General
This class will include assigned reading with comprehension questions and lecture videos to introduce topics and concepts. You will also complete several lab assignments for each chapter that will build on each other throughout the course. There are no quizzes or exams for this class. In place of a final exam, you will complete two final projects. Per SUU’s Academic Credit policy, “One-credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework.” This means that for any 3-credit class you should spend a total of at least 135 hours or between 9-10 hours per week for a 14-week semester. Due dates for all assignments can be found on Canvas and will generally be Sunday night each week. I am more than happy to answer questions and help with lab assignments, but I do not regularly check my email on the weekends. If you are planning on or need to complete your work over weekends, I recommend you plan/work ahead so you can get your questions to me during the week before the assignment due date.
SmartBook Reading Assignments
You will have 9 SmartBook Reading assignments worth 15 points each. This is a feature in Connect which tests for understanding of the chapter reading. To get credit for the SmartBook reading assignments, you do not need to get all the questions correct, but you do need to complete the entire assignment. These assignments are adaptive. The number and topic of questions will adjust based on your answers, so I recommend actually doing the reading before trying to answer the questions.
Lecture videos and PowerPoint slides
For each Chapter you will have access to lecture videos and/or PowerPoint slides from the textbook authors. These are available to you as additional learning resources, but there are no course points associated with these videos and PowerPoint slides.
Labs/projects
The majority of your learning in this class should come as you complete hands-on lab and project exercises, many of which will build upon each other throughout the semester. Each lab may contain free response objective and analysis questions as well as multiple choice, check box, or fill in the blank questions that you need to answer on Connect. You will also create a “lab document” that will include required screenshots from the lab and will be uploaded and attached to the Connect lab assignment. Free response lab questions should be answered on Connect for grading purposes, but you are welcome to also include your answers on the lab document for your notes or future reference. See Canvas and Connect for specific instructions for each lab and project. Labs will have requirements that need to be completed using Microsoft products, Tableau, and Alteryx software. You are welcome and encouraged to work together and use any resources that you can find, but each student should complete and turn in their own work. You are also allowed multiple attempts on lab assignments in Connect but your final attempt must be complete before the due date. You are welcome to use other resources to help you with lab assignments including internet searches and Generative Artificial Intelligence. However, written responses must be in your own words or include appropriate citations. These tools should be used to enhance your learning and understanding not as a means to complete assignments with minimal effort, thinking or actual learning. You should be able to recreate and or explain your assignments on your own without assistance after you have completed them. You should also be able to use the software tools to complete similar or related tasks.