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 or electronic form.

The class will meet on site at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth in the Computer Training Lab.

Classes will be held:
Saturday & Sunday
July 8 & 9 and 22 & 23

Time:
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm Sunday

The purpose of this course is to enable the student to understand, appreciate the importance of, and apply Internet technology to improve productivity in the workplace. The focus of the course will be fourfold: to enable the student to:

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 Lab assignment 10%
Each student will select a topic and present information on that topic including evaluation of websites. 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 or Team Participation 20%
Individual or team participation in a research project that will use online research to collect information related to a selected topic of interest. The students will identify a topic, frame the research focus, use on-line sources to gather information, synthesize the data and prepare an individual or group presentation intended for a work or professional audience.

Individual or Team Project/Portfolio 50%
Students will use on-line tools to work to complete a project that relates to the content of the course. The result will be a portfolio of documents - PowerPoint, Excel, Project Planning tools, and Word - that document the students’ efforts in research, documentation, and presentation. Each individual or team will present their final project. For team projects, each member of the team is expected to participate.

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

CLASS AGENDA

Saturday
July 8
















Sunday
July 9

Saturday
July 22

Sunday
July 23

TOPICS

Overview of the course

Getting Started

Welcome & Check in
Background and History of the Internet
Getting Started using Cambridge College Library Services

Treasure Hunting/Internet Navigation
Technology Tools
Browsers & Searching
Everything & more about Google

Lab: Bio emailed to catherine.seo@gmail.com
Research Summary w/3 citations on selected topic
Evaluation of websites

Tools of the Trade
Evaluation of websites

Research Process
Steps for researching

Data Gathering Tools
Zoomerang & survey building

Collaboration & Technology Tools
Project Planning – Individual
Project Planning – Collaborating

Presentation Tools: beyond the basics
Microsoft Word
PowerPoint
Excel

Collaboration
Intro to Virtual Teaming
Communication Tools & Collaborating Online
Setting up online group space

Lab: Individual & team coaching
Assignment: Final Project/Individual or Team Final Project Portfolio

Bringing it all Together

Technology Tools
Data analysis & presentation
Excel
Web tools for presentation

More about Virtual Teaming
Communication Tools & Collaborating Online

Lab: All the Cool Stuff
Individual or Team Final Project Portfolio Presentation

Struttin’ Your Stuff
Review anything & everything – what would be helpful?

Lab: Refining, Enhancing and Preparing
…and checking it twice

Final Individual or Team Research Project Portfolio Presentations


Wrapping it all up
- Review & Course Evaluation

Catherine Seo is founder and president of Synergistic Solutions, 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.