Information Systems Management Reflections

What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?
In this course I wanted to learn how to design a local area network and a wireless network. I wanted to better understand some of the jargon used in networking. I also wanted to better understand how to network two computers and a printer such as in my classroom or at my home. I hoped that this class would serve as a resource for future reference as far as networks are concerned. I know that I have a better understanding of the jargon used in networking and would be able to explain most of the terms used in local and wide area networks to someone with no knowledge base of either topic. I believe I could connect two computers and a printer in a home or my classroom. This skill would be greatly used in my classroom and in the classrooms of my colleagues. I believe most of the actual outcomes did align with my personal objectives for this class.
To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?
At school I teach Anatomy & Physiology and credit recovery Biology, but I teach technology staff development. Understanding networks allows me to better troubleshoot and assist my colleagues with multiple technology issues that arise during the day. By researching local area networks and wide area networks, I can better diagnose problems such as network cable being unplugged. I know to look for the RJ-45 connector. If a computer lab looses connection I now know to look at the configuration of the local network to find a possible solution. Networking is definitely my weakest area as far as technology is concerned. After this class, I have gained confidence in my understanding of network components, configurations, hardware, and software. The main thing I find the most relevant is a better understanding of the jargon used in networking. Several acronyms are used in networking and can be intimidating to the novice networking student.
What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?
After reading the other 5 topics, I don’t feel like I have a good understanding of the vocabulary or the core ideas explained in a few of the topics. I would have to conduct more research on a few topics in order to fully understand them and to have a working knowledge of the topic. I would certainly have to have a better understanding of a few topics in the paper in order to integrate the knowledge into teacher in-service training sessions. I also don’t feel like the finished paper was a total team effort. Perhaps some of the team members didn’t have a proper understanding of the Office Live workspace. Some team members didn’t contribute at all to the compilation of the seven topics, introduction and conclusion, and works cited page. The whole idea behind the online shared workspace is that everyone in the group can participate in all phases of the course.
Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?
I was assigned two topics to research with a minimum of five articles as source material per topic. I had to write two to three pages on each topic. Using the online collaborative software Office Live, all seven topics were to be combined into one paper with all sources being combined for a complete reading list. I setup the Office Live account listing all class members, the syllabus, topics assigned to each class member, and included all e-mail correspondence in class notes. I thoroughly researched my two topics and found several reliable resources for the reading list. I do not feel like the final paper is top quality because not all class members followed the requirements for the length of the topic or the style in which to cite the source material. I also feel like the overall tone of the paper is casual instead of research oriented. Some topics in the research paper reflect more of a conversation tone than a research tone. This diminishes the overall quality of the paper.
What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?
The main thing I took from this class is there is no price you could possibly place on a great team mate. When completing a group project, cooperative group members that understand the assignment, pay attention to detail, and contribute more than their fair share are essential. Having little understanding of Information Systems Management drove me find the most information I could. I absolutely would not stop until I was satisfied with my understanding of the new topic. My drive and work ethic helped me find one of the most fantastic resources for technology. Harvard, via an extension school, has designed a course covering all basic topics of technology and designed access to the course material using podcasting, vodcasting, video tutorials, and practice problems. I watched lecture four, which lasted about 100 minutes, and learned so much about the Internet and networks. I absolutely cannot wait to watch all 12 tutorials from computer science 1 and learn more. Computer Science 1 can be accessed via http://computerscience1.org/. I am always looking for new information and material so that I can assimilate it into my current knowledge base and expand my skills. My leadership skills are an asset because I didn’t hesitate to setup Office Live and to compile the sources for the finished paper.