Eastern Oregon University
Course Syllabus
BA 325 Information Management
3 Credits
Online Course
Fall-Winter-Spring-Summer 2008-2009


Instructor: Dr. Bob Larison
What should the student do first????--check in via email to your friendly instructor (YFI) at the email address noted above.

Class information

About the course: This course is designed to introduce the student to the advanced use of business software and also give them an intermediate understanding of hardware concepts. We will be using Microsoft Office as the software in the course. Students should expect to be very skilled in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software use and design by the end of the course. Students should expect to spend the great majority of their time at a computer working on software tutorials. The only way to really learn software is to use it.

The Parsons/Oja text includes a CD-ROM that contains the book itself (yes, the entire book!!!) and also includes web connections, quicktime movies, and labs that contribute greatly to the understanding of the material in the text. The text material is designed to be read and interacted with on a computer. One can, of course, read the text in a traditional manner--but students should make use of the interactive components on the CD. It is the shape of things to come in interactive education. You bought it so you might as well make use of your investment. The publisher also supports a website -- The NP9 or NP10 or NP 11 website-- that is available for students. No assignments in the class are based in the website at this time. Feel free to check it out however. It does provide additional labs and access to the same practice tests that are on the CD if you have problems with your CD.

The course will be structured in a relatively self-paced format. Students will work at their own pace, completing the course requirements as soon or as late as they choose within the timeframe of the class. (Experience has shown the value of starting early however!!)

E-mail and Internet use. All materials for the course will be posted on the campus internet server. Students entering the class should have basic Internet and computing skills in Office (including skills in powerpoint, word, access, and excel). E-mail will serve as a primary form of communication between class members.

The Portfolio: Each student will compile a portfolio of projects from the course texts. The following should be included in the portfolio:

A set of data files will be required for some of the exercises from the Shelley and Cashman texts. Students with their own equipment will download these files as per instructions on the back cover of the Shelley & Cashman text. These work fairly well for most students. We will require Excel, Word, and Powerpoint files that correspond to your shelley and cashman text--have the ISBN handy. If you have bunches of trouble downloading, request a copy of the file disks from your your friendly instructor.

The portfolio will be mailed in to your friendly instructor so that he will receive your portfolio 5:00 PM of the friday before final week. Check the academic calendar on the EOU website for this date. All materials in the portfolio will be placed in exercise order, labeled with the exercise number, and professional in appearance including a title page with the student's name, the class, and the performance level the student chose.

Grading: Grades will be based on performance on two sets of requirements: a 100 point portfolio based on the assigned chapter quickchecks, practice tests, and interactive New Perspectives labs from the Parsons/Oja text; and completion of a set of projects/assignments worth a possible 200 points in the Shelly and Cashman text. The course is outcome based and the student will choose the level of performance they wish to attain in both the Parsons/Oja materials and the Shelley and Cashman tutorials--and which grade they choose to work toward. Scores for the Parson/Oja section of the portfolio will be based on a combination of effort and attainment--in the eyes of your friendly instructor--Make sure you print your final tracking report and include it in your portfolio. Final grades will be based on 90%-80%-70% of the 300 possible points in the course. See the "Grading Sheet' link at the end of the syllabus for a complete list of the software requirements.

Testing. Testing will consist of the chapter exams from the Parsons/Oja text as noted above.

Software Tutorial Performance Choices:--Shelly & Cashman Text. Points for these exercises are in the three plateaus noted below--no partial credit.

Course Schedule--This schedule is provided for those students who like to have some time guidance fore the class. Reading in the Parsons/Oja Text -for completion in a 10 week quarter.

Again, all required printed output and the final product output generated by your completion of assigned exercises are to be included in your portfolio--in exercise order. Any files generated will be saved on a CD or memory stick and the CD or stick will also be included in the portfolio clearly labeled with your name and the contents. Clearly indicate which level you have attained in the Shelley & Cashman exercises. Include the Parsons/Oja tracking reports in your portfolio along with the tracking disk. Based on past experience, expect to spend approximately 8 hours per week at your computer completing the exercises in the class.

Links to grade sheets:

If you have any questions about the exercises contact your friendly instructor by e-mail, or in his office in person. Good luck--and don't take any shortcuts.

Return to Bob Larison's home page. Last updated by RDL on 07/04/08.