TERM PROJECT

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CSIT 101 TERM PROJECT Fall 2014
SCENARIO This coming academic year, you and your family will be hosting an exchange student from another country. You have decided to create a guide for your family. Your guide will provide an overview of the exchange student’s home country allowing your family to gain a better understanding of the exchange student’s culture and lifestyle.
ASSIGNMENT
Part 1:
Pick a country to research from the list below.*
Countries:
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan and Vietnam.
*Students may select a country not on this list but it must be approved by the course instructor.
Part 2:
Use the Internet and library databases to gather information. Summarize clearly and concisely the information in your own words. Use at least five resources (see resource page). Include at least ten topics, from the list below.
TOPICS:
Guide questions. (Do not limit your research to these questions only.)
Immunization Requirements
What is required? Common illnesses and diseases?
Internet & Technology
Is user content censored? Is it safe to visit these sites, research, and download content? What population of the country uses the internet? How common are cellphones? Do they access the internet?
Health Care
Cost of health care, Private or Government run system.
Exchange Rate
Currency value versus the America dollar
Religion
Dominant religion, acceptance of different religious views.
Government Structure/Leadership
Does Free speech exist? Do they live in a democracy? Does 911 exist? What is the role of the police, the military?
Climate
What is the average temperature during each season? Does it snow? Is there a rainy season?
Education Structure
Is education free, how long is it free, does everyone participate, are there academic choices, open admissions?
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Greetings and Courtesies
How do people greet one another? Where are the rest rooms- are they divided by gender? How are people introduced to each other? Do they shake hands or kiss?
Clothing – Appropriate Dress
What do people wear? What is the expectation in public? What is not acceptable?
Etiquette
Customs, traditions, a person’s role in a social situation. Table manners – are elbows allowed on the table?
Typical Daily Structure – School times, Meal times
Are meal times established? Is there a mid-day break? Who cooks? Is there a typical large meal, a family meal?
National Holidays –How are they celebrated
What is valued differently than the United States? What are the customs associated with holidays? How are holidays viewed?
Transportation
How do people travel, commute? Does everyone own a car? Can everyone freely drive?
Housing
What is the expense of housing? Who lives in a common family home? How many people to a room? Are there extended family members? How is child care handled?
Cost of Living
What is the average salary? What is the household income compared to the US? Do both parents work? Do kids work and at what age? What are taxes like? What services are provided by the government? What transportation cost is associated with owning a car?
Part 3: Prepare a presentation with narration. You are encouraged to use one of the following cloud based web applications, instead of using Microsoft PowerPoint.
Prezi
Combines whiteboards and slides
Powtoon Create animated videos and presentations
Present.me
Allows users to record and share their presentations
Empressr
Creates high quality online slideshows
All presentations must:
Have a minimum of 12 slides (maximum of 16) including a single cover slide and a citation page. The presentation should run from 3-5 minutes. Presentations may not exceed 5 minutes. Presentations must include citations in MLA format.
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Part 4: Create a professional looking budget in Microsoft Excel that displays:
1. How much it will cost the exchange student to come to the United States.
a. Airfare (must be cited)
b. Health Insurance (must be cited)
2. Associated living expenses. (Assuming that your host student is living with you and there is no housing cost such as rent.)
a. Food
b. Entertainment
c. Transportation
d. Clothing
e. Miscellaneous expenses
3. Cost associated with attending CCBC for the fall and spring semesters (15 credits per semester). (must be cited)
4. Include citations for this research in MLA format. Steps 1 a, 1 b and 3 must be cited.
Spreadsheet should include usage of the following: Templates will not be accepted!
1. Formatting and Styles, i.e. currency, shading, etc
2. A calculation using a formula with an absolute reference
3. Usage of the SUM, AVERAGE, MIN and MAX functions
4. Creation of a chart to logically represent the budget – use the best type of chart for the data you are representing. Not all charts will represent your data the same way. Include chart on same tab.
5. Merge and Center the title
6. Create Header (left: use current date feature, right section: Your name)
7. Rename tab sheet
8. Columns and Rows should not be skipped after title
9. Print Preview – one page only
Submission Instructions
Students will be submitting the budget created in Microsoft Excel in Blackboard and a link to the Presentation. All budgets and presentations must include citations in MLA format. When applicable, this includes citations for graphics. Files will be submitted electronically.
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Grading Rubric
Task
Points
Presentation
Presentation must include a minimum of 12 slides, maximum of 16 slides
? Content on 12 slides including images. (10 topics including cover) …………………………………………………………………………………….. 25
? Include presentation features (transitions, theme) ………………..5
? Narration: clear (3 – 5 minutes) ……………………………………….. 10
? Citations (MLA) ………………………………………………………………. 10
? Link to presentation submitted in Blackboard
50
Microsoft Excel
? Organization: columns and rows not skipped after title ………..3
? Formatting and Styles, i.e. currency, shading, etc …………………2
? Expenses:
? airfare ……………………………………………………………………….4
? health insurance …………………………………………………………4
? living expenses …………………………………………………………..4
? tuition ………………………………………………………………………3
? Functions:
? SUM ………………………………………………………………………….2
? AVERAGE …………………………………………………………………..2
? MIN …………………………………………………………………………..2
? MAX ………………………………………………………………………….2
? Formula including an absolute reference …………………………….4
? Chart (best choice to display data, include title, legend) ……….6
? Merge and center title ………………………………………………………2
? Header (Left: current date / Right: your name) ……………………2
? Rename sheet tab …………………………………………………………….1
? Fit on one page ………………………………………………………………..2
? Citations ………………………………………………………………………….5
50
Submission:
From Blackboard, click on Assignments, select Term Project, upload Excel spreadsheet, provide Link to presentation, Click submit
Total
100
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Suggested Resources
CSIT 101—Technology and Information Systems
CCBC Libraries:
? From CCBC Homepage, point to Current Students tab, click Libraries.
? Click Research Guides tab
The Guide contains information about finding books, research articles and great websites.
? Choose the Countries and Culture Guide: http://libraryguides.ccbcmd.edu/countries
This guide will help you find resources about countries and their cultures.
Books:
The following reference sources include many different countries:
? CIA World Factbook Call Number: ebook G123 .U56a 2009
? Philip’s World Factbook Call Number: ebook G123 .L94 2008
? Countries and Their Cultures Call Number: ebook GN307 .C681 2003 and Ref. GN307 .C68 2001
? The Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Popular Culture Call Number: ebook HM621 .G74 2007
? Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations Timothy L. Gail; Derek M. Gleason; Kimberley A. McGrath Call Number: ebook G63 .W671 2012 and Ref. G63 .W67 2012
? A Guide to Countries of the World Call Number: Ref. G103.5 .S68 2007
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? Encyclopedia of the World’s Nations and Cultures Call Number: Ref. G63 .K874 2007
? Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life Call Number: Ref. GN307 .W67 2009
Research or Article Databases
Research databases are the best way to find information for your assignments. They contain thousands of full text magazine, journals and newspaper articles and can be about a specific subject or can be good to start general research on a topic. The CCBC Library subscribes to many databases. Click the Articles tab; you will see all the databases which contain information about countries or cultures. These databases are available on or off campus. If you are off campus you will need your username and a password to login. It is the same login as Blackboard.
Articles: Databases:
All of these databases contain information about countries or cultures. Choose the database that best matches the type of information you need.
? Global Road Warrior Search countries and their cultures. Click on the map or select a country in the pull down menu. Includes information on countries for the business traveler.
? Britannica Country Comparison Compare your country (maps, flags, statistics, and events) to another to get the information on your country OR click on World Atlas on the left side of the screen, select a country by using the search box at the top.
? Gale Virtual Reference E-books On the left hand side of the screen, select Nation and World under Subjects. Click on the title of either book. Enter your country in the search box on the left.
? Credo Reference E-books Under the Credo Reference Logo, on the top, left-hand side of the page, click on Find Topic Pages. Put your country in the search box. The first hit in the search results should say above it Topic Pages.
? Business Source Premier Articles from business journals covering management, economics, finance, and
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company profiles. Under the search box, on the right, click on Country Reports. In the search box, put the name of your country.
? ProQuest Newsstand Thousands of national and international newspapers including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, and Baltimore Sun.
Suggested Websites:
? BBC News World Edition: Country Profiles http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/default.stm Profiles provide an “instant guide” to news, history, politics, event timelines, and economic background of world countries.
? CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues.
? Countries of the World http://www.infoplease.com/countries.html Basic facts about all of the countries of the world. Entries include a map; flag; official name; current ruler; land area; population; capital; largest cities; monetary unit; languages; ethnicity/race; religions; literacy rate; economy; government; and history. From Infoplease.
? Department of State Background Notes http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/ Background Notes include facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations of independent states, some dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty.
? Kwintessential International Etiquette Guide http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/country-profiles.html Country Profiles – Global Guide to Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Understanding other people’s languages, cultures, etiquettes and taboos is of great value to the traveler or visiting business person.