Course:

CCS 335 Computers and Information Processing

Version: 

CCS335U3

Location:

St. Petersburg campus with learning teams to meet as agreed.

Schedule:

Monday evenings from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Calendar:

September 16 through October 14.

Course Description:

This course introduces the fundamentals of computer systems and the role of information processing in today’s business environment.  An overview is presented of information systems, systems development, operating systems and programming, database management, networking and telecommunications, and the Internet.

This course is based upon the University of Phoenix module (version CCS335U3) and adapted by the instructor to meet students’ needs. Changes from the module will be posted on the instructor’s website for this course. If there is a discrepancy between the module and the Instructor’s website for this course, the website will govern.

Instructor:

Kurt Madsen                                                                             (813) 991-0177

Email: kmadsen@mail.com                                       Website: www.madsen.us

Availability:

E-mail is the preferred method of communication. By telephone, please call Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Or, weekday evenings between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Biography

Kurt Madsen has worked as a software engineer, manager, and consultant in all phases of the system development lifecycle in the following industries: telecommunications, financial services, e-commerce, aviation, and healthcare. He has an M.S. in computer science from New York Polytechnic and a B.A. in economics from Rutgers University. As an Adjunct Instructor, he has taught computer science at the University of South Florida, College of Engineering.

2001 - Present.  Mr. Madsen founded MetaTech, Inc., a consulting firm that helps companies become more agile with respect to how their IT departments handle continually changing requirements. This is accomplished through recommended changes in architecture, process, and organization.

1998 - 2001.  As a Management Consultant at Perot Systems, he advised clients on e-commerce projects such as internet banking and e-marketplaces.

1993 - 1998.  At Salomon Brothers, a wholesale investment bank, he led the development of a Business-To-Business (B2B) integration product used by banks for electronic trade confirmation and securities clearance.

1986 - 1993.  He began his career at Nynex Science and Technology, an R&D laboratory, where he specialized in object-oriented technologies and distributed computing.

Books:

O'Brien, James A. (2003).  Introduction to Information Systems: Essentials for the e-Business  Enterprise (11th ed.) [University of Phoenix Edition].  Boston, MA: Irwin/McGraw-Hill.

Software:

You are required to have the software specified below:

·   Microsoft Office Professional for Windows. The relevant programs within MS Office Professional for this course include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access (database). The MS Office suite is used for the course because it is ubiquitous in business. If expenses are an issue, you may substitute alternate software such as Star Office (which is free) with prior written permission of the instructor. It is assumed that students have a basic working knowledge of this software. While some guidance on usage will be available from the instructor and fellow students, in-depth instruction in using these software applications is beyond the scope of this course.

·   An e-mail address.

·   Access to the Internet with a browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Konqueror)

·   Virus protection software (e.g., Norton Antivirus from www.symantec.com)

e-Resources:

University library selected readings page for this course:

URL:                    http://www.apollolibrary.com/srp/login.asp

User Name:          uphoenix

Password:            sp2no5

University of Phoenix Materials

University of Phoenix approved style guide

“Library Handbook.”  (Download from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu.)

 “Directions for Completing Learning Team Log.”  (This is available for download from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu.)

“Learning Team Log.”  (Download from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu.)

“Directions for Completing the Learning Summary.” (This is available for download from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu.)

“Learning Summary.” (Download from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu.)

Learning Resources

Students are highly encouraged to participate in using the learning resource center for research and study. The digital library is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is completely free of charge. Registration to use the digital library is required – Web Site: www.library.uophx.edu

Course Standards

UOP trusts each student to maintain high standards of honesty and ethical behavior.  All assignments submitted in fulfillment of course requirements must be the students’ own work.  All assignments except those designed as “group” is meant to be individual efforts.  Group work is meant to be equal efforts by all group members. It is assumed that students will perform professionally in preparing work required for this class. 

Plagiarism

“Plagiarism (from a Latin word for “kidnapper”) is the presentation of someone else’s ideas or words as your own.  Whether deliberate or accidental, plagiarism is a serious and often punishable offense” (Aaron, 1998, p. 258). Please review The Little, Brown Compact Handbook, 4th ed., pp. 329-333.

Grading of Written Work

All documents are to be typed, spell-checked and grammar checked, submitted double-spaced, and prepared in the proper APA format required for the program.  The instructor will use The Little, Brown Compact Handbook (3rd ed.) for format reference.   The attached “Standards for Written Work” can be used as guide to evaluate and weight the scoring of papers.

·   Assignments, both oral and written, will be evaluated on:

·   Completion of assigned task (instructions)

·   Submission of assigned task on time

·   Evidence of sufficient time spent appropriately

·   Quality of content and research

·   Presentation of material

Grading of Oral Presentation

Although the facilitator is evaluating your presentation, he/she is not your sole audience.  Be sure to engage your entire audience, in this case, your fellow classmates: Appropriate eye contact toward the audience; ask them questions or ask for their opinions.  Structure your presentation so that you address the following elements:

1. Motivate:  Why is this important?

2. Preview:  What specific points/topics are being covered?

3. Discuss:  Cover each point/topic with adequate support.

4. Review:  What was covered and how it applies.

The attached “Standards for Oral Presentations” can be used to evaluate and weight the scoring of your presentations.

Late Policy

All assignments are to be completed prior to the week in which they appear in the module or website. Assignments must be turned in the night that they are due. No emailed revisions will be accepted past the due date (without assessing a late penalty).

A 10% late penalty will be assessed for all late or incomplete work. All missed assignments must be made up by the next session. Assignments not submitted during next session immediately following the due date will receive a zero. No assignments will be accepted past the last night of the course.

An “I” grade may be issued if requested and approved by the instructor, before course completion.  The “I” must be made up within three weeks and the highest grade possible for those assignments is a “B”.  

Attendance and Participation

Since this course is only five weeks, students are strongly encouraged to attend all workshop and learning team sessions. Per university policy, students are allowed one workshop absence and one absence for learning team meetings during the course. AN INSTRUCTOR CANNOT ISSUE A GRADE OTHER THAN “W” OR “WF” TO A STUDENT WITH MORE THAN ONE WORKSHOP ABSENCE OR LEARNING TEAM MEETING. There is no approval for second absences.

Any absence will adversely affect the final course grade (e.g., attendance points, participation points, quizzes, and the late penalty as applicable). If there are assignments that are due on the night of the absence, and those assignments are not emailed to the instructor by the 6:00 p.m. that night, they will be considered late and the late penalty will apply. [The reason for this policy is that assignments may carry more weight towards the final grade than attendance and participation points. If it were possible to turn in assignments after 6:00 p.m., there would an incentive to miss a workshop if a student were running late with completing an assignment.]

Evalution Criteria

The final grade will be determined by a weighted average of the following evaluation criteria:

Grading Standards

Final letter grades and G.P.A. input will be determined using upon the following ranges:

Teaching / Learning Model

This course will incorporate faculty facilitation of theoretical content knowledge and its applications.  Student achievement of course objectives is evidenced by text-based discussions, individual written work, quizzes, oral assignments, and team work.  Through the accomplishment of projects, students practice and refine learned skills and evidence application of knowledge through product submissions for evaluation and grading.

Learning Teams

Students are encouraged to review the course module for instructions on the governance of Learning Teams, student responsibilities for the group, and themselves. Students will complete a “Learning Team Charter” for this course.   The “Learning Team Log” is an official attendance log to document activities and/or performance related issues.  Any Learning Team member who does not contribute risks loosing credit for the learning team evaluation criteria. The log should reflect the lack of contribution or performance and be agreed upon by the group

Learning teams are an extension of the classes and an essential part of the academic experience for students.  In addition to providing a supplemental learning environment for mastery of course content, learning teams also provide students with an opportunity to develop and refine teamwork skills. Students are expected to ascertain the location for their learning team meeting each week during the class session.  The instructor must approve the location as appropriate and conducive to learning.  At the first meeting of the learning team, each team should create a charter that will be reviewed by the instructor during the second class session. Each week, each learning team must complete a learning team log documenting each member’s attendance at the learning team meetings.  Non-attendance or attendance for less than the required scheduled time of Learning Team meetings by any individual student will be considered during the grading process for that student.  Non-attendance at Learning Team meetings and/or classroom meetings may result in course withdrawal and a "W" grade being issued.  Teams should create one unified log for the entire team’s activity each week that is signed by each team member.  Two copies of that log should be provided to the faculty member, so that one copy can be turned in for attendance and the other copy retained by the faculty member.