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 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 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. Students with excessive absences will not be given the "benefit of the doubt" in the case of a borderline grade at the end of the term. Note that you are responsible for submitting all assignments on or before their due date, regardless of whether you attend that particular class. You may, of course, submit assignments electronically via the course WebCT page.

Readings

Assigned readings from the course will come from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Technology Forecast: 2001-2003.  Menlo Park, CA:  2001.  This text can be obtained directly from PriceWaterhouseCoopers for approx. $70 by calling 1-800-654-3387. Additional readings may be assigned and provided throughout the semester.

Readings for the weekly technology briefings can come from sources of your choice. Some recommended sources are provided on the technology resources page.

Assignments

See the Assignments link on the WebCT course page for details regarding each assignment.

Grading Policy

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