03 Jan Productivity, Programs,

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 1 Discussion

Today’s Technologies: Overview

Think about your IT experience and education to date, along with what you read in this unit’s studies. Then, address the following prompts related to your career plans:

What role do you see yourself in (or moving into) as you progress in your IT career?

What part of IT interests you most?

Have you achieved certifications or are you interested in pursuing certifications? Which ones?

What do you see as the most defining characteristics of a certification versus a college degree?

Staying informed of the changes in the field is important for IT professionals. Describe a few ideas you have to help maintain current knowledge with IT trends and news.

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one learner. In your response, point out anything that your colleague discussed that resonated with you and explain why. Then, provide feedback on your colleague’s ideas about maintaining current knowledge in the field.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Research various IT careers.

Describe the defining characteristics of certifications and degrees in IT.

Identify industry certifications relevant to IT careers.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 2 Discussion

The Internet and Innovation

You have done some research about Internet applications and other technology innovations, and you likely use those every day. Think about innovative technologies and apps that have been developed recently, and in relation to that, discuss:

Who are the current individuals that are at the forefront of technology innovation?

What kind of impact do these influencers have in the public and private sectors? On professionals?

Based on the recent things that these influencers have created, what do you think might be their next steps?

What problems or goals might they try to address with technology?

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one learner. Compare and contrast the information in your colleague’s post with what you wrote. What similarities and differences do you see? What questions did your colleague’s discussion raise for you?

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Identify commonly-used Internet applications.

Research information on Internet applications.

Identify needs that Internet applications address.

Identify specific goals or purposes of commonly-used applications.

Describe ways that Internet applications are used in various public and private sectors, professionally and socially.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 3 Discussion

Using Information Systems

In this unit, you learned about systems development. Think about the information systems where you work, have worked, or would like to work and respond to the following:

What systems are in place in this setting??

How do the systems support communications and productivity?

Who is assigned responsibility for the system development and execution?

Does that person or department handles updates, conformance, and maintenance?

What challenges are present in this information system?

What ideas do you have that might improve this system?

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one learner. Offer feedback on the learner’s response, including a critique or suggestions for improvement of the ideas that the learner discussed.?

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Describe characteristics of system development methodologies.

Identify current system development methodologies.

Apply system development methodologies to current practice.

Identify challenges related to a variety of system development methodologies.

Investigate approaches to mitigate challenges related to system development methodologies.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 4 Discussion

Data Breaches and Security

This week, you learned about network security and conducted independent research on data breaches that have occurred in companies in the past couple of years. For this discussion:

Identify the company and the nature of the data breach.

What information was vulnerable and what was the cost to the company?

What strategies did the company develop to enhance security in the future?

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one learner. In your response, compare the data breach incident your colleague described with the one that you investigated. What similarities or differences do you see? How could you account for those similarities or differences? Are there any lessons in the two incidents that could inform IT policy?

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Identify ways that networks can be breached.

Identify strategies for protecting network security.

Identify IT practice approaches in the scholarly literature.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 5 Discussion

Productivity, Programs, and Applications

Systems software consist of instructions organized for a common purpose and tells the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them. Application software refers to the end product for user productivity. For this discussion:

Compare and contrast the two concepts with definitions and examples.

How does the transformation of data into programs and applications change?

Next, discuss several apps you like to use on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device and why.

If you could design a new app, what would it be and why?

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one learner. In your response, continue the discussion by asking your colleague a question that his or her response raised for you.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Describe characteristics of application software.

Describe characteristics of system software.

Explain how a computer turns data into usable information.

Identify common applications for business and personal use.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 6 Discussion

Storage Options

Technology innovation moves quickly, and the media used for storage also changes rapidly. A current form of repository is the cloud, which is accessible through various programs and vendors on the Internet. Investigate several options for cloud storage (for example, Dropbox, iCloud, Google drive) and respond to the following:

Which option for cloud storage have you selected as your favorite?

What characteristics of this storage option are most beneficial for you?

What are the disadvantages of this option?

Are there features missing that you would like to see?

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one learner, preferably one who selected a different option than you did. Compare and contrast your selection with that of your colleague. What points that your colleague raised cause you to think about investigating the option that he or she chose?

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Investigate options for virtual storage of IT content.

Describe characteristics of virtual storage of IT content for business.

Critically analyze advantages and disadvantages of virtual storage.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 7 Discussion

Database Management Systems

Imagine you have been assigned a project to review 10 files of customer information such as company name, address, contact information, website, and e-mail. You need to organize the data and present it to a committee in form of spreadsheet, document, and slides. For this discussion, respond to the following:

What software would you use to organize the data?

What would give the best representation of your review?

What programs would you use?

How would a relational database support this work?

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one learner. In your response, continue the discussion by providing a critique of your colleague’s post. What suggestions of “things to consider” would you offer to your colleague?

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Identify main characteristics of relational database management systems.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 8 Discussion

Ethics and Best Practices

After reading about IT codes of conduct and ethical challenges in the IT field, you should have a robust understanding of challenges and issues that IT professionals face daily.

In your view, what are the key issues that the IT professionals face today? Think broadly (for example, ethical challenges, information security, net neutrality, etcetera).

What should be the position of IT professionals in these issues?

How might these challenges relate to the work you do (or the type of work you want to do)?

How might you avoid making any ethical mistakes in your work on these challenges?

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one learner. In your response, continue the conversation by posing a question that your colleague’s response raised for you.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Investigate IT codes of conduct and codes of ethics.

Identify ethical challenges related to IT work.

Identify strategies for avoiding ethical errors.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 9 Discussion

Social Networking

In your study in this unit, you created your own LinkedIn profile. Report on that in this discussion.

Provide your LinkedIn profile information so that other learners can view your profile.

What benefits do you see in using LinkedIn professionally?

What challenges did you have as you created your profile?

How do you expect to use LinkedIn during the remainder of your program?

How will you use it after you finish your program and move forward in your career?

Response Guidelines

View the LinkedIn profiles of several learners. Then, select at least one learner’s discussion to which you will respond. Provide 2+2 feedback to your colleague: 2 strengths that you saw in your colleague’s profile and 2 suggestions that you have for adding to his or her profile.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Investigate a variety of social media sites.

Identify appropriate uses of social media in business.

Identify benefits of social media use in the workplace.

Identify mistakes related to using social media.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 10 Discussion

Reflection on Learning

Reflect on your experiences from the course over the past weeks.

First, recall what you accomplished or struggled to accomplish.

Second, reflect on the major concepts you studied in this course, such as today’s technologies and predictions for the future, computing machinery and components, and what you learned that you think will help you in your future work in IT.

Finally, discuss what you learned about yourself as an adult learner. What “big ideas” about learning in the Capella courseroom are you taking with you to your next course?

Response Guidelines

No responses are required for this discussion.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Identify trends and technologies in IT.

Resources

Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 1 Assignment

Careers in Technology

Overview

Often, technology professionals are asked to speak with others about their career. Suppose that you have been asked to speak to a group of high school students about careers in technology. Choose at least two of the following groupings to discuss: network administrator and network engineer, database administrator and database engineer, applications developer and software architect, and technology project manager and systems analyst; OR, choose other groupings of IT subdisciplines (as approved by your instructor) for a total of four positions.

If you need to “brush up” on your PowerPoint skills, review Capella University Library: PowerPoint Presentations, linked in the Resources.

Assignment Instructions

Using the textbook, Internet, or the Capella University Library for research, create a PowerPoint presentation that you would give the group to whom you are speaking. Please include the following in your PowerPoint slides:

Describe the challenges and opportunities IT professionals in your chosen subdisciplines might experience.

Describe the value of certifications versus a university degree for these subdisciplines.

Describe whether you would choose one of these subdisciplines as a career, based upon your research and analysis. Why or why not?

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Length: 5–6 PowerPoint slides.

Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 2 Assignment

Internet Applications

Overview

Although the Internet has only been around for a relatively short time, many people use it on a daily basis. It is used for business, education, to conduct research, to interact socially, and to engage in financial transactions, among many other purposes. In this unit, you studied the Internet, and you will use that information to help develop your assignment.

Assignment Instructions

In the unit studies, you learned more about the Internet. Based on what you learned, write a 2-page paper in which you will discuss the following:

Describe an Internet application that has had an impact (or made a change) on society, government, industry, business, politics, etcetera.

What is the goal or purpose of this application?

How has this application made an impact on one (or more) of the areas listed above?

How was the goal or purpose of this application achieved before? Or did that goal or purpose exist before? What were the precursors to this application that aimed at the same goal or purpose?

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Length of paper: 2 pages, double-spaced.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 3 Assignment

System Development Methodologies

Overview

System development methodologies are used for improving the management of the software development process, including the activities that need to be done and specific techniques that should be used. The goal of these methodologies are to improve the productivity and quality of system development.

Assignment Instructions

Identify two current system development methodologies that you have studied. Create a graphic organizer in which you compare and contrast the methodologies.

Microsoft Word has a feature called “SmartArt” that allows you to create graphics to enhance the content you are communicating. Use this feature to create your graphic organizer. For this assignment:

Create a graphic organizer that provides details about the two system development methodologies you selected. Include enough written details in your organizer to demonstrate your understanding.

Below your graphic organizer, describe a scenario in which the two methodologies might be employed in a business.

Include a discussion of potential challenges in each process and how you might mitigate these challenges.

Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 4 Assignment

Networks

Overview

Networks drive access to computing power personally, academically, and professionally. Communications depend on sending and receiving devices. The networks transmit all forms of data, information, and communications. Understanding the structure of networks is essential to understanding how systems and machines are interconnected and their interrelationships with software and applications.

Assignment Instructions

You are a work-at-home associate for a large health insurance company and you are traveling on business. You decide to get some work done at the local coffee shop and log on to their free Wi-Fi to access your company resources for work.

A couple of days later, you find that your company account was hacked when you were working at the coffee shop and some proprietary information may have been vulnerable.

For this assignment, write a memo to your boss about this incident.

Explain the circumstances that made your account vulnerable to hacking.

Explain how you could have done things differently to prevent this from happening.

Summarize the article that you read on network security and explain how the information contained in it could be used to extend people’s knowledge.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Length of paper: 2 pages, double-spaced.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 5 Assignment

Systems and Application Software

Overview

Systems programs (software) consist of instructions organized for a common purpose and tell the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them. Application software refers to the end product for user productivity.

Assignment Instructions

For this assignment, write a 2-page paper in with you discuss system software and application software.

Compare and contrast the two concepts with definitions and examples. What is similar and what is different about them?

How does the transformation of data into programs and applications change?

Discuss several apps you like to use on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device and explain why.

If you could design a new app, what would it be and why?

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Length of paper: 2 pages, double-spaced.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 6 Assignment

Storage

Overview

Storage is a critical component of computing machinery output. Data, information, documents, and media require a protected method of storage that is accessible and well organized for retrieval. While it may be a physical device, we now have the alternatives of using the cloud or a virtual storage site. Each method has specific advantages and disadvantages, including personal and professional preferences.

Assignment Instructions

Suppose that you have been hired as a consultant for a small business that is considering the best way to store their electronic data. Research virtual storage (for example, in the cloud) and physical (on-site) storage options.

Write a proposal for the small business owner regarding his or her options for storage.

Discuss the options for virtual and physical storage.

Describe the ease or difficulty of deployment and configuration. Which is easiest to set up and use?

Identify the differences in cost of each option.

Identify potential security concerns for each option.

Based on what you learned, provide a recommendation for this small business about whether it should use physical or virtual storage. Support your recommendation with solid reasons from your reading.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Length of paper: 2 pages, double-spaced.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 7 Assignment

Database Application

Overview

The development of databases opened a new world for the transition of data into usable information able to be manipulated for many different purposes through attributes and characteristics assigned by the user. The size can vary from small to massive and relationships between the traits can be broken down to very specific criteria.

Assignment Instructions

For this assignment, you will create a PowerPoint slide deck on relational database management systems (RDMS). Your presentation should include the following:

Slide 1: Cover slide – your name and the title of the presentation.

Slide 2: Description of a RDBMS. Include characteristics.

Slide 3: List and describe the major RDBMS vendors. Include their RDBMS products and cost comparisons. You can do this as a narrative or with a chart.

Slide 4: Explain what makes a RDBMS ‘relational.’

Slide 5: Reference slide.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Length of paper: 5 PowerPoint slides

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 8 Assignment

Governance and Ethics

Overview

The proliferation and ubiquity of technology has presented great advantages and great challenges. The best practices of companies and organizations now include governance departments and initiatives to oversee ethics in their professional environments. Technology is also governed by legal parameters and legislation is emerging in an attempt to rein in a free and unregulated Internet or the World Wide Web.

Assignment Instructions

Suppose that you have been asked to discuss governance principles, standards, and best practices in the IT environment with new hires at your company. Create a 2-page handout that you would give the new hires to whom you are speaking.

List and describe the components of an IT code of conduct.

List and describe common ethical errors related to governance, standards, and practices that people in IT fields make.

Explain how to avoid the identified errors.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Length of paper: 2 pages, double-spaced.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 9 Assignment

Social Media

Overview

How many times have you checked your Twitter feed today? Checked your Instagram and LinkedIn account? Looked for a video on YouTube? Social media has a daily presence in the lives of many people. As with all technology, significant discussions have concentrated on social media. Where it once was limited to texting and a personal site, it has evolved into a massively influential means of exchanging communications, information, and media.

Assignment Instructions

At the top of the most popular type lists for social networking, the following are always included: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube. Each one has a different purpose and use.

For this assignment, write a 2-page paper in which you:

Discuss the sites you are most familiar with in general.

Compare these six social sites and how they are the same and different.

Describe ways in which social media is being used in the workplace.

Describe the benefits of social media use in the workplace.

Describe potential mistakes that can be made when using social media in the workplace.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Length of paper: 2 pages, double-spaced.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.

IT1006 Information Technology Concepts and Practices

Unit 10 Assignment

The Future

Overview

Technology is a dynamic phenomenon that shows no sign of slowing down. Every development has affected the population personally and professionally on many levels. Many predictions have come true while others simply did not work for reasons such as budgets, time to completion, lack of usability, and imperfect design. On the horizon are research on artificial intelligence, cloud storage, platform architecture, improved usability, and analytics.

Assignment Instructions

Using the textbook, internet, or Capella University Library for research, design a 5-slide PowerPoint presentation with predictions for the future of IT. You will record this presentation using the narration feature in PowerPoint.

Slide 1: Cover slide: Include your name and the title of the presentation.

Slide 2: Describe some predictions by high-profile IT professionals on future trends or technologies in IT.

Slide 3: Describe some ways in which these predictions might impact business operations.

Slide 4: Describe some ways in which these predictions might impact humanity socially.

Slide 5: Reference slide.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Use spell check in Word to confirm spelling and grammar.

Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.

Length: 5 slides.

Due date: Assignment must be submitted to your instructor no later than midnight Central time on Sunday.

Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assignment.