INLS 181: Internet Applications

Course Syllabus

Pre-requisite: INLS 50 or comparable skills, including the ability to send and receive email, the use of microcomputer software such as word processors, and the use of Web browsers.

Course Objectives: INLS 181 gives broad knowledge of data communication systems, with a focus on Internet tools and applications. Goals include:

• Gaining hands-on experience with modern tools for Internet-based communication.
• Developing an informed approach to historical and future trends in networked computing.
• Demonstrating fundamental skills for instruction, diagnosis, support, analysis and management in diverse computing environments.
• Addressing the role of the Internet in society, and social impacts resulting from ubiquitous computing and networking.

Computer Use: In order to meet the course objectives, it is necessary to use networked computing resources regularly to practice skills and complete assignments. Internet access may be obtained at home or work via dial-in modem, in computing laboratories at UNC or elsewhere, or by other means.

Laptop Requirement: This course is transitional to the SILS Laptop Requirement (http://ils.unc.edu/html/4_laptops.shtml). The instructor will assume that first semester SILS graduate students and undergraduates for the class of 2004 or later will have a laptop computer compatible with SILS guidelines (or, for undergraduates, CCI guidelines). Laptop use will be required for these students in class or at home, and other students are encouraged to consider meeting the laptop requirements. Students with laptops should bring them to class daily.

This is a Paperless Course: The course syllabus, assignment descriptions and notes will be online, linked from these INLS 181 Web pages. Student assignments will also be online. For more details about moving towards paperless courses, see Prof. Newby's Paperless Pages, http://ils.unc.edu/gbnewby/paperless.html

Evaluation: All assigned work must be completed in order to receive a passing grade in INLS 181. Late work is downgraded at a rate of 1 point per business day or partial day. All work is to be added to your online Web-based portfolio for evaluation and is due at the start of class time on the due date. Instructions for doing this will be given in class. Througout the semester, you will be able to create more and more sophisticated presentations for your work.

Evaluation will be based on 4 assignments, an exam, and class involvement as follows:

1. Online Resume (assignment description). Due Wednesday, September 12. Using HTML, create an online resume, curriculum vitae or other biographical document suitable for an online portfolio. The resume should work well across different browser platforms, contain valid HTML, and be appropriately formatted at a good level of detail. 15 points.
2. Search Engine Research and Evaluation (assignment description). Due Wednesday, September 26. Identify a research topic of interest, a target audience, and search engine evaluation criteria. Evaluate and compare two publicly-available Web search engines for your topic based on your criteria, and provide a recommendation to your target audience. 15 points.
3. Forum Listing and Review (assignment description). Due Wednesday, October 10. Identify a topic of interest and a target audience who might be interested in that topic. Identify two sources, one each of Web-based discussion forums, electronic mailing lists or newsgroups that address this topic. Provide a review, comparison and recommendation for each of the discussion venues you identify. 15 points.
4. Term Project (assignment description). Due Tuesday, December 11 at 2:00 pm. Proposal due (by email) Wednesday, Novembr 14. Suggested projects are either an online small-scale digital library (where you collect and organize links to online materials. Approximately 50 links with annotations and organization, in multiple Web pages. Evaluation by 2 or more members of the target audience is required), or working to get an organization with no Internet presence on the Web (including interacting with the organization, developing a timeline, delivering a final product and soliciting feedback). The term project constitutes your take-home final exam for INLS 181. 25 points.
5. Midterm Exam. In class on Wednesday, October 24. Multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The exam will be open-book, and given at a networked computer you may use in any way you choose except for interactive contact with another person. 25 points.
6. Class Interaction. Ongoing. Participation in class discussions, preparedness and interaction with class materials. 5 points.

Graduate and undergraduate grading for the course will be as follows:

Grad	Ugrad	Points
H	A	95-100
P+	A-	90-94
P	B+	85-89
P-	B	80-84
	B-	78-79
	C+	75-77
L	C	70-[79/74]
F	F	69 or fewer

Text: There is a required text for the course. You may elect to choose supplemental readings from alternate texts. There are many books related to the course subject matter, most of which cover similar topics. The text was chosen for its subject matter and style of delivery, fairly recent publication date, publication quality, and coverage of HTML topics. Other readings may be placed on reserve in the SILS library and announced in class. Read the assigned readings before the class date they are assigned for, and review as necessary afterwards.

Required text: Raymond Greenlaw & Ellen Hepp. 2001. Fundamentals of the Internet, 2nd ed. McGraw Hill. ISBN: 0-07-236755-5.
There is an online supplement available with notes and projects.