The College of New Jersey
The School of Business
INSTRUCTOR
Valerian Anderson
andersov@tcnj.edu
x3119
OFFICE HOURS
after class and by appointment
COURSE NAME
MIT 201, Information Systems: Concepts and Applications
COURSE TYPE
Half Course in the CBK
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
None
REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS
MIT 201 custom text by Lynn Braender. selected chapters from Information Systems
Essentials, 9th Edition by Stephen Haag and Maeve Cummings. McGraw-Hill Irwin,
2014. ISBN 9781121928718
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
Education in information technology is critical for every business professional in
every discipline. Today, information technology is used extensively in business to
acquire, develop and communicate information, and, to assist managers with every
decision they make. Regardless of a student’s future occupation, they will need to
understand the potential and limitation of information technology and be able to
use it effectively in their work. This course will educate students in contemporary
business information systems, modern computer tools, and what it means to act
responsibly within current business environments.
MIT 201 Syllabus
Page 1 of 8
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
MIT 201 provides students with a fundamental understanding of information
technology in contemporary business environments. In this half course, students
will study essential information systems found in current and emerging business
models. Discussion will focus on information technology, contemporary decision
support tools, and standards of behavior required of professionals working with
information and information technology.
This class uses a combination of lecture (50%) and lab experiences (50%) to
explore current trends in information technology. Students will learn about
technology and its impact on the business through readings from books, RSS feeds
and other published resources including podcasts, discussions, and independent
exploration. Students will work in a team and individual environment to solve
business problems using decision support systems with MS Excel.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of MIT 201, students will be able to:
1) Identify and differentiate core business information systems that exist in current
and emerging business models.
2) Describe the responsibility needed by modern workers to protect and secure an
organization’s information.
3) Use the data management and manipulation tools found in decision support
systems to solve business problems.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
Students should be able to answer the following questions by the end of the course.
1) What are the principal business applications used by contemporary
organizations?
2) What is the difference between operational and a strategic information systems?
3) What is a decision support system and how does it differ from other types of
information systems?
4) How do organizations manage data and what are some of the issues they face
with this task?
5) What measures should modern workers adopt to protect and secure
organizational information?
6) What guidelines should modern workers follow to minimize unethical or illegal
computing behavior?
MIT 201 Syllabus
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LEARNING ACTIVITIES
MIT 201 course meetings will be divided equally between lecture and laboratory
sessions. During the lectures, students will have opportunities to participate in
discussions, to complete in-class break out projects, and to review concise and
focused homework assignments. Lectures will be supplemented with current
published items, news items and podcasts from National Public Radio. These
published items will highlight current technology issues facing businesses,
government, society, and the individual.
Theory will be balanced with application in the lab. Students will learn to apply
concepts by working with organizational information technology including the
college’s information system and the Internet. Students will learn how to protect,
manage, and secure technological resources, to work in virtual collaborative
environments, and to manipulate and analyze data files through case-based
learning.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT:
Student assessment will include (1) objective quizzes to tests students’
understanding of the concepts presented in this course; (2) Excel cases to solve
business problems; and (3) an applications test in Excel. The excel cases will be
completed in a group environment whereas the applications test will be completed
by each student. Students will be required to complete non-graded homework
assignments to assure readiness for the group cases and the final exam. The final
applications exam in Excel will be cumulative in nature and based upon the graded
and non-graded work completed during the course.
GRADE ALLOCATION:
Midterm………………………….
25%
Final Application Test………………
35%
Homework & Cases………………...
40%
Participation………………………...
May be used to alter borderline grades;
grades may increase or decrease
depending upon the student's
demonstration of knowledge during class.
MIT 201 Syllabus
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PERFORMANCE SCALE:
Final Grade
Average Points
A
94 - 100
A-
90 – 93.9
B+
87 – 89.9
B
84 – 86.9
B-
80 – 83.9
C+
77 – 79.9
C
74 – 76.9
C-
70 – 73.9
D+
66 – 69.9
D
60 – 65.9
Criteria for Grades on Cases, Application Test and Quizzes:
1. The cases and final applications test focus on organizing and analyzing
data from business cases and performing data analysis using Excel and
other relevant business tools. Cases will be graded on the student’s
ability to satisfy stated case requirements and to synthesize and integrate
course concepts when presenting findings to support decisions. Case
requirements will include completeness (all questions posed to the
student are answered), explanations for results, correct results, and
presentation of results. The assignment of plus (+) and minuses (-) to
grades will occur based upon the judgment of the teacher and the
student’s ability to demonstrate varying levels of understanding. The
table in the next section illustrates general grading guidelines.
MIT 201 Syllabus
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2. Students will complete some exercises in Excel that will be self-graded.
Students will be assigned homework and will compare their work with
the teacher’s completed work. By doing so, individual students are able
to compare their understanding and skill level with course expectations.
3. Students will be expected to use the college’s information system and
current information systems tools to complete homework in a virtual
environment. Students will be required to effectively use the college’s
information system, and to learn how to manage, secure, and protect
their information resources and to work in virtual environments.
Students will be required to manage their course files in their assigned
network space, to create and manage a shared virtual environment with
their group members, and to protect their team work from viruses, loss,
and online attacks. Homework will be reviewed in class to determine
students’ understanding of concepts. Students will be tested on these
homework concepts in the quizzes and final exam.
4. Discussions with individual students may be used to evaluate the
student's ability to analyze informational needs and satisfy those needs
through the design of business reports. Students will need to explore
Excel tools, best practices, and contemporary methods for employing
technology. The results of discussions with individual students will be the
basis for assessing the student's ability to seek relevant information and
apply that information to satisfying information needs and to alter
border-line grades.
ATTENDANCE
The course blends both theory and application into the learning environment. To
accomplish this, we spend approximately 50% of our time working with theory and the
other 50% working on tasks with a team of students. To complete these tasks, we will
spend approximately 50% of our time in the lab. To learn, you must actively participate
in both the classroom and the lab. You are required to attend classes and all labs. If you
have to miss a class or team meeting, you need to call my office and leave a message
with the reasons for you absence; you also need to notify your group if you are working
on a team assignment. In addition, you should not schedule interviews, work, vacations,
appointments, or any other non-course related event during scheduled classes.
During test time, if you believe that you are entitled to an excused absence for medical
reasons or family emergencies you are expected to contact me before the class session,
or within a reasonable time frame, for which you will be absent. Justifications for
absences after-the-fact may require corroboratory documentation. Save extraordinary
MIT 201 Syllabus
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situations, no "make-up" exams will be given. Depending on the circumstances
surrounding your failure to have taken an exam as scheduled, either you will receive a
failing grade on the missed exam or, in the event of a bona-fide excuse; the other
graded criteria for the course will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis to calculate your final
grade. If you have a special, diagnosed learning need, you should arrange to meet with
me at the earliest possible, mutually convenient, time. If you are an athlete with a
travel schedule, which may interfere with your ability to meet the requirements
described in this syllabus, you must meet with me after the first class session.
Dean's Attendance Policy: Except in the case of a TCNJ authorized absence or
documented personal emergency, faculty are encouraged NOT to make individual
exceptions to course assignment due dates and exams. Our work is no less coordinated
or time-sensitive than many tasks encountered in the workplace and meeting deadlines
and obligations is simply one more step in preparation for a business career.
TCNJ’s Attendance Policy: http://www.tcnj.edu/~recreg/policies/attendance.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students are required to adhere to the academic integrity policy set forth by the college.
Violations of this college policy may be sent to the School of Business' Academic
Integrity Officer.
In addition to academic performance, you are expected to demonstrate the qualities of
honesty and integrity. All submissions by you or your team are expected to be your
original work. Material that, in any way, volatiles this principle, or any form of
dishonesty, cheating, fabrication, the facilitation of academic dishonesty, and/or
plagiarism, may result in the your receiving a failing grade for the assignment, quiz, test,
or the course. In addition, further appropriate disciplinary action may be initiated.
TCNJ’s academic integrity policy is available on the web:
http://www.tcnj.edu/~academic/policy/integrity.html.
WRITING POLICY
Because writing is a fundamental business skill, your grade for each assignment
will reflect, among other things, your ability to write; even for assignments
with minimum writing. Feedback on your writing will be provided as deemed
necessary and, if your writing needs improvement, you should seek help from
the Writing Center at (http://www.tcnj.edu/~tutoring/humanities/writing.html),
from someone who writes well, or some other writing source. The
responsibility to write well is yours. My responsibility is to hold you
MIT 201 Syllabus
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accountable for how well you write. Poor writing will be reflected in your final
grade.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIORS
To enhance the learning environment and to keep with the values held by the college,
we are all responsible for contributing to a respectful environment. To accomplish this,
we all need to adhere to the following behaviors:
1. Refrain from using disruptive technology during the class or labs. Disruptive
technology includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, email, Internet surfing, IM,
and games. If you are expected an important call, you need to alert me before
class begins, put your phone on the vibrator, and take the call away from any
classroom.
2. Do not speak when someone else is speaking.
3. Do not work on projects that fall outside of this course.
4. Treat each person in the class with respect, consideration, and kindness.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) POLICY
Any student who has a documented disability and is in need of academic
accommodations should notify me on the first day of this course and contact the Office
of Differing Abilities Services (609-771-2571). Anyone requiring special adaptations or
accommodations will benefit from contacting Terri Yamiolkowski in the Office of
Differing Abilities (771.2571). Accommodations are individualized and in accordance
with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1992.
TCNJ’S AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) POLICY IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB:
http://policies.tcnj.edu/policies/viewPolicy.php?docId=8082
ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT CENTER:
The Academic Enhancement Center, which is located in Forcina Hall 145, is an excellent
place to get help on your papers. Call The Write Place at 771-2895 or 771-3325, or see
the hours available at http://www.tcnj.edu/~assistn/lhw.htm.
MIT 201 Syllabus
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Topics
Excel Skills
Insert and Delete Cells, Blocks, and Worksheets
Formatting Cells, Blocks, Worksheets; Numerical Formats, Date Formats, Text Formats;
Alignment, Indentation; Cell and Block colors, shading, sizing, borders; Adjusting column
and row size;
Remedial
Skills
Setting print areas, customized footers (e.g., automatic dates, automatic page numbers,
automatic folder, file, and tab names), customized headers, repeated column and rows,
adjusting margins and print orientation, print scales, automatic grids, print quality;
printing and documenting formulas.
Creating simple formulas (e.g., column and row sums, order of precedence, cell
references, persistent data)
Presentation
Conditional formatting, automatic formatting, table styles, customizing style
Use of white space, text boxes, shapes, transparent objects
Pivot Tables
Data Validation
Graphs
Data
Analysis
Importing and Exporting Data
Goal Seeking
Filters
Automatic Subtotals
Database Functions (Running Statistics on Groups)
Inserting Page Breaks
Protecting Cells, Blocks, and Worksheets
Misc.
Hiding and Unhiding Data
Freezing and Unfreezing headings
Adding and reviewing comments
Merging Cells
MIT 201 Syllabus
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