Spring 2004
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Space Science and Technology (AERSP 055)
Credits: 3
Instructor: Robert Melton
Registrar’s Description
The science and technology of space exploration and exploitation; physical principles; research and development; history, space policy, and social implications.
My thoughts: To make a long story short, I loved this class. It dealt with all the fun NASA-related stuff I’ve been fascinated with since I was a kid in a very systematic way that had just the right amount of hard science and mathematics thrown in. Almost enough to make me second-guess not becoming an aerospace major… almost.
Documents
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Jewish Civilization (HEBR 010)
Credits: 3
Instructor: Paula Wapnish
Registrar’s Description
Life of the Jewish people from Biblical times, emphasizing cultural, religious, and institutional developments.
My thoughts: I thought it was high time I address my roots (again, after 7 years of Hebrew school) and take a Hebrew course. Turns out I didn’t know as much about Judaism as I thought. This course was basically a very dry look at Jewish history, and those that have taken a look at my transcript will see that I haven’t taken too many (or any) other history classes. Like so many others, this class stretched my mind in a totally new direction.
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Language, Logic, and Discrete Mathematics (IST 230)
Credits: 3
Instructor: Dave Mudgett
Registrar’s Description
Introduction to formal languages, mathematical logic, and discrete mathematics, with applications to information sciences and technology.
My thoughts: It was nice to get back in the swing of taking math-based classes. This course really got into a wide variety of interesting topics like logic, probability, and encryption. It placed an emphasis on clear thinking and deductive and inductive reasoning. I particularly enjoyed the project where we got to dispute the validity of the Flesch index for writing (see below).
Documents
- A circuits lab (97 KB, PDF)
- Using the power of logic, I argue both for an against a lengthy Thanksgiving break (19 KB, PDF)
- Detective Friedenberg figures out who killed Muzzy (28 KB, PDF)
- An overview of problem-based learning, the preferred teach style of IST (41 KB, PDF)
- Wherein I disprove the validity of the Flesch Index (186 KB, PDF)
- Wherein I compare cryptographic techniques (123 KB, PDF)
- Wherein I analyze Fitts’ Law (99 KB, PDF)
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Information and Organizations (IST 301)
Credits: 3
Instructor: Andrea Tapia
Registrar’s Description
Overview of organizational structures and functions. Includes information processing and analytic perspectives of organizations.
My thoughts: This class was unlike any other I’ve taken before. It was concentrated entirely on analyzing and improving organizations, from their very structure to the way they store information. It was organized around five large projects and the lessons necessary to make them succeed. This was more difficult than I expected, but the techniques I learned well make excellent additions to my toolbox.
Documents
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Design and Development of Content-Driven Web-Based Information Systems (IST 402)
Credits: 3
Instructor: Gerald Santoro
Registrar’s Description
IST-402 is an introduction to emerging technology forecasting and analysis. The various sections of IST-402 provide an overview of leading technologies in IST and how they impact information systems and users. Section 5 has a specific ocus on design and development of content-driven Web-based information systems.
Specific topics covered include:
- How to identify and analyse emerging technologies.
- Common mistakes in technology forecasting.
- Funding for technological innovation.
- Technical approaches to content-driven Web-based information systems.
- Introduction to the Open Source approach - MySQL, PHP and Apache.
- Performing a market and user analysis.
- Developing site design and documentation.
My thoughts: This class provided a much more systematic approach to Web development than the informal methods I had developed myself. I was particularly impressed with its emphasis on PHP and mySQL, the open source tools. Most of the course revolved around developing our project, the e-commerce site basketsbymandk.com, as well as writing critiques on the project of another group in the class. This type of activity is fundamental for any serious Web development.
Documents
- Report on the emerging trends in artificial intelligence (114 KB, PDF)
- Constructive critique on the development efforts of another group in the class (27 KB, PDF)
- Constructive critique on the design efforts of another group in the class (64 KB, PDF)
- Our final product (of course the site will continue to evolve over time) [external site]
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Survey of Management (MGMT 100)
Credits: 3
Instructor: Augustus Colangelo
Registrar’s Description
Introduction to organizational factors relevant to management processes, including leadership, motivation, job design, technology, organizational design and environments, systems, change.
My thoughts: This was a great class. Gus, as he liked us to call him, had a passion for talking about how important management is. He gave numerous (and often humorous) examples of management gone wrong, and had a real emphasis on group work and collaboration. Although the tests were surprisingly difficult, the reason was clear: management is an essential part of any job, and this class prepared me for it.
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