Introduction to the Module

Course Structure

First Activity

1. You will find all learning material for the module at:http://teaching.shu.ac.uk/aces/rh1/ebiz/.
2. You should now see the introductory screen for the course, including the module calendar. It would be a good idea to bookmark this page by adding it to your favourites list in IE.

1. Look up the learning outcomes for the module and see if these are what you expected from the module.
2. Explore the site and find out about things you will know by the end of the module.

e-Business module material is delivered:

• Online:The URL for the material is: http://teaching.shu.ac.uk/aces/rh1/ebiz/. This is the main source of information for the module.

• By tutorial: Your instructors believe that these sessions are of outmost importance and therefore attendance to them is compulsory. Preparation for these sessions is essential and in contrast to surgeries, activities in tutorial sessions follow a strict pattern (see lesson plans, online learning resource).
• By online support : Extensive use of collaborative environment on the module's Blackboard site is made to support the learners and help them prepare for phase tests, exam and the two projects. This method of support is used for good reasons.
• Administration of the course will be conducted through Blackboard. You should look up your Blackboard site frequently for announcements, your grades and to collaborate with your teachers and peers. Phase tests are also conducted online.
• Attendance the tutorials is compulsory. You will be penalised for lack of attendance to the tutorials (see online resource).

The material delivered online does include activities that require interaction with other students and teaching staff, so the tutorial sessions are extremely important and students are required to attend these. Remember that it is important that each tutorial is prepared for - every week there will be some pre-reading to do before the tutorial session. You should also note that in particular in Semester 1, tutorials are classroom-based. Tutorials in Semester 2 are lab-based.

Learning material has been subdivided into five key Learning Outcomes. Each of the Learning Outcomes has its own material that allow the student to meet the minimum criteria for passing the module (40%). At the end of a number of Learning Outcomes there will be a phase test, conducted in the tutorial session.

For every Learning Outcome, the learning material has been grouped into three categories:

1. Mandatory. Material in this category will allow the student to learn the basic requirements to achieve a pass only.

2. Honours. This category provides guidance and suggested exercises and readings to permit students to further their studies and learn more about the subject. If successful in the assessments, the students will be achieving marks in the range of 41%-69%.

3. First Class. Students who have completed learning successfully in the previous two categories, and who wish to study at a much greater depth, will be able to examine topics that will prepare them for marks in excess of 69%.

Assessment

Student's work will be assessed in three ways:

1. One project that requires the students to work together as a group. Group project can be downloaded from the module Website. This provides 50 % of the final mark for the module.
2. One blog that you need to maintain throughout the year. This amounts to 20% of the final mark for the module.
3. One personal critical reflection that amounts to the assessment of what you have learned through the module. This amounts to 30% of the final mark for the module.

Group Work

Group project requires that students work in a group. Groups can be self-selecting, in that students can choose who they want to work with, but two conditions must be met:

1. Each group must comprise of three members.
2. All members of the group have to come from the same tutorial group.
3. It is important that the working groups are formed early and at the onset of the programme. This is because all tutorials contribute towards the deliverables of the group project and members groups should be working on the project throughout. All details of group members must be emailed to your tutor by the deadline at the latest by one of the members of the group, quoting:

a) The module

b) The tutorial group belong to. (Example: Tues, 10:00)

c) Names of members in the group

d) This email must be copied to the other members of the group.

Any students that have not organised themselves into a group will be assigned a group at random by your tutor, see outline for the deadlines. Beyond the deadline, composition of the groups can not be altered.

Second Activity (Student centred)

1. Go to Blackboard by typing the following URL into Internet Explorer: http://my.shu.ac.uk/
2. Login to your Blackboard site.
3. Look at the top of the screen for the button labelled 'My Shu'. In it you should find a number of hyperlinks under a title 'Courses in which you are participating:'
4. You will find a hyperlink to site under "Learning Material".

You can now access the online resources from the www. To start the course, look up the relevant week in the course calendar at: http://teaching.shu.ac.uk/aces/rh1/ebiz/ and start the learning activities listed.

Third Activity (Student centred)

1. Select two other students to make a group.
2. Notify your tutor by email of your group members.