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PUAD 626: Information Resources Management
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 | As soon as possible, i.e., NOW, send me (not the whole class) an e-mail message <tdarling@ubalt.edu>,
with your name, contact phone number(s), and a brief description of your job. I
will use the return e-mail address on this message to add you to the class listserve. (Yes, if you want you can have two addresses on the listserve,
just ask in your e-mail.) Make sure your subject line says:
puad626 sign-up.
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Readings (in order of importance for next week)
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| Case Study
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| After I add you to the
listserv (and I usually do that within 48 hours of getting your e-mail),
go to the Internet site (WWW, world-wide web) for the Center for
Technology in Government at the University at Albany <http://www.ctg.albany.edu>,
and look around. Follow links until you find an IRM topic that interests
you, read it, and file a brief report (2-3 paragraphs) on the class
listserv about what you discover there (do NOT choose The
Insiders Guide or other CTG course readings as the basis for your
report). Make sure you share with others
the url (Internet address) for the site you are talking about. N.B.,
file the report in the body of the e-mail (not as an attachment). Make sure
the subject line of your e-mail reads "CTG Report: your last name". | ||||||||||||||
| Operating System Review. (Optional: You won't be turning in anything for
this.) The first section of the Access 2002 tutorial text contains a "Brief
Tutorial" on the Windows2000 or WindowsXP operating system. If you are comfortable with
your OS, all you need do is skim through this section to make sure you understand
everything. If you are new to your OS, you will find it well worth your
time (in the long run) to carefully complete these tutorials. Re: Section
2.2. You may want to download some files from <http://www.course.com>
for this section. | ||||||||||||||
| Access Tutorial #1. In the Microsoft Access 2002 tutorial text, (i) read page AC-1.02 carefully; (ii) work through Introduction to Microsoft Access 2002, Tutorial 1 (pp. AC-1.03 -- AC-1.26); and, (iii) complete the "Case Problems," #1 - #4, pp. AC-1.28 -- AC-1.31. N.B., You only print and hand in the material from the Case Problems. | ||||||||||||||
| If you are using the
Windows2000 operating system, I suggest you take a gander at
Access2000 Hints. I will let you know how to access this document over the
listserv. |
Overview: Over the course of the semester, you will do five (5) tutorial assignments. For each one, you should read the tutorial part of the chapter, and follow along with the tutorial on the computer. Then, for each of the five assignments/chapters, after reading the tutorial part of the chapter, you will follow the instructions contained in the four Case Problems that follow (Case 1. Lim's Video; Case 2. DineAtHome; Case 3. Redwood Zoo; and, Case 4. Mountain River Adventures.) You hand in the material from the Case Problems; you do not hand in the material from the tutorial part of the chapter.
On the page in the book that says "Read This Before You Begin," (p. AC-1.02) make sure you do.
As part of the tutorial, you will need to retrieve student files from <http://www.course.com> - in other words, where it says "ask the instructor" or "files in the computer laboratory" - DON'T. Some of you may run into trouble trying to download these files. Hints: (1) The ISBN of you book is on the back cover and on the title page. (2) This is where others on the listserve may be able to offer help or guidance [In other words, don't call the instructor with your confusion, send an e-mail to the listserve :) You did sign up for the listserv didn't you?]
When doing the tutorial case studies, follow the instructions precisely. (For example: If it doesn't say to save your changes, don't save them; when it says to print, print.) Capitalize correctly; no typos. Make sure your printed output looks "pretty" enough to give to your boss's boss -- can you see everything you need to see, is everything spelled right, does the page "look good."
Staple each case separately. On the front of each case, in ink, write the date you turned it in and indicate whether you are using Access2000 or Access2002 to complete the tutorials. On each page, in ink, write the question number (e.g., Q-1.2.3 for Tutorial 1, Case 2, Question 3) and your initials.
To some extent, the tutorial cases build on work from the prior cases. Others have found it useful to archive/back-up a copy of the tutorial and case files after completing each chapter. Then if you really mess up while working on the next chapter, you don't have to go all the way back to the start of the book. A word to the wise… Create back-ups.
Your life will be much better if you work off the computer's hard disk; don't try to keep your data files on a floppy. If the computer is not yours, copy your files from the floppy to the hard drive at the start of the session, and then back to a floppy at the conclusion of your session. (Remember to delete them from the hard drive if the computer is not yours).
If you know your way around a computer you will find Assignment 1 very, very easy. Assignment 2 is only a little bit harder. If you aren't having any problems, I recommend moving on to Assignment 2 right after completing Assignment 1. [What, me procrastinate:) ] If you are having difficulties with Assignment 1, you probably will need a little time away. Assignments 3, 4, & 5 are a little harder still -- folks who know their way around a computer should expect to spend between 4 and 6 hours on each one.
