Succeeding With Technology [Paperback]

Ralph Stair (Author), Kenneth Baldauf (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1418839280 | ISBN-13: 978-1418839284 | Edition: 2

A truly innovative approach to teaching computer concepts, now updated throughout to include the latest information on technology developments, innovations, and trends. Succeeding with Technology, Second Edition presents students with the underlying principles of technologies that have an impact on our lives and how those principles are related to real-world activities. By focusing on the application of technology and how technology may be used by students for personal and professional gain, this text gives students the information they need to prosper.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The strength...is that it is very applied; it uses real world topics, scenarios, and terminology. The section on careers and computers provided good, relevant examples of how pervasive computers/technology are in careers today."

About the Author

Ralph Stair received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, an MBA from Tulane University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. He has taught information systems at many universities. He has published numerous articles and books while at Florida State University.

Kenneth Baldauf is the head of the computer literacy program at Florida State University. He has been instrumental in guiding computer literacy standards for students. For the past five years he has assumed full responsibility for the general and advanced computer literacy classes, and introductory computer class for business majors. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 671 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology; 2 edition (March 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418839280
• ISBN-13: 978-1418839284
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,431,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Child care, March 8, 2011

By 

Olorin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Succeeding with Technology (Sam 2010 Compatible Products) (Paperback)

My roommate used this book in her class and asked if I wanted it when I take the class. I looked it over and I am sure it's fine for some, but if you managed to turn your computer on, find the Internet, find amazon, and search for these reviews, then you no longer need this book. I wasn't impressed that the author rated his own book, but at least he gave it 5 stars. I would hate to think of an author giving less than that to his own book.

3.0 out of 5 stars Very basic guide to Technology, January 5, 2012

By 

J. Fannin (Charleston SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Succeeding with Technology (Sam 2010 Compatible Products) (Paperback)

I had to read this book for a class. If you are using a computer to read this review then you will be bored to tears by the first 200 pages of this book. That being said I did learn a few things I didn't already know and I am currently succeeding with technology so mission accomplished for this book. I passed it on to my father who knows nothing about technology and he has learned a lot from it so far.
The only mistake I found in this book is a picture on page 278 that lists a cable as twisted pair but is actually an electrical wire.

4.0 out of 5 stars Just the right level for a survey course on Information Systems, September 26, 2005

By 

Roger D. Gifford (Albany, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Succeeding with Technology, 2005 Update Edition (Paperback)

I am teaching a graduate level survey class on information systems using this as one of two required textbooks. My students range from first year graduate students in Information Science with bachelors in accounting, english, history, philosophy, and psychology to those near the end of their masters studies with bachelors in computer science or information science, so finding a survey-type text that might

be useful and interesting to all was a challenge.

So far, so good. The less savvy students say that the text is not too technical and the more savvy students say it provides a good reminder of concepts they already knew and filled in a few that they didn't know.

I chose this text over Stairs' "Principles of Information Systems' because I felt the latter covered the same scope but with more cases, concepts, and depth than I could effectively cover in a one semester class. Instead of business cases,

this text introduces a scenario that the students are likely to encounter at the beginning of each chapter, teaches concepts and skills they need to know to address the scenario, and then includes an "Action Plan" at the end that describes a methodology for solving it. Throughout the text, there are many boxes describing real world situations or novel ways the technology under consideration has been used. This text is also about half the price of "Principles...".

In the Instructors edition, I like the summary spreadsheet at the end of each chapter that relates learning objectives to specific concepts to questions to excercises.

I like the way the "2005 Update" edition is formatted. The basic chapters appear to be the same (I didn't compare word for word though) but at the end of each chapter, there is a "What's New" section that seems to cover up to approximately May 2005.

In this way, instructors should not have to do much translation from newer to older editions of the texts.

There are already prepared Powerpoint presentations for each chapter that come on a CD with the Instructors' edition. They have been very helpful in providing starting point for identifying key concepts from the chapters and then adapting or adding my own slides to them.

Overall I think this is a very good textbook for a survey course in information systems and technology for not only undergraduates but also graduate students who do not have a computer science background.

Roger D. Gifford, Adjunct Lecturer

University at Albany