• Shelly ch 1
• Osborne ch 1 [on BB]
• Read syllabus topics, assignments, schedule and policies

• Beyer ch 1
• Bolloju, N & Leung, F. (2006). "Assisting novice analysts in developing quality conceptual models with UML." Communications of the ACM, 49(7), 108-112. 
• Elucidata, The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for Small To Medium Database Applications. (optional)
  

• Shelly ch 2
• Osborne ch 4 [on BB]
• Majchrzak, A. et al. (2005). "Managing client dialogues during information systems design to facilitate client learning." MIS Quarterly, 29(4), 653-672.

• Shelly ch 3
• Beyer ch 3
  
• Usability.Net, Contextual Inquiry.
• Braun, D. Use Case Diagrams.
  
• TBD: Additional readings for scenarios, use cases, use case diagrams

• Shelly ch 4
• Braun, D. Activity Diagrams.
• TBD: Additional readings for process models
  

• Shelly ch 8
• TBD: Additional readings for data models

• Shelly ch 6

• TBD: Readings for evaluation

• Shelly ch 7 and 9

• Shelly ch 10

• Shelly ch 11

• Readings TBD

• Readings TBD

• Readings TBD

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Instructional Methods

This course uses a variety of instructional methods and activities:

• Lecture and discussion based on the readings. The required text provides a foundation for information systems in general, and is augmented with readings relevant to library and information science.
• Small group discussions and paired critiques of work products.
• Hands-on exercises for skills development.
• A team project, including student presentation and critique.
• Classes are recorded (on a best-effort basis) and posted to BlackBoard for review.
• Collaborative learning - You will learn from each other by sharing experiences, knowledge and skills.
• Possible class meetings at client sites (will be arranged by the beginning of the semester).
• Feedback to and from the instructor. In-class and online feedback is an integral part of the learning and assessment process for both the student and the instructor.

Grading

Grades for this course will be based upon the following elements:

Final grades will be assigned as follows:

Participation - In class and online

Each class is critical to your learning experience. Your energy in contributing to class discussions, small-group exercises, and online activities and discussions will be important. Therefore, coming to class prepared (e.g., reading all course readings before class, working on project research, etc.) and actively participating will be necessary to receiving full credit for class participation. The readings are intended to stimulate questions in addition to providing information. It is a good strategy to make notes of questions and comments as you read – these can be useful contributions to the discussion.

Ungraded Excercises

Homework

Team Project

Students will gain practical experience applying the SDLC model and related techniques by undertaking a team project based on a real organizational need. You will gain experience working on a systems project in a group – which is a real-world requirement for most jobs. We will not undertake a complete project. Rather, the focus is on requirements analysis and specification and evaluation. Your group will present its work during the last two class sessions.

Each part of the team project must be posted or submitted by the due date at noon, unless otherwise noted. If it is not submitted on time that day, your grade for that part will be reduced by 10%. Each day it is late thereafter you will lose an additional 5% point (e.g., submitting one day late would reduce your grade by 15%).

Throughout the course, you will post your assignments to a personal or team web site. By the end of the course, you will have a portfolio that illustrates the knowledge and skills you have developed during the course. After the team project presentations, you will be asked to prepare a final version of your web portfolio. This will include a reflective essay that critically examines your experience – what you’ve learned, how your perceptions of information technology have changed, etc.

Submitting Assignments

All assignments are to be submitted electronically through the BlackBoard System or posted online as instructed.

Late work. The instructor will not accept late work except by prior arrangement. If accepted, it may not be graded until the end of the term.

Makeup work. If a student has a legitimate reason, such as a medical or family emergency, the instructor may allow a student to do makeup work. The amount and nature of the work is up to the instructor’s discretion. It will be graded at term’s end. Documentation of the emergency (e.g. a doctor's letter) may be required.

Place your name and email address at the top of all pages. Any work submitted with numerous grammar, spelling or format problems will be penalized.

Accommodations for students with disabilities: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact Disability Support Services (at 202 319-5211, room 207 Pryzbyla Center) to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. To read about the services and policies, please visit the website: http://disabilitysupport.cua.edu. The CUA guide for services and accommodations for students with disabilities can be found at http://counsel.cua.edu/ADA/publications/disbro/contents.cfm. Some basic guidelines and links to other information may be found at: http://counsel.cua.edu/ADA/clicks/.

COURSE POLICIES

Participation and Conduct:

Attendance is required, in keeping with university policy. Your class participation grade depends on being in class and actively participating in class and online. If you will be unavoidably absent, you must consult with the instructor as early as possible. Arrive on time. Late arrival will affect your class participation grades.

Behave respectfully. Students are expected to behave respectfully at all times: while in class, in public discussion forums, and when using email. Participation grades will reflect a student’s maturity level and professionalism; cooperation and collaboration with the class; and whether the meaningfully contributes to course discussions.

No phone calls during class. Turn off or silence cell phones and pagers. Students leaving the room for calls may not be allowed to return to that class session.

No grade discussions in class. Instructor will not discuss grades in class. First consider why the instructor deducted points. If you still disagree, explain your disagreement in an e-mail to the instructor.

Academic Honesty Policy

Please read, understand, and follow the “Academic Honest Policy” as written in the University’s Online Student Handbook at: http://studentlife.cua.edu/studenthandbook.pdf and on the website for the University’s Policies & Procedures at: http://policies.cua.edu. Catholic University of America’s definition of plagiarism includes: “intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.” It is expected that all students will adhere to accepted codes of ethical, personal, and civil conduct while in this class and conversing online, using e-mail, or engaging in any online chat sessions. Failure to meet these standards will have serious consequences: you will receive a zero on the project or exam in question, and will be reported to the Dean for possible further action such as an F for the course and a withdrawal from the program.

Catholic University of America defines plagiarism as:

“presenting the work of another as if it were one's own. It includes quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, or utilizing the published work of others without proper acknowledgement, or, where appropriate, quotation marks”

“… any unacknowledged use of another’s ideas constitutes plagiarism, including the use of papers written by other students, interviews, radio or TV broadcasts, and any published or unpublished materials (including web-based materials, letters, pamphlets, leaflets, notes or other electronic or print documents).”

from CUA’s “Academic Graduate and Undergraduate Student Academic Dishonesty” Policy, Section III., Categories of Academic Dishonesty. http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad//integrityfull.cfm#i

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Always cite your sources.

Syllabus changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as needed. All changes will be provided to students via BlackBoard.

Acknowledgements

Numerous syllabi were reviewed, including previous syllabi for LSC 741 from Deborah Barreau and Denise Bedford. Several readings and organizational ideas were found in Stephani Haas' syllabus for INLS 582.