Notes from the Professor :

hOWDY!

There are two sections of this class: Section 01 meets Monday and Wednesday 9:30-11am; Section 02 meets Mondays from 6-9 pm. The content of both classes is the same. Both classes use this website. If you must be absent at your normal class time, you are welcome to attend the other class. Both classes meet in Stoddard Hall, Room 307, which has a one-human-per-computer capacity of 21.

There is no need to notify me if you are to be absent. Some absenses are unavoidable, but it is expected that you have made a committment to attend every class, and if you are not with us, it is for good reason. The class schedule is designed so that you can keep current with the class information flow even in the event of absence. Your inability to join us in meatspace is not a valid excuse from participating in the other components of the class.

This is an upper level university class. It is expected that you have mastered managing your time, are either computer literate or are willing to invest some intense time to become so quickly, and that you are comfortable with a demanding, fast-paced intellectual environment. Stress management in technology-intensive situations is a major component of this class, as it is in the professional MIS environment.

The learning environment of this class reflects the pace you should expect in the professional work environment. You are encouraged to approach this class as if it were your job. In this class, your work is to learn.

It is expected that if you are to excel in this class you will invest at least three times as much time outside of class as you do in class. Much of this time will, and should, be online. If you find that you are spending less time than this and staying current, it is your responsiblity to EXPAND on what is covered in this class, and delve deeper into or broader than the class content. Remember, as with all your studies, it is not what you "get" from this class that is important, but what you "take" from it. Your education is the most important investment you will ever make. Make it seriously.

My job, as your professor, is to guide your thinking, not to think for you. If I could effortlessly "download" into your brain everything you need to know, I would be the richest, most powerful person alive. Unfortunately, an instantaneous brain-to-brain "download" is not possible, so an effort-filled "upload" is required. I will help you as much as humanly possible, but it is your effort that will ultimately pay the greatest dividend.

In the spirit of virtuality, where time and space are relatively inconsequential, we will consider both sections of this classes a single group. We will share a common distributed email list and class forum. Please keep this in mind and use the opportunity to master the power of online collaboration with people you may never see, or meet, but with whom you may, and probably eventually will, do business.

Also, in the spirit of collaboration and teamwork, you are welcomed and encouraged to "team up" and work together on the class labs and assignments. Your grade in this class will not be based on competitive comparison between students. It will be based on the progress that you make and exhibit during the semester. It is expected, of course, that collaborators will each make significant contributions to team effort, each in their own way, and it is expected that no one will be unneccessarily burdened or pressured. It is understood that people excel in different areas, and that often a pooling of talent and energy produces the best results. Feel free to use the class list and the class forum to communciate with each other freely, to create "virtual" study groups, and to provide help and encouragement to each other, just as you would in a healthy work evironment .

Remember, however, that neither medium is private. If you need to communicate privately, use person-to-person email, the telephone, or "meatspace." The list and forum are primarily for students-to-students communication, not professor-to-students communication, althought I will be "lurking" both areas and will freely participate in the exchange. It is expected that each student will make regular and meaningful contributions in both areas. These media are your opportunity to display your "I think."

We all long for the day when it is no longer necessary to say this: no form of disrespect or demographic discrimination will be tolerated, either in class or in our virtual space. We are all humans, and deserving of equal respect and consideration.

Communicating in virtual space is different from communicating in meatspace. Because body language, tone and inflection are missing from this form of communication, it is easy to misinterpret. And, unlike paper-based communication, there is virtually no "cool off" time lag between your drafting your message and its delivery. Accordingly, extra sensitive tolerance is required. The "virtual" aspect of this class is incorporated to help you learn to use these tools before you are required to use them in a business environment. It is OK to make mistakes here since you are expected to push beyond what you already know. If you inadvertently breach "netiquette," just own up to it, apologize, and move on. If you are the object of a netiquette breach, buck up, don't take it personally, and show the same level of tolerance you'll hope for when your turn comes.

Like death, learning to use computers is something each must ultimately do alone; and like taxes, interacting with computers is inevitable. The learning curve is steep, and the environment is stressful. It is in your best interest to not only understand how computers work, but how humans work with computers, and how computers can be used to help humans work. It helps to commiserate, collaborate and brainstorm while you're learning to use these inhumanly logical machines. You are encouraged and expected to help each other along the way. But be sure you do not use an opportunity for collaboration to neglect your own journey or your responsiblity...and try not to get carried away by the thrill of the digital.

If you have questions about our class that should not be addressed to the list, you are welcome to (sparingly, please) email me directly at twining@texoma.net. I process hundreds of email messages each day, so please do not expect an immediate response. Keep your emails short and to the point. One screen is preferred. Please identify yourself as a student by using BUS3533 and your last name in the subject line. You may leave emergency-only phone messages for me at the Business and Economics Department Main Office phone number (940) 898-2111 (although I cannot imagine an emergency that requires you to contact me.)

About the "NO PAPER EXCHANGE" Requirement: Since this is a class about computers as part of Management Information Systems, and the ultimate goal is for each student to gain an understanding and mastery of how such systems work and may be applied in the business environment, and because it is a personal preference, there will be NO PAPER exchanged in this class. All assignments will be submitted electronically following very specific directions. In the same vein, it is expected that all course-related communciation except those immediately before, during, and immediately following our scheduled class time will also be executed electronically. If you do not know how to make this happen, don't worry...I will teach you.

And finally, I have one requirement of everything I do: it must be fun. I fully intend to enjoy our semester together and to help you move beyond the limits of your knowledge, ability and expectation. I will also be pushing to move beyond my own. Technology is a known stressor. It is never "finished" and is a demanding learning environment. As soon as you master something, it changes. If you get stressed, just do what I do: flip off the machine and go do something else for a while...:-) Twenty odd years of computer experience as a user and a guide, have led me to forumulate twining's commandments for computer users. Memorize them, and use them throughout your career. They will save you much angst and frustration.

Ok, so let's roll up our sleeves, twinkle our fingers, connect to the beast, and see if we can make this system sing...