Objects & Taxonomy June 22, 2009
Posted by afoote in : Information Systems, Knowledge Management , add a commentIn the IS department at Stevenson University we have been teaching and using object oriented programming and technologies for the past 20 years. We have been discussing how to write programs based upon classes that encapsulate both methods and attributes. Once the objects and classes are specified we have taught how to write programs and develop computer systems using them. But the question that is left unanswered is where the classes and objects come from. How does an organization determine what are the classes that are needed? The traditional answer to this question is frameworks, design patterns, best practices and lessons learned. These tools and techniques are used to organize the software. Another source for determining classes and objects are taxonomies. By building a taxonomy of the application processing, a structure appears. From this structure, attributes and methods can be determined. With attributes and methods, classes can be created. When hierarchical relationships are discovered, inheritance can be used in the creation of the classes. With multiple taxonomies being used in an organization computer system, an ontology can be created showing the relationships between the taxonomies.
By having a clear understanding of the taxonomy in the organization’s computer application, this helps the organization exchange data and applications with other organizations. This exchange of data is essential for e-commerce, communication with suppliers and exchanging financial information with banks and the government. As the internet grows and more data is exchanged, the internet will be seen as a large data repository. Users will be able to use data as is needed. This is the idea behind the semantic web. When the organization starts from a taxonomy for their own procedure processing to create computer application, the organization is beginning the process to become part of the semantic web.
Changes on College Campuses June 14, 2009
Posted by afoote in : Admissions, Information Systems , add a commentAccording to a recent article (May 20, 2009) in US News and World Report, there are 17 Ways College Campuses are changing. At Stevenson University a number these changes can be easily seen. Changes such as first-year experience courses, a number of interdisciplinary programs, an emphasis on “service learning” and studying abroad are all part of the educational environment at Stevenson.
One of the changes that the article refers to is the increase use of e-resources. In the last few years the Information Systems department and the entire School of Business and Leadership are seeing increased uses of e-resources in the classes at Stevenson. We use Blackboard as the educational content management resource for classes. Students have online access to the syllabus, assignments, classroom discussions and even tests in this environment. I am a little wary of tests in the online environment, but under the proper situations it can be an effective tool. Blackboard is not the only e-resources that are used, but also wikis and YouTube videos are a part of my classes. In the fall semester we will be using the e-resource of virtualization for needed operating systems, programming and database environments to enhance the learning in the classroom. With these e-resources more education will occur outside of the traditional classroom. This is different than the way courses were taught ten years ago.
The article goes on to discuss a variety of subjects such as the high cost of education and the desire for students to choose a major. Stevenson is similar to other universities on these subjects. For students enter Stevenson in the fall of 2009, be aware of how things have changed in the last ten years. The school is still focused on graduates being able to begin a career this is the same as it was ten years ago. The difference now is that the resources and the environment have had a few changes.