Northeastern State University

College of Business and Technology

Department of Information Systems and Technology

Spring 2007

 

Instructor:

 

Dr. Jo Ann Starkweather                                          Office:  BT 221B

Office Hrs.:       W  9:00-11:00                         Phone:  918.456.5511 ext. 2938

                        T/Th      9:00-11:00                              FAX:    918.456.2337

Web page:  http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~starkwea         e-mail:  starkwea@nsuok.edu

 

Course Information:

TCM 3183 Data Communication & Teleprocessing -  Online:  section #0993

 

Description:

Data communications and teleprocessing system principles are examined in detail.  Major topics include:  hardware and networks, protocols and architectures, common carrier networks, and the planning and management of data communication and teleprocessing systems.

 

Student Performance Expectations:

  1. You are expected to participate in all class activities.  This includes not only exams, but discussion boards, student presentations, group assignments, and so forth.
  2. You are required to complete all assignments on time.  No credit will be given for assignments turned in after the due date/time.
  3. All assignments are to be prepared and submitted according to directions given for the assignment.  Assignments that do not meet specifications will receive a grade of “0.”

 

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define and distinguish between the different types of networks (LAN, MAN, WAN, Intranet, Extranet).
  2. Describe the major types of networked applications.
  3. Define the components of a data communication network (application, frame, switch, router, client, server, lines).
  4. Explain what packets are and why different layers need different packets.
  5. Understand how TCP/IP works and how it interacts with each layer of the OSI model.
  6. Understand Ethernet and frame relay networks.
  7. Describe the major elements of wireless networking.
  8. Describe and understand network design, network management, QoS, and network security.

 

 

 

Required Materials:

Textbook:  Raymond R. Panko, Networks and Telecommunications (6th edition).  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers, 2006.  www.prenhall.com/panko

 

ADA Compliance:

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with you and the University’s Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class.  Please advise the instructor of such disability and the desired accommodations (as approved by Office of Student Affairs) within the first week of classes.

 

Student Evaluation

     The final course grade will be based on a group PowerPoint presentation, your evaluation of peer presentations, your initiation of and response to chapter discussion threads, 10 timed weekly quizzes (objective question format:  terminology, true/false, multiple choice), and 4 timed examinations (terminology, short answer, and essay format).

                                                                                                                                               Points

1.  Group PowerPoint presentation                                                                                  100

2.  Your evaluation of peer group presentations  (5 @ 10 points each)                            50

3.  Initiation of 1 chapter discussion thread                                                                      10

4.  Response to discussion threads (4 @ 10 points each)                                                  40

5.  Timed Weekly quizzes (10 @ 10 points each)                                                          100

6.  Timed examinations (4 @ 100 points each)                                                              400

                                                                                    Total Points Available             700

Grade Item Descriptions

1.  Group PowerPoint Presentation

Assigned groups of 3 students are responsible for preparing a PowerPoint presentation on a topic relevant to a specified chapter in the text.  You may choose to elaborate on a concept briefly mentioned in your chapter or you may introduce a new, related concept/technology that compliments the chapter material.  (Consider registering online with Network World.com [or similar websites]; they have extensive archives of short articles on every network/technology concept imaginable).  Of course a key word search will also produce a dearth of material on such topics.

The PowerPoint presentation must include:

  a.  Title slide that lists all group member names

  b.  Minimum of 10 "lecture" slides

  c.  Final slide listing full bibliographic citation for source(s)

Due Date:  Each group is responsible for having their presentation available for viewing in Blackboard the Monday of the week their chapter is assigned.  For example, Group 1 is responsible for a presentation relevant to Chapter 3.  This chapter is scheduled to be read the week of September 11.  Thus, Group 1's presentation must be available for viewing by 5:00pm on Monday, January 29th.  Group presentation grades will be reduced by 5 points for each day past the due date/time up to a maximum of 10 points.  A group presentation not posted by 5:00pm Wednesday of the assigned week will receive a grade of 0.

Evaluation Within Group:  Group members will evaluate each other based on participation, contribution, and attitude.  The final group presentation grade will be derived using the following weights.

Instructor's evaluation of presentation          50%

Average peer evaluation                               20%

Average group member's evaluation            30%

2.  Evaluation of Peer Presentations

Students not in the presentation group are responsible for grading each group presentation by 5:00pm on the Thursday of that week's presentation.  Each external evaluation will earn you 10 points toward your overall course grade.  Although each presentation is supposed to be available for viewing on Monday of presentation week, groups have until 5:00pm Wednesday to submit.  Please note there is a mandatory 5 point reduction for a presentation submitted from 5:01pm Monday-5:00pm Tuesday and an additional 5 point reduction if the presentation is submitted from 5:01pm Tuesday-5:00pm Wednesday.  No presentations are accepted after 5:00pm Wednesday. Your peer evaluation grade of each presentation must take into account the point penalties mentioned above.

 

 

3.  Initiation of Discussion Threads

Each student is responsible for initiating a discussion thread for 1 assigned chapter.  To receive credit for this assignment, your discussion thread must be posted by 5:00 pm on Monday of the week assigned to your chapter.  The content of your discussion thread must be relevant to the assigned chapter and should be in the form of a provocative reaction to the chapter material (either a statement or question). 

4.  Response to Discussion Threads

Each student is responsible for responding (thoughtfully and respectfully) to 4 discussion threads.  To receive credit for these responses, they must be posted by 5:00 pm on Wednesday of the week assigned to that chapter. 

 

5.  Timed Weekly Quizzes

The material covered on quizzes will assess your understanding of concepts and terminology introduced in each chapter.  Use the highlighted acronyms/concepts in the chapter as a study guide.  In addition to preparing you for the more comprehensive examinations, the quizzes are intended to encourage you to keep up with the assigned material at a reasonable pace.  This material cannot be digested in a 'night before cram session.'

6.  Timed Examinations

The material covered on examinations will assess your understanding and familiarity with relevant terminology/acronyms, as well as your ability to recognize the interrelationship among concepts and to use critical thinking skills to apply information in a practical context.  Specifically, the beginning portions of each exam will be short answer questions such as compare/contrast 2 terms, list # elements, give advantages/ disadvantages, and so forth.   The rest of the exam will require more keyboarding proficiency as you will be expected to respond in narrative (open-ended) format to questions dealing with issues such as troubleshooting a network problem or resolving a problem presented in a case/scenario format.  The essay questions use operative verbs such as “discuss”  or “explain”… thus requiring  more thoughtful, integrated, and  detailed responses.   

 

↓↓          NOTES regarding QUIZZES AND TESTS       ↓ ↓

 Exams and quizzes will be available online on specific dates and times.  It is the student’s responsibility to check BlackBoard announcements daily to determine quiz/exam availability.

 

Tentative Class Schedule – Spring 2007

Week of Monday:

Material

8 January

Ch. 1 Introduction

15

Ch. 1 (continued)

22

Ch. 2 Layered Standards Architecture

29

Ch. 3 Physical Layer

5 February

Exam I   Chapters 1-3

12

Ch. 4 Ethernet LANS

19

Ch. 5 Wireless LANS

26

Ch. 6 Telecommunications

5 March

Exam II  Chapters 4-6

12

Ch. 7 Wide Area Networks (WANS)

19

!!  Spring Break  !!

26

Ch. 8 TCP/IP

2 April

Ch. 9 Security (Fri., Apr 6th last day to drop with grade of “W”)

9

Exam III  Chapters 7-9

16

Ch. 10 Network Management

23

Ch. 11 Networked Applications

30

Final Exam:  Chapters 10-11