INF3014F Seminar Sessions Overview

Introduction

These seminar sessions aim to facilitate constructive learning, through a series of collaborative activities,
on some of the key issues implicated within the e-commerce area paying special attention to local and
regional realities. Specifically, these mini seminar sessions will aim to develop the following e-commerce
related learning outcomes:

i. Analyze current and newly emerging e-commerce business models and strategies and their
financial as well as technical implications to businesses/organizations.
ii. Analyze the legal and ethical aspects of the design and development of e-commerce solutions
including special challenges related to global e-business systems (e.g., trans-border data flows,
differences in privacy legislations, operating in a multicurrency environment).
iii. Critically analyze the broader social-economic implications of the widespread usage of e-
commerce technologies taking into consideration issues such as access,
empowerment/disempowerment, exploitation, neo-colonialism, etc.

Activities and Assessments

• Students will form teams of 6.

• Once the teams are finalized a list of seminar topics will be put up on Amathuba and teams will have
a chance to select a topic.
• One topic will be shared by two teams. Selection/Allocation will be on a first-come basis.
• Select only one seminar topic per team. If a team selects more than one topic the teams without a
topic will be given an option to pick from the team with more than one topic.
• Once the selection is closed and some teams haven’t selected a topic, the lecturer will do the
allocation.
• After all teams have been allocated topics, the seminar schedule will be published indicating which
team is presenting when and who will be their mentor and lecturer.
• Teams will meet with the lecturer latest 14 days before their presentation date to discuss the topic.
It’s the team’s responsibility to book a meeting with the lecturer. The lecturer might opt to meet all
teams at the same time for the first meeting. In this first meeting, the lecturer will briefly discuss the
topic with each team and answer any general questions. The lecturer might also share readings that
can help teams understand the topic or shape their direction.
• 7 days before the presentation the teams will submit draft notes (1000 – 2000 words), slides (10
slides), a quiz (5 MCQ questions) and one discussion question based on their topic to the lecturer. The
team will also book a meeting for the second appointment. The appointment must be (latest) a week
prior to your seminar week.
• At the second meeting, the lecturer will provide feedback on the draft notes, slides, quiz and
discussion question. The team will have to action the feedback and upload (with the help of a tutor)
the final set of notes, quiz, and discussion/forum question on Amathuba 48 hrs before the seminar
session. The notes, quiz and discussion question will stay hidden and only be released on the seminar
day.
• On the day of the seminar session, the two teams will each present for 15 minutes followed by 10
minutes of Q&A. These sessions will take place in the normal lecture venue and the entire class is
 encouraged to attend and actively participate by asking questions to the presenting teams. For each
presenting team, there will be one other team (not presenting that day) assigned the responsibility of
asking 2 questions. The lecturer will moderate the entire session and offer concluding remarks.
• After the seminar sessions, the class (except presenting teams) will be expected to complete a quiz
from each presenting team by 23h55 on the day of the presentation. You will also be required to
answer one discussion question per seminar by Sunday 23h55. Both the quizzes and seminars will be
attempted individually. So, in summary by the end of the week, each student would have answered
four short quizzes and two discussion questions. The only exception is that presenting teams will not
be expected to answer quizzes and discussion questions for the day they are presenting.
• Presenting teams will send slides to the tutor (Meriam) just after the presentation and will be
expected to provide feedback to discussion questions within 10 days.
• See the marking guide on the next page.
 Provisional High-Level Marking Guide

Activity Excellent Good Average Poor

First meeting All team members were Most team members were Some team members wereMost team members were
with the available, on time, and available and/or well available and/or prepared.
unavailable and/or not
lecturer thoroughly prepared. The team prepared. There was good There was some
prepared. There was a low
5% was engaging and showed keen engagement and interest in interest/engagement. engagement on interest in
interest in the task at hand. the topic. the task at hand.
Draft Outstanding work that is Good quality work that is
There is evidence of some There is very little evidence
documents coherently presented and coherently presented and
understanding of the topic of understanding of the
(notes, slides, shows a great deal of effort and shows good
but not very coherently topic. Work is mostly
quiz, question) deep understanding/insights on understanding/insights on
presented. The quiz and incoherently presented.
15% the topic. The quiz and the topic. The quiz and
discussion questions are The quiz and discussion
discussion questions are well discussion questions are
useful but could benefit from questions are not
thought out and perfectly appropriately aligned to the
some appropriately linked to the
aligned to the topic. All topic. All documents are
improvement/modifications. topic. Substantial
documents are properly properly formatted with
There are some formatting formatting as well as
formatted with no grammatical very few grammatical or
as well as spelling and spelling and grammar
or spelling mistakes. spelling mistakes. grammar issues that need to issues/mistakes.
be addressed/fixed.
Second/Final All team members were Most team members were Some team members were Most team members were
meeting with available, on time, and available and/or well available and/or prepared. unavailable and/or not
the lecturer thoroughly prepared. The team prepared. There was good There’s is evidence of prepared. The team did not
10% was engaging and showed a engagement and some/limited demonstrate a sufficient
deep understanding of the topic understanding of the topic. understanding/interest in understanding of the topic.
the topic.
Submission of All documents handed well All documents handed Submission met deadline but Submission was disorderly
final before deadline. Submission before deadline. Submission with some back and forth and/or late. Students didn’t
documents process was seamless with process was well handled with the tutor managing demonstrate understanding
(notes, slides, students demonstrating with students adhering to Amathuba. Documents and/or adherence to the
quiz, detailed understanding and the stipulated process and contained, formatting stipulated process and/or
question). adherence to the process and timelines. All documents, spelling and grammar, timelines. Many formatting
10% timelines. All documents, sections within documents and/or any other issues that as well as spelling and
sections within documents and and any other required needed to be grammar issues/mistakes
any other required materials materials (quizzes, addressed/fixed. identified.
(quizzes, discussion questions discussion questions etc) are
etc) are properly formatted and properly formatted and with
with no grammatical or spelling minor grammatical or
mistakes. spelling mistakes that were
swiftly fixed.
Final uploaded Outstanding work that is Good quality work that is There is evidence of some There is very little evidence
documents coherently presented/written coherently understanding of the topic of understanding of the
(notes, slides, and shows a great deal of effort presented/written and but not very coherently topic. Work is mostly
quiz, and deep/critical shows good presented. The quiz and incoherently presented.
question). understanding/insights on the understanding/insights on discussion questions are The quiz and discussion
25% topic. The quiz and discussion the topic. The quiz and useful but could benefit from questions are not
questions are well thought out discussion questions are some appropriately linked to the
and perfectly aligned to the appropriately aligned to the improvement/modifications. topic.
topic. topic.
Presentation Excellent presentation that was A good presentation that The presentation was okay The presentation was of a
25% effectively delivered and was well delivered and and the team showed some low standard. The team
demonstrated deep/critical demonstrated good understanding of the topic. didn’t demonstrate a good
understanding/insights on the understanding/insights on There were a few gaps in the understanding of the topic.
topic. Slides were creative, the topic. Slides were presentation style and/or There were many gaps in
legible and effectively used. properly designed and well content coverage. Some the presentation style
There was clear evidence of used. The group presented group members didn’t and/or content. The group
collective group effort as well as well together and within participate and/or show didn’t show synergy.
effective time management. allocated time limits. interest.
Discussion Excellent feedback that was Good feedback that was Feedback was provided Feedback was superficial
Question clear, concise and done on time. clear, concise and done on however it contained some with many inconsistencies
Feedback on The feedback was fair, time. The feedback was fair, inconsistencies or/and some and gaps. Doesn't add any
Amathuba consistent and supplemented consistent and gaps. Will provide limited little/no value to the rest of
10% with sufficient critical input that supplemented with value to the rest of the class. the class.
will certainly stimulate further sufficient input that will
learning/improvement. The certainly stimulate further
feedback not only unpacked the learning/improvement. The
top 3 responses but also feedback thoroughly
factored in all other responses unpacked the top 3
and highlighted the common responses.
strengths/focus as well as gaps.
Questions to The entire team was present Some team members Most team members No engagement at all.
other and active. Several missing or all members missing. Poor questions Either team didn’t show up
presenting questions/comments asked by present but not very asked. No engegement or or showed up but didn’t ask
team(s) different team members. The engaging. Questions asked very little engagement by any questions.
-10% questions/comments were but not very insightful/ one/few team members.
thoughtful, engaging and thoughtful.
insightful.

-0% -2% to – 4% -5% to – 8% -10%