White, C. M. (2009). Data communications and computer networks: A business user's approach (5th ed.). Boston: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate a high-level understanding of terminology associated with business-oriented telecommunications (competence in information technology)
• Discuss the historical and present relationship between telecommunication and information systems (historical perspective)
• Identify and discuss the business and organizational issues involving telecommunications technology and management (competence in information technology)
• Use financial formulas to develop criteria and costs for telecommunications projects (competence in information technology)
• Discuss the legal and ethical issues involved in telecommunications projects (civic responsibility)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the implications of the global regulatory environment and communications standards on transmission of voice, data, and image (international perspective)
• Research and recommend specific telecommunications application appropriate for the end user (information literacy)
• Recommend specific network topologies and configurations appropriate for a firm (competence in information technology

OVERVIEW: This project has 4 parts. Every student is to participate in at least 2 Parts. Part 1 is required from every student. Students can select among parts 2 -4.

Part 1. Communications-related News (CN)

OBJECTIVE (Part 1):
1. To allow students to stay attuned to telecommunications news.
2. To provide students an opportunity to summarize news articles.
3. To promote student cooperation.
4. To facilitate focused web and library searches.
5. To reduce redundant searches.

REQUIRED (Part 1):
1. Each student must participate in this portion of Project #1. Students should subscribe to a Communications-related news service or have access to an online newsweekly (e.g., eWeek, InfoWorld, etc.).
2. No two students can use the same news service. Announce your intentions via the News conference under the News & Reports area in WebTycho, or coordinate with your instructor on the selection of your choice.
3. Each student must report/share information at least two times during the semester. When submitting your summaries online, make sure that you number them appropriately (e.g. Project 1 Part 1 Summary 1). Oral reports should be no more than 5 minutes in duration, not including any ensuing discussions.
4. Present your News items at the beginning of the class session or submit your summaries into the News conference under the News & Reports area as appropriate.
5. Individual reports cannot be submitted in consecutive weeks or reported in consecutive sessions.
6. Try to keep the news related to the weekly topic being studied (or a previous topic).
7. You will edit the articles, news or announcements to summarize the content in your own words. DO NOT plagiarize. Use proper citations (MLA or APA styles permitted).
8. Web pages may not be sent. Web links are allowed in the summary.
9. Always properly cite the source when writing your summary.
10. Start as soon as possible, but begin sharing appropriate excerpts

Part 2 NetMeeting (NM)

This optional element of project #1 is for students having access to appropriate computer resources to conduct this project.

OBJECTIVE (Part 2):
1. To allow students to experience online CHAT capabilities.
2. To allow students to demonstrate abilities in software installation.
3. To allow students to experience File Transfer capabilities.
4. To make students cognizant of basic security provisions of typical software.
5. To allow students to experience remote control capabilities.

REQUIRED (PART 2):
1. If you select this portion of Project #1, you need to install or have available Microsoft NetMeeting (minimum version 3) on a computer. NetMeeting is available from the Microsoft web site (http://www.microsoft.com)2
2. Install NetMeeting 3 and practice using it. Familiarize yourself with the program
3. You should be able to utilize the Chat, Whiteboard, and File Transfer feature.
4. Be prepared to discuss the 'share an application' and 'collaboration' features of NetMeeting.
5. After sufficient proficiency in using NetMeeting, you will be asked to collaborate briefly either with the instructor, or with another student at mutually convenient times.. Two students can (by arrangement) conduct this project with each other.
6. Submit copies of screenshots, chat sessions, etc. for grading.

Part 3. Software Evaluation (SE)

OBJECTIVE (Part 3):
1. To allow students to share useful software with other students.
2. To allow students an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in installing software.
3. To allow students an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in evaluating software.
4. To allow students an opportunity to download/upload files.

REQUIRED (Part 3):
1. If you select this portion of Project #1, report on a shareware or freeware version of a piece of telecommunications-related software (no hardware).
2. The software should run on Win95/98/ME/2K or XP.
3. No two students can report on the same software.
4. The software you represent should have been tested personally by you or have been used extensively. You should also be informed about the latest release of the product, even though you may not have tested or own it..
5. Include acquisition sources, price, commercial reviews and other important information.
6. Do not send web pages about the software, but rather include web links to relevant information in your written evaluation.
7. Possible sites to acquire shareware: www.shareware.com; www.tucows.com; www.zdnet.com; www.microsoft.com

Part 4. Data Encryption

OBJECTIVE:
1. To allow students to demonstrate proficiency in procuring and installing software.
2. To allow students to experience encryption and decryption first hand.
3. To allow students the ability to authenticate files and messages with digital signatures.
4. To reduce confusion and misunderstandings about encryption technology.

REQUIRED:
1. Students will procure a version of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) - freeware/shareware version for evaluation.
2. Every student will install and setup PGP onto a functioning computer under their control.
3. Documentation is included/available at the PGP international site (www.pgpi.com).
4. Please read your documentation carefully, as this material may show up on a quiz or test.
5. There are certain export restrictions which you must respect in the procurement, so please read the licensing agreements.
6. Submit any questions regarding the PGP software first to your group and if your group can't answer your question, submit the question to the conference area, so that other students will have the opportunity to answer, learn or help with your inquiry.
7. Practice sending encrypted messages and decrypting messages within your group. You need only share your public key with your group members to perform this.
8. Make sure you :
-can send an encrypted message including a digital signature.
-can send a plaintext message with an encrypted digital signature.
-can upload an encrypted assignment into WebTycho.
-make a proper backup of your keys before submitting your key into the WebTycho study group area.
9. After proficiency is reached with PGP, your instructor will exchange several encrypted e-mail messages with you

Term Paper: The purpose of the term paper is to acquire specific knowledge about a subject related to the course. Please do not attempt a survey of a complex, broad subject (like LANs), but focus on a specific problem, issue, or new technology. If you include two fields, it must be because you are planning to report in depth about a system which includes both of them (i.e., a comparison). Your paper should be an in-depth study which extends material covered in our textbook. The paper should be approximately 7 to 10 pages in length.