Kristi's Classes

IT2020
Implications of Information Technology

Welcome

The Legal Stuff

Please know that this is not the official syllabus for the course. You will get access to that in the Canvas classroom as soon as the course opens. This web page is designed to give you information that will help you be more prepared for the course before the term starts. Also, remember that the course description, outcomes, and content may be subject to change at my discretion.

Understanding Online Learning

People mistakenly believe that online learning is easier than traditional college. That is a misconception. Learning in general is hard. Online learning is even harder. You need to be prepared and understand that you are going to have to exercise skills that you may have not used before. To be a successful online student it takes a very specific set of characteristics, including:

Being self-motivated.
Having strong time management skills.
Being organized.
Being able to thorough read and comprehend what you've read.
Being proactive.
Having the ability to commit to the work it takes to be successful in your classes.
Being willing to ask questions when you don't understand or need help.
Being your own advocate for your learning.
Having the willingness to actively participate in your classes.

Before setting out on this journey, I highly recommend completing this module on Are Online Classes For Me?

Course Goals

Implications of Information Technology focuses on the impact brought upon our society by computers and their related technologies. In this course we wil discuss issues related to privacy, ethics, law, encryption, copyright, computer crimes, professional ethics and responsibilities.

Additionally, we will spend part of the class in groups investigating how these issues play out in the digital communities and virtual worlds that have become so prevalent online.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

Discuss how computing and information systems give rise to social issues and ethical dilemmas.
Recognize ethical issues that may arise from your Information Technology work.
Identify issues you may face as a member of a complex technological society.
Discuss the benefits offered by computing technology in many different areas and the risks and problems associated with these technologies.
Describe social, legal, philosophical, political, constitutional and economical issues related to computers and the historical background of these issues.
Discuss the arguments on all sides of a controversial issue, and argue convincingly for your selected position.
Describe the current social and legal developments related to Information Technology.

Course Materials

The textbook for this class is:

A Gift of Fire, Fifth Edition: Sara Baase & Timothy M. Henry Pearson
2018
Print ISBN: 9780134615271, 0134615271
eText ISBN: 9780134615394, 0134615395

You can purchase the text book through the UC Clermont Bookstore.

The technology that you will need for class is:

A computer with high speed Internet access
Access to our Canvas classroom.
Microsoft Office (comes with your student email account).
Microsoft Teams

Also, having some basic technology skills will be helpful for you to be successful in class. You should know how to:

Send email.
Attach files to emails and assignments in Canvas.

How This Course Works

This course will cover 9 lessons on various IT topics. The number of modules in the course will vary depending on the semester you take it.

It is conducted in an online format. You are responsible for reading the textbook and materials, and watching the videos in the Canvas classroom, taking quizzes and completing assignments, projects and discussions. Make sure to pay attention to due dates. Even though this is an online course, there are posted due dates for everything and submissions by the appropriate due dates are required.

Some modules will consist of reading material in addition to the textbook, other supporting media such as videos, websites and articles. Students need to watch the associated media and read the materials for additional information to explain the concepts in more detail.

Accessible documents are posted on the Canvas website. If you have specific accessibility needs, please let me know and contact Accessibility Resources.

Weekly participation is critical in this course. Participation means logging into the Canvas classroom, covering the material in the Weekly Modules, taking quizzes, submitting assignments, projects and participating in discussions.

I give feedback on all assignments. Students need to check Grades and click on individual assignment grades to check this feedback.

While many students enjoy and succeed in online classes, others find that online courses require more self-discipline. The research shows that students who keep current in online courses are more likely to succeed.

Learning is uncomfortable and we all need help from time to time. If you are struggling in this class, I expect you to reach out to me. That means, contact me through email, Canvas Inbox, attend online student help hours and/or call me. You will be expected to attend online and/or on campus student help hours so that I can work with you to cover the material you are not getting.

Tips for Success

Read the syllabus first.

Chances are the questions you have as you get started in the class are answered in the syllabus in the Canvas classroom. Check there first. I have tried to make it as comprehensive as possible. However, if you can't find the answer there, reach out to me so I can answer your question.

Log in early and often.

Make sure to log in early in the week to see what materials you need to read, what lectures you need to watch, what assignments need to be completed, and what their due dates are. From there you can plan out your study time.

Get into a routine.

Make it a habit of checking course Announcements, your Inbox, and any current discussion boards each time you login. If I need to communicate with you directly, I will send you an Inbox message. If I need to communicate with the whole class, I will post it as an Announcement.

Use the Canvas To-Do List and Calendar.

These tools can help you stay organized and keep you on track in your studies and submissions.

Submit assignments, discussions and quizzes early.

We are dealing with technology, and technology can be fallible. You never know when your power or Internet might go out, or you might experience a technical issue with your computer. Submitting early also helps you to not feel overwhelmed and anxious about keeping up with your work.

Communicate with me.

Sometimes it can feel like I'm teaching in the dark if I don't know what's happening on your end. I love hearing from you, and I want to be supportive and assist you in the learning process. You may find that you are struggling with a concept, feeling overwhelmed, or you just may feel isolated and need contact from someone else in the class. Reach out to me so we can talk about it.

How will my Learning be Assessed and Graded?

In this class you will have assignments, discussions, quizzes and a semester-long group project you will be completing. The topics covered in each module will vary according to what we are studying each week.

Once an assignment due date has been reached, that assignment will be graded. I strive to have all assignments graded within 5 days.

Assignment grades are entered into the Canvas gradebook along with any comments/corrections I leave on the assignment. You can check grades by clicking on the Grade link in the navigation bar in the Canvas classroom. Click on a specific grade to open that assignment grade up and view my comments.

This course uses the UC Grading Scale

A: 940 to 1000 points
A-: 900 to 939 points
B+: 870 to 899 points
B: 840 to 869 points
B-: 800 to 839 points
C+: 770 to 799 points
C: 740 to 769 points
C-: 700 to 739 points
D+: 670 to 699 points
D: 640 to 669 points
D-: 610 to 639 points
F: 0 to 609 points

Late Submission Policy

All assignments in this course have due dates. Assignments must be completed and submitted on time. Late assignments will be assessed the following late penalties: 1-3 days late: 5%, 4-7 days late: 10%, > than 7 days late: 20%.

Discussion boards are not accepted late. Discussions need to be completed each week in a timely manner because they specifically pertain to the topics we are studying each week.

Communication Essentials

Student Responsibilities

When asking private questions, please send emails, text messages, Canvas messages or phone calls. University policy requires that Canvas Inbox and UC email are the primary means of communication between faculty and students. It is advisable that you use your UC email for this purpose and that you check it often. If you choose to change your email in Canvas to a non-UC email it is your responsibility to ensure you check it frequently.
For phone calls, please call between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.
When communicating through email, please put the class number or name in the subject line.
When asking questions that can benefit the entire class, please use the Ask a Question discussion board so that everyone can benefit from the answer.
When participating in module discussions, check the rubric that is attached to the discussion and follow the guidelines listed to meet the participation requirements.
All students are expected to abide by the Online Communication Standards used in the course.

Instructor Responsibilities

I will respond to email, phone calls, text messages, Teams messages (outside of the scheduled Student Hours), and Canvas messages within 24 hours during the work week, and 48 hours on weekends and holidays. Sometimes email and other messages get missed. If you have not received a response, please try to contact me again.
For the Online Student Hours, I will be available during the posted time each week of the semester to answer questions and provide help or tutoring with assignments.
For questions asked in the course’s Ask a Question Discussion board, I will check those once a day and respond if someone else hasn’t answered the question first.
For module discussion boards, I read all posts. I also respond to a few posts, or I may make my own posts to provide information or ask a question about the topic.
For grading, I begin grading assignments, the day after they are due. I do my best to grade assignments as quickly as possible and strive to have all assignments graded within 5 days along with constructive feedback on the assignment.

My Committment to You

I realize that this is a very stressful time to be a student. We have had to deal with a great deal of upheaval and tensions over the last several years, and those don't seem to be easing anytime soon. Because of this you may be coping with more than you even realize. The way you feel will impact your ability to study and learn. Cut yourself some slack and remember that small successes add together to create big successes. I am committed to you to be as flexible as I can be during our journey together. I am here to guide you through this class, but I can also be part of your support system if you let me. We can be a team that works to keep you on track and makes you a successful student.

My Teaching Philosophy

Everyone uses information technology to a point. IT is a vast career field encompassing a variety of areas, and it is at the forefront of every major industry and service provided to society. It is an optimal area to consider for a career field. Chances are, because the field is so large, you will find an area of IT that is of great interest to you.

I believe that everyone is capable of learning, and that each of you brings a different perspective to our class which can then be brought into the IT career field. I believe that it is very important for you to engage with the class so that we can all learn from each other. There is something for each of us to bring to the table to enrich your learning.

I also believe that it is important not just to study the material, but to also learn how to use the concepts you will be working with. To that end, I do my best to give you real life examples and to explore and work with to see how these concepts work in the real world.

Our Agreement

What you can expect from me:

I do my best to create a course that is organized and designed to help you complete all of the course outcomes.
I do my best to create a variety of assignments that will be meaningful and help you understand and be able to apply the content you are studying.
I do my best to provide a safe learning environment where you feel supported and free to discuss your ideas with the class.
I will always be active and present in the class.
I will treat everyone equally and with respect.
I will reach out to you if I believe you need some help.
I am not perfect. I do make mistakes. I view my mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.

What I expect from you:

You will treat me and your peers with dignity and respect.
You will contact me if you see that you need support and assistance with a subject or the class.
You will communicate with me so I know how to best support you.
You will do your best to be active in the course and meet due dates.
You will strive to contribute to collaborative activities (discussions, group projects, etc.) so that other members of the class have an opportunity hear and learn from other viewpoints and ideas.
You will take it easy on yourself. Learning can be difficult, and you can expect to make mistakes. That is part of the learning process and how we grow and learn.

Equity Statement

In my classes, each student will receive the resources and support you need to be successful in your course. Your course is a learning community where I strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected and included, and can feel safe sharing their ideas and input. Each student brings their individual life experiences and perspectives to class. Hearing about these experiences and perspectives provides us a unique opportunity to learn from each other.

Where to Get Help

Course Help: Kristi Hall

Canvas Help: 1-855-745-4413

UC Tech Help: IT@UC

Tutoring Help: Learning Commons

Advising Help: Academic Advising

Accessibility Help: Accessibility Services

Counseling Help: UC CAPS

Veterans Help: Veterans Services

Financial Help: One Stop

Personal Help: UC Clermont Food Pantry

Career Help: Career Services Center