GCOM 765

Emerging Technologies

Spring 1999

Course Description | Resources | Course Grading | Class Schedule | Tasks & Deliverables

I. Course Description

This course focuses on the management and use of emerging technologies (past, present and future). More specifically, we will concentrate on the effective integration of information technologies (e.g., programming languages, packages, operating systems, and hardware) within organizations. During the course each student will develop a broad understanding of emerging technologies in general, while developing their knowledge/skill in the use of one particular technology. Learning will be accomplished through assigned reading, class discussion, and hands-on use of state-of-the-art technology.

A secondary objective of this class is to establish a foundation for continuous learning at the individual, group, and organizational levels. By participating in a self-administered learning process (consisting of mentorship, goal setting, and outcome measurement), students will experience a method for learning about emerging technologies which they can use throughout their careers.

II. Resources

Students are expected to identify reading and instructional material related to the specific technology that they are studying.

Students are expected to read IT-related publications (e.g., Computerworld, Datamation, etc.) and “surf the Net” for information on emerging technologies on a weekly basis.

III. Course Grading

Final grade will be computed as follows:

IV. Class Schedule

V. Description of Tasks and Deliverables

a. Contribution to Class Learning (30%)

The objective of CLC is to provide a means of assessing the degree to which individuals contribute to the learning of their peers. More specifically, CLC is designed to go beyond the traditional "class participation grade" by capturing knowledge dissemination and skill transference both inside and outside the classroom. Students will be asked to evaluate their peers (via either Exchange or GroupSystems) using the following instructions:

Think about the people who have contributed to your learning in this class. Perhaps someone has provided you with a relevant article, helped you solve a problem in the computer lab, or provoked a new idea during a verbal discussion (inside or outside of class). Mentally consider all students on the list and ask yourself, "What have you [the other student] done for me throughout this course?"

b. Project (70%)

The primary purpose of the project is to provide an opportunity for each student to gain experience with an emerging technology. More specifically, each student will be expected to generate a set of learning objectives associated with knowledge and skill development. Students are encouraged to seek out a mentor(s) and other resources useful in facilitating an effective learning process. Toward the end of the course, each student will be asked to provide evidence as to the extent to which the objectives were achieved.

Project Proposal

If you don't know where you want to go ... how will you know when you get there?

The objectives of the project proposal are to provide (a) a brief overview of the emerging technology you are studying, (b) a set of personal learning goals/objectives/metrics, and (c) a plan for achieving your stated learning objectives during the course. An outline for the Web-based proposal is as follows:

Executive Summary
1.0 [ET]: An Overview
Summarize everything you know (to date) about the technology you are studying including the history/evolution of the technology (similar to the past emerging technologies - telephone, television - we discussed in the first class session), current data (e.g., number/type of users, market share, vendor, price, etc.), functionality and features, strengths and weaknesses, examples of corporate application of the technology, and system requirements.
2.0 Learning Goals, Objectives and Metrics
Describe the learning goals and objectives (CSFs for learning) that you intend to achieve; i.e., What is it that you want to learn? Note: Be specific and don’t confuse goals/objectives with process (see 3.0).
Identify a set of metrics for evaluating whether or not the goals/objectives have been achieved.
3.0 Plan of Study
Design a learning process (i.e., tasks/steps) that will achieve the goals/objectives described in 2.0.
Develop a schedule for process performance and outcome measurement.
References and Resources

Project Report

The objective of the project report is to provide an accurate representation of what you have learned about the technology you studied. An outline for the report is as follows:

Executive Summary
1.0 [ET]: An Overview
Revised from proposal stage.
2.0 Learning Goals, Objectives, and Metrics
Revised from proposal stage.
3.0 Learning Process
Describe the actual learning process (i.e., tasks/steps) and schedule.
4.0 Learning Outcomes
Describe what you learned about the technology you studied. Note: This is the MOST important section of this report. Be sure to answer the following questions: Did you accomplish your learning goals and objectives? How do you know (e.g., metrics)? How, when and where is this technology best applied? Integration issues and solutions? Did you come up with any tangible products (e.g., application example)? ... If so, you should include (e.g., applets and/or screen shots) or refer to (and submit/demo separately) those examples within your report (Web site).
5.0 Conclusion
Bibliography

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Copyright © 1999 R. Ryan Nelson, RNELSON@VIRGINIA.EDU