HFT 3443

Syllabus

Instructor:	Bill Zanetti	Term:	Spring 2022
Office:	N/A	Class Meeting Days:	N/A
Office Phone:	N/A	Class Meeting Hours:	N/A
Mobile Phone:	407.243.8454	Class Meeting Location:	N/A
E-Mail:	zanetti@ucf.edu	Lab Location:	N/A
Website:	billzanetti.com / UCF WebCourses	Class Sections:	0W61 0W62
Office Hours:	By Appointment Only	Class Codes:	13784 13785

 

Course Catalog Description

Use of technology in the event industry to solidify processes and help people be more productive. Covers types of technology for different event processes. (3 credits) 

Prerequisite Courses and Skills

HFT 2750 The Event Industry is a required prerequisite for this course. You should also already know how to make an event business proposal and plan. Good business writing skills are a must for this course.

Format

This online course consists of a series of modules that must be completed in order. Each module contains a combination of webpages, videos, lectures & presentations, media, activities, group projects, quizzes, exams, and assigned reading materials. Generally, each module will open on Tuesday. You will generally have until Sunday at 11:59:00pm to submit the assignments / quizzes / exams. Due Dates are scheduled for readings on Wednesday Evenings. This is when all the module's content should have been watched / read. (I use lots of videos in this course) Be aware that this is the general format for the course for every week, however there are a few assignments that deviate from this schedule.

Course Goals

Meeting and event technologies have emerged as one of the fast growing components of the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) industry—and this trend will certainly continue. Therefore, it is important to understand and to harness the knowledge and skills of various applications and technologies in the field of meetings and events. The goal of the Event Technology course is to understand the event technology strategies and to learn basic functions of different types of applications and technologies for events design, planning, evaluation, and marketing.

Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the traditions and the changing role of applications and technologies in MICE industry.
• Demonstrate significant knowledge of information technologies that facilitate events design, planning, and evaluation.
• Develop necessary skills to describe techniques for events marketing, such as social media, mobile applications, wikis, websites, blogs, and podcasts.
• Identify the basic functions of nascent techniques and technologies for event marketing, such as, crowdsourcing for events, guest-generated content for events.
• Develop necessary skills to design and to implement virtual meeting and events.

Required Materials

Textbooks

The following textbook is required for this class. It is available free through the UCF library as a digital rental, as well as paid online as a paperback and a Kindle eBook format. I highly recommend a digital format for this class since it will allow you to find things more quickly. You can access a downloadable PDF of the entire textbook from Taylor Francis as a UCF student through the library at the following link:

https://ucf-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=cdi_askewsholts_vlebooks_9781482251845&context=PC&vid=01FALSC_UCF:UCF&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Primo%20Central&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,Seungwon%20%E2%80%9CShawn%E2%80%9D%20Lee%20%20Dessislava%20Boshnakova%20%20and%20Joe%20Goldblatt.%20The%2021st%20Century%20Meeting%20and%20Event%20Technologies:%20Powerful%20Tools%20for%20Better%20Planning%20%20Marketing%20%20and%20Evaluation.%20Apply%20Academic%20Press%20(July%206%20%202016)&mode=basic

Seungwon “Shawn” Lee, Dessislava Boshnakova, and Joe Goldblatt. The 21^st Century Meeting and Event Technologies: Powerful Tools for Better Planning, Marketing, and Evaluation. Apple Academic Press (2017).

The following textbook is recommended for this class. It is available both as a paperback and a Kindle eBook format. I highly recommend the Kindle eBook format for this class since it will allow you to find things more quickly. 

Joe Goldblatt. Special Events: Creating and Sustaining a New World for Celebration. Wiley, 7^th edition (2013).

Streaming Services

You must have access to the following streaming services for this course, and to save you time, I would recommend springing for the ad-free versions if they are available:

• YouTube

Hardware

• You must have a laptop computer that runs either MacOS or Windows. ChromeOS will not suffice for this course, nor will Linux.
• You must have a mobile device that runs either iOS or Android for this course. If this course is in-person, the mobile device must have a back-facing camera.

Software

You must have the following software installed on your computer running locally:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Zoom
• FaceTime (optional)
• Keynote (optional)
• A browser such as Chrome or Safari to access the internet, including, but not limited to, the following:
  • UCF WebCourses
  • YouTube
  • Visual Paradigm Online (optional)

*All of the above software has no additional cost to you as a student. For Microsoft Office (Word and PowerPoint), please download it from your Knights Email Account. UCF has paid for your access to Microsoft Office, so please use it! I have more detailed instructions on where to find it in the modules of the course. You are expected to have the latest versions of all applications installed at all times. Please note that for any files you turn in, Prezi is strictly forbidden. Google Docs is also NOT accepted.

You must have the following software installed on your mobile device running locally:

• UCF Mobile
• Canvas Student (Webcourses)
• UCF Here (for classes requiring attendance only)
• Kahoot! (for in-person classes only)

Internet Access

• You must have reliable access to high speed internet, with upload and download speeds of a minimum of 10mbps.

Other Materials (for in-person classes only)

• Pen
• Pencil
• Black marker (Sharpie preferred)
• Blank White Paper (US Letter Size, no lines, AKA Copy Paper, have 5 sheets on you at all times)

Please be aware that if you are taking this course in-person, you are expected to bring both your laptop, your mobile device, and the other materials outlined immediately above, as well as some form of your textbook, every time the class meets.

Communication

This course allows multiple methods of communication with the instructor. Please be aware that the preferred method is the messaging function through WebCourses. Although email and texting are always allowed, messages received through WebCourses will generally receive priority. Phone calls are also always welcome. Please be aware that assignment submission comments are not a good place to carry on a conversation. They are only looked at if a new assignment is submitted, so if you need to speak to an instructor about something, do not post that request in an assignment submission comment. Do not respond to my comments there unless you re-submit an assignment, or I will never see the comment. Class Discussions should also only be used for communication that is directed to the entire class to fulfill the obligations of an assignment.

This is an individual course. To discourage cheating and/or academic dishonesty, you are prohibited to discuss any part of this course with any other person, including fellow students involved in this course. The only exceptions to this rule are the weekly discussions and, if this course contains group projects, you may discuss your group work with your group and your group alone. Violations to this policy will be met with severe penalties, not excluding a final grade of "F" in the course.

Recording

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who need access to course content due to course design limitations should contact the professor as soon as possible. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) http://sas.sdes.ucf.edu/Links to an external site. (Ferrell Commons 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone 407-823-2371). For students connected with SAS, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential course access and accommodations that might be necessary and reasonable. Determining reasonable access and accommodations requires consideration of the course design, course learning objectives and the individual academic and course barriers experienced by the student. Further conversation with SAS, faculty and the student may be warranted to ensure an accessible course experience.

Controversial Content

In the interest of keeping teaching entertaining and humorous at times, your instructor may occasionally swear, make jokes, use puns, or otherwise use humor that you may find offensive, stereotypical, or derogatory. You will understand that this is not directed at any one individual, and should not be looked at as anything but teaching with entertainment.

Grading System Categories    

Quizzes	25%
Activities	25%
Midterm	20%
Final Exam	30%
Total	100%

Point Grading Scale      

	A	100%	to 94%
	A-	< 94%	to 90%
	B+	< 90%	to 87%
	B	< 87%	to 84%
	B-	< 84%	to 80%
	C+	< 80%	to 77%
	C	< 77%	to 70%
	F	< 70%	to 0%

Weekly Format and Due Dates

Most assignments will become available on Tuesday of each week. Almost all regular assignments will be open for at least 5 days (Some quizzes / tests are only open for 3 days), due at 11:59:00 pm on Sunday Evenings. Some exceptions to this rule are the Syllabus Quiz, the Midterm Exam and the Final Exam. Those assignments are due as specified. 

In the event that an assignment opens early or you complete it early, submissions should not be made any more than 5 days prior to a due date. This is due to many assignments requiring you to read or watch the current week's materials in the modules. That said, please be aware that it is also NOT recommended to wait until the last minute for assignments. This class sometimes has multiple assignments due each week (including quizzes), and it is best to expect to spend at least one-two hours per chapter to complete the work.

Each module has requirements that must be completed before moving to the next module. These requirements might be as simple as viewing the message from the instructor each week, or submitting assignments. The point is simple though: if you can't access the next module, be sure you've clicked through and submitted all assignments in the previous module. Chances are it will unlock after you do that.

Final Exam Date and Time

The final exam will be administered online during the entirety of the UCF Final Exam Period from the beginning through the end. You will be able to choose your time to take the final exam anytime during the UCF Final Exam Week timeframe. Please reserve at least 2 hours during that timeframe for the final exam.

Late Work, Makeup Work, and Makeup Exam & Quiz Policy

Late Work is not accepted in this course except for authorized university events or co-curricular activities, as outlined in the sub-section below. Otherwise, assignments must be submitted on time, and assignments will lock on schedule. Exams and Quizzes (Tests) are important and should not be missed when administered. No make-up opportunity will be available for tests (exams and quizzes) for any student. You will have at minimum 3 days to complete each test, but there may be more than one test each period of 3 days. (This means you may start each test anytime during that 3-day period, however some tests are timed so you will need to finish it in the time allotted.) Be aware that work must be completed in order, and each module must be completed before moving on to the next module. Because of the nature of this course, it is not possible for you to work ahead beyond the current week’s assignments. In the event that you submit an assignment on-time but in the incorrect format(s), you will receive a 0 on that assignment. At the professor's discretion, an opportunity may be given to you to submit the assignment in the correct format(s), however this is handled on a case-by-case basis and the grade of 0 will remain until the professor has graded the re-submission of the assignment in the correct format. Be aware that certain core assignments such as major tests (midterms and final exams) and major projects must be completed on time to continue forward in the course. Failure to submit these assignments on time will prevent you from continuing the course (and eventually result in a grade of F for the course).

Make-Up Assignments for Authorized University Events or Co-curricular Activities

Students who represent the university in an authorized event or activity (for example, student-athletes) and who are unable to meet a course deadline due to a conflict with that event must provide the instructor with documentation in advance to arrange a make-up. No penalty will be applied. For more information, see the UCF policy at https://policies.ucf.edu/documents/4-401.pdfLinks to an external site.

Religious Observances

Students must notify their instructor in advance if they intend to miss class for a religious observance. For more information, see the UCF policy at http://regulations.ucf.edu/chapter5/documents/5.020ReligiousObservancesFINALJan19.pdf. This must be done before the 10th business day of the term. UCF is open for business Monday through Saturday.

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

Students who are deployed active duty military and/or National Guard personnel and require accommodation should contact their instructors as soon as possible after the semester begins and/or after they receive notification of deployment to make related arrangements.

Academic Integrity

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct at https://scai.sdes.ucf.edu/student-rules-of-conduct/Links to an external site.. According to Section 1, “Academic Misconduct,” students are prohibited from engaging in:

1. Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.
2. Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.
3. Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.
4. Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.
5. Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
6. Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission of the instructor.
7. Helping another violate academic behavior standards.
8. Soliciting assistance with academic coursework and/or degree requirements.

This is an individual course. To discourage cheating and/or academic dishonesty, you are prohibited to discuss any part of this course with any other person, including fellow students involved in this course. The only exceptions to this rule are the weekly discussions and, if this course contains group projects, you may discuss your group work with your group and your group alone. Violations to this policy will be met with severe penalties, not excluding a final grade of "F" in the course.

For more information about Academic Integrity, students may consult The Center for Academic Integrity http://www.academicintegrity.org/icai/assets/FVProject.pdf (Links to an external site.).

For more information about plagiarism and misuse of sources, see “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices” http://wpacouncil.org/node/9 (Links to an external site.).

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating
Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rulehttps://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/. UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and respond to academic misconduct when necessary. Penalties for violating rules, policies, and instructions within this course can range from a zero on the exercise to an “F” letter grade in the course. In addition, an Academic Misconduct report could be filed with the Office of Student Conduct, which could lead to disciplinary warning, disciplinary probation, or deferred suspension or separation from the University through suspension, dismissal, or expulsion with the addition of a “Z” designation on one’s transcript.

Being found in violation of academic conduct standards could result in a student having to disclose such behavior on a graduate school application, being removed from a leadership position within a student organization, the recipient of scholarships, participation in University activities such as study abroad, internships, etc.

Let’s avoid all of this by demonstrating values of honesty, trust, and integrity. No grade is worth compromising your integrity and moving your moral compass. Stay true to doing the right thing: take the zero, not a shortcut.

Campus Safety Statement

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise during class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of their surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

• In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.
• Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Students should make a note of the guide’s physical location and review the online version at http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.html.
• Students should know the evacuation routes from each of their classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency.
• If there is a medical emergency during class, students may need to access a first-aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those are located, see https://ehs.ucf.edu/automated-external-defibrillator-aed-locations.
• To stay informed about emergency situations, students can sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to https://my.ucf.edu and logging in. Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the toolbar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on the Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”
• Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.
• To learn about how to manage an active-shooter situation on campus or elsewhere, consider viewing this video (https://youtu.be/NIKYajEx4pk (Links to an external site.)).

Campus Safety Statement for Students in Online-Only Courses

Though most emergency situations are primarily relevant to courses that meet in person, such incidents can also impact online students, either when they are on or near campus to participate in other courses or activities or when their course work is affected by off-campus emergencies. The following policies apply to courses in online modalities.

• To stay informed about emergency situations, students can sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to https://my.ucf.edu and logging in. Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the toolbar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on the Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”
• Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.

Statement Regarding COVID-19

As of the Spring 2022 Semester, UCF is operating as normal. However, if you feel that you may have symptoms of COVID-19, please take a look at the following guidelines:

COVID-19 and Illness Notification

Students who believe they may have COVID-19 or who test positive must contact UCF Student Health Services (407-823-2509). Students should not come to campus if they are ill or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. Please keep in mind that many individuals with COVID-19 may have no symptoms or have a mild illness. If you get symptoms, you should avoid contact with others. A positive COVID-19 test result will not change this recommendation.

Students should contact their instructor(s) as soon as possible if they miss class for any illness to discuss reasonable adjustments that might need to be made. When possible, students should contact their instructor(s) before missing class.

Notifications in Case of Changes to Course Modality

If the instructor falls ill during the semester, there may be temporary changes to this course, including having a backup instructor take over the course or going remote for a short time. Please look for announcements or mail in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email for any temporary alterations to this course.

Course Accessibility and Disability COVID-19 Supplemental Statement

Accommodations may need to be added or adjusted should this course shift from an on-campus to a remote format. Students with disabilities should speak with their instructor and should contact sas@ucf.edu to discuss specific accommodations for this or other courses.

Course Calendar & Due Dates

This course utilizes WebCourses' Modules Section for the official full course calendar and due dates. Keep in mind that unpublished assignments will not appear on the calendar until they are published by the professor. Be aware that the instructor reserves the right to change the calendar, assignments, tests, and/or due dates at any time, provided adequate notice is given to the class.