Digital Systems

Department of Management Information Systems, Temple University

Digital Systems

MIS 2101.010 ■ Fall 2023 ■

Course Requirements

Technology Requirements

Online Sections Only: The expectation for this online course is that students participate both by video and audio. All students are required to have a working camera and headset during class times. Class sessions are recorded, and the recordings are posted shortly after class, please be aware that anything said during class sessions will be included and posted.

All MIS 2101 sections: The use of technology is an important aspect of this course. Please review the Temple University Technology Usage Policy.

  • A laptop is required for this course, see the Fox Laptop Policy for minimum specifications.
    • Fox Laptop Support is available. You are responsible for attending all classes with a fully functional Fox Laptop.
  • Headphones
  • Webcam: You are required to keep your webcam on during the online duration of the class session. Failure to do so may affect your participation grade.
  • Recommended Internet Speed: 8mbps download & 5mbps upload. Check your internet connection at speedtest.net
  • Please note: Hard-wired connections are more consistent than Wi-Fi for Zoom sessions
  • Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wi-Fi-access, should submit a request outlining their needs using the Student Emergency Aid FundThe University will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Wi-Fi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access.
  • Note that some software is available for free download on the ITS Academic Support Page.Other specialty software may be available for remote access through ITS.

Technology Usage

The MIS Department wants to ensure you have a positive, engaging online experience. Therefore, during class, you are expected to keep your webcam video on with your face clearly visible – with or without a virtual background – and your microphone muted unless you are speaking. If you do not have your video turned on during a class session, you may be removed from that session at the instructor’s discretion. To request an exception to this policy, please consult your instructor.

Essential Information

Preparation

Complete all the assigned readings and watch all assigned videos prior to each weeks class. Students are strongly encouraged to create their own study guide from the readings and the videos which they will use during both in-class discussions and in preparation for exams.

Participation

This course applies an activity-based learning model which relies heavily on your active participation in the classroom. You are expected to complete the assigned readings, watch the assigned videos, and come prepared to engage the class in meaningful conversation and activities. You are encouraged to use your knowledge and experiences to build, test, and modify your own concepts through dialogues with the instructor and fellow students. Much of your learning will occur as you prepare for and participate in discussions about the course material. The course material has been carefully chosen to bring the real world into class discussion while also illustrating fundamental concepts.

Classroom Experience

Our classroom will be a mixture of class discussions and class activities. Do not expect to be taught the material in the assigned readings & videos. Our expectation is that you have completed the assigned readings, watched the assigned videos, and are prepared to discuss the readings/videos intelligently. Engaging in class discussion is a key to your success; you will gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the core concepts. Not completing the assigned readings and/or watching the assigned videos will make it difficult for you to follow along with the class discussion; you will not get as much out of class, and you will certainly find the exams more challenging. In-class activities provide the core of our activity-based learning model. These activities are designed to be completed in 50 minutes or less and help a student develop a more genuine understanding of the class materials. Activity forms are accessed through our Canvas course site. Each student must submit a completed form while in the classroom to receive credit for completing the activity. In-class Activities are graded based on displaying due diligence. Students will not be able to submit uncompleted or incomplete activities (you will not be able to submit the form). Student’s that are absent from class, do not submit their activity while in class or clearly had not done their due diligence will receive zero credit for the activity.

Code of Conduct

Students are expected to be respectful of one another and the instructor in online discussions. The goal is to foster a safe learning environment where students feel comfortable in discussing concepts and in applying them in class. If for any reason your behavior is viewed as disruptive to the class, you will be asked to leave and you will be marked absent from that class. Please read the university policy concerning disruptive behavior:

The disruptive student is one who persistently makes inordinate demands for time and attention from faculty and staff, habitually interferes with the learning environment by disruptive verbal or behavioral expressions, verbally threatens or abuses college personnel, willfully damages college property, misuses drugs or alcohol on college premises, or physically threatens or assaults others. The result is the disruption of academic, administrative, social, or recreational activities on campus.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Use of AI

The use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) is permitted in this course for the following activities:

  • In-Class Activities as indicated by your instructor
  • Fine tuning your research questions.
  • Finding information on your topic.
  • Drafting an outline to organize your thoughts.
  • Checking grammar and style.

The use of generative AI tools is not permitted in this course for the following activities:

  • Impersonating you in classroom contexts, such as by using the tool to compose discussion board prompts assigned to you or content that you put into a Zoom chat.
  • Completing group work that your group has assigned to you, unless it is mutually agreed upon that you may utilize the tool.
  • Writing a draft of a writing assignment.
  • Writing entire sentences, paragraphs, or papers to complete class assignments.
  • Writing HTML, CSS, or JavaScript code to complete class assignments.

You are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contains misinformation or unethical content). Your use of AI tools must be properly documented and cited to stay within university policies on academic honesty.

Online Classroom Etiquette:

The expectation is that students attending online courses will behave in the same manner as if they were in a live classroom. Be courteous and professional in your location, attire, and behavior. Specifically, your location should reflect a clean and professional appearance – not a bedroom, crowded conference room, loud restaurant/bar, etc. Your attire should mirror what you might wear to a live classroom. We expect that students will not disrupt class through visuals or verbal outbursts, such as but not limited to, conversations with other people in the room, engaging in inappropriate behavior while you are in class or distracting the class in any other way. In addition, students should refrain from doing something in their online class that they would not do in a live classroom. which includes eating large meals, drinking alcohol, vaping, getting up often and leaving the online class (not staying at their computer). You should arrive on time and leave when the class is over. If there is an emergency of some kind, notify your instructor via email or the chat function in Zoom.

It is also important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University’s nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse.

Treat your classmates and instructor with respect in all communication, class activities, and meetings. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea but you are not to attack an individual. Please consider that sarcasm, humor, and slang can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Profanity should be avoided as should the use of all capital letters when composing responses in discussion threads, which can be construed as “shouting” online. Remember to be careful with your own and others’ privacy. In general, have your behavior mirror how you would like to be treated by others.

Disability

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a documented disability, including special accommodations for access to technology resources and electronic instructional materials required for the course, should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation by the end of the second week of classes or as soon as practical. If you have not done so already, please contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) at 215-204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to learn more about the resources available to you. I will work with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodation(s) for students with documented disabilities. 

Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. Please review the university policy on Student and Faculty and Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #03.70.02).

Remote proctoring

Zoom, Proctorio or a similar proctoring tool may be used to proctor exams and quizzes in this course. These tools verify your identity and record online actions and surroundings. It is your responsibility to have the necessary government or school issued ID, a laptop or desktop computer with a reliable internet connection, the Google Chrome and Proctorio extension, a webcam/built-in camera and microphone, and system requirements for using Proctorio, Zoom, or a similar proctoring tool.

Video Recording & Sharing Policy

Class sessions will be recorded (audio & video) by the instructor and posted to the course site Zoom Links tab. Additional recordings are not permitted, except in cases of an approved accommodation from the Office of Disability Resources (DRS).

Any recordings permitted in this class can only be used for the student’s personal educational use. Students are not permitted to copy, publish, or redistribute audio or video recordings of any portion of the class session to individuals who are not students in the course or academic program without the express permission of the faculty member and of any students who are recorded. Distribution without permission may be a violation of educational privacy law, known as FERPA as well as certain copyright laws. Any recordings made by the instructor or university of this course are the property of Temple University. Any unauthorized redistribution of video content is subject to review by the Dean’s office, and the University Disciplinary Committee. Penalties can include receiving an F in the course and possible expulsion from the university.

Inclement Weather Policy

Please be advised that while Temple University campuses may close for inclement weather, online courses are not on-campus and therefore are still expected to meet. Your instructor will contact you regarding any adjustments needed in the event of a power outage or severe circumstances. Should you have any questions, please contact the instructor.