IS2502

IS2502 Social Media and Social Networks

Part I

Course Duration: One Semester (13 weeks)
Credit Units: 3
Level: B2
Medium of Instruction: English
Prerequisites: Nil
Precursors: Nil
Equivalent Courses: FB2501 Management Information Systems II
Exclusive Courses: Nil

Part II

Course Aims:

Provide students a solid understanding of the newly emerging social networks landscape and its underlying concepts;
Equip students with essential skills to analyze and evaluate the Web 2.0 business models as well as marketing strategies;
Enable students to implement, experience and experiment with a "live" social network application, for example, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blogs.

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No.
CILOs Weighting (if applicable)
1. Discover the innovative concepts and principles of social media and networking and services and software tools. 2
2. Propose a “discovery”-driven business strategy using emerging social media technologies 2
3. Analyze business models enabled by social medi and social networks, and experiment with various business strategies. 3
4. Work productively as part of a team, and in particular, communicate and present information effectively in written and electronic formats in a collaborative environment. 1

Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)
(Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course)

Lecture: 26 hours
Laboratory: 13 hours

TLA1: Lecture
Concepts and general knowledge of information systems are explained.

In-class discussion: Students participate in discussions in lectures (e.g. face-to-face discussion, using mobile devices) and the lecturer provides feedback based on students' response.
Recap: In the beginning of every lecture, the lecturer will summarize the topics covered in the previous lecture and provide feedback based on students' concerns and questions.

TLA2: Tutorial, Readings and Case studies
The tutorial covers the technical aspects of various social networking cases and social tools.

Tutorial exercises: e.g. hands-on activities on social networks software tools and platform such as Facebook, MySpace, Second Life, Wikipedia, and YouTube, etc.
Case/Group project discussion: Students will be given a case or project relating to any user-driven services, including Facebook, MySpace, Second Life, Wikipedia, and YouTube, etc. Discussion on various aspects of the case or project for improving the brands or achieving the business success will be conducted.

TLA3: Outside classroom activities
Additional help provided outside official class time.

Online Helpdesk: An online system to provide extra help to students having difficulties with the course outside the classroom. During the assigned periods, students can raise their questions about the mid-term test and final examination in the online system. The tutors will answer their questions in office-hour for one week before the test and exam.

CILO No	TLA1: Lectures	TLA2: Tutorials, Case/Group Project discussion	TLA3: Outside Classroom Activities	Hours/week (if applicable)
CILO 1	2		1	---
CILO 2	2	1	1	---
CILO 3	1	2		---
CILO 4		1	1	---

(1: Minor focus on the ILO; 2: Main focus on the ILO)

Assessment Tasks/Activities
(Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course)

AT1: Participation (20%)
10% is given for student's attendance and participation in terms of quality of questions, answers and student engagement in both lectures and tutorials throughout the semester.

AT2: Team Project ( 40%):

There will be a team project associated with the course. The quality of the final performance based on measurable usage data and peer ranking will also figure into the grading. Importantly, the topic of the team project should be about phenomenon of innovative social media technologies. The teams will utilize discovery-driven “innovative” strategies, and develop a new business proposal regarding a new web application on Facebook, MySpace, or some other online social network or blogging platform. The project requires a project proposal, presentation, as well as a final report.

AT3: Course Blog (10%):
In accordance with its topic, this course will use Web 2.0 tools to support the class online. We will set up a group for the course in Facebook and a course blog in WordPress. You will need to register and join both online forums. In addition we also have a Blackboard site where we will post grades.

AT4: Midterm Exam (10%):
The midterm exam will be closed book, closed notes.

AT5: Case Write-ups (First take home; Second in-class) (20%):
Business cases will be discussed in class during the semester. You are individually responsible for preparing the cases for the day of the case discussion. A set of specific questions will be asked for the cases. Your write-up should address the assigned questions based on the facts discussed in the case, and your own experience or research through other sources. Your write-up should answer just the assigned write up questions, in no more than five pages total.

CILO No	AT1: Participation (20%)	AT2: Team Project (40%)	AT3: Course Blog (10%)	AT4: Mid-term Test (10%)	AT5: Case Write-ups (20%)	Remarks
CILO 1		1	2	2	1	1: Minor focus on the CILO; 2: Main focus on the ILO)
CILO 2		1	2		1
CILO 3	1	2		2	1
CILO 4	1	2

** Students are required pass both coursework and examination in order to secure an overall pass in this course. **

Grading of Student Achievement:
Refer to Grading of Courses in the Academic Regulations.
The grading of student achievement is based on student performance in assessment tasks/activities. Standard grading pattern (A+, A, A- … C-, D, F).

Part III

Keyword Syllabus:

Social Networks, consumers, use of social tools, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Blogs.