Course Syllabus

INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS (SPEA)

SYLLABUS

SPEA V261, SECTION 1696: TECHNOLOGY IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Fall Semester: August 23 to December 19, 2016

Class Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 to 2:15 PM, Raintree Hall, Room 211

 Bulletin Course Description:

SPEA-V 261 Technology in Public Affairs (3 cr.): An introduction to computer applications in public affairs. Topics include basic terminology, core concepts, and issues associated with managing operating systems, designing networks, and applying user information technology to public affairs problems. Issues of security and ethics in computing are also considered. Note: CREDIT WILL NOT BE GIVEN FOR BOTH SPEA V261 AND CSCI A106.

Instructor: Richard Underkofler, B.S., M.A., University of Iowa

Email: runderko@iun.edu

Office Phone: (219) 980-6695   Home Phone: (312) 550-4478

Office Hours: 2:30 to 3:45 PM, Tuesdays and Thursdays or by appointment at the SPEA Offices, Dunes Medical Professional Building, Room 2101.

Required Text & Technology Application:

Textbook: Beskeen, David, et al, Microsoft Office 365 & Office 2016 - Introductory, Illustrated Series, Loose-leaf First Course + SAM Key Bundle. ISBN: 978-1-337-20625-9 © 2017 Cengage Learning, Boston, MA. The text is on 2-hour reserve at the Campus Library Circulation Desk.

Skills Assessment Manager (SAM): SAM is a Web-based application that measures task based proficiency in use of the Microsoft Office applications. Students will be accessing SAM directly through Canvas in the class Modules link. Click on the link “Technology in Public Affairs” to access exams and assignments. Click on the link “Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Office 2016” to open an e-version of the textbook. Click on the link “Cengage Technical Support” to receive help with a problem you may be having with the application.

Computer Hardware, Accessory & Application Requirements:

• Students may use personal computers for this class, but Windows 10, Office 2016 and an Adobe Flash Player must be an installed application to launch SAM assignments. A WinZip application is necessary to extract partially completed SAM data files for assignments. Operations in the textbook and SAM will be somewhat different for Apple equipment users. If using an Apple device, some instructions may vary. Using equipment available in the campus computer labs or the library is highly recommended.
• Acquire and use a USB Drive (a/k/a Flash Drive) or another type of external storage to copy and frequently backup data files to organize and save your work on the
• IUN students may download free Windows 10 and Office 2016 software (32 or 64-bit) for installation on personal computers at http://iuware.iu.edu. For personal computer system requirements, see “Operating Systems” on the IUware website and “System Requirements” on the SAM Home Page.

Getting Started and Using SAM:

• Go to Modules in Canvas for a link to this class in SAM. 
• Enter your SAM Key Code.
• Set up your profile.
• Join Section 1696 (Fall 2016).
• Whenever returning to this course, go to Canvas Modules and reload the page to access SAM.
• If you will go to [http://services.cengage.com/dcs/samskills/start/resourcelist/], you will find a wealth of materials to assist your use of SAM. This site contains training resources, user guides and helpful videos.  

Course Overview: This is a Learning Technology (LT) Course intended to provide students with intensive task practice using learning technologies, in their major field, with substantive feedback. A student enrolled in this course will learn Computer Concepts and how to use the Microsoft Windows 10 and Office 2016 applications. No prior computer experience is assumed or necessary.

Objectives of this Course: The outcomes for an LT course require IU graduates to use appropriate technologies as a tool to solve problems and to accomplish tasks; demonstrate the ability to use and learn new technologies; use computer and application technologies effectively and appropriately to communicate information in a variety of formats; and to use appropriate technology resources to identify and evaluate information, create and transfer knowledge. The text and use of SAM will provide a variety of course activities to accomplish these outcomes and to provide opportunities for students to create relevant learning technology artifacts.

After successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

• Organize files and folders with Windows
• Search the Internet using Microsoft Edge or another Internet Browser
• Create, edit and format Word Documents
• Use Desktop Publishing and Mail Merge
• Format Excel Workbooks
• Use Excel Formulas and Functions
• Enhance an Excel Workbook with Charts and Graphs
• Create, build, maintain and query an Access Database
• Use Access to Create and Modify Forms and Reports
• Create, apply, and modify text and graphics in Power Point presentations
• Integrate use of Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint applications

Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes:

Class Participation: Students in this class will have a range of computer literacy. Some will be “rookies”; others will be proficient in some of the applications from previous school or work experience. Assessment of a student’s learning will be partially based upon in-class review and discussion of assignments. Students will be randomly selected to make a class presentation of an assignment over the term of the semester. Class session attendance is important for receiving personal and hands-on instruction on how to correct errors made on the initial submission of assignments so they may be resubmitted for a better grade. 10 grade points per class session will be available for attendance and participation. Points awarded for class participation may range from “0” if absent without prior notice; “5” if absent with prior notice or tardy; to “10” if present for class on time.

Assignments: This is a labor intensive course that requires use of the textbook and SAM. Homework assignments must be submitted before each class session by the posted due date. Complete tutorials in SAM before beginning to work on assignments. If you try to save time by completing assignments without completing the tutorials, you will make errors and the class will be delayed waiting for you to comprehend how to do it. Up to 10 grade points will be available for each assignment. Points awarded for assignments may range from “0” if not submitted; “5” if late or submitted on time, but flawed; to “10” for completely correct submissions.

Exams: Seven (7) task-based proficiency exams will be given over the semester using the SAM 2016 application. The last exam will integrate PowerPoint with other MS Office 2016 applications.

Grading:

I will be using IU’s FLAG Early Alert System to provide real-time feedback on your performance in this course. Periodically throughout the session I will be entering data on factors such as your class attendance, participation, and success with coursework, among other things. This information will provide feedback on how you are faring in the course and offer you suggestions on how you might be able to improve your performance. Students can view faculty assessments through One.IU.edu by typing in Grades in the search box. The assessments are point-in-time semester assessments and not part of the students’ permanent academic record. Questions about using or viewing the student performance rosters should be directed to the Student Advising Center, Phone: 219-980-6890.

Assessment Method	Points
Class Participation (15 weeks @ 20 points each)	300
Assignments (15 @ 10 points each)	150
Exams (7 @ 100 points each)	700
Total	1,150

 

Administrative Policies: The purpose of a syllabus is to inform students in a formal way of the nature and content of a course, policies and procedures that will apply and logistics involved in participating in a class. A syllabus also serves as a contract with an instructor pertaining to everything that will be done or required of a student throughout the term of the course.

• CHHS Code of Conduct. All SPEA students must sign a signature page acknowledging that he or she has reviewed and understands the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) Code of Conduct. If you have not submitted a signed original copy of the signature page in a previous semester, I will distribute copies of the Code, review, discuss and collect copies of signed signature pages during the first week of class to be placed in your academic files at the SPEA Office.

• Withdrawal. The last day to eDrop a class and receive a “W” for courses this session is October 23, 2016.

• Absence. If an illness, emergency or conflicting work schedule prevents a student from attending class, notice with an explanation is due to me prior to the absence via a Canvas message to receive grade point credit for the missed class. It is a student’s responsibility to catch up on what may have been missed in class discussion.

• Attendance and Participation. This course has been approved to enforce the IU Northwest Attendance and Course Commitment Policy. The full text of this policy is available at http:/www.iun.edu/registration/attendance-policies.htm. As a student in this course, you are expected to attend scheduled class meetings and actively participate in all class activities. Students who miss the first week of the semester or who do not attend 50% of the scheduled class meetings before the end of the fourth week of the semester may be subject to administrative withdrawal. Students who are administratively withdrawn from this class after the fourth week will not be eligible for a tuition refund. Administrative withdrawals may have an impact on the student’s financial aid awards and visa status.

• Communication. Your IUN email address will be used for student communications. I will generally NOT send announcements or messages to a personal email account. A student may, however, forward messages automatically to a preferred personal email address from an IUN email address or the Canvas class site. Login to Canvas prior to each scheduled class for announcements and messages pertaining to assignments; results of assignments and exams; to post a question and receive a response from me about a question; and to monitor the status of your grade. Checking Canvas prior to a scheduled class is a student responsibility

• Class Cancellations. A class may be cancelled for a variety of reasons. I will attempt to make an announcement of a cancelled class at least eight (8) hours in advance of its scheduled date and time via a Canvas message to all class participants.

• Plagiarism. Plagiarism or cheating of any form are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on an exam; failure in a course; and/or expulsion from the University as prescribed by the Indiana University Student Code of Conduct. Honesty requires that any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged. Offering the work of someone else as one’s own is plagiarism. The language or ideas thus taken from another may range from isolated formulas, sentences, or paragraphs to entire articles copied from books, periodicals, speeches, or the writings of other students. The offering of materials assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment also is considered plagiarism. Any student who fails to give credit for ideas or materials taken from another source is guilty of plagiarism.

• Cheating. Dishonesty of any kind with respect to examinations, course assignments, alteration of records, or illegal possession of examinations shall be considered cheating. It is the responsibility of the student not only to abstain from cheating but, in addition, to avoid the appearance of cheating and to guard against making it possible for others to cheat. Any student who helps another student to cheat is as guilty of cheating as the student he or she assists. The student also should do everything possible to induce respect for the examining process and for honesty in the performance of assigned tasks in or out of class. Providing peer assistance to other students with assignments is not cheating and is encouraged. However, assistance from others may not be sought or given on exams. Know the SAM application has a capability to detect cheating.

• Incomplete Grade. Students will NOT be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented evidence as described in the Student Handbook. In any case, for a student to receive an incomplete, he or she must have completed a significant portion of the course with a minimum grade of B.

• Students with Disabilities. If you are a student with a documented disability who will require academic or classroom accommodations in this course, please register with the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disability in the Student Support Services (SSS) Office Located in Hawthorn Hall, Room 237, Phone 219-980-6942. It is a student’s responsibility to inform an instructor of any special needs and to schedule with the instructor or SSS any exam or quiz to be taken according to the given accommodations.

• Course Evaluation. Many students disregard course evaluations as an optional part of taking a course. At IUN, completing the course evaluations is not optional. Your input, suggestions, opinions matter and are taken seriously. Departments are held accountable for having adequate response rates and instructors are also affected by low response rates. Please do your part in understanding that it is part of your duty as a student to complete every course evaluation, regardless of how you personally feel about the course or the instructor.