Week 3- CST-300 Module 3

 

OLI – Module 3

This week’s module is titled “What do You Bring to the Team?” and it is made up of six sections.

The first section was Processing Styles and Diversity Communication. It explains approaches that would help an internal processor in your team. Some examples were to think silently for a minutes before discussing for answers, ask if members need more time before responding, and use email to communicate.

The second section was Work Styles. Here we learned about work styles Get it Right – Task oriented, Get it Done – Task oriented, Get Along – people oriented, and Get Appreciation – People oriented. Each style had its strengths and weaknesses and we had to figure out how to balance them or how to help others with a different style.

The third section was Your Booth Team Members. Here we watched a video of each booth member. We were then tasked with ways to support each member’s work style.

The fourth section was Conflict Styles. It focused on asking how you view conflict. I believe conflict is a situation where two people disagree on an idea, process, or method. Conflict can help generate new ideas.

The fifth section was Conflict Styles Questionnaire. It contained a 20-question questionnaire that gave you a score for each conflict style at the end. I got the highest score for compromise conflict style which I believe is spot on. My goal is to resolve conflict by finding a solution everyone can live with.

The last section was called Conflict Styles in Action. It consisted of several scenarios, then you were told a statement and you had to determine the conflict style of the statement within the context of that scenario.

This OLI module did a good job explaining work styles and conflict styles through the exercises it provided.

 

Part 1: Time Management and Strategies

In my last journal entry, I chose note taking as one of my weak study areas. In reviewing the link for note taking techniques I learned how to improve my note taking. The link explained the 2-6 Method. First, divide your paper into two columns, a 2in left side and a 6in right side. You write your notes on the right side, and you write main headings and important points on the left. Another method mentioned was the Split Page Method. Here you divide your paper in two and you take lecture notes on the left while you outline your textbook on the right. This will facilitate studying by having your class notes and text on the same page. You can also use a tape recorder to record lectures and re-write your notes as soon as possible to reinforce what you learned in class. The link also recommended cleaning up your handwritten note by typing them within 24 hours to have an 80% chance of recalling the new material. It is encouraged that you prepare for the lecture by reading and becoming familiar with the material that will be covered. This will allow you to know what to ask and what to write down. The last tip is to use colors when taking notes because it will help you retain 50%-80% of the current information without having to review it.

Part 2: Week 3 Summary

Lecture Module 3

This week’s lecture had a few assigned readings that deal mostly with ethics. On of the documents was the School of Computing & Design Policies and Student Support. A major part of this document was the Academic Integrity policy Implementation Plan – SCD. It lays out the process in which the instructor will proceed when a student commits a violation of academic integrity. The first violation of a major item will result in a fail grade for the class. The first violation on a non-major item results in dropping 1-2 letter grades. The second violation on a non-major item results in a fail grade for the class.

The lecture also included a video on ethics issues in computer science. The video defines stakeholders as people or groups that are affected by an issue. It starts off by giving an example of illegally downloading music. The stakeholders there would be the individual who breaks the law by illegally downloading, the music company because they lose revenue, and the government because they are expected to prevent illegal downloading of music. It goes into more examples and mentions laws that concern computer science like the Data Protection Act, Computer Misuse Act, and Creative Commons Licensing.

The ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct document was a longer read but remarkably interesting. “The Code” is meant to be an ethical guide for computing professionals. It urges professionals to follow these principles keeping in mind that the primary consideration is the public good. There are many principles under main headings. The headings are General Ethical Principles, Professional Responsibilities, Professional Leadership Principles, and Compliance With The Code.

 

Writing Lab Module 3

The writing lab slideshow for module 3 was an introduction to ethics. The slides defined an argument as a discussion of more than one side on an issue which you as the writer sets out to persuade the reader to take a certain side. The slides also defined ethics as the study of morality in determining right from wrong. Ethics can be broken down into frameworks. The ethical frameworks introduced were Ethical Relativism, Utilitarianism, Care Ethics, Ethical Egotism, Divine Command Theory, Natural Law Theory, Kant’s Ethics, and Virtue Ethics.

Another component of the writing lab was the Scenario-Based Ethics Discussion. After reading an article regarding Edward Snowden, we were supposed to share whether we believed he did the right or wrong thing and apply a framework to the issue. I believe he did the right thing, and the framework of the issue was Care Ethics because his intension was to protect the American people from the government by releasing the classified information.

 

Part 3: What a Computer Major Needs to Know

This week we surveyed the CS curriculum and became more familiar with what the program will be covering. The reading assignments also included a document with all the things a Computer Science major should know. The document explains that you need to work on a portfolio with the project you have worked on. It also stressed the importance of being able to communicate persuasively and clearly. The CS curriculum covers most of what the document suggests with a few exceptions. The subjects that I see in the document but not on the curriculum are AI, Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity. Luckly, these subjects are exceedingly popular now and students looking to learn them can easily find resources like training, classes, and certificates.

 

Part 4: Code of Integrity

The CSUMB CS Online Code of Integrity is meant as a guide for students to follow. It lists three rules along with their explanations for clarity.

Rule 1 states that you must not submit solutions that are not your own without acknowledging the source. It recommends not to look for solutions online because that will mean you are using someone else’s code and plagiarizing.

Rule 2 states that you must not share your solution code with other students. You must not discuss your algorithmic strategies because it could result in two or more people turning in the same code.

Rule 3 states that you must indicate on your submission any assistance you received. If you use someone’s help without giving them credit, you might be guilty of plagiarism. Also, when you ask for help, make sure you are receiving general advice instead of having someone write your code.

The Code of Integrity is an important document for CS Online students. The focus is on the trust that CSUMB and the faculty must place on students. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with each individual student to not break that trust. When breaking that trust you are not only failing the class or the program, but you are also doing a disservice to yourself. On top of negatively affecting your reputation, you will also affect the program’s reputation. This will in turn affect other students that graduate from the program because the program will lose credit.