Course Description

Business Information Management 1A is the first semester in a two-semester series in which students develop technical, professional skills to build documents, spreadsheets, databases, and multimedia presentations using various office suite applications. In Business Information Management 1A, students will explore key aspects of software using the Google Workspace or Microsoft® 365 (Microsoft Office). Students will investigate how businesses manage vast amounts of information with a variety of emerging technologies. When students have completed this course, they will recognize how businesses identify information requirements and information management systems. Students will have also gained practical skills for succeeding in today’s business environment, including the ability to create effective word processing documents, spreadsheets, databases, and multimedia presentations. 

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) 

UTHS courses are designed in alignment to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) which define the skills and content to be taught in each course and grade level in the state of Texas.

Semester Topics

• Unit 1: Business Communications
  
• Unit 2: Business Documents and Processing Technology
  
• Unit 3: Spreadsheets
  
• Unit 4: Presentation and Technology
  
• Unit 5: Desktop Publishing

Course Objectives

Upon completing this course, you will be able to—

• employ verbal and active listening skills when obtaining and conveying information; 
• record information needed to present a report on a given topic and use items such as tables of contents, indexes, tabs, footnotes, endnotes, captions, and/or building blocks; 
• write business correspondence using advanced word processing features such as templates and forms; mail merge, including letters, labels, and envelopes; and document protection and security that convey information effectively using correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization; 
• use online word processing technologies to create, edit, and share documents; 
• communicate with relevant parties, such as coworkers and customers, by interpreting verbal and nonverbal behaviors; 
• explain the strategic role of information systems and information communication technology within an organization; 
• determine the risks and rewards of developing a strategic role for information systems and information communication technology; 
• identify the management information requirements and business needs of an organization; 
• create charts, graphs, and infographics using spreadsheet data; and 
• use online spreadsheet technologies to create, edit, and share documents. 

Required Course Materials

Please visit the Computer Requirements page to view minimum device, internet, and application requirements for all UT High School courses. Generally, a desktop or laptop device five (5) years or newer with access to an office suite, such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, will be adequate to participate in most UTHS courses.

Unless otherwise noted, students are responsible for purchasing or securing all the following course materials:

• Textbook: A textbook is not required for this course.
• Interactive Notebook: A paper or digital composition book is acceptable. For paper composition books, please also have the following items on hand: 
  • Pens or Pencils
  • Tape or Glue
• Applications:
  • Google Workspace Essentials (Free) or Microsoft® 365 (Free)

Course Organization

Students must complete the course in sequence: You will not be able to access the next unit until all work in the preceding unit is completed. You may take your final exam only after completing all units and submitting all graded assignments.  

• Units: Each unit includes multiple lessons and graded assignments as well as ungraded practice quizzes to help you check your understanding of the material.
  
  
• Summative Assessments: Each course includes two online, virtually proctored summative assessments testing your understanding of the material presented in the preceding 2-3 Units.
  • Format: Online, Multiple-choice
  • Time Allowed: 1 hr 30 min
    
    
• Final Exam: Each course includes an online, virtually proctored final exam testing your knowledge of all material presented in the course.
  • Format: Online, Multiple-choice
  • Time Allowed: 3 hrs 20 min

Course Grade Weighting

Your final course grade is calculated by weighting the three assignment groups displayed in the table below:

Online Proctored Exams

All course exams, including both summative assessments and the final exam, must be completed online. Students must test online with Proctorio and are required to add the Proctorio extension to either their Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browser—installation instructions are provided in the student's course. Proctorio uses a student's computer, web camera, and microphone to record video of both the student and their desktop during the exam. Then, UTHS instructors review the student's exam video data collected by Proctorio. Only authorized UTHS staff and instructors can view the exam recordings. Student data is not shared with any persons or organizations outside of UTHS and are deleted after one year. We encourage you to visit Proctorio's Data Security and Privacy site pages to learn more about how we protect student date.