FIT2003 IT professional practice - Semester 2, 2014

This unit provides a practical and theoretical introduction to what it means to be an IT professional today. Students will encounter a range of issues relevant to professional practice in the workplace, as well as an understanding of the wider responsibilities that professionals are called upon to uphold in society. Topics addressed include: organisational and professional communication; teamwork; the nature of the IT professions; the role of professional associations; problem solving and information use; cross-cultural awareness; personal and professional ethics and codes of practice.

Mode of Delivery

• Caulfield (Day)
• South Africa (Day)

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

• One 2-hour lecture
• One 2-hour tutorial
• One 1-hour meeting

(b.) Study schedule for off-campus students:

• Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture and tutorial sessions, however should plan to spend equivalent time working through the relevant resources and participating in discussion groups each week.

(c.) Additional requirements (all students):

• a minimum of 7 hours of personal study in some weeks for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

FIT2035

Prerequisites

Completion of 24 points of Information Technology units

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Tutors

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Student feedback has highlighted the following strength(s) in this unit:

• Students find the tutorial exercises both engaging and relevant.

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

• be familiar with the variety of roles available to IT professionals;
• understand the role and function of professional associations;
• demonstrate an understanding of the ACS code of ethics and the rights and responsibilities of IT professionals;
• identify and discuss the organisational and social impacts arising from the use of IT, and the ethical dimensions associated with IT-related decisions;
• be able to explain and demonstrate the elements of effective communication and interpersonal communication skills;
• be sensitive to and demonstrate understanding of cultural differences to improve intercultural communication;
• be able to select and use strategies for effective and efficient productive (speaking and writing) and receptive (reading and listening) communications;
• describe the purpose, protocols, roles and procedures for meetings and interviews;
• understand the need to and demonstrate the ability to work co-operatively and manage conflict;
• demonstrate the ability to make effective use of technology in oral and written communication; and
• develop information gathering, critical evaluation (information and sources) and problem solving skills.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Teaching Approach

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 25%; In-semester assessment: 75%

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

See Assessment task 7 below which is a Class Participation requirement.

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  eFolio

  Description:

  Students must produce a range of written documents from tutorial activities. These will be collected in a Google Documents folder that will form an "eFolio".

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Criteria for assessing the folio are:

  1. Inclusion of all specified documents
  2. Appropriateness of document contents
  3. Quality of writing
  4. Quality of presentation

  Due date:

  Throughout semester, but finalised by Friday 10 October 2014 (end of Week 10)

  Remarks:

  Students should complete their eFolio throughout the semester after the relevant tutorial activities. They may also seek feedback during the semester on drafts during consultation with tutors.

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Assignment 1 - Article Analysis: Part A - Individual Oral Presentation

  Description:

  Students must analyse and verify a chosen article in the media on an IT related topic, then give a 5 minute oral presentation to their tutorial class on that article, supported by visual aides.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Criteria for assessment are:

  1. Selection and organisation of content
  2. Voice and language
  3. Timing
  4. Non-verbal communication (e.g., body language, eye contact)
  5. Quality of visual aids

  Due date:

  Presentations will be made and assessed during Week 6 tutorials

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Assignment 1 - Article Analysis: Part B - Individual Written Report

  Description:

  Students must produce a written report (500-1200 words) on the IT article they have researched and presented for the first part of this assignment (Assessment task 2).

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Criteria for assessment are:

  1. Depth of analysis of the chosen article and its sources
  2. Extent of research done to verify articles content
  3. Organisation of report
  4. Quality of writing (including spelling and grammar)
  5. Quality of presentation
  6. Appropriate citation of sources

  Due date:

  Week 6, Friday 5 September 2014

• Assessment task 4

  Title:

  Assignment 2 - Organisational and Social Impacts of Information Technology: Part A - Resource Kit

  Description:

  Students must work in teams to produce a Resource Kit on a selected topic related to IT Professional practice. There is no specific word requirement for this assessment.

  Weighting:

  5%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Criteria for assessment are:

  1. Selection of resources
  2. Organisation and presentation of content

  All team members will receive the same group mark for this component.

  Due date:

  Week 11, Friday 17 October 2014

• Assessment task 5

  Title:

  Assignment 2 - Organisational and Social Impacts of Information Technology: Part B - Team Oral Presentation

  Description:

  Students must make a 15 minute team presentation with accompanying visual aides on the topic researched for their Assignment 2 Resource Kit (Assessment task 4).

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  All students in a team will get the same mark for the following assessment criteria:

  1. Selection and organisation of content 
  2. Co-ordination of multiple speakers
  3. Quality of visual aids

  Each student will receive an individual mark for the following assessment criteria:

  1. Voice and language
  2. Non-verbal communication
  3. Presentation of content

  Due date:

  Presentations will be made and assessed during Week 11 tutorials

• Assessment task 6

  Title:

  Assignment 2 - Organisational and Social Impacts of Information Technology: Part C - Individual Written Report

  Description:

  Students must submit a 2000 word written report on the resources they have individually contributed to their team's Resource Kit (Assessment task 4). A 500 word appendix reflecting on the dynamics of their Assignment 2 team must also be included. 

  Weighting:

  15%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Each student will write an individual report and this component of Assignment 2 will be assessed separately for each student.

  Criteria for assessment are:

  1. Appropriateness of resources selected
  2. Content of report (e.g. analysis of resources, reflections on team dynamics)
  3. Organisation of report
  4. Quality of writing
  5. Quality of presentation
  6. Accuracy of the bibliographical details

  Due date:

  Week 11, Friday 17 October 2014

• Assessment task 7

  Title:

  Class Participation

  Description:

  Clayton campus: Students will be assessed on their participation in lectures based on their use of clickers in peer assisted learning activities. Students will also be assessed on their preparation and participation in tutorial activities.
  
  South Africa campus: Students will also be assessed on their preparation and participation in tutorial activities.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Clayton campus: For lecture partipation, clicker responses will be recorded, and students will be assessed on their level of participation (5%). For tutorials, students will be assessed on their contributions to group discussions and level of engagement in tutorial activities (5%).
  
  South Africa campus: Students will be assessed on their contributions to group discussions and level of engagement in tutorial activities (10%).

  Due date:

  Throughout semester

• Assessment task 8

  Title:

  On-line Quizzes

  Description:

  Weekly, on-line multiple choice quizzes.  These will be open on-line the week before the lectures and should be completed before the lecture each week. The Quiz will close on Friday of each week.

  Weighting:

  5%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Correct answers demonstrating basic knowledge and understanding of course material.

  Due date:

  Weekly, Friday, beginning Week 2

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  25%

  Length:

  3 hours

  Type (open/closed book):

  Closed book

  Electronic devices allowed in the exam:

  None

  Remarks:

  Dictionaries are allowed.

Learning resources

Feedback to you

• Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
• Graded assignments with comments
• Quiz results
• Other: Feedback during tutor and lecturer consultation sessions

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Resubmission of assignments

No resubmissions allowed.

Referencing requirements

In line with Faculty policy students must follow the American Psychological Association (APA) Style Guide: http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/tutorials/citing/apa.html

Assignment submission

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Required Resources

Students will be expected to make their assignment work available online (via Google Documents, or other such sites). 

Prescribed text(s)

Eunson, B. (2011). C21 Communicating in the 21st Century. (3rd Edition) Wiley.

Recommended Resources

Teaching material will be provided on the unit Moodle site.

Additional subject costs

Clayton students are required to purchase a Turning Point clicker from the Campus Bookstore or directly from the Australian Distributor.

Examination material or equipment

No materials or equipment will be permitted in the examination room other than standard writing implements.

Dictionaries are allowed.

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student Charter

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit