COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND SCHEDULE

Learning Units
The course is built around a set of ten learning units. Each of these units contains several learning activities and one evaluation product to be completed by the student. The evaluation products take the form of a self-administered quiz. The evaluation products for each unit are worth 2 points. The final examination will reflect the course units learning objectives. Evaluation activities associated with a learning unit are due no later than 11:59pm on the due date.

Assignments
Assignments are the other primary deliverables for this course. There are three assignments relating to the learning units and other relevant materials. The assignments are to be completed individually and should reflect the expectations of graduate level course work. The assignments will include a number of problem-solving activities, Internet research, and hands on exercises that will prepare you to work with computer hardware for educational purposes. Assignments are also due no later than 11:59pm on the due date.

Project
Individuals or voluntary groups will work to develop a website that focuses on the major events in the history of microcomputers. Instructions on how this will be accomplished and due dates for the various phases are located in "Project" found on the main menu of the course site. Questions will be taken from the websites to incorporate in the final exam.

Project Due Date: 11/29/2009

Final Examination
A written final examination will be administered. Questions on the exam include matching and open ended short answer questions as well as more involved application questions. A final exam study guide is posted at the end of the Assignment index page. How do you ace the final exam? Answer: Go through all of the learning units, make sure you understand each of the learning objectives, and complete the assignments in a timely manner.  Bring your USF picture ID to the exam.

COURSE EVALUATION
Each of the course requirements is worth a specific number of points. The final grade is based on the total number of points earned during the semester.

USF Graduate School policy affords professors the "Incomplete" option only when a small portion of the student's work is incomplete and only when the student is otherwise earning a passing grade. Students sometimes fail to progress in technology-centered courses because adequate prerequisite technical skills are not possessed or because adequate time management and study skills are not exercised. These are NOT appropriate bases for the issuance of an "Incomplete" grade. No "I" grades will be awarded in this course without extenuating, documented circumstances, such as death in the family or extended illness. If you should happen to arrive in such unfortunate circumstances, be sure to provide me with suitable documentation when you approach me about the "I". Don't ask me what form the documentation should take or what is acceptable. If I find any problem with it I'll let you know. "I" requests must be made and valid documentation provided before the course is over and grades have been issued.

This policy, combined with the Graduate School's current policy of refusal to entertain any petitions to take actions retroactive to a previous semester, means that you must make a firm commitment to the complete the course, or drop it very quickly.  If you decide to drop the course be sure to do so formally and follow up to verify, otherwise you may receive a poor grade in the course -- one that cannot be removed.  There is no "grade forgiveness" policy at the graduate level.

Once issued, an "I" will normally buy you one more semester in which to finish your work. If you haven't earned a higher grade by that time, your grade will convert permanently to the grade that you have otherwise earned. If you are not satisfied with that outcome your only option will be to repeat (re-registering and re-paying) the course.

Please notify the instructor within the first week if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed for this course. A letter from the Student Disability Services Office must accompany the request. Additional resource information is available through the College of Education Graduate Student Handbook.

ADA Statement: Students with disabilities are responsible for registering with the Office of Student Disabilities Services in order to receive special accommodations and services. Please notify the instructor during the first week of classes if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed for this course. A letter from the USF Disability Services Office must accompany this request.

USF Policy on Religious Observances: All students have a right to expect that the University will reasonably accommodate their religious observances, practices and beliefs. Students are expected to notify the instructor in writing by the second class if they intend to be absent for a class or announced examination, in accordance with this policy.

Emergency Situations: In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations.  During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor the Blackboard and Course-specific web sites for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.