus on "Why" questions first, then "How". These are commonly much more significant that "What". At times "Who" or "Where" issues are also highly significant. This is an exercise in critical thinking and writing, not mere exposition as important as that may be. Submit CIP-2 as a Microsoft Word document via your assignment folder no later than 4 March 2007. CIP-3: Begin CIP-3 with your topic and a listing of your three questions. (If I have asked you to revise one or more of the questions you submitted in CIP-2, please use the revised questions.) Provide at least three sources for every question. Organize your sources by question to which they primarily relate, most useful or important source first, least useful last. (I understand that this assessment may later change and that is OK). The textbook is not to be your major source for any question. Sources that relate to more than one source are to be listed only once, under the first question to which they relate with reference by number to the other question(s) supported. Number your sources sequentially (starting with 1 and continuing to 15). Include a full bibliographic reference for each source. Give the exact source whether it is an article, a book, a newspaper article, or a specific Web page. Electronic sources require a complete URL (web address of the exact web page) as part of that reference. Include the date of the information as well as, for electronic sources, the date accessed on-line. Describe the source in general terms, why it is valid and reliable (acceptable for you to use), and how that source will specifically help you to respond to one or more of your three significant questions. Hint: Do not give me a search engine as a reference! For example, http://www.google.com is not a reference. Neither is the home page of a journal or organization unless you are using information contained on that exact page. Thus CIP-3 should be a collection of 10-15 references with a paragraph for each reference describing its significance for this study and, for Internet references, clickable links (for me to easily access and review them). (To make a "clickable link" in Microsoft Word, copy and paste the link from your browser into the Microsoft Word document or type it. If typed, remember to press the Enter key for the link to turn "blue.") Submit CIP-3 as a Microsoft Word document via your assignment folder no later than 26 March 2007. CIP-4: Address arguments for and, if any, against your topic. Now is the time for your "critical writing" to match your "critical thinking". Begin CIP-4 with a restatement of your three key questions. (If I asked you to revise one or more of the questions you submitted in CIP-2, please use the latest version of the questions.) Make sure your thoughts are cohesive and your paragraphs are clear by demonstrating one issue/thought/idea at a time and then moving on to the next. Since you have had plenty of time to work on your project, please make sure you incorporate all you have learned from this course to date and the skills you have developed throughout the sessions into your CIP-4 assignment. CIP-4 length: 6-8 pages of text not including figures, diagrams, tables, title page, executive summary, or bibliography (based on CIP-3). This is your completed "paper". When I grade CIP-4, I will look for critical thinking skills, logical and clear arguments, cohesive writing, proper citations and quoting, quality references, flow of ideas and good transitions between paragraphs, grammatically correct phrasing, and - of course - no typographical or spelling errors. Submit CIP-4 as a Microsoft Word document via email attachment no later than 16 April 2007. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH CIP 1. WRITING QUALITY Grammar, Verb Tenses, Pronoun Use, Spelling, Punctuation, and Writing Competency. Remember:
2. REFERENCES Use the APA format for your references. The CIP-3 assignment is a Reference List. (Reference List = same as a Bibliography) As part of CIP-4 you will need to re-submit the Reference List as it may have changed since you submitted CIP-3. You will also need to correctly reference your sources within the body of your paper. Here is an example referencing a source within the text of a paper: Mossman (2001) described the research design more clearly, " When developing a marketing proposal, one should always ......... " " Marketing research is a requirement before any new product is introduced to the market. " (Gomez and Breegle, 1999) 3. COVER PAGE Use a cover page for each submission. In the center of the page, in this order, double spaced, put the following, inserting the appropriate information in place of the bracketed placeholders below:
4. PROTECTING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY The University has a license agreement with Turnitin.com, a service that helps prevent plagiarism from Internet resources. I may be using this service in this class by either requiring students to submit their papers electronically to Turnitin.com or by submitting questionable text on behalf of a student. If you or I submit part or all of your paper, it will be stored by Turnitin.com in their database throughout the term of the UniversityÕs contract with Turnitin.com. If you object to this temporary storage of your paper, you must let me know no later than two weeks after the start of this class. Please Note: If you object to the storage of your paper on Turnitin.com, I may utilize other services to check your work for plagiarism. Note: Using the CIP system, following the above requirements, and getting frequent feedback will help you not only in this course, but in your other courses as well. Schedule: Note: Assignments are due as follows: * Students prepare and post their responses to the assignments not later than (NLT) noon of the day prior to the last day of the assignment period (typically noon on Sunday); and * Comment on the contributions of their classmates NLT the end of the assignment period (typically midnight, Monday). ** Intro. to Course ** Week 1, 29 Jan. - 2 Feb. '07 Study text: Table of Contents, Preface. * Study Web Tycho Course Module 1. Assignments:
Week 2, 3 - 12 Feb. '07 * Foundation of Information Systems in Business, * Competing with Information Technology. Study text Chapters 1 & 2 and WebTycho (WT) Module 1. Assignments: To Be Determined (TBD), See weekly tasking message. CIP Topic Selection Due 12 Feb. 2007 (First-come, first-served, no duplicates - see the Web Tycho Conference.) ** Information Technologies ** Week 3, 13 - 20 Feb. '07 * Computer Hardware and Software. Study text Chapters 3 & 4. Assignments: TBD. See weekly tasking message. CIP-1 Due 20 Feb. '07; post in your assignment area. Week 4, 21 - 26 Feb. '07 * Data Resource Management, and * Telecommunications and Networks. Study text Chapters 5 & 6 . Assignments: TBD. See weekly tasking message. Begin checking with your testing center to confirm the arrival of your proctored exam and schedule your mid-term exam testing session. Journal 1 due 26 Feb. '07; post in your assignment area. ** Business Applications ** Week 5, 27 Feb. - 4 Mar. '07 * Electronic Business Systems. Study text Chapter 7. Assignments: TBD. See weekly tasking message. If not already accomplished, check with your testing center to confirm the arrival of your proctored exam and schedule your mid-term exam testing session. CIP-2 Due 4 Mar. '07; post in your assignment area. ** Proctored Mid-Term Week ** Week 6, 5 - 9 Mar. '07 Proctored Mid-Term Exam Closed Book, Closed Notes, three hours long covering course material and discussions through Week 4 and text Chapter 6. You must arrange your schedule to take this proctored exam when the testing center is available. Please do so in advance. Review text, e-handouts, class discussion, and notes through Week 4. 10-11 Mar. '07 - Study Period Explore the next Web Tycho Course Module. Preview Text Chapters 8 & 9. Work on CIP-3. Week 7, 12 - 18 Mar. '07 *** Term Break *** Week 8, 19 - 26 Mar. '07 * Enterprise Business Systems, and * Electronic Commerce Systems. Study text Chapters 8 & 9. Assignments: TBD. See weekly tasking message. CIP-3 due 26 Mar. '07; post in your assignment area. Journal 2 due 26 Mar. '07; post in your assignment area. ** Module 3 concluded & Module 4: Development Processes ** Week 9, 27 Mar. - 2 Apr. '07 * Decision Support Systems, * Developing Business/IT Strategies. Study text Chapters 10 & 11. Assignments: TBD. See weekly tasking message. Week 10, 3 - 9 Apr. '07 * Developing Business IT Solutions. Study text Chapter 12. Assignments: TBD. See weekly tasking message. ** Management Challenges ** Week 11, 10 - 16 Apr. '07 * Security & Ethical Challenges. Study text Chapter 13. Assignments: TBD. See weekly tasking message. CIP-4 Due 16 Apr. '07; post in your assignment area. Week 12, 17 - 23 Apr. '07 * Enterprise and Global Management of Information Technology. Study text Chapter 14. Assignments: TBD. See weekly tasking message. ** Review & Final Exam ** Week 13, 24 - 27 Apr. '07 * Review all course material Journal 3 due 27 Apr. '07; post in your assignment area. ** On-Line Final Exam 28 - 29 Apr. '07 ** Open Book, Open Notes, Closed "other people" covering text, e-handouts, homework, and class discussion for the entire course. Your exam will be posted on WebTycho in the study group area by 0000 hours Maryland time (U.S. Eastern Daylight Time), 28 April 2007. You are to download a copy by 1200 hours that day. Your response is to be returned to your Assignment area of WT by 2400 hours Maryland time, 29 April 2007. Assignments: Review text, e-handouts and class discussions. Complete and turn-in your final exam by deadline. |
| Phil Richardson, phil.richardson@faculty.ed.umuc.edu, Revised 4 Dec. 2007 |