MARA 249-11
Management of Digital Data, Information, and Records
Spring 2021 Syllabus

Connie "CJ" Rodriguez
E-mail

Office Hours: By appointment via telephone or online


Syllabus Links
Textbooks
CLOs
Competencies
Prerequisites
Resources
Canvas Login and Tutorials
iSchool eBookstore
 

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

Week/Dates

Module Topic

Module Activities

Module 1

January 27- February 7

E-Records Concepts

  • E-Records Definitions, Business Drivers, and Benefits

Review Module 1 Lecture

Read: Chapter 1

Review: Glossary of Terms – Pages 411 - 423

Week 1 General Discussion Board - Student Introductions; Due: Feb 7

Module 2

February 8 - 14

E-Records Concepts

  • Information Governance: The Crucial First Step
  • Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles

Review Module 2 Lecture

Read: Chapters 2 & 3

Review:

  • Appendix A - Laws and Major Regulations Related to Records Management – pages 379-390
  • Appendix B – Trends in Electronic Medical Records Technology – pages 399 - 409

Week 2 General Discussion Board; Due Feb 14

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due Feb 14

Module 3

February 15-21

E-Records Concepts

  • Managing E-Documents and Records

Review Module 3 Lecture

Read: Chapter 4

Week 3 General Discussion Board; Due Feb 21

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due Feb 21

Module 4

February 22-28

E-Records Fundamentals

  • Inventorying E-Records
  • Taxonomy Development for E-Records

Review Module 4 Lecture

Read: Chapters 5 and 6

Week 4 General Discussion Board; Due Feb 28

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due Feb 28

 

Module 5

March 1 - 7

E-Records Fundamentals

  • Developing Retention Schedules for E-Records
  • Managing Vital E-Records

Review Module 5 Lecture

Read: Chapters 7 and 8

Assignment #1 – Scandal Investigation & Analysis - The Improper Management of Digital Data, Information, and Records; Due: Mar 7

Module 6

March 8 - 14

E-Records Fundamentals

  • ERM Link to Business Process Improvement
  • Workflow and Business Process Management Software

Review Module 6 Lecture

Read: Chapters 9 and 10

Week 6 General Discussion Board; Due Mar 14

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due Mar 14

Module 7

March 15 - 21

Information Delivery Platforms—Managing E-Records

  • Managing E-Mail and IM Records
  • Managing E-Records in the Cloud

Review Module 7 Lecture

Read: Chapters 11 and 12

Week 7 General Discussion Board; Due Mar 21

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due Mar 21

Module 8

March 22 - 28

Information Delivery Platforms—Managing E-Records

  • Managing Social Media Business Records
  • SharePoint Governance for E-Records and Documents

Review Module 8 Lecture

Read: Chapters 13 and 14

Assignment #2 – Case Study: Information Management System/Tool Implementation; Due: Mar 28

March 29 – April 2

Spring Break

 

Module 9

April 5 - 11

Technical Issues

  • International E-Records Standards
  • Metadata Governance, Standards, and Strategies

Review Module 9 Lecture

Read: Chapters 15 and 16

Week 9 General Discussion Board; Due Apr 11

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due Apr 11

Module 10

April 12 - 18

Technical Issues

  • Long-Term Digital Preservation
  • Storage and Hardware Considerations

Review Module 10 Lecture

Read: Chapters 17 and 18

Week 10 General Discussion Board; Due: Apr 18

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due: Apr 18

Assignment #3 - Research Paper Topic Approval; Due: Apr 18

Module 11

April 19 - 25

Project and Program Management Issues

  • E-Records Project Planning and Program Management Issues
  • Building the Business Case to Justify an ERM Program

Review Module 11 Lecture

Read: Chapters 19 and 20.

Week 11 General Discussion Board; Due Apr 25

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due Apr 25

 

Module 12

April 26 – May 2

Project and Program Management Issues

  • Securing Executive Sponsorship

Review Module 12 Lecture

Read: Chapter 21

Week 12 General Discussion Board; Due May 2

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due May 2

Assignment #3 - Research Paper – Preliminary Reference List; Due: May 2

Module 13

May 3 - 9

Project and Program Management Issues

  • Procurement Governance: The Buying Process

Review Module 13 Lecture

Read: Chapters 22

Digital Data, Information, and Records in the News Discussion; Due May 9

Module 14

May 10-17

(Extended)

Project and Program Management Issues

  • Best Practices for Electronic Records Management

Review Module 14 Lecture

Read: Chapter 23

Assignment #3 - Research Paper; Due: May 17 (date extended)

May 17

Last day of Spring semester

 

**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.

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:

  1. C Describe the evolution of systems that manage data, information, communication, and records in response to technological change.
  2. D Apply basic concepts and principles to identify, evaluate, select, organize, maintain, and provide access to physical and digital information assets.
  3. E Identify the standards and principles endorsed and utilized by data, archives, records, and information professionals.
  4. H Describe current information technologies and best practices relating to the preservation, integrity, and security of data, records, and information.

Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

  • Smallwood, R. (2013). Managing electronic records: Methods, best practices, and technologies. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Available through Amazon: 1118218299arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain

Grading Scale

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

97 to 100 A
94 to 96 A minus
91 to 93 B plus
88 to 90 B
85 to 87 B minus
82 to 84 C plus
79 to 81 C
76 to 78 C minus
73 to 75 D plus
70 to 72 D
67 to 69 D minus
Below 67 F

 

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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