Course Introduction MIS 2402 Jeremy Shafer Department of MIS Fox School of Business Temple University

Agenda Our agenda for today: A little self reflection Course overview Why JavaScript? A little history Structure of the course A brief syllabus review Closing remarks Exercise

The best teacher in the world…

Learning to code is not like this… The teacher tells me the answers I memorize the answers I tell the answers back to the teacher I get a good grade. I win! I move on to the next task

Learning to code is like … SWIMMING RUNNING RIDING A BIKE MARTIAL ARTS JUGGLING PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT

The best teacher in the world… The best teacher in the world is … you. No one else can really teach you. What goes on outside the classroom is more important than what happens inside the classroom. “No use going to class unless you go to the library.” ~ Ray Bradbury

A little self reflection Let’s start with this: In 2012, a 61-year old teacher named Maria C. Waltherr-Willard sued her former school district for failing to accommodate her disability. Her disability was pedophobia – the fear of children. How is this story odd? How is it relevant to you? How would you respond to a doctor who said - ”I'm not really very good with medicine” ... or… “I'm afraid of sick people?” Now, consider the MIS student who says “I’m afraid of programming … or … I’m afraid of technology.” Would a prospective employer or manager be impressed with such a person?

Coding is everywhere

Objections “I have never coded before” WHY?!? WHY NOT?!? “Coding is supposed to be easy, but I just don’t get it.” Too many tutorials start out with a misleading “programming is easy” tone. When learning proves to be difficult, new learners get discouraged. The truth is that learning to program is hard, but it is also worthwhile.

Course Overview – Why JavaScript? Want more? https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2016#technology

Course Overview – A little (simplified) history 1950-1980 1981-2000 2001-2005 2006-present How many languages does a beginner need to know? Many CPUs, connected by a ubiquitous, wireless, high speed internet connection. Each application leverages multiple resources in “the cloud.” Conceptually, at least two CPUs involved here (a client and a server) Along with a broadband internet connection. (Hot languages – PHP, ASP.Net, JSP, etc.) Now anyone can have their own CPU! (Hot languages – Basic, C.) One big shared CPU and a lot of dumb terminals. (Hot languages – COBOL, Fortran.) 1 2 3 ?? 3 or more?

Course Structure Synthesis Common Resources Basic Skills & Concepts This class has three parts. Basic Skills & Concepts Common Resources Synthesis

The class syllabus In the syllabus you will find useful and important information about things like: Course Objectives Textbook and Materials Evaluation and Grading Exams (exams are “hands-on” evaluations of technical skill) Quizzes (these are “hands-on” too) Participation Extra Credit (there isn’t any) Curved Grading (there is one curve, applied at the end of the course.) Technical Challenges The MIS Professional Acheivment Point requirement (MIS majors need 200 points!) The expected schedule for the class

All quizzes and exams are “hands on” evaluations of technical skill. This quiz may come as a shock to some of you because I really do expect you to apply skills you have learned outside the classroom. Don’t expect it to get easier after this. Here, some of you will come to me saying “what can I do?” and/or “I am very worried about this class.” HTML Quiz Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 This exam may be the first one in your academic career that you fail. It may also be the the first one that you are unable to complete in the allotted time.

Quizzes and Exams All students must use the lab workstations to complete their quizzes and exams. One screen per student is allowed for exams and quizzes. It is to your advantage to sit in your “normal” seat on exam/quiz day. Your PC will boot faster. Any attempt to deliberately interfere with the technology used in this class (e.g. the class server), or to electronically impersonate a student other than yourself, or to knowingly share your credentials with another student for the purpose of sharing your work, will also be treated as a case of academic dishonesty. The penalties for such offenses will be severe.

Closing remarks – why you should care … Learning to code equips you to make things. Creative, dynamic careers are inherently more rewarding than stagnant ones. Learning to code equips you to solve problems that no one else can. The project team that is changing the business for the better needs developers. That’s you. (Whether it is your job title or not!) Coding skills and abilities will set you apart from your peers.

Closing remarks – some basic principles … There’s no substitute for strategic, creative thought. Coding nurtures that. Innovation does not come in a box. If you are going to hold a bachelor’s degree in MIS, then: You must have technical skills that surpass those of your peers in Marketing, Accounting, Legal Studies, Finance, etc. etc. etc. You must have technical skills that allow you to compete against your peers in other majors: Computer Science, and Engineering

Ready? "There are two kinds of people in the world, those who think they can and those who think they can't. And both are right." Henry Ford