1. OUTLINE Introduce instructor Introduce the TA Introduce yourselves
Homework
Take roll
Grades
Go over syllabus
How to get a passing or better grade
Posting of grades, assignments and lecture notes
Use of Excel
Why are we here?
Expectations
The big picture

2. Grades
Grades vary from class to class. The overall numbers and percentages for my 22 ISE310 ( ) classes are shown below (GPA=3.39):

3. How to get a passing or better grade
Everyone has their own way of studying and dealing with a class
The following slides have suggestions of methods that could improve your performance in this or any other class

4. How to get a passing or better grade (continued)
Create an organized three ring binder or similar resource
Read ahead for every class session - material is provided in the assignment and on the web and you are responsible for it
Spend some time on the class on most days of the week (Example 1.5 hours per day for 5 days)
Come to class on time and for the whole session
Bring your laptop, text, class notes (from the web) and notebook to class
Stay awake and participate
Ask questions (there are no stupid questions!!) If I don’t get any questions, I have to assume that all of understood all the material!
Take notes on the provided notes

5. How to get a passing or better grade (continued)
Do homework after you have studied the material.
Do homework at leisure and early in the week. Make sure it is correct. Revisit it at least once.
If you have trouble with the homework (in this order):
Ask a classmate (be sure you get to know as many as possible)
See and/or the TA
the instructor (Do not ask about material that is already in the syllabus!)
Go to the instructor’s office hours
Compare your returned homework to the provided answers and resolve any differences
Reread the material after the class for understanding, do the examples in the book
Learn Excel – if you already know some, learn more.

6. How to get a passing or better grade (concluded)
Work hard early in the semester instead of scrambling at the end
Start your project in plenty of time, rewrite and edit it several times
Don’t let either the simplicity or apparent complexity of the material fool you
Check the web page for current information

7. Posting of grades, assignments and lecture notes
The following items will be available on the website each week:
Lecture notes at least up to and including the notes for the current week
Assignments up to and including the current assignment
Solutions to previous assignments, quizzes and exams
Grades will be posted most weeks. These will include items for the previous two weeks. Please check them for accuracy -- you have two weeks to have corrections made

8. Use of Excel
Spreadsheets are the mainstay of many analyses
Excel is the most widely used, and most powerful of the currently available spreadsheets
We will use Excel to demonstrate some of the material in this class and to solve some homework problems
You will find that Excel is also very useful for all your other classes and will be an invaluable aid on your first job
So – learn it as fast as you can. We will assist you with demonstrations and answer your questions about it

9. Why are we here?
Class discussion

10. What are my objectives when I prepare a lesson plan?
To make sure that you are sufficiently proficient to enhance, and certainly not to damage the reputation of USC
That you learn enough to function in a professional job with material that will be useful to you
Help you all get a good grade
Make each of the 80 minutes a pleasant experience for all of us

11. Expectations
Ethical behavior.
Effort.
Contribute to the classroom experience.
Understand the big picture.
Awareness of current events.
Develop technical competence.

12. THE BIG PICTURE
Products and services must come from somewhere
What is your potential place in that process?
We all work somewhere
How will you influence those places and conditions?