Office Administration

Internet Research for Business

OST 2794 Online Syllabus

Term A: Summer 2008
 

A business-oriented Internet class which covers all the major access routes for using resources on the Internet. Also covered will be the legal, ethical, and social issues involving the use of the Internet and Internet files. The class will focus on finding and using business resources available on the Internet.
 

Course Objectives:

Students will:

• Use the Web for business management, sales, and marketing research
• Use Microsoft Internet Explorer and other browsers
• Save and organize addresses to sites you will access again
• Use search engines and business web sites to find information on a wide range of topics
• Compose and send e-mail
• Gain a better understanding of Internet terms
• Create a business web page

Orientation:

There is no on campus orientation meeting for this class. All the materials and information you need are available online. Please review this syllabus carefully.

Textbook:

This textbook is available at any SCC campus bookstore or via the SCC Bookstore on-line at SCC Bookstore. Be sure you get the correct book for this class. SCC campus bookstore will also take credit card phone orders for mail or pickup. Call for availability: 407-328-2021 or 407-971-5001

Software & Hardware Requirements:

• Internet Connection - the class will be conducted entirely on-line
• Microsoft Internet Explorer - the examples in the textbook are IE version 6 but you may use a higher version if you prefer
• Microsoft Word (any version) or WordPad
• Virus checking software -  to prevent you from catching or sending a virus. It is critical that you have an up-to-date virus checking program on your computer. You will be sending and receiving email and downloading documents from the Internet. All these activities subject you to virus infection. Once infected, you will pass it on to the instructor and your classmates...not a good idea!

Students will have access to computer labs with the required hardware and software on all SCC campuses. If you experience technical difficulties with your personal computer, be prepared to come to a campus lab to complete your assignments as no extensions will be granted due to computer problems. Click here for more information on campus lab locations and hours.

Grading and Evaluation:

Grades will be based on a combination of assignments, class participation, and exams.

Due dates for all activities are shown on your class calendar.

Late assignments for Getting Started assignments, Units A-D and Projects 1-3 will be accepted up to 7 days late with a 10 percent deduction. Project 4 will be accepted up until the late date shown on the calendar with a 10 percent deduction.

No late work will be accepted on the Website Project or the Final Exam. Work must be submitted by the due date indicated on the class calendar. Failure to complete these assignments by the due date will result in a zero grade.

No incomplete grades will be given. If you have a problem, do not wait until the last minute to contact me.

Students not completing the class and not officially dropping or withdrawing from the class will receive an F for the course.

Grading Scale:
 

The following percentages will be used to calculate your final grade:
 

90% to 100% = A
80% to 89% = B
70% to 79% = C
60% to 69% = D
0% to 59% = F

Attendance Policy:

On-line courses are the perfect solution for the busy student wishing to take a course from home or the office. All work for my on-line courses will be done on-line. No on campus meetings will be required. An on-line class is different from an on campus class only in the way you attend class. On campus you would arrive one or two times a week, sit through a lecture, do some lab assignments and then go home. You would schedule additional time during the week to go back to the campus to do your lab homework assignments.

In an on-line class you are not required to sit in a classroom, instead you schedule your classroom and additional homework time around your personal schedule. You must still put in the same amount of time each week, but when you do it is up to you. All of your class lectures, assignments, and instructions are located at our course ANGEL site. In addition, you will receive emails from your instructor and classmates. You will participate in class via emails and Discussion Board postings to your instructor and classmates.

Attendance in an on-line class is accomplished by visiting the class ANGEL site, reading the materials found on the class ANGEL site, reading email received from the instructor and other class members, sending email to the instructor and other class members, participating in class discussions and technology experiments, and turning in assignments on time. You are expected to participate in the above activities on a regular basis, just like you would in an on-campus class. Send me a ANGEL Mail message letting me know that you read this information in the Syllabus and I will give you +5 bonus points, don't tell your classmates - you'd be surprised how many won't read the info I spent hours and hours typing up. In the last few semesters I have only had about 10 students get the bonus. If you are lucky enough to find this, I predict you will get an A in the class - reading EVERYTHING is really the only way to succeed in an on-line class. Keep reading!

Because we do not have a set class meeting time, you are expected to check your email on a daily basis if at all possible but no less than twice a week. You are expected to ask for help from your instructor and classmates and to provide help to your classmates.

You may turn assignments in early, thus completing the course materials in less time, but you are still expected to participate with the class in technology experiments, emails, cooperative learning activities, and other discussions. Communication in an on-line class is critical for successful completion of the class.

Academic Integrity:

As a member of the Seminole Community College community, a student is expected to be honest in all of his or her academic coursework and activities. Academic dishonesty such as cheating on any kind of examinations, course assignments, or projects; plagiarism, misrepresentation, and the unauthorized possession of examinations or other course-related materials, is prohibited. Plagiarism is the deliberate use and appropriation of another's work without identifying the source and trying to pass of such work as the students own.

When cheating or plagiarism has occurred, the instructor may take academic action ranging from denial of credit for or assigning a grade of `F` on a specific assignment, examination, or project to assigning a grade of `F` for the course. The student may also be subject to further sanctions such as disciplinary probation, suspension or dismissal from the college.

The penalty for violating the honor code is severe. Any student violating the honor code is subject to receive a failing grade for the course and will be reported. If a student is unclear about whether a particular situation may constitute an honor code violation, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss the situation.

For this class, it is permissible to assist classmates in general discussions via the “Discussion Board” regarding computing techniques. General advice, tips, and interaction are encouraged. Each person, however, must develop his or her own solutions to the assigned projects, assignments, and tasks. In other words, students may not "work together" on individual graded assignments. Such collaboration constitutes cheating. A student may not use or copy (by any means) another's work (or portions of it) and represent it as his/her own.

 Withdrawal From A Course:

If you encounter any difficulties at all or if you are considering withdrawing from the course for any reason, please contact your instructor without delay. The instructor may have suggestions that will allow you to successfully complete the course.

Students may withdraw themselves from any course without academic penalty up until the deadline set by the college. Once the deadline for withdrawing has passed, the instructor will not withdraw a student. Students who do not submit their assignments on time and who do not officially withdraw from the course will receive a failing grade.

You must enroll as an Audit student at the time of registration to receive an audit grade. 

Disability Services:

Any student who has a disability and is in need of special services should contact Disability Support Services (Room S-002, Phone 407-328-2109) by the second week of class.

PBL (Phi Beta Lambda):

Students enrolled in SCC’s computer courses are encouraged to participate in the local chapter of the national student organization Phi Beta Lambda. SCC’s chapter has a history of success in state and national competitions, as well as service to our community. For further information, contact Sherry Jenkins in the Office Management Technology Department or visit the PBL Web site at http://www.scc-fl.edu/career.programs/ceo/office/pbl/default.htm

Emergency Conditions:

To verify that the college is open and classes are being held, please call: 407-328-2290 or 407-328-4722. The Seminole Community College website features updated announcement at http://www.scc-fl.edu.

To Get Started:  

Before the term starts, it is recommended that you do the following:

1. Review the syllabus (above) and Schedule (see link at top of this page). Ninety-five percent of your questions are answered in the syllabus.

2. Purchase the textbook and review the table of contents so that you can see the depth of the work and assignment material.  Reviewing the syllabus, class schedule, and the textbook will give you an idea of what will be expected of you in the course. To be successful, plan on spending approximately 3 - 6 hours per week on this course each week.

3. Have Windows or Vista and Internet Explorer loaded on your computer and ready to go THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASS.  There is no slack time and you must have everything in place.  If you experience technical difficulties, you need to come to one of SCC's labs to do your assignments and exams.

4. Once the semester begins, login to ANGEL. Click on the Welcome/Orientation icon in the Content area for details on starting your course work.
   
   You will not be able to enter the course in ANGEL until the first week of the term.  If you register during the Add/Drop period, there will be a slight delay getting your login and password entered in ANGEL.
   
   Refer to the Using ANGEL @ SCC at  http://www.scc-fl.edu/dl/angel/  for more information on logging into ANGEL or visit the DL web site. You will need to have your ANGEL Login ID and Password ready to log in to ANGEL.
   
   The URL for ANGEL at SCC is: http://ecampus.scc-fl.edu/angel or click on the link at the top of this page.
   
   If you have any difficulty logging into ANGEL, please fill out the online problem form available at: http://www.scc-fl.edu/dl/webct/webct-problem-form.htm or call the DL office at (407) 328-2424.
    

If you have any problems, feel free to e-mail your instructor at orre@scc-fl.edu. Be sure to mention the course number in the Subject line. (Once you have logged into ANGEL, do not use the SCC e-mail address. Please use the e-mail within ANGEL.) I look forward to working with you this semester!