IT 101 Course Syllabus

Back to Home Page

IT 101: Cornerstone of Information Technology

Fall, 2008

Professor:

Office Hours:

TA:

Text:

A REMINDER - The Information Technology course series forms a linear learning relationship. Your ability to achieve success with IT courses in the upper division areas begins with your ability to achieve mastery of the coursework at the lower division level.

Course Objectives:

Section A - Introductory Orientation

1. Know that IT is an academic discipline and is a profession
2. Acquire basic teamwork and project management skills
3. Get to know the IT faculty, faculty lecture series.

Section B - Applying Reasoning and Logic to IT Problems

1. Begin using basic design and problem solving skills
2. Acquire basic skills in using labs as part of the learning experience
3. Begin using Oral and Written communication in a professional manner.
4. Be able to reverse engineer a simple algorithm.

Section C - Working on the Technical Aspects of IT

1. Acquire basic IT terminology.
2. Be able to use basic IT tools at a beginning level.
3. Understand the pervasiveness of computer devices in our everyday lives.
4. Acquire a beginning knowledge of programming.
5. Acquire a beginning knowledge of networking.
6. Acquire a beginning knowledge of operating systems.
7. Acquire a beginning knowledge of database systems.
8. Acquire a beginning knowledge of web systems.

Section D - An Appreciation of Usability Interface Design

1. Acquire a beginning knowledge of human-computer interfacing.
2. Acquire a beginning knowledge of how data is represented in a computer (Bits, Bytes, etc.).

Section E - Looking at Information Assurances

1. Acquire a beginning knowledge of computer security and ethical issues.

Section F - Realizing your Potential by Following the Right Computing Discipline

1. Understand the difference between the four computing majors at BYU (CS, ECE, IS, and IT).

Attendance and Tardiness

Attendance is a professional expectation. Each lecture and lab is a scheduled topic. There are 9 scheduled labs. Labs are required to be completed in the time period scheduled. Labs are not open labs. This means they are only offered as scheduled. Please be on time and don't leave early; it is disturbing to others. If you don't attend class you are responsible for what you miss.

Homework/Labs:

Homework and Lab assignments are due one week from when the assignment was made. Grading will take place with the various instructors that teach the different lectures/labs. Late homework is counted off at 5% each day. Contact TA's to post homework up for you. 20% will be taken off of your lab report if you do not attened the lab session without a decent excuse.

NOTE: Attempt all assignments; a 50% on an assignment is much better for the average than a 0%

Research Paper/Presentation

A research paper is required by each student. You may select any subject that is technology related to research and Information Technology to complete your technical written report

The presentation paper will be done in teams of approximately four people per team. Your presentation topic may be selected from those technologies that represent or are related to Information Technology. The presentation will be a team presentation using a Power Point slide presentation.

Please get a verbal OK from me prior to starting. The team will also be presenting the research within the class. More information will be given for this project.

Grading:

Final grade is based on a percentage of possible points.

Weighting is a follows:

Integrity

Integrity is not only a professional expectation, but also something expected of all BYU students. You have agreed in writing to adhere to the standards of the LDS Church; integrity requires that you abide by this agreement. If I have reason to question your integrity you will be notified in writing. Cheating on tests, or plagiarizing, are serious violations of the Honor Code and professional integrity, and may result in failure of the class and even expulsion from the University.

Disabilities

If any student in this class has a need for special testing arrangements, note taking, or other accommodations please feel free to discuss this with the instructor. Accommodation letters from the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office will be required to authorize certain accommodations. The SSD office is located in 1520 WSC

Preventing Sexual Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is intended to eliminate sex discrimination in education. Title IX covers discrimination in programs, admissions, activities and student-to-student sexual harassment. BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to students as well. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please talk to your professor; contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895 or 367-5689 (24 hours); or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.