COURSE DESCRIPTION

Computers are now so prevalent in our society that their importance hardly needs mentioning. But we know from our experience with other technologies that adoption of a new technology often results in effects we didn't anticipate. This course highlights numerous questions that computerization raises as the Internet expands into virtually every corner of everyday life. When does computerization really improve the productivity of organizations? What risks are involved? Is computerization reducing personal privacy? What possibilities do telecommuting really offer people for working at home? Do electronic mail and computerized conferences promote the formation of new "communities,'' or do they undermine intimate interaction? How do we control and manage electronic communication that is pornographic? Why are free speech and censorship issues so much more complex when we move to computer networks? What is "ownership" on the Net and what are the implications for protecting intellectual property?

These and other issues are relevant to being a responsible computer user (professional or personal) and member of the public who could serve on a jury, debate social and political issues with friends, or influence legislation. This is an extremely fast-changing field. It is critical that you keep track of current events on topics related to the course. Updates and other information will be sent to you electronically. Please be sure to have an e-mail account, sign on to Blackboard, and let me know if youbit (details TBA).re your account changes.

COURSE DESIGN

The classroom setting is a seminar format with an emphasis on close readings of texts and discussions of the various topics. We spend a lot of class time in discussion in a more-or-less Socratic style. Topics vary somewhat each semester depending on current issues. Your participation in the course will be in the form of face-to-face discussions in the classroom and computer conferencing outside of the classroom. Some of the class time is devoted to discussing the ideas presented in lectures, in the readings, or of particular concern to you. These discussions provide an opportunity to share our ideas, and think aloud.

In this course, we study some controversial topics that do not have a simple set of commonly accepted conclusions or "facts." Rather, many of our discussions conclude with a richer and possibly more complex and ambiguous view of the topics we started to discuss. Thus, the process of reasoning through some of the situations we study is more important than the conclusions we reach.

These complexities don't mean that these topic discussions are just bull sessions. But they do yield a different kind of understanding than that which is emphasized in most science and engineering courses. I will sometimes take specific stands; but most often, I am presenting different ways of viewing a particular issue and underlining significant social aspects of computing developments. I want you to understand some of the key positions about these issues and to develop your own point of view.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Course grades will be based on (1) participation in class discussions, (2) class assignments (written and oral), (3) quizzes on readings, (4) a midterm exam, (5) a term paper, and (6) a final take-home exam

Class discussions are key to helping you learn about complex ideas where there are several different relevant perspectives. Many students enjoy discussions, but some are more timid. Therefore, in addition to the discussions that take place in the classroom, we will also have online discussions on Blackboard. You are expected to contribute to class discussions by sharing your ideas, voicing your questions, building on other students'observations, and introducing relevant timely articles-events.

There will be both written essays and electronic assignments that you will be asked to do in order to focus our discussion on a particular topic related to the course content. At times, these assignments may be done with one other person in the class. Late assignments will not be accepted.

Written homework assignments will be given a number grade on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being best. Scores less than 6 will indicate that some part or parts of the assignment were left out, or that the writing is not adequate. The electronic work ("e-work") assignments in this course are "mini-homeworks" that must be submitted by posting a message to the class conference on Blackboard. Electronic assignments will be graded as + (2), (1), or zero. If you get a zero, it means your work appears to have been done at the last minute, with very little learning or thought. A zero will count just as much as not turning it in, so if you can't do a good job, please don't bother turning it in.

There will be several assignments where students will work in groups of 3-6 people to prepare a short (3-5 minute) presentation. Each group chooses one spokesperson. Students will have about 15 minutes to meet in class to prepare, at the class meeting that precedes the presentations. You are welcome to do more work outside of class in person or by e-mail. Each student will take a turn as spokesperson once during the semester (either as a spokesperson for their group or some other kind of presentation, such as a talk on his or her term paper). Students will change presentation groups for different chapters so that students get to work with most other students in the class.

General instructions:

The presentations should analyze the situation, use analogies and similar cases where possible, mention various possible risks or consequences, etc. If relevant, include some discussion of how the new technology changes the situation. What advantages or problems result from using it, compared to the old way of doing things? Present the group's proposals and/or conclusions, supported by arguments.

Our class discussions usually go into depth on a small number of issues from the text or current issues related to topics in the text. Much of the material in the text (and other articles assigned to supplement the text) is not presented or discussed explicitly in class.

There will be a 5-minute quiz almost every week with three questions on the assigned readings. The questions will not depend on detailed memory. For many questions, students can give one example, argument, etc., out of several mentioned in the readings. The purpose of the quizzes is to demonstrate reading of the material, so answers should reflect the readings and not other sources you might know from elsewhere.

The quizzes are worth one point each, for a total of 10% of the course grade. (I give 10 or 11 quizzes in total; if there is time for 11, I drop each student's lowest quiz score.) I give credit for a question if there is enough of an answer to indicate that the student did the reading.

The midterm is a preview of the final exam. The midterm is worth 25% of the grade. Details will be discussed later.

This semester, we will explore a number of topics related to the social, legal and ethical issues of computing and the Internet. For the term paper, students will investigate a topic of their choosing (a list of suggested topics will also be made available). Use articles and/or books, etc., for background. Your project must include some background research and some activity (e.g., an interview or a site visit). If you choose a topic for which you can't think of an appropriate activity, discuss it with the instructor.

Some details:

Don't just report. Discuss pros and cons. Evaluate. Use your own words. Quote where appropriate. Give citations for facts and quotes. Discuss how your topic relates to material covered in the text and/or in class discussions. The paper should be approximately 4000 words and include (roughly):

• Cover page with title and your name
• Introduction/overview of topic and issues to be discussed
• Background, description, and/or history of the issue
• Issues, various points of view
• Results of interviews, observations, etc.
• Your comments or evaluation
• Summary
• List of references
• Appendix

The last 25% of the grade will come from the two-part take-home exam, which will demonstrate cumulative and comprehensive knowledge gained over the semester. Details to follow.

CLASS POLICIES

Students are expected to attend class. Roll will be taken at each class meeting. Three unexcused absences in a row result in an administrative drop. There will be no makeup exams unless the student and the professor have discussed the matter before the scheduled date of the exam. Anyone caught cheating will receive a failing grade on whatever they were caught cheating on. Anyone caught cheating a second time will receive a failing grade in the class. Anyone who continually disrupts the class will be subject to ejection from the class. Each ejection will count as an unexcused absence.