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Information Technologies and the Information Professions

School of Information

The University of Texas

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Assignments

There will be three written assignments plus in-class and online contributions. Because this course has a large online component, students should expect to spend between 3-5 hours every week in online assignments. GRP indicates a group assignment.

Assignments will be submitted in PDF format using the "Digital Dropbox" feature of Blackboard, with the exception of the Web-based Presentation and a few of the online exercises. Email attachments of assignments is not permitted except in unusual circumstances and must be approved in advance. Assignments are due by midnight on the date indicated.

Assignment

Date Due

Percent of Grade

Participation in class discussion & online postings
Students will be expected to arrive in class prepared and having done the assigned reading. Students are encouraged to ask questions and discuss material in class. Each student will also be responsible for taking notes in class on at least one occasion and posting those notes online.
ongoing
10%
Online exercises
Students will complete various assignments online.
ongoing
15%
Problems and Potentials in Information Technology
(5-7 pages)
Students will research a current problem with Information Technology related to the students' areas of interest.
Feb 10
15%

Web-based Presentation of Research
Students will have to revise and post their papers in HTML. Students who are unfamiliar with HTML should familiarize themselves with it; converting files via Microsoft Word or FrontPage will not be acceptable.

Feb 24
10%

Perspectives on Information Ethics
Students will research and define current problems in information ethics.

April 6
April 13
15%
Technology Plan (25-40 pages) - GRP
Students will work in groups of 6-7 to create a technology plan. Additional dues dates for this assignment are listed on the syllabus and the assignment description.
May 11
35%

All assignments must be handed in on time, and the instructor reserves the right to issue a course grade of F if any assignment is not completed. Late assignments will not be accepted unless three criteria are met:

  1. At least 24 hours before the date due, the instructor gives explicit permission to the student to hand the assignment in late.
  2. At the same time, a specific date and time are agreed upon for the late submission.
  3. The assignment is then submitted on or before the agreed-upon date and time.

The first criterion can be met only in the most serious of health, family, or personal situations.

All of your assignments should adhere to the standards for written work; should be clear, succinct, and specific; and should be explicitly grounded in the readings, class discussions, and other sources as appropriate. You will find it particularly useful to write multiple drafts of your papers; I will be happy to review a maximum of one draft per assignment per student, as long as drafts are submitted at least 48 hours prior to the due date of the assignment.