mist2090coursepolicies.html
URL: www.terry.uga.edu/~jaronson/mist2090/


MIST 2090
Introduction to Information Systems in Business
JE Aronson's Section
Additional Different Course Policies
Read Before You Ask

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PNC Park (Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates), Looking across the Allegheney River, Pittsburgh, PA, August 2004


This document explains and clarifies the course policies for my section(s) of MIST 2090.


Summary of the Most Important Course Policies That May Differ from Other Course Sections


Personal Responsibility: This policy essentially summarizes them all: Because you are an adult, you are responsible for your actions.

Active Learning: You are an adult and are responsible for your own learning. Take charge.  I have given you an environment and a set of tools that work in practice. Use them to maximize learning. Do what you need to do to learn the course material. Read the book before class.
Computer Literacy: Become computer and information literate. Learn how to use the Microsoft Office Applications Excel, Word, Powerpoint, and Access.
Class Participation (Not Attendance): I am concerned with performance and participation. Attendance points do not  exist. There are a few participation points. Some are from turning in chapter and other exercises. You may attend at most 3 SMIS meetings to make up participation points, one per meeting.
Course Behavior Policy: Our specific Course Behavior Policy and my specific Policy appear in the course syllabus. Basically, we expect you to respect class members and instructors. Two strikes and you are dropped from the course. No exceptions. This policy is part of making the classroom environment work by reenforcing your active learning processes.
Course Laptop Computer Policy: Our specific Course Laptop Computer Policy and my specific Policy appear in the course syllabus. Laptop computers may only  be used in class for note taking. I do not require a signed contract. If you are doing anything other than note taking, you will leave the classroom the first time. The second time you will be dropped from the course. No exceptions.
Cell Phone: The first time your cell phone or pager beeps in class, you leave the classroom. The second time it rings, you are dropped from the course.
Course Seating Policy: There are no assigned seats in this course.
Lectures: Lectures certainly involve some formal lectures. They will also involve software demonstrations, videos, group activities, cases, panel discussions, question and answer, and role playing exercises. We also attempt to get relevant external speakers and panelists. The goal is active, not passive learning.
Index Cards: You must use 3 x 5 inch index cards for in-class exercises. This is the only valid size card. No PostIt cards. No paper. These count for class participation.
WebCT Announcements and Email: You must check WebCT for announcements and its email. All course email is through WebCT. When you email me, your subject must include "MIST2090: " followed by a meaningful subject; you must also include your name in the message (preferably as a signature). If there are multiple course sections and it is relevant to your message, or you are not in my section indicate your instructor's name, too.
Lost Files: You are responsible for not losing your files. Back up your work and submit it on time.
USB Flash Drive: You must own a USB Flash (Jump, Key) Drive and you must use it to back up your work. These are very inexpensive.
Course Buddies: You need at least two course buddies to rely on if you miss class. Don't contact me unless you miss an exam or a lot of classes.
Makeup Exams: The optional final is the makeup exam. If you miss an exam, you must take the final to cover those points. Your excuse for missing an exam must be documented and valid.
Late Homework depends upon the assignment or project. The standard policy is that material may be submitted up to 12 hours late for a 50% penalty; after then a 100% penalty.
Weather Class Cancellation: If the Clarke County Schools are closed due to bad weather, class is cancelled. And, obviously if The University is closed, class is cancelled.
Articles and Materials: Course-relevant articles and material are posted to the WebCT course site. These generally will cover material relevant to Information Systems/Information Technology or careers in the area.
Academic Honesty: The University's Academic Honesty Policy is strictly enforced in this class. Follow it. It is very unpleasant for all involved when infractions occur.
Course Updates: Course updates are only done on the WebCT courseware site.
Disclaimer: All documents related to the schedule and the syllabus should be viewed as a plan, not a contract.
Note: Much of this stuff is essentially obvious to most of you. The material is included for several reasons.



Table of Contents

Syllabus Disclaimer
Quick Summary of What Generally Makes the Course Work and Worthwhile
Participation Policies
Assignment Policies
Exams and Quizzes Policies
Grading Policies
Course Procedural Policies
Learning Performance (Success) Policies, Issues and Ideas
Recommended Courses and Activities for MIS and Other Business Majors
Acronyms and Readings
Final Notes


Syllabus Disclaimer

'The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be neccessary.'

This syllabus, including Course Policies, FAQs, and other documents, outlines a plan and so it should be viewed as tentative. It is designed so that we can plan ahead. Thus, the syllabus is a guide as to how we shall proceed through the course; not a contract. Some University rules / guidelines may supersede information in this syllabus. We shall attempt to stay on track and minimize changes. I will attempt to be alert to anticipated changes, and be timely in announcing or considering them. Students are always responsible for staying up to date on changes (check your email and WebCT Announcements regularly). Be Alert! Details, as always, will be provided in class, by email, and/or through WebCT.

While I recognize that much of what is in this document is obvious, it exists due to University Rules requiring explicit statements of policies, and many people don't read their course policies and are then surprised as to why the course does not work for them.

I know this is a long document. I have spent uncountable hours thinking about, creating and refining these policies over several decades of teaching. A lot of refinement took and continues to take place in updating these as content and times impact the evolution of policies, and as better approaches to creating an environment of excellence for learning are discovered or invented. Do read these: They will improve your course performance and save you a lot of time.


Quick Summary of What Generally Makes the Course Work and Worthwhile
(Note - Even though many of you already know your best approach towards learning; here is a set that works well in practice.)
  1. Take ownership of your learning: be active in your learning.
  2. Come to every class - even if you are late.
  3. Read the book and other material, in advance of class. Try the programs as well.
  4. Keep up.
  5. Turn your phone and/or beeper off before coming to class.
  6. Pay attention and take notes (on paper by hand because it activates a learning center in your brain).
  7. Never surf the Web, use Facebook, or check email in class. Feel free to take notes electronically. It is actually more effective to write with a pen or pencil.
  8. Practice peer learning. Communicate regularly with your Course Buddies.
  9. Commit to the class.
  10. Try things out. Experiment.
  11. Focus on learning the material, not on attaining a specific grade as a course goal. A good course grade ideally will be the result.
  12. Follow the instructions of the assignments, exams and quizzes.
  13. Be flexible and honest.
  14. Enjoy yourself.

Some additional things that are helpful to do and/or know:
  1. Learn to write well.
  2. Learn to present well.
  3. Class is cancelled if either The University cancels classes, or Clarke County School classes have been cancelled due to bad weather.
  4. Get at least two course buddies.
  5. Check your email, course Announcements, and the course Calendar daily.
  6. Follow the UGA Academic Honesty Policy.
  7. Stop using alchohol or illegal substances (these affect learning).
  8. Adopt a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition and regular exercise (these affect learning).

Participation Policies

Participation (Not Attendance): We do take attendance seriously and it is important to come to class. Education research shows that the most reliable indicator of success in classes is attendance (especially on exam days). Class attendance is an essential part of your learning experience. This class relies on hands-on participation  through in class activities and software. You cannot participate unless you are in attendance. On the other hand, you are an adult and are responsible for your own learning. Take charge. I am concerned with performance and participation. Attendance points do not  exist. A few participation points do. Sometimes participation  involves all class members; sometimes only a few individual class members. Some participation is recorded as in-class exercises. Sometimes there will be class surveys; group activities; and more.

You can substitute up to 3 participation points by attending a Society for Management Information Systems (SMIS) meeting for each point. SMIS is an on campus student organization. See www.ugasmis.org for the schedule and organizations. You must sign in with your name and indicate your instructor's name to verify that you attended. Class participation is especially important when we have a guest speaker.

I expect that you will attend classes and be responsible for obtaining information from missed classes from other students [course buddies] (this includes announcements, software information, handouts, schedule updates, changes to due dates, etc.). That is why you will have at least two course buddies (see below). So clearly  it is important to come to class to participate, and to contribute.

Contact me only if you miss an exam class, or if there is an issue because of which you miss several classes.

Please make every effort to come to class (unless you are ill), even if you don't pay attention, as this is the most important factor towards determining your grade. And do come late (not too often) instead of skipping class. I want you here. On the other hand, if you plan to pursue other activities during class (Web surfing, disturbing your neighbors, emailing, messaging, telephoning, etc.), then do not come. I will  not repeat a lecture (that's why you have course buddies and we announce what we are covering in the class, and possibly to the WebCT course site).

First Class Day: The first class is a real class. I will be there. I expect you to be there. We cover the structure of the course (definitely worth knowing) and perform some participatory exercises. If you miss these, you do not earn participation points for the first day, whether you were or were not enrolled in the course. Thanks for coming and showing your interest in the class. Look at the Day 1 Activities document to see what we did, and listen to the audio file of the classes.

Audio Files: I attempt to record every lecture. These are for you if you need or want them. Early in the course, I may post them to WebCT. Eventually I will post them to University iTunes.

Summary of Participation Issues and Attendance: Coming to class (unless you are ill) and paying attention are the most important factors towards determining your grade (not through the specific points you earn; through your performance on exams and assignments). Attendance counts. If you miss class, check course announcements, the audio file, the daily activities, your email, and get with your course buddies to find out what happened (see below).

Extended Illness: We adhere to The University's Policies on Extended Illness - either physical or emotional. If this applies to you, get professional help first. Worry about this course later (when you are up to it, email or call; then do get documentation and when you are healthy see me).

Course Buddies : This idea seems a little unusual. It has proved effective in improving class performance and learning. Identify at least two class members to be your course buddies. Exchange complete contact information with them. You should be able to rely on your course buddies if you miss class or come late. They should pick up any material passed out (except for graded materials), give you copies of their notes, including announcements made in class, and discuss with you what we did that day. This applies if you are late for class as well. They should never indicate that you are in class when you are not. So, get with your course buddies if you are late or miss class. This is important because you should not simply wait to connect with your Instructor, nor should you expect him or her to replicate the class for you.


Assignment Policies

Purpose: The primary purpose of Assignments is to aid in learning the course material. They provide practice and exposure to relevant material, and demonstrate working knowledge of the course material. They are like the practice required before the big game or like the rehearsals required before a play. Assignments vary in terms of complexity. All Assignments are required and have specific due dates and times. 

(This applies to all Instructors' sections:) Some assignments in this course are individual work. This means that you are not to solve problems together or compare answers prior to turning in the work. You may help each other in understanding concepts; not in actually doing the work. Some in-class experiental work, cases, and possibly software-based assignments involves teamwork, and so groups will be formed. I this case, you work together and the scores on the assignment reflect everyone's work. Do note that many courses in the Terry College require teamwork and typically team members evaluate each others' performance. Nonperformers can be dropped from a team during the semester with my permission, and nonperformers must earn zero credit for the group work (and ocassionally flunk courses and/or do not graduate as a consequence). Receiving credit as a nonperformer is a violation of The University's Academic Honesty Policy. Giving credit to a nonperformer is a violation of The University's Academic Honesty Policy. Be a functioning team member and communicate well.

Follow Instructions: If not, penalties ranging from 1% to 100% may be incurred.

Late Assignments: Assignments have specific due dates and times. Electronically submitted assignments are due in the designated location at the specified date and time due. Do NOT email the files to your Instructor. Do NOT email the files to your Instructor. Do NOT email the files to your Instructor. (This is deliberately repeated!) Late homework is accepted only subject to the conditions indicated in the syllabus. Generally there is a 50% penalty and only within 12 hours of the due date and time. If we have to track down your files on your computer, and the date/time stamp is ok, it is still penalized or simply not accepted. Once the solution to the assignment is discussed in class, the percent deduction is automatically 100%. There are no makeup assignments for those not turned in. See the Main Course Assignment Policies.

Soft Copy Assignment Format: Details appear in each Assignment statement. Always ensure that your name appears somewhere in the correct location in the document (usually in the filename and at the top of a cover sheet). If it is a team project, ensure that all performing team members' names appear in the correct location in the document.

USB Flash (Jump) Drive: My section requires you to have and use a USB (Flash/Jump) (disk) Drive to back up all your coursework. These inexpensive devicescan save you a lot of grief.

Lost Files: These are your responsibility (if you forget to save your files when working on software, they may disappear). Backup your assignment files early and often. Be sure to back up the exact, specific files that you submit for grading. Remember where you put them. Copy them to your USB jump drive. You can also use your MyID drive space. When you get home, copy the files to your home PC. Instructors and TAs are not responsible for tracking down your lost files. They may attempt to find them. Once you shut down a UGA PC in a lab classroom or the SLC, all files saved on its hard drive disappear.

Important File Submission Caution: When you are doing computer-based homework, typically (for Word, Excel, and maybe Powerpoint; NOT Access) you have an open file that you will periodically save. If you have not closed the file, make changes in it and then submit it, the previously saved version will be submitted. For safety's sake, close all files before submitting them. CAUTION: When using the Microsoft Office Access database software, you MUST EXIT ACCESS to close and save the file (always remember where your database files are being saved). If you don't, the file you submit will be empty. And if you email it to yourself (while it is open), the filename will be attached, and the file will be empty.

Non PC Computers (like the Apple MacIntosh) often have compatibility problems with software, files, and formats. We recommend that you DO NOT USE such computers for any coursework. You are responsible for handling incompatibility problems.

Non Office Application Software Packages (like Open Office) often have compatibility problems with files and formats. We recommend that you DO NOT USE such software for any coursework. You are responsible for handling incompatibility problems.

Exams and Quizzes Policies

Exams: See the policies for the Main Course. The optional final exam is the makeup exam. You must provide a valid excuse with documentation for missing an exam. You must bring and show your UGA ID card when you turn in an exam for grading. No exceptions.

Quizzes: There are none in my section.

Ballcaps: Because we want to see your smiling faces and get to know you,   no ballcaps are permitted during exams and/or quizzes (there is only one exception).

Lost Files: See "Lost Files" under "Assignments" above.

Extra Credit: Unless it is a specific assignment or quiz or exam question, I never administer extra credit work. To be fair, it must be available to everyone in the class.

Tips for Preparing for an Exam: See the Test Taking Preparation and Strategies document.


Grading Policies

Grading Information: Appears in the "Grading Information" page.

Grade Reporting: To facilitate accurate and timely grade reporting, and to make them available to class members, anywhere/anytime, grades will only be posted electronically on the Course WebCT Web Site (the Grading Area is secure). The weights and total points reported by WebCT are meaningless in establishing grades. Also the scores reported for an assignment submitted to WebCT may be in a different assignment from the submission one.


Course Procedural Policies


Lectures: Through my research on knowledge management, I have learned that using Powerpoint in lectures is ineffective. Our brains are not wired for bulleted points; our brains are wired for stories. Lectures certainly will necessarily involve some formal lectures. Lectures will also involve software demonstrations, videos, group activities, cases, panel discussions, and role playing exercises. We also will have some storytelling (including cases and articles). We also attempt to get relevant external speakers and panelists. The goal is active, not passive learning. Everything in the textbook may not be covered in lecture. Additional material may be covered in lecture. You are responsible for reading the relevant portion of the book before class. It is well-written and easy to follow.

Daily Assignments: To get you involved in reading the book prior to class, I will periodically assign questions from the chapter or other sources for you to answer and submit. Be prepared to discuss your answers in class. Thes count towards the In-Class Quizzes or Exercises portion of the course.

Course Behavior Policy: Our joint specific Course Behavior Policy appears in a separate course document. Read them carefully and take them seriously. My additional policy is that the first infraction results in you being expelled from the classroom; the second infraction results in you being dropped from the course.

Professional Behavior and Norms: I view this course as being partly responsible for inducing your academic and professional growth to maturity. You must take responsibility for your own learning, and for your behavior at a professional level. So for example, when I get an unsigned email message with a subject like "Re:" or "Hey about the homework", it tells me something about how seriously you are involved in both the course, and in your own education. The same applies if you ask about something that is blatantly stated somewhere in the syllabus documents. We have spent countless hours structuring the course policies in a way to make the course environment work for all of us (for more, read Teacher Man: A Memior by Frank McCourt). We want the course to work for all of us, and for it to be a rewarding, educational experience for all of us. Help us out by following directions, starting with reading all course documentation and paying attention.

Course Laptop Computer Policy: Our specific Course Laptop Computer Policy appears in the course syllabus. Read it carefully and take it seriously. Laptop computers may only  be used in class for note taking. You must fill out, sign and turn in a contract indicating that you will follow these rules. If you are doing anything other than note taking, your permission for laptop computer use in the classroom will immediately be revoked. No exceptions.

Cell Telephone Policy: Turn your cell telephone off before class begins. Cell telephone beeping does interrupt the flow of class. Consequently, if you use your cell telephone, you will leave the classroom. The second time your cell phone rings in class, you will be dropped from the course. Cell telephones may never be used during an exam. If you expect an important call during an exam, give your Instructor your phone.

Course Seating Policy: There are no assigned seats in this course.

Electronic Communication (Web, WebCT and Email):

Web: Initially, I place the informational content course material (syllabus, schedule, policies, etc.) on the Web at www.terry.uga.edu/~jaronson/mist2090/ . This material will not be updated.

WebCT: Most course information, materials, and announcements will be electronic at the course WebCT site. This is where the  official set of material for the course  is. By being registered in this course, you will have access to WebCT at webct.uga.edu. You simply login and can access the materials for your course. Your WebCT login ID is your MyID. Your WebCT password is the password that you use for your UGA email account (MyID). WebCT has its own internal email system. In WebCT, under Communication or Email, you can email the entire class, the Instructors, or specific individuals. It is important for you to check WebCT for announcements and to check your WebCT email.

Announcements will be regularly posted to the WebCT site (only) as will Assignments and other course information and materials. Check the WebCT site and your email daily. Instructions on how to submit files electronically in WebCT are elsewhere.

Email: All course email is through WebCT.

Whom to Email: If you have a question about an assignment (understanding it, etc.; not about scoring), please email or call your course buddies first. And if it involves software assignments or tutorials, contact any Lab TA, or instructor. If you think that you are about to email about something that is explicitly stated already in a course document, do try to look it up first using the software help system. You are responsible for checking your email, and the WebCT Course Site for Announcements every day.

Email Notes (Important): If your question can be answered by any instructor, try me first. You can email the other instructors, or cc my message to them  instead. Make sure you include in the subject your instructor's name if you email an instructor who is not your lecturer. Also include a meaningful subject and put your name in the message. For all course email correspondence, you must start the subject with "MIST2090: " and include a meaningful subject. You must include your name in the message. I will not respond to email without that information.

EMAIL SUBJECT FIELD: This issue is hypercritical only if you expect me to understand and respond to your emails. It is important to indicate in every email message about or for the course, context about what you want or need information about. I teach several courses simultaneously, so when I see a message with a subject of "Re:" or a message asking about "the assignment due Tuesday," and the message isn't signed (and especially if there is no way to figure out from the email address who you are), I probably will have no idea what you are asking me about, and we'll either play email tag until I do or I will just delete the message as meaningless. The reason is that the context and information about the question is hypercritical for me to understand what you want. So, precede the Subject field of all course emails to the class, and me with "MIST2090: " and include something about what the subject really is. You MUST do this. (Actually, you need for you to do this if you expect me to answer your questions.) Subjects like "Assignment" or "I have a question," or "Re:" indicate very little. The email client software might automatically filter these out as spam and discard them before I even see them. Do put your name at the bottom of the message (always sign correspondence (another expected common courtesy) - in this case, electronically). These are expected common courtesies in business communication. The burden should never be on the recipient to figure out who you are and what you want (and if you are dealing with a software issue, try using the software's help system first. If you email, attempt to contact a Lab TA in the lab classroom).

Multiple Sections of the Course: There may be other sections of this course being taught concurrently by the same or different instructors. Even though these courses may share common assignments, exams, etc., these are separate and independent courses. The schedules, topics, books, assignments, etc. should be assumed to be different. For example, if one instructor announces the availability of some document or scores posted for an assignment, you cannot assume that to be true for any of the other instructors' sections. You may only attend the section for which you have registered unless your instructor indicates otherwise. The same applies for exams. It is important to note that grade determination in each section is considered separate and independent.

Computer Lab Classroom Use: It is disruptive to have others in the room during our designated class lab times, so, we devote the room 100% to you. (Note: you must respect other classes being held in the Lab classrooms as well.) When we have lab hours scheduled, the lab classroom is entirely devoted to our class.  If you find someone from another class working in the room during our designated time, ask him/her politely to leave, or let us know, so we can ask the person to leave. Likewise, when another class is in session, do not even think about using the room for our class. Some lab classrooms are available for general lab use when no classes are using it. However, students from classes other than ours also use the Lab classrooms to complete homework, so you need to start your homework well ahead of time (at least 3 days in advance). Waiting until the night before an assignment is due is a sure key to disaster and high stress levels.

Withdrawal: If you drop this class before the end of Drop/Add, then it never appears on your transcript. Following this, you may withdraw from the class at any time and you must receive a grade that appears on your official transcript. If you withdraw up until The University's designated Withdraw Date (around the Midpoint of the Semester), you will receive a "W" if you have obtained at least fifty percent of the points to date in the course; otherwise you will receive a "WF." If you withdraw after that date, you must receive a "WF" grade (sorry - "Rules is Rules!" (Ayn Rand)).

Drop or Withdrawal: Please also let me know directly if you drop or withdraw from the course, and include your email address, your student ID number and MyID information so I can drop you from the WebCT Course site.

Academic Honesty: 'As a University of Georgia sudent, you have agreed to abide by the University's academic honesty policy, "A Culture of Honesty," and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must meet the standards described in "A Culture of Honesty" found at: www.uga.edu/honesty. Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable explanation for a violation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.'

We appreciate the fact that honesty runs rampant in our classes. We strive to have a culture of complete academic honesty. Thus, The University’s Academic Honesty Policy is in effect (available at www.uga.edu/honesty/. It is each student's responsibility to be informed and aware of The University's official academic honesty and dishonesty policies. Technically, this means that each student must read the policy and comply with it. Infractions cannot effectively be defended with statements such as "I didn't know that was prohibited." If an alleged incident occurs, the situation will immediately be documented and sent to the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs for processing, and your grade in this course will be an NR (Not Reported) until the matter has run through due process. Officials in that Office will directly contact all parties involved. Do NOT contact your Instructor about the incident. If you have any questions, refer to The University’s Academic Honesty Guidelines in The University of Georgia Publications for more details on the rules and procedures). If you have questions about specific acts and whether they are academically honest or not, please contact me or the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (see link above). Specifically the only group work is that which is designated as team work in the class. All exams and many assignments are individual work. In general, if you think it might be dishonest, it probably is. Again, we do appreciate your honesty. Here are some specifics relating to this course:

When taking a closed book exam, everything except exam materials must be off the desk/table.
You may not use email or cell phones during class at any time.
You may not surf the Web, unless you are accessing a permitted Web site.
You may not receive credit for work you did not do.
You may not give a nonperformer in a team credit for work not done.
A nonperformer in a team may not receive credit for work not done.
You may not plaigerize.
You may not copy work from othe students or their assignments.
You may not submit work other than your own.

We do want to point out that the Academic Honesty Policy does not apply to helping someone understand basic concepts, explaining to someone the interpretation of an assignment, or clarifying how to use software outside of class. It applies to direct intervention in producing materials turned in for grading (exams, quizzes, assignments, etc.). Please do help each other in learning concepts and methods. This can save valuable time and aggravation, and really reenforce your own learning. If you have any questions, just ask.

Bad Weather Cancellation: If the Clarke County Schools are closed due to inclement weather like snow, ice, heavy thunderstorms or tornadoes, class is canceled. Unfortunately, The University's official policy does not consider the fact that I cannot get out of my driveway if the roads are so bad that the county schools are closed. We can reschedule canceled classes. WNGC's (106.1 fm) Web site (www.1061wngc.com) should have the cancellation announcement, as hopefully will the main UGA Web site (www.uga.edu), and any other related site.

Here is part of the official University statement about cancellation: When winter weather threatens, faculty, staff and students can learn of changes in UGA's hours of operation from a variety of sources. Up-to-date information will be posted on the UGA home page (www.uga.edu) and more detailed information can be found on the UGA Today Web site (www.uga.edu/news).

Athens-area cable subscribers can tune to channel 15 for further information, as well.

People can also tune to one of these Athens radio stations for up-to-date UGA closing information:


 Office Hours: We take office hours very seriously and will make every attempt to be there. Occasionally events preventing us from being there do occur (illness, meetings, emergencies, etc.). If we know about these in advance, we shall announce this to the class, email you all, and set up a WebCT Course Announcement. If you need to see us outside of office hours, please check with us before or after class, or email or call to set up an appointment. Dropping by may or may not work, because generally all faculty have other teaching commitments, meetings and research activities. Please be patient. We will make every effort to help you out. You can drop by to see any Lecture Instructor during his or her office hours. Likewise, you may ask any Lab TA for help during the designated lab hours.

Physical (and Emotional) Disabilities: We adhere to The University's Policies on Disabilities (in fact I go beyond them). If you have a disability (whether obvious or not), please inform your Instructor about it (details will remain confidential - in the case of emotional disabilities/issues, do not go into details beyond existence and what is necessary and how it can be worked out within The University structures), and discuss any special needs that you have and how to go about meeting them. We appreciate additional information regarding your situation and suggestions as to how we can accommodate you.

Course Evaluations: We do run a course evaluation towards the end of the course. I do like to get feedback well in advance to improve the course as we go. Several times I plan to run midcourse surveys. Fill them out. They are important. Though not every suggestion can be implemented,  I do want your feedback, anytime, so, please provide it. [Please note that input is acceptable with no retribution. I have never, nor ever will act dishonerably toward anyone with honest feedback. I appreciate the feedback.]

Questions: Just ask, either in or out of class. Don't be shy. If it's tangential to the course topics, we can discuss it outside of class. Generally if we're in the office, we're available.

Problems/Issues: If you have any problem(s) or issues that may impede your performance in this course (especially medical, emotional, or learning complications), please bring it to your instructor's attention as soon as possible. He or she will be as flexible as possible to make this course work for you.


Learning Performance (Success) Policies, Issues and Ideas

Take Responsibility for Your Learning: You have reached a stage in your education where you are responsible for your learning, in terms of trying to figure out what works, and what does not work for you.

Active Learning is preferable to passive learning, because it has been shown through educational research to be more effective. Some parts of the course will be traditional lecture along with experiential exercises and online demonstrations. The labs (tutorials) involve hands-on work in Microsoft Office productivity software packages.We are looking forward to working with you to provide as favorable a learning environment as is possible, and there are a number of ways you can improve your course performance and learning. Most are based on the notions of Active Learning, implying that  a student is responsible for his or her learning , and commits to it. I have created an environment and given you a set of tools that work in practice. Use them. Do what you need to do to learn the course material. Here are some time-proven active learning tips.

Attend Class: Come to every class (unless you are ill). Attendance is critical for learning. Seriously. It is important. See the course Attendance Policies.

Pay Attention.

Take Notes: Education research indicates that taking notes involves a cognitive process that requires you to understand what you are writing. It reenforces the learning. This is true even in a computer course. Note taking tends to work best with paper and pen/pencil.

Plan on Paying Attention in Class: You would think this is a no brainer...... You really need to put yourself in the right mind frame in order to 'receive knowledge.' Assume that I'm trying to get you to learn in the best possible way, and go with it. This concept connects well with two areas that I have touched on in the past and present. The first is how in ancient Colombia and Peru the natives prepared to learn from their shaman/teacher. They had a specific way of sitting on the ground. This helped to put them in a meditative state that symbolically and physically prepared them to receive deep knowledge and understanding. The second is from a book written by a Stanford theater professor, Patricia Ryan Madson. In  Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up, one of her premises is to continually ask the question "What is my purpose right now?" And then focus on how this influences everything you should be currently doing in the here and now (a focus tool).

Get Course Buddies and Communicate with Them: Your Course Buddies are your best link with the class, especially if you miss a class.

Discuss Material with Peers: Discussing ideas and programming concepts may seem strange; in practice, any discussion reenforces learning. One way to prepare for an exam is to get together with your course buddies and go through the solution of several problems together. By teaching each other, you all learn better.

Pace Yourself: Keep up. Put in the amount of time that you need to in order to master the material (this varies by individual). Do not fall behind. The course does move quickly and it is extremely difficult to catch up if you fall behind.

Learning Computer Skills: Computer skills improves with practice. The topic is like any tacit knowledge-based material. To master it requires repetitive experiential (hands-on) learning. This is why we have designated lab classroom time.

Read Material in Advance: Educational research also shows that if you read the material before class you can perform better in class, and, gain a much more solid understanding about the material. Do read the material before class, not just after class or just before an exam. It is extremely difficult to engage in intelligent conversation when you know little or nothing about the topic being discussed. It is also difficult to ask intelligent questions about the material without reading it in advance. Please read the material before you get to class to maximize learning. Also, try to implement the tutorial work. Then, be prepared to actively participate in class. Time and again, we indicate at the start of a class that this is critical for learning. At the end of each course, we ask our students "What could they do to improve their learning?" and around 80% indicate that they could "read the book before coming to class." So, believe us now or believe us later. Better yet, take this idea to heart and just do it. Also, if you ask questions in class about material in the text that you should have read and did not, you are wasting everyone else's time.

Faculty and Student Contracts: With active learning in mind, I have created a Faculty Teaching and Course Conduct Contract to outline my basic approach to teaching and conduct. I view this as a contractual agreement in describing what I will do to maximize your learning. [I spent over six months developing this concise set of statements, and have only made a one word change in over 10 years.] Clearly, there are student-centered responsibilities as well. To truly maximize learning, you, as a student in the class, must take responsibility and for make a commitment to your learning. You own it. (This deliberately repeats earlier material.) The first step is to create similar contracts that describe learning and conduct (yes - a promise to learn ). I recommend that you type one up, sign and date it and refer to it every couple of weeks.

Faculty Teaching and Conduct Contract: I promise to try to do anything feasible to provide a constructive, positive learning environment so that you, the students in my class, can learn and master the course material and requisite skills. I shall attempt to keep us on schedule, and minimize disruptions and changes in the assignments, exams and course schedule. I shall attempt to do our best to test out the assignments, projects, exams, quizzes etc., and to notify the class about changes in a timely manner. I shall endeavor to report grades in a timely manner. I shall make every attempt to be in my office during office hours. I shall attempt to continuously improve this course and our teaching. I shall behave in a professional and honorable manner at all times when teaching this class, when meeting with students, and during office hours.

Student Course Learning and Conduct Contract: I expect that, as a student in this course, you can create clear goals and describe appropriate behavior so that this course will be a positive experience. I also expect that as a student in this course, you can express a clear and reasonable statement of conduct in this class. Again, I recommend that you  type up this contract and keep it in mind as we move through the semester. Among other activities, we suggest that you promise to read the book material before coming to class.

Course Success Tip: Technological Change: There is one very important aspect about technology - Change. Change is always with us. Change is inevitable. Change is constantly present. You always have change (unless you need it for the bus or a vending machine). Things change. Even implementing a new or updated information system (including a spreadsheet) at an organization introduces change. Hardware and software evolve. Concepts change. Web sites change continuously (a fact of life - just do a search if you find a "bad" link). Sometimes things that the textbook or your Instructor will demonstrate might not quite work the way you saw it. Please be patient about in-class demonstrations. At home or in the labs, things may be slightly different. And, I like to learn from you, so I may try things (for the first time) that you suggest. The real key to succeeding in this environment is to expect change, be flexible, and go with the flow. I will do everything possible to minimize the risks of things not working. If things fail, I will try to develop quick, usable work-arounds (another good reason to come to class).

Chinese Learning Success Proverb: This wise and ancient Chinese proverb about learning goes roughly like this:

1. Tell me and I’ll forget.
2. Show me and I might remember.
3. Involve me, and I’ll learn.
Pure wisdom about the best way to master the material about computers and computing.

One issue in learning computing skills is that given enough time, anyone can master them. Some people take longer than others. Be patient.

Recommended Courses and Activities for MIS and Other Business Majors

This list will come as a bit of a surprise to many. These courses are useful for MIS, and even any business major in his/her future careers. When you earn a degree with a major in the Terry College of Business, employers expect you to be competent in your discipline. These courses take you beyond that.


Acronyms and Readings

Acronyms: Many people, especially computer novices, feel that the world of computers has a vast number of acronyms. It seems like computer people are using a whole different language (they probably are). I have put together a fairly comprehensive list of acronyms  (www.terry.uga.edu/~jaronson/acronyms/acronym.html). 

Readings: Much of today’s technology appears in science fiction writings, movies, and television shows in the past (have a look at Jules Verne’s work). For example, many envisioned flying heavier than aircraft (first demonstrated in 1903 - and in Luckenbach, Texas around 1880), space flight (Verne wrote about it a long time ago), light beams with incredible power (lasers), time travel and teleportation devices. Recently, laboratory work produced: 1) successful teleportation of a beam of light (reported in December 1997 by a group of Swiss scientists), and 2) detection of very small particles traveling backward in time. I have put together a list of suggested science fiction (and managerial) works (www.terry.uga.edu/~jaronson/readings/readings.html). There was an article about a development of a cheap, consumer product for scanning brainwaves in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, August 9, 2008. The product was released for video games in mid 2008. In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday, August 11, 2008, there was an article about "Being invisible closer to reality." Scientists at UC Berkeley have developed a mechanism that can currently cloak small 3-d objects.

Information Technology Situation Comedy: The Independent Film Channel (www.ifc.com) broadcast the TV Sitcom The IT Crowd in the Spring 2009. How many other of the Terry College majors have their own TV show?


Final Notes

The most interesting thing that a student once said at the start of the first class about why he was in the class was: "It's because I didn't do all those things you just mentioned so I could succeed in the class. I flunked it last semester and I'm here now." What we have included in the Course Policies, Course FAQs, and the rest of the Syllabus and Course Materials is information about how to succeed in the course. I am very much looking forward to your (and a bit of my) learning information systems and information technology. I know that together we can make this an enjoyable and beneficial experience!

I do recognize that there is a lot of material here. It is hard to be complete and concise. I have tried to push out any replicate information. Let me know if you find duplicates so I can improve this document. And if you have presentation ideas for this material, let me know.

Do check the course FAQ document for some clarification to 'frequently asked questions.' It is shorter than this document.

Finally, if you have ideas about what might work better for you or others in the class, bring them to my attention. I'm always open and to and appreciative of suggestions that will help you learn and for my continual learning. Do let me know.


Maintained by JE Aronson
Last Modified: August 16, 2009