Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
Course Name / Introduction to Information TechnologyCourse Code / COL 270
Course Pre-requisites / None
Course Co-requisites / None
Credit hours / 3
Instructor’s Name / Frank Martin
Telephone / X3887 / E-mail /
Class Location / F8-1-027 / Class Time / Mon/Thur: 11:00-12:20
Office Location / ADM 1.129 / Office Hours / Mon/Wed/Thur: 2:00-4:00pm
or by appointment
1. Course Description
This introductory course is designed to lay down a foundation of knowledge in the area of information technology. The course aims to explain to students the principles of information and communication technology and their impact on people and organizations.
2. Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Course Learning Outcome / Program Learning Outcome (ZULO)Outline the history of computer hardware, software, the Internet, and the World-Wide Web / TL 1
Explain the impact of emerging IT and computer technologies and describe their role in society and economy / TL 1, 3
Identify the major hardware and software components of a computer / TL 1
Usea variety of IT tools and web-services to produce multimedia projects / TL 2, IL 2
Evaluate the security and privacy concerns that information technology raises in society and the impact of technology on the environment, people and culture / TL3,
CTQR 1
Please refer to Appendix A for detailed descriptions of Zayed University Learning Outcomes (ZULO).
3. Weekly Outline
Week / Topic / Readings (Textbook), MaterialsWeek 1
Aug 23rd / Welcome & Introductions
Syllabus and
Achievements Overview / Note: Always consult the COL 270 BlackBoard course associated with your section for the latest information and materials!
Week 2
Aug 30th / Memes, Pranks and Hoaxes / The Power of Internet Memes And
A Lot Of Fun Along The Way
India Attacked with SMS Tech.
Week 3
Sep 6th / Are we “Digital Dummies?” / Are We Digital Dummies
How Multitasking Hurts Your Brain
Are We Being Rewired
Week 4
Sep 13th / IT Changing our World / New Wave of Deft Robots Changing Global Industry
Quiz
Week 5-6
Sep 20th / Networking & The Internet
Eid break from Tue, Sep 22nd to 25th / Growth of the Internet
Week 7
Oct 4th / The World Wide Web / 10 tips for smarter, more efficient Internet searching
Week 8
Oct 11th / Achievement check & Discussions / Students submit achievements completed to date for feedback (not graded)
Group discussions to reflect on the material from first half of the course
Week 9
Oct 18th / Midterm / Course revision and midterm (30%)
See BlackBoard for a practice test with sample graded answers
Week 10-11
Oct 22nd / Security & Privacy / Is Big Brother Coming to Your Job?
Privacy in our World
Cyber Security in the UAE and ZU
Week 12-13
Nov 8th / Hardware / Introduction to Computer Hardware
Week 14
Nov 22 / Software / Software Basics
Teaching our Children to Code
Week 15
Nov 29th / Future of IT / 2045 and the Singularity
Nanotechnology, 3D printing
Achievements submitted for grading
Week 16
Dec 6th / Closure and Review
/ Course closure
Final review
Week 17 / Final Exam Week / See BlackBoard for instructions
4. Textbooks and Learning Materials
All course materials, tools and resources needed for COL 270 are available through the ZU’s Blackboard Course Management System and at various sites on the Internet. This allows the course to continuously evolve, adapt and appropriately reflect the fast-paced world of information technology. You are not required to purchase any books, software products or services in COL 270.
5. Assessment of Student Learning
Assessment Tools / Percentage / Description / Course Learning OutcomesAchievements / 30% / Course achievements are a set of IT-related tasks, or micro-projects, reflecting the range of topics addressed throughout the course. Students select and complete 6 achievements in each of the following categories: websurf, web tools, multi-media, active and PC. The full list of achievements and detailed instructions can be found in the Syllabus folder on Blackboard. / Usea variety of IT tools and web-services to produce multimedia projects
Quiz / 10% / The quiz covers material from class lectures and discussion and assigned readings for units 1-3. / Explain the impact of emerging IT and computer technologies and describe their role in society and economy
Midterm / 30% / The midterm covers material from class lectures and discussion and assigned readings for units 4-6 / Outline the history of computer hardware, software, the Internet, and the World-Wide Web
Explain the impact of emerging IT and computer technologies and describe their role in society and economy
Evaluate the security and privacy concerns that information technology raises in society and the impact of technology on the environment, people and culture
Final Exam / 30% / The final exam covers material from class lectures and discussion and assigned readings for units 7- 10, as well concepts or themes that run throughout the course. / Explain the impact of emerging IT and computer technologies and describe their role in society and economy
Identify the major hardware and software components of a computer,
Evaluate the security and privacy concerns that information technology raises in society and the impact of technology on the environment, people and culture
6. Pedagogy – Learning Process
Zayed University Pedagogical Framework
Zayed University is committed to fostering a student-centered learning environment that is characterized by the following approach to teaching:
1. Active and Varied: The ZU faculty member adopts a variety of active teaching-learning strategies, tailored to each learning task and to the intended learning outcomes.
2. Collaborative and Individual: Cooperative group learning tasks, as well as individual learning tasks, are integral to each ZU course.
3. Content-rich and Language-rich: Instruction focuses on the development of in-depth knowledge, along a continuum from richer-in-language in ABP, to richer-in-content in the baccalaureate and graduate programs.
4. Facilitated by Technology: Appropriate educational technology is integrated into every ZU course.
5. Interculturally attuned: Teaching in ZU requires global awareness, sensitivity to local culture, a commitment to developing intercultural competence, and a commitment to learning from students.
6. Interpersonally oriented: Successful learning at ZU is facilitated by building positive relationships with students, while maintaining professional demeanor and holding students accountable.
7. Learner focused: The ZU faculty member evaluates and builds on learner knowledge and strengths, while addressing learner needs.
8. Practical and Theoretical: Instruction lays solid theoretical foundations, as appropriate to the level of study, while having a real-world orientation.
9. Reflective: Instructors strive to be reflective educators who enable reflective and critical learning in students.
10. Supportive: The ZU faculty member fosters student dispositions of leadership, creativity, innovation, self-responsibility, and lifelong learning in a supportive learning environment.
7. Course Policies
· When a class is missed it is your responsibility to contact the instructor in order to gather the information that you missed from the class session.
· You are expected to be in class on time and remain for the scheduled class period. Classes will begin promptly at the scheduled time and you will be marked absent if you are late.
· Course documents (syllabus, readings, assignments, etc.), announcements and grades will be posted on the BlackBoard site for this class. This site can be found at http://courses.zu.ac.ae Students are expected to make use of this technology.
· You will be given assignments to complete throughout the semester. Your assignments must be your work and submitted by the deadline set by your instructor.
· Late assignments will be subject to a penalty as specified by your instructor.
· Please contact the instructor if you have a family emergency or medical reason for a late assignment.
8. Grading Key
Zayed University has adopted a plus/minus grading scale for all undergraduate and graduate courses.Based on Zayed University policy, the grade points and percentage ranges are assigned to each letter grade as follows:
Percentage / Grade / Grade Points90-100% / A / 4.000 / The highest academic grade possible. This grade is not automatically given to a student who ranks highest in the course, but is reserved for accomplishment that is truly distinctive and demonstrably outstanding. It represents a superior mastery of course material and is a grade that demands a very high degree of understanding as well as originality or creativity appropriate to the nature of the course. The grade usually indicates that the student works independently with unusual effectiveness and often takes the initiative in seeking new knowledge outside the requirements of the course.
87-89% / A- / 3.700
84-86% / B+ / 3.300
80-83% / B / 3.000 / Denotes achievement considerably above acceptable standards. Good mastery of course materials is evident, and student performance demonstrates a degree of originality, creativity, or both. The grade usually indicates that the student works fairly well independently and often demonstrates initiative.
77-79% / B- / 2.700
74-76% / C+ / 2.300
70-73% / C / 2.000 / Indicates an appropriate level of competency in the course’s basic learning outcomes. It is the grade that may be expected of a student with an average level of performance who gives to the work a reasonable amount of time and effort. This grade implies understanding of the content of the course, acceptable mastery of course material and learning outcomes, and completion of all requirements. The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) to earn a baccalaureate degree from Zayed University.
67-69% / C- / 1.700
64-66% / D+ / 1.300
60-63% / D / 1.000 / Denotes a limited understanding of the subject matter, meeting only the minimum requirement for passing the course. It signifies work that in quality or quantity falls below the average acceptable standard for passing the course. Performance is deficient in analysis, synthesis, and critical expression. There is little evidence of originality or creativity.
0-59% / F / 0 / Indicates inadequate or unsatisfactory attainment, serious deficiency in understanding of course material, or failure to complete the requirements of the course.
9. Attendance Policy
Students shall be required to attend all classes, practical sessions, seminars and examinations related to the courses in which they are registered.
Absence from Class
· A student who misses 5% of the class meetings allotted for a course will receive a warning from the Chair/Assistant Dean of the College/Department.
· A student who misses 10% of the class meetings allotted for a course will receive a second warning from the dean of the College.
· A student who misses more than 15% of the class meetings allotted for a course will fail the course. If there is a legitimate reason for the absence, which has been accepted by the College Attendance Appeal Committee in the semester in which the absences occurred, the student will be allowed to withdraw from the course; be given a Withdrawal with Failure grade for the course; or be given permission to continue and complete the course. In cases where a satisfactory withdrawal or a Withdrawal with Failure grade is decided, the student may have to repeat the course.
a) If the decision is that the student is allowed to withdraw from the course, a grade of W will be assigned for that course. In case the student receives a W in a pre-requisite course, he/she should pass this course before registering for the subsequent one.
b) If the decision is that the student is given a Withdrawal with Failure grade, a grade of WF will be assigned for that course.
c) If the decision is that the student is permitted to continue and complete the course, the student must have earned a grade of C (or equivalent) or higher in the course being taken at the time of the appeal.
Reference: ZU policy and procedure ACA-ADM-06 Attendance.
10. Zayed University Honor Code
“In the Name of God Most Gracious Most Merciful”
As a student of the University that carries the name of the beloved and revered father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahayan (may his soul rest in eternal peace), I pledge to:
· Demonstrate the virtues of honesty, respect and fairness
· Adhere to the highest standards of personal moral conduct
· Refrain from any and all forms of academic dishonesty
· Present a positive image of myself by acting with maturity and honor
· Take responsibility for my actions and do my part to maintain a community of trust
· Dedicate myself to the achievement of the University’s excellence
I promise to honor Sheikh Zayed and to preserve his legacy by following the example set by the wise and beloved father of the United Arab Emirates
11. Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as if it were one’s own.
Examples of plagiarism include the following:
· Copying another person’s work either word for word or making some changes but keeping the structure, much of the language, and main ideas the same. Even if the work is not published, it should be treated as someone else’s work and not one’s own work.
· Buying, borrowing, or otherwise obtaining and handing in a paper, project or course assignment as if it were one’s own.
· Turning in someone else’s paper as if it were one’s own is strictly prohibited, even if the paper is enclosed in quotation marks. A large part of a paper cannot simply be quotations.
· Allowing someone else to edit, rewrite or make substantial changes in one’s work and turning it in as if one had done it all, without acknowledging the other person’s contribution and without prior permission of the instructor.
· Using someone else’s words or ideas without crediting that person.
- If a student uses someone else’s words, he must identify them by putting quotation marks around them and citing the source.
- If a student downloads a picture from the Internet, he must cite the source of the picture.
- If a student paraphrases someone’s work, he must specify the source of the statement.