Thriving in the Tech Age
Integrated Information Technology Department
Exam - Learning and Reflecting about Information Technology
"Critical Reflection" is the process of analyzing, reconsidering, and questioning one's experience within a broad context of issues and content knowledge." [Barbara Jacoby, 2012]
Background Summary
One of the goals of ITEC 101 is to address how information technology impacts daily life and drives change. As stated in the course syllabus, whatever career field you may pursue, you need to know the basics of information technology and how to leverage its possibilities.
Therefore, as you examine linkages and interactions between disruptive and emerging technologies, you are also preparing yourselves to continuously learn even after you finish college and start your careers.
In the first three modules, we've learned how IT is critical to business success no matter what industry we discuss. We learned about disruptive and emerging technologies that have and will change business over the next few years. And, finally, we learned about the various computing disciplines - how they impact business and what students in different disciplines learn in their courses while in school.
Purpose of the Assignment
Rather than take a traditional true-false / multiple choice test where you need to learn specific information, this exam is designed to have you research and then use critical thinking to answer the questions. Learning to write a "reflective" short essay is important because it helps you increase the value of your learning experience, it encourages you to take meaning from your own research and apply it to what you are learning in the course, and it helps you relate new learnings and experiences to your prior knowledge.
There are no right answers. Good answers are based on your thoughts, your research, and how well you express what you have to say.
Questions / Short Essays:
1. We described many different disruptive technologies, which have significantly changed the way business has been conducted over the last 40 years.
a. Why is a technology considered "disruptive?"
b. Give an example of a disruptive technology which has impacted your own life from when you were younger until now.
c. Has this same technology impacted your parents' lives as well? In the same way or differently? (Module 2)
2. In Module 2, you were assigned to read the David Cearley, et al., article about Strategic Technology 2016 Trends.
a. Pick one of the trends.
b. How will this trend impact business within the next two - four years?
c. What will change? What will stay the same?
d. Will your everyday life change significantly? If so, how? If not, why not? (Module 2)
3. The Opening Case, Coca-Cola Manages at the Point that Makes a Difference in Turban, Chapter 3 - Data Management, Big Data Analytics, and Records Management, describes several data management challenges. (See PDF Case 3.1, p. 71-75.) This case describes Coca-Cola's approach to "Big Data" and how it uses data to make business decisions. Re-read this case and answer Questions 1-4 on page 75. (Module 2)
4. Scenario - You are attending one of the IT Professional Networking events held monthly in Columbia. While speaking to one of the professionals you mention that you are an Integrated Information Technology major / minor at USC. The professional asks you why you chose IIT.
The professional then wonders about the difference between computing science and information technology.
a. How would you explain the difference?
b. Why are you studying IT? (Module 3)