Course
Description

This course allows students to gain the knowledge, skills and abilities to apply principles of information research to their academic, work and professional lives.

They gain ability to analyze problems, research and select relevant information from print and electronic sources, create an effective presentation, and publish it in print and electronic form.

The class will meet on site at Cambridge College at 1000 Mass Ave in Room 203.

Classes will be held:
Tuesday evenings: Fall 2005
Oct 4, 18, Nov 1, 15, 29, Dec 13 &
Dec 27 (online class held on CC Portal 6:30 pm)

Time:
6:10 p.m. to 10:40 p.m.

1. gain professional level competence in researching information on the Internet and to be able to use technology to analyze and present the results of their research.

2. understand how the Internet may be used to improve communication and collaboration in work groups and within the organization, and improve their skills in using this technology

3. understand the integral role of modern internet technology in the present-day organization; and how it functions as an element of business or organizational strategy

4. understand the research project cycle, including project planning, timelines, documentation and the steps in completing a project portfolio

5. have fun with technology and its applications!

The course will involve extensive out of class use of the Internet for communications, research and group work. Students will be required to have access to a computer and the Internet for this course. The course will prepare the student to use the Internet for future courses in the Management Program at Cambridge College.

2. Attain a level of professional competence in on-line research for management topics.

3. Attain a level of competence with various tools (spreadsheet, document processing, presentation tools, webpage, and project management) and demonstrate the use of those tools to support business objectives.

4. Improve their ability to communicate electronically with other users and work in virtual groups to complete projects

5. Understand the research project cycle, including project planning, timelines, documentation and the steps in completing a project portfolio.

6. Discuss some of the legal, ethical and security issues surrounding the increased use of computer-based technology in the workplace.

2. All reading, homework and project assignments are due on time.

3. Class sessions will be a mixture of lecture, discussion, and hands-on exercises, both group and individual. The first two are important to improve your understanding of the concepts, in order that you can apply them more effectively.

4. Assigment Percentages:
Class attendance and participation 20%

Research Homework assignment 10%
Each student will select a topic and present information on that topic. The assignments will be handed out and discussed in more detail in class, and must be turned in (hard copy) and/or presented in the next class session. I also request an email copy be sent to me via email.

Individual Research project 35%
A research project that will use online research to collect information related to a selected topic of interest. The student will identify a topic, frame the research focus, use on-line sources to gather information, synthesize the data and prepare a paper and presentation intended for a work or professional audience.

Project/Portfolio 35%
Students will use on-line communication tools to work in a group to complete a project that relates to the content of the course. The result will be a portfolio of documents - Powerpoint, Excel, Project Planning, and Word - that document the students efforts in research, documentation, and presentation.

Students are encouraged to build in their own interests and workplace needs into the design of their term project.

Note: Please submit all assignments in hard copy form at the class in which it is due. I also request file copies be sent to me via email.

Materials and on-line resources will be given out during the course.

Recommended/Optional:
1. Researching Online for Dummies by Reva Basch, 2nd edition IDG Books Worldwide, 2000.
Please note that this is a reference book that can be used as needed, rather than being read through from beginning to end

2. Find It Online Alan M. Schlein; Natl Book Network Publishers; Paperback, 2002

Catherine Seo is founder and president of Synergistic Solutions: Harnessing eMotion in Business, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. The consortium, founded in 1989, offers support to organizations and industry in dealing with turbulence, change, and crisis impacting the workplace.

She received a Bachelor of Science in communications and education from Emerson College, and a Masters of Science in Strategic Technology Management from the Graduate Center of Technology at Marlboro College. She has certification and/or training in advanced mediation, systems thinking, and relational dynamics, as well as a technical background in computer programming and systems analysis.