ISTA 498 | Senior Capstone Alternating Wednesdays, 11-11:50am, Harvill 302
Professor Nicholas DiRienzo
Email: ndirienzo@email.arizona.edu Office Location: Harvill 445 D Course Homepage: D2L
Office Hours: Thursday 2-3pm
Course Description:
This course is designed to be a culminating experience for seniors in the Information Science, Technology, and the Arts (ISTA) undergraduate degree program. The course integrates a Senior Capstone experience in the form of a synthesizing project with practical activity as well as preparation for contemporary work. Students will be given opportunities to discuss, review and reflect on their learning in their undergraduate work relative to an information society. Students will also be provided the mechanisms through which their coursework can be applied to `real-world’ contexts (e.g., hackathons, career fairs, internships, interviews with leaders in their area of study, professional shadowing experiences, service learning projects, or community-based event planning). The Capstone aspect of this course consists of a culminating experience for students involving a substantive project that demonstrates learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Ultimately, this course provides students the opportunity to learn about what it means to be prepared in an information society as well as reflect on their own skill sets and the professional preparation needed for career satisfaction and success.
Locations, Times, and Required Preparation:
From August 28 to December 11, 2019, we will meet on alternating Wednesdays in Harvill 302 from 11:00-11:50 am. The first meeting will be on August 28.
The Capstone iShowcase is scheduled for Friday, December 6th from 11:00am – 1:00pm. You must attend the iShowcase and present your materials for at least one hour in this time. Please arrange this with any other classes well in advance if needed. Presentation and participation is required to pass this class.
Communicating with the Instructor:
Use the D2L Q and whenever you can! In classes like this, many students ask similar questions, and it is not possible for the instructor to answer each of these by email. So I ask students in this course the following: PLEASE post your questions in our D2L Forums instead of emailing whenever possible. Q and A forums are the best place to post questions that may apply to others, such as, The link to assigned reading X does not open for me, or, Can you explain more of what you want in this assignment?” When posting questions in our D2L Q and A, students who do not want their identity revealed to other students can elect the Anonymous Q and A forum, in which the question is visible to the whole class but the poster’s identity is only visible to the instructors.
There is also a private, secure place in D2L to upload documentation for excused absences and assignment extension requests. We do not accept these by email. In cases in which questions necessarily involve personal information or could not apply to other students in the course, email the professor. Expect a 48-hour response turnaround due to the high volume of emails I receive.
Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Design and create a Capstone project: Work with University faculty and community and business stakeholders to design and create a project that synthesizes ideas, theories, and techniques (e.g., technical design, surveillance, big data analytics) learned in the ISTA program. Understand and shape projects effectively within the context of the current and projected technological landscape and demonstrate awareness of contemporary social and cultural issues.
2. Construct a professional narrative Describe their skill set, in what professional contexts their skill set is needed, and why their coursework relevant to an ISTA provides them with essential foundational abilities that distinguish them for work in the contemporary workplace.
a. Be prepared for employment interviews in the professions.
b. Craft successful resumes and cover letters
c. Understand the importance of organizational culture, and how to deploy leadership
skills in a variety of professional contexts.
3. Analyze the contemporary job market Students will know how to target a particular kind of position, in the short- and long-term.
a. Link job titles with responsibilities and skills
b. Understand the components of successful networking
4. Deploy communication skills Students will have an opportunity to refine their communication skills in the classroom and in the community.
a. Interpersonal or group communication
b. Multicultural communication
c. interviewing skills
5. Enhance particular skill sets of interest Students will understand areas they would like to improve and develop strategies for improvement.
a. Recognize skills and competencies that need to/could be improved.
b. Develop strategies for asking for and recognizing resources for developing these skills.
c. Adopting a proactive approach to career development.
Course Format and Teaching Methods:
This is course consisting of a face-to-face meeting every other week; and of course students are also expected to have substantial contact with site supervisors. The class as a whole will move through the course together, on a weekly basis. D2l (desire to learn) will be used as the instructional and course management environment in addition to our face-to-face classroom.
Because face to face class time is infrequent, and because students operate as a support community for one another, it is extremely important that students attend every face-to-face meeting. For this reason, for many assignments in the course there will be no make-ups permitted without written
documentation from a third party for the student’s absence. This includes the first class of the semester. This course involves required attendance at every class meeting and extracurricular activities.
Students are also expected to log on regularly (at least once every 2 days), to read and study the blog lectures and readings, to participate in the online discussions, to interact by email (and other means) with their fellow students, and to write (or otherwise answer) the assignments.
Collaborative work – This course is being taught in a Collaborative Learning Space (CLS) and collaborative work is an aspect of the course. In fact, course projects will require you to collaborate with your colleagues in some way. You are responsible for updating your colleagues and me about assignment progress in a timely manner. In addition, you are responsible for negotiating all aspects of your work, including planning, drafting, revising, file managing, and scheduling of task completion. You will also evaluate your own and each group member’s participation in collaborative work. The instructors will use these evaluations to determine individual grades for collaborative work. In general, all collaborative partners or groups will receive the same grade. There are instances, however, where one team member is unprofessional or otherwise unproductive. Should these cases occur, we reserve the right to lower grades for poor performance, particularly when group members can provide evidence of good or poor performance.
Active learning – One becomes a member of a field, discipline, or a professional community by contributing to that community and/or problem solving in a given domain. In an effort to inform your future students and career goal the best way I know how, all of you must contribute to the course in ways that deepen or go beyond what is provided in the course readings, videos, lectures, and/or model student project. Active learning de-emphasizes the one-way transmission of information and privileges intrinsic motivation, problem-solving, and decision making within collaborative learning groups.
The Fall2019 iShowcase:
The iShowcase is your moment to shine! This end-of-semester event is being coordinated by Jana Phillips in our office, (520)621-3565, in Harvill 409, or email jana42@email.arizona.edu. For our iShowcase, students may be required to purchase a print poster.
Required Texts and Special Materials:
Students are required to provide the equipment they will perform display their work on in class. This may include a laptop computer or professional posters. Students are also required to provide the equipment they will use to develop projects, slideshows, and pitches, potentially including computers, microphones, cameras, and headphones.
No books are required for this course; Readings and content will be presented in person and available through D2L. Lectures will be presented in person or posted to our D2L course space, where they will be presented in text, video, audio, or some combination thereof.
Course Prerequisites and Attributes:
Senior Standing is required to enter this course. To be successful in this course students must conduct independent Study. This course focuses on student engagement including Entrepreneurship, and Innovation and Creativity. Read more about UA Student Engagement Initiatives at http://ose.arizona.edu/ .
Capstone Project Component:
Senior capstone projects are how SI senior BS candidates demonstrate their preparedness for the workplace to both the School and to potential employers. To minimize the burden of supervision on faculty who supervise these, we are asking that all students work in groups of 3 to 5 members on collaborative projects.
Each capstone unit obligates each student to 3 hours of work per week, i.e. 9 hours a week for 3 units of ISTA 498. Hours beyond those spent in class and on class assignments should be put into working on the project.
Professionalization Component:
Your are graded individually for Professionalization activities. These may be career readiness assignments or process-based considerations of success that tie to professionalization for this course. Regular time will be devoted to the discussion of a particular topic or activity related to individual professionalization including the following subtopics:
• Linking job titles with responsibilities and skills
• Resumes
• Digital Presence & Networking
• Crafting your professional narrative
• Relevance: The ability to talk with colleagues and superiors about trends and news in social
technologies.
Course Schedule:
Class date (All Meetings are on alternating Wednesday 11-11:50, in Harvill 302
Activity/Due in class this day
(Total with Capstone = 100 points / 100%)
Meeting 1, Week 1 – August 28
In-class: Overview; Group formation Homework: Project Spreadsheet (2.5 points) & Site Supervisor Agreements
Meeting 2, Week 3 – September 11
Turn in: Site Supervisor Agreements (2.5 points) In-class: Planning and Designing Your Project
Meeting 3, Week 5 – September 25
Turn in: Plan and Design Worksheet (5 points) In-class: Group discussion of Plan and Design worksheets – Getting critical feedback
Meeting 4, Week 7 – October 9
Turn in: Full Proposals (5 points)
In-class: Pitch Overview & How to Interview
Meeting 5, Week 9 – October 23
Turn in: Pitch Take 1 (5 points) In-class: Interview Simulator (5 Points) Online Homework: Pitch Critique
Meeting 6, Week 11 – November 6
Turn in: Pitch Take 2 (5 points)
In-class: Jana Phillips will come speak about the iShowcase (DO NOT MISS THIS CLASS)
Online Homework: Build your LinkedIn and Resume (5 points)
Meeting 7, Week 13 – November 20
Turn in: LinkedIn and Resume
In-class: LinkedIn Networking & Resume reviews Online Homework: Pitch Review (5 points)
Meeting 8, Week 15 – December 4
In-class: Practice iShowcase and Poster drafts (5 points)
Homework: Grading Final Poster pdfs (5 points)
iShowcase! December 6, 11-1pm, Student Union Ballroom
In-person attendance and print posters (size and other specifications given in class) must be followed to qualify for the grade that is based on the Capstone Project evaluation by Site supervisor (50 points)
50% of your grade will come from the points associated with the various activities/homeworks done in meetings 1-8. The other 50% comes from your Capstone project, presentation, and Site Supervisor recommendation.
Grade Distribution:
90-100% 80-89% 70-79% 60-69% < 60%
= A “exemplary, far beyond reqs/expectations” = B “exceeds requirements/expectations”
= C “meets requirements/expectations”
= D “falls short of requirements/expectations” = E “repeat of course needed”
University policy regarding grades and grading systems is available at http://catalog.arizona.edu/policy/grades-and-grading-system. Many assignments in this class are graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Requests for incompletes (I) and withdrawal (W) must be made in accordance with university policies which are available at https://www.registrar.arizona.edu/grades/incomplete-i-grade and https://registrar.arizona.edu/grades/withdrawal-grades respectively.
Competencies met by this course:
Foundational Understanding and Abilities: All Undergraduate Programs
F1.1) Students will demonstrate understanding of the use of information and communication technologies and the implications of such use, for example: scientific and social uses of information, and social, cultural, and economic implications of digital life and culture.
F2.2) Students will demonstrate facility using basic research methods, for example: research design; statistics and analysis; organization, identification, and location of data and information including open- and closed-access sources; and/or presentation of findings in oral, written and multi-media form, including proper use of and citation of sources.
F3.3) Students will acquire the skills, knowledge and self-understanding to communicate with and effectively work and interact across cultures and with diverse people and groups.
F4.4) Students will demonstrate knowledge of career and further education options and opportunities open to them relative to their plan of study and will set goals and make plans beyond their expected graduation
Disciplinary Knowledge and its Application:
Information Science and the Arts Bachelor of Arts
DAISBA2.1) Students will demonstrate principles such as human-centered design, ergonomics, and artistic design considerations in the development and provision of information services, technological innovations, games, or human-computer interactions.
DAISBA2.2) Students will apply appropriate evaluation and testing methods to validate design decisions.
DAISBA2.3) Students will demonstrate proficiency in articulating varieties of evidence supporting a solution and communicating the results of their work, using appropriate graphics, visualizations, multi-media vehicles, or artistic performance.
DAISBA2.4) Students will demonstrate the importance of work in multidisciplinary teams and will be able to communicate research based in one discipline or field of study to different disciplinary audiences and to general and non-academic members and audiences.
Information Science and Technology Bachelor of Science
DAISBS2.1) Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct a research project using appropriate and ethical methods, including proper citation of sources.
DAISBS2.2) Students will establish the ability to exercise the four key techniques of computational thinking (decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms) in solving information and data challenges.
DAISBS2.3) Students will acquire the skills of collecting, manipulating, and analyzing different types of data at different scales, and interpreting the results properly.
Ethics and Values
EV1) Students will be able to recognize and analyze ethical and policy concerns raised by new technologies and will be able to apply ethical thinking to real world cases and craft effective solutions. EV2) Students will be able to identify and apply professional ethics and standards relevant to their career aspirations.
Attendance, Due Dates, and Missing Work:
1. Missed class assignments or exams cannot be made up without a well-documented, verifiable,
excuse (for example, a physician’s medical excuse). Indeed, due dates are firm, and late work will
be accepted only with a verifiable and valid excuse.
2. The UA policy regarding absences for any sincerely held religious belief, observance or practice will
be accommodated where reasonable,
http://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources/religious-accommodation-policy.
3. Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean designee) will be honored.
https://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/absences
4. Arriving late and leaving early is extremely disruptive to others in the class. Please avoid this kind of disruption.
5. The UA’s policy concerning Class Attendance and Administrative Drops is available at:
https://catalog.arizona.edu/policy/class-attendance-participation-and-administrative-drop
Course Conduct and Campus Policies (be familiar with all campus policies):
1. Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and applications of course materials. However, graded work/exercises must be the product of independent effort unless otherwise instructed. Students are expected to adhere to the UA Code of Academic Integrity as described in the UA General Catalog. See: http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/academic-integrity/students/academic-integrity.
2. It is the University’s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact Disability Resources (520-621-3268) to establish reasonable accommodations. For additional information on Disability Resources and reasonable accommodations, please visit http://drc.arizona.edu/.
3. The UA Threatening Behavior by Students Policy prohibits threats of physical harm to any member of the University community, including to oneself. See http://policy.arizona.edu/education-and-student-affairs/threatening-behavior-students.
4. All student records will be managed and held confidentially.
http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/personal-information/family-educational-rights-and-privacy-act-1
974-ferpa?topic=ferpa
5. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of discrimination; see http://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources/nondiscrimination-and-anti-harassment-policy.
6. Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grade and absence policy, may be subject to change without advance notice as deemed appropriate by the instructor.