Dear fellow students,
First things first, welcome to "the class"! I know you are a little clueless now because, let’s just admit, this class is unlike(!) other typical MIS classes. I have done both MIS105 and MIS205 with the faculty and I beleive if you are just an ordinary student who wants to get a good grade, and have a willingness to work hard enough to earn that grade, you are in the right place. Here are some tips that will come handy if you really want to get a good grade.
IOAs and lab assignments are the easiest ways to up your grades pronto. IOA allows much more time than traditional quizzes held in classroom. Therefore, make sure you go through the textbook and PowerPoint slides to prepare yourself very well. Focus more on bolded words and definitions. You do not have to answer all the questions in one shot (during an IOA). Answer some, relax yourself, and then come back again to answer the rest. As for lab assignments, you will have to demonstrate it by screencasting. You will have plenty of time to do that, so make your video flawless by meeting the requirements and time limit to get full mark. To prepare for midterms and final, read the textbook, PowerPoint slides, and revise the IOA questions meticulously, and for your own benefit, you may as well research the topics on internet.
Your Term Project is due in just two days and you have not started it yet! Avoid facing this situation. Choose an organization you care about. For group assignments and term projects, you must make a mind map with the information you obtained and show it to your teacher before starting. For group assignments in this class, you do not have to write pages after pages and exhaust yourself in the process. Group assignments are usually based on very interesting topics, designed to enhance your knowledge beyond textbooks and equip you with skills to solve real-world problems. Pay attention when the assignment requirements are being discussed in the class. If you still have problems catching the requirements, consult with your teacher during his office hours. The faculty has been helpful.
Bonus are grade savers! During the lectures, the faculty will often give you opportunities to earn bonus by answering his questions. Therefore, it is important that you are attentive in the class. For other ways to earn a bonus, check the course website. Course website itself will answer most of your queries. Go through the policies and FAQ at the beginning of the semester. You must check the website regularly otherwise you could end up missing out on some great bonus opportunities. Also, wear only business formals or business casuals in the presentation to get better marks. This class will groom you for your future, and you will surely learn professionalism. The faculty does not appreciate students who enter the class late. Please, try your best not to come late because it disturbs not only the teacher, but also the students. Do not skip classes unless you are faced with an emergency. Since I had perfect attendance, I was rewarded with a 3% bonus.
This class is not just about quizzes, midterms and a project due at the end of the semester. It is much more than that. By the end of this class, in addition to the basics of computer applications and various types of information systems used in business environment (MIS105) and E-Business and E-Commerce in the digital world (MIS205), you will have learnt professionalism, meeting deadlines, and working under pressure.
To a memorable semester ahead!
