CSCI 303: Technical Communication for Computing Professionals


Professor: Thomas L. Brown
Class Meeting Time:  Monday & Wednesday 2:00 to 3:15 pm 
Conference Hours: Monday & Wednesday 1:00 pm + appointments
Office Phone: 903.886.5409
University Email Address: tom.brown@tamuc.edu
Preferred Form of Communication: email and http://csci.website/csci303.html 
Communication Response Time: next class day (or before)
 
 
                              COURSE INFORMATION
 
Textbook: Laffra, Chris; _Communication for Engineers_, isbn: 9798707037603

Other Recommended Texts and/or Materials: 
     A usb/flash drive to store files and documents
 
Course Description:
    The course will consist of a study of formal and informal communications for
    computing professionals. Types of communications that will be examined will 
    include conference and journal publications; visual presentations for both
    technical and non-technical audiences; writing clean code with comments; 
    collaborative software development; soft skills for IT job interviews; 
    in-house technical reports, progress reports, and email messages; writing
    blog posts and wiki articles. Some of these communications/documents will 
    be created as an individual requirement and some will be completed with a 
    partner. Prerequisites: COSC 1437 with a grade of C or higher and Junior
	standing.
 
Student Learning Outcomes*:
0.  Embrace working smart rather than working hard to increase the leverage
    of your activities.   
1.  Focus on high-leverage activities and apply effort over time to have a high
    impact.
2.  Optimize for learning things you are excited about and let that motivate you
    to learn and grow.
3.  Prioritize regularly to ensure time is spent on the right things.
4.  Invest in iteration speed by following a practice of continuous deployment.
5.  Measure what is to be improved and know the types of effort that are 
    effective.
6.  Validate ideas early and often to learn if the right things are getting 
    done.
7.  Improve project estimation skills to help make long term plans.
8.  Balance quality with pragmatism to recognize what does and does not work for
    achieving goals.
9.  Minimize operational burden by focusing on simplicity. 
10. Invest in your teams growth with a high quality onboarding process and a 
    positive culture.
*   As measured by graded activities
   
   
                            TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
    
You will need your campus-wide ID (CWID) and password to log into the course.
If you do not know your CWID or have forgotten your password, contact the 
Center for IT Excellence (CITE) at 903.468.6000 or helpdesk@tamuc.edu.


                             COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Minimal Technical Skills: Students enrolling in this course should have
mastered computer essentials including the use of a text editor, a graphical
user interface, and a common web browser. If a personal computer is to be used
rather than a laboratory computer, it is expected that the student can 
download, install and configure software.

Instructional Methods: This course includes online, inPerson and team activity
to communicate about software development.

Student Responsibilities or Tips for Success: It is expected that the student
will access the website http://csci.website/csci303.html) for assignments and
announcements, read textbook chapters, complete assigned exercises, interact
with partners, and take inClass quizzes on the scheduled dates.


                            GRADING AND ASSESSMENTS

The final grades in this course will be based upon the points earned on 
assigned activities. An average greater than or equal to 90 will earn the
grade of "A", 80-89 a "B", 70-79 a "C" and so on. The student should follow
College policy to obtain a grade of "X". 


                           COURSE PROCEDURES/POLICIES
                        
1. Assigned Readings: The student is expected to read the text to prepare 
   for discussions, practice exercises and graded activities. The student is
   also expected to access course materials to obtain assignments and
   related material.
2. Participation: The student is expected to interact online and in person. 
   Laboratory computers are available. Regular participation should ensure that
   expectations are understood, and feedback received to assess progress.
3. Assignments: The student is expected to complete each graded activity on or
   before the time it is scheduled. Late assignment submissions will not be 
   graded. For a makeup, the grade for the next activity of the same type will
   be recorded for both.  
4. Intellectual Honesty: The discovery of plagiarism  will result in a grade of
   zero on a particular graded activity. A subsequent breach of this department
   policy mandates a grade  of "F" for the course.


                            SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY

The syllabus is a guide. Circumstances and events, such as student progress, 
may make it necessary for the instructor to modify the syllabus during the 
semester. Any changes made to the syllabus will be announced in advance.


                         UNIVERSITY SPECIFIC PROCEDURES

Student Conduct: All students enrolled at the University shall follow the 
tenets of common decency and acceptable behavior conducive to a positive 
learning environment. See Student Guidebook.

TAMUC Attendance: For more information about the attendance policy please visit
the university attendance webpage.

Academic Integrity: Students at Texas A&M University-Commerce are expected
to maintain high standards of integrity and honesty in all of their scholastic 
work. For more details and the definition of academic dishonesty see the 
Undergraduate Academic Dishonesty statements. 

ADA Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-
discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for
persons with disabilities. If you have a disability requiring an accommodation,
please contact the Office of Student Disability Resources and Services Texas
A&M University-Commerce, Library, Room 162, phone 903.886.5150 or 5835; or 
email StudentDisabilityServices@tamuc.edudentDisabilityResourcesAndServices/

Nondiscrimination Notice Texas A&M University-Commerce will comply in the 
classroom, and in online courses, with all federal and state laws prohibiting
discrimination and related retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information or veteran status.
Further, an environment free from discrimination on the basis of sexual 
orientation, gender identity, or gender expression will be maintained.
                                 
Campus Concealed Carry Statement:
Texas Senate Bill-11 (Government Code 411.2031, et al.) authorizes the carrying
of a concealed handgun in Texas A&M University-Commerce buildings only by 
persons who have been issued and are in possession of a Texas License to Carry
a Handgun. Qualified law enforcement officers or those who are otherwise 
authorized to carry a concealed handgun in the State of Texas are also permitted
to do so. Pursuant to Penal Code (PC) 46.035 and A&M Commerce Rule 34.06.02.R1,
license holders may not carry a concealed handgun in restricted locations. For
a list of locations, please refer to 
(http://www.tamuc.edu/aboutUs/policiesProceduresStandardsStatements/    
rulesProcedures/34SafetyOfEmployeesAndStudents/34.06.02.R1.pdf) and/or consult 
your event organizer). Pursuant to PC 46.035, the open carrying of handguns is 
prohibited on all A&M-Commerce campuses. Report violations to the University 
Police Department at 903-886-5868 or 9-1-1. 
 
The University Pandemic Response:
A&M-Commerce may require the use of face-coverings in instructional and 
research classrooms/laboratories. Exceptions may be made by faculty where 
warranted. Faculty have management over their classrooms. Students not using 
face-coverings can be required to leave class. Repetitive refusal to comply 
can be reported to the Office of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities as a
violation of the student Code of Conduct.
 
Students should not attend meetings when ill or after exposure to anyone with a 
communicable illness. Communicate such instances directly with your instructor.
Faculty will work to support the student getting access to missed content or 
completing missed assignments.
 
The Counseling Center at A&M-Commerce, located in the Halladay Building, 
Room 203, offers counseling services, educational programming, and connection
to community resources for students. Students have 24/7 access to the
Counseling Center’s crisis assessment services by calling 903-886-5145. For 
more information regarding Counseling Center events and confidential services,
please visit www.tamuc.edu/counsel .

                    COURSE ACTIVITIES
					
Textbook: Reading and Questions to Answer from
    "Forward" and chapters titled
	"1 Why this Book?", "2 Outline", "3 Branding", "4 Interaction",
	"5 Emotions", "6 Documents", "7 Tickets","8 Code", 9 "Emails,
	"10 Chats", "11 Reading", "12 Writing", "13 Planning", "14 Meetings",
        "15 Learning", "16 Stakeholders", "17 Interviewing", "18 Learning"
	"19 Growing", "20 Ranking Yourself"
	
Other:
    Build Resume
    Write a "Cover Letter"
    Read and Review a Technical Book
    Program in a New Language
    Code Review
    Final Exam:  Monday December 9 1:15 pm