***Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change. I will notify students of any changes, and students will be responsible for abiding by them. Even if you print this syllabus, please check the online version often.

Description

IST 110: Information, People, and Technology (3 credits) 

The use, analysis, and design of information systems and technologies to organize, coordinate, and inform human enterprises.

https://bulletins.psu.edu/search/?scontext=courses&search=ist+110

Prerequisites

• None

Objectives

Information, People and Technology presents the high points of education in the College of Information Sciences and Technology. It opens an intellectual journey through the ideas and challenges that IT professionals face in the world. It will address major questions such as:

• How can we use technology to organize and integrate human enterprises?
• How can technology help people and organizations adapt rapidly and creatively?
• What can we do about information overload?

Three perspectives (or facets) address the core issues:

• information or the basic science of data encoding, transmission, and storage;
• people or the interactions among technologies, institutions, regulations, and users; and
• technology or the design and operation of basic information technology devices.

Students completing the course will be confident users and consumers of information technology. Students will develop research and analytical skills to evaluate specific devices and understand how those devices function in larger socio-technical systems. Students will be able to predict and anticipate the impact of new technologies on human institutions and understand the potential impact of institutions on the use and design of information technologies.

The course employs an action-oriented approach. Students learn by doing—formulating and solving problems drawn from professional contexts, detecting and recovering from errors related to technology use, and locating, reading, and studying materials that support their analysis and problem-solving. Students will accomplish this by participating in group-based learning.

The course provides students with the opportunity to use, modify, and evaluate software to search for, frame, and express ideas with fluency. A variety of mechanisms are used to assess student performance. These evaluation methods typically include quizzes, homework assignments, group projects, and peer and self-assessment.

Instructor

• TBD
• Office Hours / Review Sessions:  TBD

Required Materials

You will need a windows or mac laptop that runs a manufacturer-supported current operating system.

Custom Zybook re-organized by Sarah Stager from Computing Technology for All  

How do students access the Zybook:  (The instructor should determine which option they want to have students use between the 2 options listed below. The Instructor should delete the option that they don't use.)

• Option 1 (if the Canvas Reading Checks were not linked from Zybooks):
  • Sign in or create an account at learn.zybooks.com
  • Enter zyBook code: (((Instructor Enter Your zyBooks Code Here)))
  • Click Subscribe
• Option 2 (if the Canvas Reading Check were linked to from Zybooks):
  • Click any zyBooks Reading Check assignment link in Canvas (e.g. "L01: Introductory Material Reading Check" or "L02: History and Basics Reading Check")
  • Do NOT go to the zyBooks website and create a new account
  • If needed, click Subscribe and pay the fee online.  It should be $64.

Assignments & Grading

Course Grading Scale

The following are minimum cutoffs for each grade:

• 93.00% = A
• 90.00% = A-
• 87.00% = B+
• 83.00% = B
• 80.00% = B-
• 77.00% = C+
• 70.00% = C
• 60.00% = D
• less than 60.00% = F

Course Policies and Expectations

• Changes - Please note that additions or changes to the syllabus as well as topics and the assigned readings/videos may occur as we move through the course, so always reference the Canvas Calendar and Module tabs for the most recent assignments, due dates, prep work, and events. When the professor makes a change to the calendar, they will notify students (via announcement and in class, if in Residence Instruction) and make the appropriate changes in Canvas.
• Logging into Canvas - Students are expected to log in to Canvas daily, to check for course updates, announcements, emails, etc.
• Emailing through Canvas - Students are expected to use Canvas for all course email communication with the professor and instructional assistants (if any). Students are expected to check their email and notifications at least daily. *ALL EMAILS TO THE PROFESSOR MUST INCLUDE THE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS, IF ANY.
• Individual and group assignments are to be submitted WITHOUT names. This is designed to minimize bias in grading.
• Group Assignments - See more information about expectations on each of the assignment pages. Students are expected to notify their group ASAP if they will be missing a group meeting, and/or unable to contribute or complete any group assignment. There are multiple group activities in this course.  Please make sure you are collaborating with the correct set of people.
• Lesson Quizzes - Quizzes will cover Zybook Lesson readings and topics covered. Quizzes are individual assessments. This means that sharing answers with others or using external materials, including websites, will constitute an academic integrity violation for all students involved.
• Attending virtual and group meetings - Students are expected to meet with their group as needed. Students may use specified virtual meeting tools (e.g. Zoom) for collaboration, meetings, presentations, etc., as needed and as specified by the professor.
• Discussion Forums - See more information about expectations on each of the assignment pages. Unless told otherwise, remember that the first post is due Thursday night by 11:59 PM (ET) and the additional 2 replies are due Sunday night by 11:59 PM (ET).
• Point Questions or Disputes - If a student has questions about why they did not receive full points for any graded assignment or quiz questions, the student has one week from the date that the assignment grade/comments were given to the student to email any issues to the professor. Point changes will not be made at the end of the semester.
• Late Submissions - Life happens, but time management skills are important.  Missing assignments may result in a zero, depending on the assignment.  Make sure to submit your assignments earlier than the deadline time, otherwise, it will be marked late.  Carefully check the due date time for assignments.  Most assignments are due at 11:59 PM (EDT).  Most assignments are 10% off per day late.  Pay attention to the time zone differences if you are not in EDT.
• IST peer tutoring program - The IST peer tutoring program provides a space for students to enhance their knowledge of course topics in an engaging setting. Tutoring sessions are led by a student with expertise in that course. Tutors will aid students by clarifying course concepts rather than re-teaching course material. Peer tutoring is available for 100 and 200-level courses taught within The College of IST. For additional information, visit the IST Tutoring Program Resource. 
• Academic Integrity - According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all coursework entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
  Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete coursework and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves in jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
  Students are not permitted to post or download any graded assessment (quiz questions, in-class activities, assignments, project reports, etc.) or course materials to or from an online website that facilitates copying/cheating among students, such as Course Hero or Chegg. Any evidence of posting or downloading graded assessments or using posted content to facilitate copying/cheating on graded assessments will constitute an Academic Integrity violation for all students involved.  TurnitinLinks to an external site. will be used on assignments.  Evidence of plagiarism will constitute an Academic Integrity violation for all students involved.  
  You must complete the work entirely on your own. You may not assist other students or use any online sites (e.g., Course Hero or Chegg), technologies (e.g., ChatGPT, language translators), tools, or sources that are prohibited. If you use any ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person or by generative technology, you must identify their source. You may not share any information about, or from, this assessment with others. If you have questions about these instructions, you should discuss them with your instructor before you begin. 

Emergency Notifications