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IS 585 - Information Technologies

Fall 2007

Links to week-by-week details
Week 1: 8/23
Welcome & Introduction 		Week 2: 8/30
End-user Applications 		Week 3: 9/6
The System Unit
– Assignment 1 Due 		Week 4: 9/13
Input & Output
– Config. Project Teams Finalized
Week 5: 9/20
Storage
 Week 6: 9/27
Systems Software & Security
– Assignment 2 Due 		Week 7: 10/4
The Internet
– Term Project Teams Finalized
 Week 8: 10/11
Fall Break
– No class meeting
Week 9: 10/18
Communications & Networking
– Config. Project Due 		Week 10: 10/25
Databases & Information Management
 Week 11: 11/1
Content Management Systems
– Assignment 3 Due 		Week 12: 11/8
Web / Library 2.0
Week 13: 11/15
Information Systems Development
– Presentations to stakeholders 		Week 14: 11/22
Thanksgiving Holiday
– No class meeting 		Week 15: 11/29
Project Presentations 		Week 16: 12/7
Project Reports Due December 7

Instructor: Robert J. Sandusky

E-mail: sandusky at utk dot edu

Office Hours: Thursday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST, or by arrangement

Meeting Time and Location: Thursday, 9:40 AM - 12:25 PM ET, HSS 68

Course Catalog Description: Evolution, trends, capabilities, and limitations of technologies applied to information capture, storage, preservation, access, and distribution.

Objectives: IS 585 provides a broad overview of information and communications technologies (ICTs) as well as emerging trends and techniques.

At the end of the semester, based upon your personal experiences and the class readings, lectures and discussion, you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the functions of and relationships between computer system components (hardware).
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the functions of and relationships between system and application software.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of the functions of data communications networks, including the Internet.
  4. Demonstrate, through completion of assignments and the computer system configuration project, the ability to identify, evaluate, compare and select hardware, software and network/communications components appropriate for supporting delivery of information services and resources.
  5. Demonstrate, through completion of assignments and the term project, knowledge of the architecture and components used to support current World Wide Web-based information systems.

Required Materials

Readings

There is no specific textbook for this course (but see Recommended Materials, below). Instead, readings will be assigned each week. Most will be available via the WWW, the UT library Web site, or the course Blackboard site. Some may also be available via course reserves.

Computing Requirements

Blackboard

The syllabus and other course-related information is available on the Blackboard system Online@UT at http://online.utk.edu/. This system provides support for asynchronous communications for the course. You will need your NetID and password to access the materials at Online@UT.

System and browser recommendations can be found at http://online.utk.edu/system_req.shtml. This page also provides links to other information about the system.

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Recommended Materials

Recommended Book

The following book has often been used as a required textbook for this course, and many students have found the book to be a valuable resource. This book will be on reserve at the library and relevant chapters will be noted in the recommended readings week by week. The book doesn't change a lot year by year, so the previous year's edition is quite relevant and considerably more affordable than the latest version. One disadvantage of this book is that it is Windows / PC centric.

Shelly, G.B., Cashman, T.J., & Vermaat, M.E. (2007). Discovering Computers 2007: A Gateway to Information, Web Enhanced, Complete. ISBN 1-4188-4370-9.

The Web site that supports the textbook is located at http://www.scsite.com/dc2007/ and provides access to the end-of-chapter material (summary, key terms, review questions, etc.) in an interactive format. Follow the registration instructions at the site to gain access to this site.

You may purchase this book at the University bookstore or through an online source. Be sure to check the ISBN number and make sure it matches what's listed above. The publisher sells other, shorter versions of this book.

Grades

Grades are based on assignments (30%), the PC configuration project (30%), class participation and attendance (15%), and the term project (25%).

Your presence and participation is vital to the success of this class: attendance and class participation are expected and do affect the "participation and attendance" portion of your final grade. If an absence is unavoidable, please e-mail me before the absence, if at all possible.

Class participation includes contributing during class discussions — sharing your thoughts and experiences about information technologies — and monitoring and posting to the asynchronous discussion boards (located on Blackboard) each week. The quality of your contributions is more important than the quantity of contributions.

Read the assigned materials prior to the class for which they are assigned, and be prepared to refer to passages or issues of interest to you during our discussions. Ensure your class participation by responding on Blackboard to the readings, and responding to others' postings.

If you have questions about the class, look at the "Questions About Class" discussion board. Please post your questions first to the class bulletin boards located on the Blackboard system at http://blackboard.utk.edu/webapps/login/ unless the question is of a confidential nature (e.g., grades). Sharing your questions is helpful because (1) other people may have the same or similar questions and (2) you may get a faster or better response from other people in the class. I will be reading the discussion boards almost daily.

The computer configuration project presentation is made near the middle of the term (please refer to the schedule) and is based upon information prepared in support of your team's computer configuration project. The computer configuration project is described in the assignments section of the syllabus.

There will also be a group presentation based upon the work you do for the term project.

You may earn extra credit by attending one or two of the following SIS-sponsored presentations during the semester:

Relevance in Information Science
2007 Thomson ISI Lazerow Memorial Lecture
Dr. Tefko Seracevic, School of Communication, Information and Library Science, Rutgers University
Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 11:30 - 12:30
UT Hodges Library Auditorium

Note that Eugene Garfield, famed information scientist and the developer of Science Citation Index will be present at Dr. Saracevic's talk. This is a wonderful chance to meet and talk to two of the most significant information scientists of our time in an informal and friendly setting! This is not to be missed!

Library Staff of the Future: Through A Crystal Ball
SIS Research Forum
Rebecca B. Vargha, Information and Library Science Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Friday, October 5, 2007 (time to be announced)
Location to be announced

Abstract:
What does the future hold for information professionals and librarians? Will the MLS continue to be required? In academic libraries on campus, what does the future look like? With increased outsourcing of cataloging and virtual reference what will campus librarians do? Will academic libraries simply operate out of a gigantic warehouse in a place like Dublin, Ohio? What is the future of corporate information centers and government libraries? The profession is literally evolving and the only constant is change. Join us for a look ahead, twenty years into the future. Let's imagine the year is 2026... and we are looking ahead.

Cascading Citations Analysis
SIS Research Forum
Dr. Dimitris Dervos, Professor at the Alexander Technology Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece
Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 11:30 - 12:30
Location to be announced

Abstract:
Dr. Dervos is the winner of the 2005 Thomson ISI Citation Analysis Research Grant for Cascading Citations Analysis. As the award citation states, "This project will test a new type of citation metric cascading citations Impact Factor in a scientific literature database. This highly innovative and mathematically sophisticated research initiative will attempt to solve difficult challenges in citation analysis and may yield important real-world applications. The research team combines the theoretical background needed to conceptualize the study with the systems expertise necessary to its successful completion."

Policy on late submission of assignments and projects: A minimum of 5% will be deducted from your grade for each 24 hour period your submission is late. Please contact me prior to any assignment or project due date (as far in advance as possible) in order to negotiate adjustments due to an emergency.

Final grades will be assigned as follows:

Letter Score (%) Semantics
A 92-100 Superior performance.
B+ 85-91 Better than satisfactory performance.
B 80-84 Satisfactory performance.
C+ 75-79 Less than satisfactory performance.
C 70-74 Performance well below the standard expected of graduate students.
D 60-69 Clearly unsatisfactory performance; cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
F 0-59 Extremely unsatisfactory performance; cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
I N/A A temporary grade indicating that the student has performed satisfactorily in the course, but, due to unforeseen circumstances, has been unable to finish all requirements. An "I" will not be give to enable a student to do additional work to raise a deficient grade. All incompletes must be removed within one semester, excluding the summer term. Note that requests for incompletes are not likely to be approved for undergraduate courses.

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Academic Integrity

University of Tennessee Policy: "The responsibility for learning is an individual matter. Study, preparation and presentation should involve at all times the student's own work, unless it has been clearly specified that work is to be a team effort. Academic honesty requires that all work presented be the student's own work, not only on tests, but in themes, papers, homework, and class presentation. There is a clear distinction between learning new ideas and presenting them as facts or as answers, and presenting them as one's own ideas. It is part of the learning process to incorporate the thoughts or ideas of others into one's own mind and presentations with the purpose of learning and enlarging on personal boundaries of knowledge." (Hilltopics: Student Handbook, 2006-2007, p. 40. Available at http://web.utk.edu/~homepage/hilltopics/HILLTOPICS2006-07.pdf)).

"The University expects that all academic work will provide an honest reflection of the knowledge and abilities of both students and faculty. Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of data, providing unauthorized help, and other acts of academic dishonesty are abhorrent to the purposes for which the University exists. In support of its commitment to academic integrity, the University has adopted an Honor Statement (see page 11)." (Hilltopics: Student Handbook, 2006-2007, p. 41. Available at http://web.utk.edu/~homepage/hilltopics/HILLTOPICS2006-07.pdf).

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Assignments

Assignment 1 – Software Evaluation

Introduction

One aspect of managing computer systems and services is the evaluation and selection of software. In this assignment you will evaluate two free systems available on the Internet that can be used to support the creation and management of Web content by end users. You will construct and perform this assignment in the context of an information use and creation setting that you define and recommend one of the systems for use in that specific setting.

Learning Objectives
  1. Based upon personal interaction with two different Web-based software applications, you will create a list of criteria for the software system evaluation and selection.
  2. By applying the list of criteria, you will compare and document the capabilities, features and suitability of the two systems in the use setting you have defined.
  3. Based upon the documented comparison, you will recommend one of the systems and provide a compelling justification for your selection.
Systems to Evaluate

Choose two of the following systems for your evaluation.

  1. iLabs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

    http://ilabs.inquiry.uiuc.edu/

    "A community Inquiry Laboratory (iLab) is a place where members of a community come together to develop shared capacity and work on common problems."

    "A CIL is most importantly a concept, not a technology in the narrow sense...."

    An iLabs tutorial is located at http://ilabs.inquiry.uiuc.edu/ilab/help/documents/431/home/globstudtutoriall.doc?draft=1&file_id=6.

  2. "Schtuff is a FREE Wiki service. A Wiki is a website that lets anyone easily create and edit pages, promoting group collaboration. Schtuff Wikis are called spaces."

    http://www.schtuff.com/

    List of the tools available in Schtuff is located at http://www.schtuff.com/Uses.

  3. "wikispaces wikis for everyone."

    "Create simple web pages that groups, friends, and families can edit together."

    http://www.wikispaces.com/

    Examples of wikispaces in use can be found at http://www.wikispaces.com/examples.

  4. "seedwiki: people make the web"

    "like email.... online meeting software.... publishing software.... spreadsheet or a database.... web portal.... social networking sites...."

    http://www.seedwiki.com/.

  5. PBwiki

    "Make a free wiki as easily as a peanut butter sandwich."

    http://pbwiki.com/

    Tour pbwiki at http://pbwiki.com/tour/1.html.

  6. wikidot.com Publishing Network

    "Our mission is to provide free and professional wiki publishing, collaboration and communication solutions to anyone who needs it and wants it."

    http://www.wikidot.com/

    Features are described at http://www.wikidot.com/features.

Software Evaluation Criteria Here are some ideas for evaluation criteria with which to start; you may add others as you see fit. You don't have to include all of these criteria. Your list should be customized for your defined setting.

Instructions Your deliverable will consist of (1) a written report and (2) the addition of a new thread to the Assignment 1 discussion board on Blackboard. The report will be submitted to me via Blackboard's digital dropbox, and the thread you create will be shared with the class. Sharing our work and results gives us an opportunity to learn how different students approached each system, and will let everyone see how all the different systems work.

The report should be approximately three pages, single spaced (about 1500 words) excluding any tables and figures. (Feel free to include screen shots, for example, to illustrate particular strengths or weaknesses.) The report should be well-organized and include clear comparisons of similar features in the two systems and identify important features that are available in only one of the systems. Imagine that the report will be read by the person or persons making the decision based on your recommendation (think: your boss). Take care to ensure that your report is well-written, well-organized, and that salient data is presented in a way that is useful for the reader. The report should include:

Your Blackboard thread should be titled with your surname / family name (e.g., "Sandusky") and the posting should include:

Finally, make respectful, supportive comments on a few others' threads.

Assignment 2 – Computer System Component Evaluation

Introduction

The evaluation and selection of system components is an important aspect of managing computer systems and services. In this assignment you will evaluate products from one component category that is being covered during this course. You may want to coordinate with your configuration project team members and use this assignment as part of the research you do in support of the computer system configuration project.

The two products you select should be specified down to a model number. So, comparing AMD to Intel processors is not specific enough: pick two specific models and compare them.

Learning Objectives
  1. Based upon your evaluation of information about two or more different products within a specific computer component category (e.g., motherboards, monitors, sound cards, etc.), you will create a list of criteria for the hardware system evaluation and selection.
  2. By applying the list of criteria, you will compare and document the capabilities, features and suitability of the products in the use setting you have defined.
  3. Based upon the documented comparison, you will recommend one of the products and provide a compelling justification for your selection.

Computer System Component Evaluation Criteria

Here are some ideas for evaluation criteria with which to start; you may add others as you see fit. You don't have to include all of these criteria. Your list should be customized for your defined setting.

Instructions

Your deliverable, to be submitted using Blackboard's digital dropbox, will be a report of approximately three pages, single spaced (about 1500 words) excluding any tables and figures. The report should include clear comparisons of similar features in the products and identify important features that are available in only one of the products. The report should include:

Here is a list of some of the components you might want to consider evaluating for this assignment:

Send me an e-mail if you want to choose some other kind of component that you don't see on this list.

Assignment 3 – Computer-based Training Systems Evaluation

Introduction

Information technologies continue to evolve rapidly. It may be necessary for information professionals to acquire new or refresh existing competencies to effectively provide services. In this assignment, you will explore one avenue for competency acquisition or renewal: either online computer-based training (CBT) courses or tutorials provided as part of application programs.

Learning Objectives
  1. Based upon selection and completion of one online computer-based training course, you will acquire or renew competency in one area related to information technology.
  2. Based upon completion of one CBT course, you will reflect upon your experience with CBT as a means for acquiring or renewing competency.

Instructions

The University of Tennessee provides the "Skillport CBT" site that contains many CBT courses. This site is available at http://oit.utk.edu/cbt/. You have to register, then you can log into the system.

You may choose another kind of CBT if you like, or if you are a Macintosh diehard (the UT CBT courses work only on PCs). One idea: you might want to work through the tutorial included in a software package. Dreamweaver 8, for example, includes a tutorial in it's help system entitled "Getting Started with Dreamweaver." Many software products include in-depth tutorials. Or, you might find a high-quality tutorial or course at another location on the Web (but please e-mail me for permission before you get started on it).

Your deliverable, to be submitted using Blackboard's digital dropbox, will consist of (1) a report of approximately two pages, single spaced (about 1000 words) excluding any tables and figures and (2) the addition of a new thread to the Assignment 3 discussion board on Blackboard. The report will be submitted to me via Blackboard's digital dropbox, and the thread you create will be shared with the class. Sharing our work and results gives us an opportunity to learn about a variety of courses and tutorials and different course formats. The report should include:

Your Blackboard thread should be titled with your surname / family name (e.g., "Sandusky") and the posting should include:

Finally, make respectful, supportive comments on a few others' threads.

Computer System Configuration Project

Due Date

See course schedule.

Introduction

The purpose of this project is to simulate the process of configuring a computer system that will meet specific needs within a given budget. Students will select one type of computer system from the list below and then choose hardware and software components for this system. The component selection process and the final system specification will be documented in a written report and an in-class presentation.

Project Teams

Students will normally work in self-selected teams of 3-5 members. Those seeking to form or join a team can post messages to the appropriate discussion board of http://online.utk.edu/. A mix of skills and knowledge as well as compatible schedules are good attributes to keep in mind as you form teams.

Once your team is formed, please send the team name, membership list, and the type of system you are configuring to me via e-mail. The deadline date for team formation is given in the course schedule.

Each team will be provided with an area within http://online.utk.edu/ to support their project. This area will be accessible only to members of the team, the instructor, and the GTA. You should use this area to document your individual contributions to the collective project. Note that some students find working with other freely available online tools preferrable to using Blackboard's collaboration tools. Examples are Google's collaboration tools ("Docs & Spreadsheets" (formerly Writely)) or a free wiki site.

If you would like to make use of the capabilities of Centra for a synchronous meeting, please let the instructor know in advance so that preparations can be made for your meeting.

Team members have joint responsibility for the final product and all members of a team will receive the same grade for the project. Teams are expected to negotiate the nature and extent of individual contributions to the project themselves. All team members are expected to contribute to the technical content of the project.

Most team members will be willing participants in the collective learning process. However, there are challenges to working in distributed teams and you should be prepared to address issues that arise. Tips for dealing with unproductive team members can be found in "Coping with Hitchhikers and Couch Potatoes on Teams," by Barbara Oakley, at http://ctl.stanford.edu/Tomprof/postings/441.html. Another, gentler source of ideas, "Small Group Expectations", by Pat Lawton, can be found on the course Blackboard site in the Course Materials section.

Resources

In selecting components for your system, assume that you will be assembling the system yourself rather than buying a customized system from a vendor such as Dell, IBM, etc. Links to price comparison tools and sites featuring hardware / software reviews are available in the External Links section of http://online.utk.edu/. A video clip, in RealMedia format) containing information about OEM and refurbished components is available from http://digitalmedia.utk.edu/redir/display/r/5529.rm.

Systems

Your group will choose one of the following systems to configure:

Report

The purpose of the report is to document the component selection process as well as the final system specification. Your report should include at least the following elements:

The report should contain no more than 2,500 words excluding the title page, executive summary and end matter. It should be sent to the instructor from the Digital Drop Box, located in the Student Tools area of http://online.utk.edu/, on or before the due date indicated in the schedule. Before submitting your group report, please enter the group name in the "Title" area and the file format in the "Comments" area of the file information section of the drop box. Make sure you press the "Send File" button to send the file to the instructor.

Acceptable file formats are:

Report organization, content, style and presentation will all be considered in assessing the reports, with organization and content being more important than style and presentation. Graded reports will be returned to you via individual drop boxes.

Your participation in this course indicates that you grant permission for your report to be made available to other course participants via http://online.utk.edu/. If you do not want your work made available, please let the instructor know prior to the project due date and make alternate submission and distribution arrangements. Student work will be removed from the course site following the end of the semester.

Presentation

The purpose of the in-class presentation is to give an overview of your group's project, the process you used, and your results. Prepare slides using a presentation program like PowerPoint. You must submit your slides to the instructor from the Digital Drop Box, located in the Student Tools area of http://online.utk.edu/, on or before the due date indicated in the schedule. Before submitting your group's slides, please enter the group name in the "Title" area and the file format in the "Comments" area of the file information section of the drop box. Make sure you press the "Send File" button to send the file to the instructor.

Each presentation should last no more than fifteen minutes and will be followed by a short question and answer session. Each team member should participate in the delivery of the presentation and to the discussion session.

You should practice the delivery of your presentation prior to the presentation event.

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Term Project – Content Management System Project

Due Date

See course schedule.

Introduction

This group project will involve groups of students working to identify, define, and implement a set of changes to a content management system (CMS) implementation supporting an existing community. Preparation for this project will begin early in the semester with most of the work with the community taking place later in the semester. This semester we will be using Drupal, an open source content management system.

A tentative outline of the activities that will be a part of this project

Accommodations

Students with Disabilities

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of the impact of a disability or you have emergency information to share, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 191 Hoskins Library at (865) 974-6087. The ODS coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. For more information, see http://ods.utk.edu/.

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Communications Policy

Please post your questions first to the class bulletin boards located on the Blackboard system at http://online.utk.edu/. Sharing your questions is helpful because (1) other people may have the same or similar questions and (2) you may get a faster or better response from other people in the class. I will be reading the discussion boards almost daily.

I am almost constantly on e-mail and will respond to your questions within 48 hours. Here are the methods you can use to get in touch with the instructor or the GTA.

Instructor: Robert J. Sandusky
E-mail: sandusky at utk dot edu
Office Phone: (865) 974-2785
Fax: (865) 974-4967

Graduate Teaching Assistant: Brandy Blaylock
E-mail: bblaylo2 at utk dot edu

Mailing Address:
School of Information Sciences
University of Tennessee
451 Communications Bldg.
1345 Circle Park Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-0341

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Schedule

August 23 (Week 1) – Welcome & Course Introduction

Due before class

Readings to complete for class

In-class activities

Additional resources

August 30 (Week 2) – End-user Applications

Readings to complete for class

In-class activities

Additional resources

September 6 (Week 3) – The System Unit

Due before class

Readings to complete for class

In-class activities

Additional resources

September 13 (Week 4) – Input & Output

Due before class

Readings to complete for class

In-class activities

Additional resources

September 20 (Week 5) – Storage

Readings to complete for class Updated! (Sept. 13, 2007)

In-class activities

Additional resources

September 27 (Week 6) – Systems Software & Security

Due before class

Readings to complete for class Updated! (September 19, 2007)

In-class activities

Additional resources

October 4 (Week 7) – The Internet

Due before class

Readings to complete for class Updated! (September 19, 2007)

In-class activities

Additional resources

October 11 (Week 8) – Fall Break

October 18 (Week 9) – Communications and Networking

Due before class

Readings to complete for class
Updated! (October 9, 2007)

In-class activities

Additional resources

October 25 (Week 10) – Databases and Information Management

Readings to complete for class
Updated! (October 9, 2007)

In-class activities

Additional resources

November 1 (Week 11) – Content Management Systems

Due before class

Readings to complete for class Updated! (September 19, 2007)

In-class activities

Additional resources

November 8 (Week 12) – Web / Library 2.0

Readings to complete for class

In-class activities

Additional resources

November 15 (Week 13) – Information Systems Development

Readings to complete for class Updated! (Oct. 31, 2007)

In-class activities

Additional resources

November 22 (Week 14) – Thanksgiving Holiday

November 29 (Week 15) – Project Presentations

In-class activities

Friday, December 7 (Week 16) – Project Reports Due

Project reports are due by 23:59 ET (11:59 PM) on Friday, December 7. Submit your group's report to the digital dropbox in Blackboard.

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Updated: 20071031. Copyright 2007 Robert J. Sandusky