Course Syllabus

TM 660 -- Computing and Information Systems Technologies

Mr. Michael McCarthy, Asst. Dean
Information Technology & Medical Informatics
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Course Rationale

The rapidly evolving and fascinatingly complex nature of computing and information systems poses a challenge to those who would leverage their benefits on behalf of businesses, institutions or communities. Those charged with the responsibility of managing these systems face the ongoing task of isolating the relevant and significant properties of computing and information system technologies -- those qualities which yield the benefits to their users -- and discerning emerging trends in their development. This course will provide an overview of computing and information system technologies in the areas of processors & platforms, communications and software applications, and will equip the student with the tools to evaluate the potential and future direction of these systems.

Pedagogical Philosophy

The format of this course makes a rather bold pedagogical assumption: namely, that knowledge is a social construct and does not have an independent and objective existence of its own. Many courses, even at the graduate level, approach learning as the process of pouring knowledge from one container (either a textbook or the instructor) into another (the student). You as students, however, are not empty vessels awaiting my pronouncements of wisdom. Neither am I an endless fount of knowledge awaiting your tap. Instead, we will approach the material and issues of this course in a cooperative fashion to our mutual benefit and improvement, struggling together to come to grips with the ever-changing field of computing and information system technology.

Course Objectives

By the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Articulate the significant properties of computing and information system technologies in the areas of processors & platforms, communications and software applications.
2. Discern and explain present and future trends in the development of computing and information system technologies in the areas of processors & platforms, communications and applications.
3. Synthesize the significant properties and developments in these areas of processors & platforms, communications and applications to create and defend a computing and information systems strategy which will yield benefits to an agency or institution.

Attendance Policy

Because of the nature of the course, your absence will diminish the quality of the learning experience for everyone. For this reason, you should make every effort to attend class and should discuss intended absences with the instructor in advance whenever possible (and as soon as possible afterward when not). You may be asked to provide documentation satisfactory to the instructor for any absences for which you request an excuse. Unexcused absences will count as two absences.  Unexcused late arrivals or early departures may be counted as a full absence. Absences in excess of two may result in a lowered final grade for the course. Note that you are responsible at the very least for submitting all assignments on or before their due date, regardless of whether you attend that particular class meeting. You are also responsible for all material, discussions, announcements, etc., made during classes, even when you are absent. Students who miss the midterm examination will have one opportunity to take a make-up examination on 12 April 2004. Technology briefing assignments cannot be made up except by special arrangement at the discretion of the instructor.

Readings

Assigned readings from the course will be taken from Gartner DataQuest and provided to students online. Additional readings may be assigned and provided throughout the semester.

Optional:  Students may elect to purchase PriceWaterhouseCooper's Technology Forecast (http://www.pwc.com/, search for "technology forecast"), the source of much of the structure and information for many course lectures.  The latest edition, 2003-2005, sells for $99 but lacks chapters for some parts of the course.  The previous edition, 2002-2004, comes in two volumes and sells for $49 for each volume.  Either would prove to be a tremendous asset to a technology manager, but neither are required for the course.  Selections from each volume relevant to specific lectures are noted on the course calendar.

Readings for the technology briefings can come from sources of your choice. You should vary the source from week to week and should also seek publications for some of your sources (rather than relying merely on industry publications or corporate websites). Peer-reviewed academic publications relevant to the course are available in several online collections via Marshall's library, including Business Source Premier, Emerald, Lexis/Nexis and netLibrary Ebooks.  Consult a reference librarian for assistance if needed.

Assignments

See the Assignments link on the WebCT VIsta course page for details regarding each assignment.  All assignments should be submitted via the WebCT Vista course page, and technology briefings should additionally be posted to the class email list TM660-List@marshall.edu.

Grading Policy

Your grade for the course will be derived from the following sources:

This syllabus is subject to revision as deemed appropriate by the instructor.  Revisions will be announced via the TM660-List@marshall.edu email list and a current version will be available on the WebCT Vista page.

Revised: 1/13/04

Revision History

1/13/04:  Added phrases "unexcused absences will count as two absences" and "unexcused late arrivals or early departures may be counted as a full absence" to attendance policy.  Corrected spelling of "available" in final paragraph.