MARA 249-10
Management of Digital Data, Information, and Records
Spring 2021 Syllabus

Connie "CJ" Rodriguez
E-mail

Office Hours: By appointment via telephone or online

Canvas Information: Courses will be available beginning January 27, at 6:00 a.m. PT unless you are taking an intensive or a one-unit or two-unit class that starts on a different day. In that case, the class will open on the first day that the class meets.

You will be enrolled in the Canvas site automatically.

Course Description

Overview of the principles and methods of managing data, information, and records as operational, legal, and historical evidence in digital environments. This course examines the way in which new information technologies impact an organizations’ capacity to define, identify, control, manage, and preserve digital assets.

This course introduces learners to the principles and methods of managing data, information, and records as operational, legal, and historical evidence in digital environments. This course is an introduction to the management and long-term preservation of structured and unstructured content created or maintained digitally. This course examines the ways in which new information technologies challenge organizations' capacities to define, identify, control, manage, and preserve digital data, information, and records. Topics include the nature of digital data, information, and records as evidence; quality, reliability, and authenticity in data, information, and records; data, information and records policy formulation; business continuity planning; information security/assurance (cybersecurity); the role and nature of metadata/taxonomies; strategies, techniques, and technologies for the long-term preservation of data, information, and records; individual digital record-keeping behaviors, big data; cloud computing; information/data governance; mobile/social media as well as industry, national, and international standards relating to data, information, and records. The course examines the trends which are impacting data, information, and records as the external environment is rapidly moving to a digitized world and how this impacts the role of the information professional.

Course Requirements

Course Grading
Grading will be based on a total accumulation of possible 100 points, distributed as follows:

• Class Participation and Discussion - 20 points (20% of final grade)
  (Supports CLOs #1-6)
  Participation in weekly discussion boards
  Due: Weekly
   

• Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News - 20 points (20% of final grade)
  (Supports CLOs #1-6)
  Lead a data, information, or records “in the news” discussion
  Due: Date will be assigned by the instructor
   

• Assignment #1 – Scandal Investigation & Analysis - The Improper Management of Digital Data, Information, and Records - 15 points (15% of final grade)
  (Supports CLOs #1-6)
  The improper management of digital data, information, and records assignment 
  Due: March 7 (11:59 Pacific Time)

• Assignment #2 – Case Study: Information Management System/Tool Implementation - 15 points (15% of final grade)
  (Supports CLOs #1-6)
  Organizational implementation of a data, information, and records management system
  Due: March 28 (11:59 Pacific Time)

• Assignment #3 - Research Paper – 30 points (30% of final grade)
  (Supports CLOs #1-6)
  A critical extended essay of 15-20 pages on a topic relevant to the course proposed by the student and accepted by the instructor.

  1. Due: #3A - Topic Instructor Approval April 18 (11:59 pm pacific time) = 1 point

  2. Due: #3B - Preliminary Bibliography / Citations May 2 (11:59 pm pacific time) = 4 points

  3. Due: #3C - Final Paper May 17 (11:59 pm pacific time) = 25 points

Course Calendar

**No Class: Monday, March 29 – Friday, April 2, 2021 (Spring Break)

**No Class: Wednesday, March 31, 2021 (Cesar Chavez Day)

Grading

1. Course grades are determined by the accumulation of 100 possible points, distributed as outlined above in the course calendar.
2. This class follows the standard iSchool Grading Scale. 
3. Late assignments will not be accepted after 5 days past the due date. Late assignments submitted after the assignment deadline will receive a 10%-point reduction for each day up to 5 days based on the total point value of the assignment. For example, a 25-point assignment would have a daily 2.5-point reduction; a 15-point assignment would have a daily 1.5-point reduction; a 5-point assignment would have a daily 0.5-point reduction. No points will be awarded after 5 days late.
4. Discussion board postings will not be accepted for credit after the week's discussion has ended.
5. All course materials must be completed by the last day of the class.

Assignments Due
Unless otherwise noted, each module begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. Assignments will be due by 11:59 pm (Pacific Time) on the due date.

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Course Workload Expectations

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus.

Instructional time may include but is not limited to:
Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor.

Student time outside of class:
In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group;contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work.

Course Prerequisites

Demonstrated computer literacy through completion of required new student online technology workshop. 

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Examine the nature of digital data/information/records and the impact that technology has on data governance/management in contemporary structured and unstructured environments.
2. Analyze how Privacy, Information Assurance/Cybersecurity and Business Continuity Planning influence digital information management globally.
3. Identify appropriate industry and international best practices, standards and principles as well as legal & ethical consideration for the management of digital data/information/records and program development.
4. Summarize the main types of data/information/records management systems and the necessary steps to application implementation.
5. Assess the challenges associated with preserving digital data/information/records over time, including digital curation and long-term preservation methods and solutions.
6. Identify emerging technology trends and practice and their impact on the profession in an ever-changing digital environment.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

MARA 249 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• Smallwood, R. (2013). Managing electronic records: Methods, best practices, and technologies. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Available through Amazon: 1118218299

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Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

• C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
• B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work or undergraduate (for BS-ISDA);
  For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA, Informatics, BS-ISDA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class if you wish to stay in the program. If - on the second attempt - you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  
• A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Graduate Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

University Policies

Per University Policy S16-9, university-wide policy information relevant to all courses, such as academic integrity, accommodations, etc. will be available on Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs' Syllabus Information web page at: https://www.sjsu.edu/curriculum/courses/syllabus-info.php. Make sure to visit this page, review and be familiar with these university policies and resources.

In order to request an accommodation in a class please contact the Accessible Education Center and register via the MyAEC portal.

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