Week 4 Update

Hi Class,

Good work last night!  To recap: We reviewed Operating Systems from week 3 and covered Storage Topics including how magnetic storage (hard drives in particular) works as well as backup and fault tolerance techniques (Mirroring and RAID).  We also discussed and examined benefits of cloud based services over desktop based services.

Next week we will cover Networking, which will involve a hands-on lab configuring a test network.

For next week: 1) Ensure you can access the software site and successfully download software 2) Read Burd Ch. 9 3) Submit the two storage assignments to me by next class.

 

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT:  

I would like everyone to utilize the IT Knowledge Base to complete this week’s (and future weeks) assignment as well as resolve any outstanding issues related to VMWare, the MIS Software Website etc. For anyone that was having issues downloading software, configuring VMWare etc… last night from the MIS Software website, I would like you to post your issue to our IT Knowledge Base detailing your issue and what you have done to resolve it.  Anyone that posts their issues and/or provides guidance or a solution to anyone with a software install issue or any issue will receive additional credit on their participation grade.

I am expecting everyone to utilize the IT Knowledge Base on-going as a key component of the participation grade for this course.

See you all next week!

Pat

Hi Class,

Good work last night! I hope everyone enjoyed building a computer from scratch and learned that all computers start with those basic core parts and everything builds from there.

Next week will be a virtual class via a pre-recorded web-ex. Please look under Schedule and Materials->Week 3 for everything you will need for next week.  (Note: You do not need to come Alter Hall Room 603  5:30 pm – 8 pm next week and can watch the webex anytime next week).

Next week (By 9/20): 1) Watch the webex 2) Go through the post power point slides 3) Complete Tech Challenge 1 – Build your First Server (Due 9/20) 4) Complete the Operating Systems Lab (Due 9/20) 5) Read Burd Chapter 11 6) Verify that you can access and login to the MIS Software Website. If you cannot please post to the discussion board.

While completing the assignments for next week I would like you to utilize the the Discussion topics posted to the course website to resolve issues and errors.  I would like to establish a knowledge base and help-forum within our class to simulate IT problem solving in the real word.  Posting to the discussions and replying to the discussions will factor into your grades for the assignment as well as overall the participation grade for the class.  For all assignment related questions I expect you to post to the discussion.

As I mentioned in class I will be traveling all next week (the last time for the semester!) and will have limited access to e-mail, but will be checking the discussion boards regularly and will reply to posts as much as possible.

I am targeting to have your initial assignment/participation grades posted by week 4 (9/25).

Have a great week and see you all in class on 9/20.

Pat

Hi Class,

It was great meeting you all last night.  I am really looking forward to working with you all this semester, and hope that last night gave a good overview of what we will be covering in the course.

To re-cap, the main takeaway from last night was that the IT discipline encompasses a multitude of technical areas such as desktop computing, networking, storage, system administration, security etc. Gaining exposure to these areas is crucial for the anyone working in the IT discipline such as IT Auditing.  In addition, we discussed that computer performance is affected by many factors and is not simply a matter of doubling you CPU to double your speed (Be sure to understand the factors and components we discussed).

Each week I will be posting an update like this recapping what we did in the current week and what will be expected from you for next week.  Please check the course web site regularly as this will be where all of my announcements and class discussion will be.

As I mentioned, I would like all questions for this class to be posted to the course website so everyone can benefit from the discussion. On the homepage you will see a number of discussion topics please feel free to post any questions to the appropriate category by clicking “Leave a Comment”.  As I mentioned last night, I will be traveling 9/1-9/5 with very limited access to e-mail, but will be checking the course discussion and responding whenever possible.  If you have an urgent matter please post to the Urgent category and I will respond to you ASAP.

For next week: 1) Purchase the textbooks 2) Setup your Azure account (Instructions) 3) Submit the Burd Ch 1 Research Problem 2 Assignment to me via e-mail before class next week. 4) Read Burd Ch 4 & 6

Next week we will be covering Computing Systems, where the main portion of the class will be building a computer!

Have a great Holiday weekend and see you all next Tuesday!

Pat

Welcome to Enterprise Architecture for IT Auditors!  My name is Patrick Wasson (LinkedIn Profile) and I will be your instructor for ITACS 5122 for Fall 2016.  We will be meeting on Tuesdays in Alter Hall Room 603 at 5:30pm – 8pm each week.

The goal of this course is to introduce you to as much technology as possible and give you a strong foundation in key information technology components.  We will cover everything from building a pc to coding an application.  My goal is that you leave this class with a better understanding of the key components that make up the Information Technology and Enterprise Architecture discipline.

This course will involve both a presentation component as well as many hands on activities/assignments.  We will learn about an area of technology and then apply hands-on exercises to reinforce and apply the concepts.  I will post all of the materials for each week under Schedule and Materials for each week as we progress through the semester.

The majority of  the course grade is comprised of attending class, participating, starting the activities in class and submitting the activities to me for a grade.  Some activities will be completed entirely in class and others may require to be completed outside of class.  Regardless, all activities must be completed and sent to me for a grade by the due date.  The course will then wrap up with a final exam that will focus on the concepts behind everything we covered throughout the semester.

You will find all of the information you need for this class located on our class website:

http://community.mis.temple.edu/itacs5122fall16/

For the first week of class: 1) Read the Syllabus (Note: Be sure to read the Technology Requirements section) 2) Purchase all of the textbooks (especially the Burd text as we will cover that first) and required technology 3) Setup your Microsoft Azure Account 4) Read Burd Ch 1 and 2

I am looking forward to seeing you all for our first class on 8/30/16.

Pat