Outline+and+Assessment

Mr. Stringer e-mail: johnstringer@cis-beijing.com Phone: (86-10) 6465-7788 Office hours: 9:30 – 10:25* ||
 * ** Information Technology in a Global Society **


 * Course Description **


 * The Diploma Programme information technology in a global society (ITGS) course is the study and evaluation of the impact of information technology (IT) on individuals and society. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of the use of digitized information at the local and global level. ITGS provides a framework for the student to make informed judgments and decisions about the use of IT within social contexts.

Although ITGS shares methods of critical investigation and analysis with other social sciences, it also considers ethical questions found in the study of philosophy. Students come into contact with IT on a daily basis because it is so pervasive in the world in which we live. This widespread use of IT inevitably raises important questions about social and ethical issues that shape our society today. ITGS offers an opportunity for a systematic study of these issues, whose range is such that they fall outside the scope of any other single discipline.

The nature of the subject is defined by the use of fundamental ITGS terms. For the purpose of the ITGS syllabus the following definitions apply.


 * Information technology is the study, design, development, implementation, support or maintenance of computer-based information systems.
 * Social and Ethical significance refers to the effects that the development, implementation and use of information technology has on individuals and societies. Social impacts and ethical considerations are not mutually exclusive and are therefore categorized as a single entity.

In general:
 * Social impacts tend to refer to the effects of IT on human life. Ethical considerations refer to the responsibility and accountability of those involved in the design, implementation and use of IT.
 * An information system is a collection of people, information technologies, data, processes and policies organized to accomplish specific functions and solve specific problems.

Expectations:
 * Be self motivated
 * Be honest
 * Have integrity
 * Be a team player
 * Complete all work to the best of their ability at all times
 * Complete all homework and coursework on time
 * Be able to communicate verbally and in written form
 * Have an interest in technology (hardware / software, old /current and new) Learn about how technology works
 * Discussing the impact of technology on our day to day life
 * Keep up to date with technological advances

* Office hours subject to change depending on schedule


 * Course Objectives: **

At the end of either the standard level (SL) or higher level (HL) ITGS courses, students will be expected to fulfill the following objectives:
 * 1) The ITGS course aims to educate students about the global impact of IT systems on today‘s society.
 * 2) During this course, you will focus on three main inter-linked areas:
 * 3) Social and Ethical Significance – the positive and negative aspects of an IT system and it‘s effects on society
 * 4) Application to specified scenarios – the areas of society where IT is used. These are: Business & Employment; Education & Training; Environment; Health; Home & Leisure; Politics and Government
 * 5) IT Systems – the technology – what it is and how it works ||


 * Topics **




 * Resources **


 * Beekeman, George, Beekman, Ben. (2008). Computer Confluence Tomorrow's Technology and You. Complete (9th Edition).

Baase, Sara. (2008). Gift of Fire, A: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet: International Version, 3/E. San Diego State University, Pearson Higher Education.

Quinn J., Michael. (2009). Ethics for an Information Age, International Edition, 3rd edition. ||

The development of an original IT product for a specified client. Students must produce:
 * Assessment HL/SL **
 * HL ITGS Assessment External Assessment (80%) – 3 Written Examination Papers – 4 hours 45 mins total **
 * Paper 1: 2 hours 15 mins, 35% Seven structured questions that assess in an integrated way the three strands of the syllabus. Students answer four of the five questions. One on IT systems in Organizations and one on Robotics, AI and Expert Systems.
 * Paper 2: 1 hour 15 mins, 20% This paper consists of one unseen article. Students are asked to write a response to this article.
 * Paper 3: 1 hour 15mins, 25% Four questions based on a case study
 * PROJECT Internal Assessment (20%) **
 * A cover page using prescribed format
 * An original IT product
 * Documentation supporting the product (max 2000 words)


 * SL ITGS Assessment External Assessment (70%) – 2 Written Examination Papers – 3 hours total **
 * Paper 1: 1 hour 45 mins, 40% Five structured questions that assess in an integrated way the three strands of the syllabus. Students answer three of the five questions.
 * Paper 2: 1 hour 15 mins, 30% This paper consists of one unseen article. Students are asked to write a response to this article.

The development of an original IT product for a specified client. Students must produce:
 * PROJECT Internal Assessment (30%) **
 * A cover page using prescribed format
 * An original IT product
 * Documentation supporting the product (max 2000 words)