CSC 356-01 Life in the Digital Age Course Syllabus Fall 2014 Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 AM 10:45 AM Dailey 0202 Dr. Christine Wania Assistant Professor, Computer Science 220 Albert W. Brown Building (FOB) cwania@brockport.edu (595) 395-2345 Office Hours Fall 2014 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM, Brown 220 Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM, Brown 220 Course Description from the Computer Science Department Handbook Studies the impact of new technologies on the role of citizens in a global society. Includes: the changing nature of privacy and the growing use of government surveillance, including national ID cards and RFID tracking; the Internet s effect on social communication and the differing communication patterns of men and women, issues of free expression vs. censorship; the reshaping of the workplace due to telecommuting and outsourcing and its role in opening opportunities for women; the risks of over-reliance on computers and the dangers posed by hackers; and the influence of technology on human interactions. Course Textbook S. Baase, A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal and Ethical Issues for Computing Technology, 4 th Edition, Pearson Education/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2013 (ISBN: 978-0-13-249267-6) Supplemental readings will be distributed to students in class or posted on Blackboard (see course schedule). Learning Outcomes A student who has successfully completed CSC 356 has the ability to: Understand how advances in technology have significantly shaped the way we live, work and interact with each other as a community Be familiar with the impact new technologies have had on the role of citizens in a global society, and the ethical choices that must be made Recognize the effects of technology on the structure and nature of governments, both within our nation and between our nations Understand the evolution of work and career in highly technology-oriented workplaces, and the changing opportunities for men and women Understand the influence of technology on our culture, on social interaction, and the communication patterns of men and women
Course Evaluation (subject to change) Assignments 20% 4 Short essay assignments (25 points each) 2 Current event assignments (50 points each) Quizzes 10% 2 Quizzes (50 points each) Term paper 25% Outline (25 points) Peer review (25 points) Paper (200 points) Class presentations 15% Short essay assignment 4 presentation (50 points) Term paper presentation (100 points) Comprehensive final exam (200 points) 20% Attendance and in-class participation (100 points) 10% Participation Students should be prepared to actively participate and discuss weekly readings in class. Short Essay Assignments Students will be required to write four short essays consisting of approximately 300 words each. Current Events Assignments Students will be required to complete two current events assignments. For these assignments you will collect current news articles (print or electronic, published in the last six months). Collect two articles on the benefits and valuable applications of computer technology and two articles on new problems or dramatic failures. Write a brief summary and commentary on the articles indicating how they relate to topics covered in this course. More information will be provided in class. Quizzes There will be two take home quizzes, administered through Blackboard. Quizzes are to be completed individually, but students may consult the textbook and notes while taking the quizzes. Term Paper Students will be required to write a term paper consisting of approximately 3000 words not including the bibliography. All materials referenced must be properly cited in the text of the paper and included in the bibliography. All work must be original. A broad list of topics and detailed instructions will be provided. Students will be required to complete an outline, present a summary of the term paper, and review another student s term paper. Presentations Students will be required to complete two in-class presentations 1. Present a summary of short essay assignment 4 2. Present a summary of term paper Final Exam The final exam will be comprehensive.
Course Schedule (subject to change) This schedule provides the order of topics, assignments and exams. The schedule is subject to change. Week 1: August 25, 2014 Topic Course Overview, Ubiquity of Computers Readings Chapter 1 Week 2: September 1, 2014 Topic Privacy and Computing: Risks and Principles, Protecting Privacy Readings Chapter 2 Thur 9/4 Short Essay Assignment 1 Week 3: September 8, 2014 Topic Freedom of Speech: Anonymity and Censorship on the Global Net Readings Chapter 3 Week 4: September 15, 2014 Topic Technology and the Workplace: Employment and Employee Monitoring Readings Chapter 6 Thur 9/18 Quiz 1: Chapters 1-3, 6 Week 5: September 22, 2014 Topic The Changing Nature of Crime: Hacking, Identify Theft, and Digital Borders Readings Chapter 5 Thur 9/25 Short Essay Assignment 2 Week 6: September 29, 2014 Topic Intellectual Property: Fair Use, Sharing, and Software Readings Chapter 4 Thur 10/2 Current Event Assignment 1 Diversity Conference 2014 http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/divconf/2014/ Week 7: October 6, 2014 Topic Evaluating and Controlling Technology and The Digital Divide Readings Chapter 7 Norris, P. Social Inequalities, In Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2001, pages 68-92 Thur 10/9 Term Paper Outline Week 8: October 13, 2012 Topic Errors, Failures and Risks in Computing Readings Chapter 8 Tue 10/14 No Class (Fall Break) Thur 10/16 Short Essay Assignment 3
Week 9: October 20, 2014 Topic Alone Together Readings Turkle, S. Introduction: Alone Together, In Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other, Basic Books, New York, NY, 2011 Turkle, S. Conclusion: Necessary Conversations, In Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other, Basic Books, New York, NY, 2011 Thur 10/23 Current Event Assignment 2 Week 10: October 27, 2014 Topic Women in Computing and Professional Ethics Readings Chapter 9 National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2013. Special Report NSF 13-304. Arlington, VA, 2013 Available at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/ Thur 10/30 Quiz 2: Chapters 5, 7-9, Handouts Week 11: November 3, 2014 Topic Short Essay Assignment 4 Presentations Tue 11/4 Short Essay Assignment 4 Week 12: November 10, 2014 Topic Short Essay Assignment 4 Presentations Week 13: November 17, 2014 Topic Term Paper Presentations Tue 11/18 Term Paper Due Week 14: November 24, 2014 Topic Term Paper Presentations Tue 11/25 Term Paper Peer Review Due Thur 11/27 No Class (Thanksgiving Break) Week 15: December 1, 2014 Topic Term Paper Presentations Thur 12/4 Term Paper Final Revision Due Week 16: December 8, 2014 Tue 12/9 Comprehensive Final Exam 8:00 AM 10:00 AM
Class Policies Grading Policy The grading policy is subject to change. The passing grade in this course is D-. A Greater than 90% A- Greater than 87% but less than 90% B+ Greater than 83% but less than 87% B Greater than 80% but less than 83% B- Greater than 77% but less than 80% C+ Greater than 73% but less than 77% C Greater than 70% but less than 73% C- Greater than 67% but less than 70% D+ Greater than 63% but less than 67% D Greater than 60% but less than 63% D- Greater than 57% but less than 60% E Less than 57% Assignments and Academic Integrity All assignments are to be completed on individual basis, i.e., on your own. Group efforts are not acceptable. Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and considered grounds for failure and other disciplinary actions as stipulated in the College Policy on Academic Dishonesty. All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Late assignments will not be accepted. No credit will be given for late assignments. Exams and Quizzes Students will not receive any credit for missed quizzes or exams. If you will not be able to attend a quiz or exam you must notify me at least a week in advance to make arrangements to take the quiz or exam ahead of time. Blackboard Course information and handouts may be distributed through Blackboard. Check Blackboard regularly. Students will be required to complete some assignments on Blackboard or submit assignments to the appropriate dropbox on Blackboard. Please be aware that Blackboard only supports certain browsers. For more information see: http://wiki.sln.suny.edu/display/slnkb/open+suny+online+course+browser+compatibility Email Email is the preferred method of communication. When sending email please include CSC 356 in the subject line and be sure to include your first and last name in the message. Attendance and Classroom Conduct Faculty Senate legislation mandates student attendance in all classes. Students who are unable to attend the examinations or meet deadlines for assignments on particular days due to religious beliefs, must contact me ahead and work out alternate arrangements. Students are expected to behave as reasonable adults, motivated to explore the subject matter with proper guidance from the instructor. Late arrivals and early departures disturb the entire class and should be avoided. As per Senate policy, students whose unexcused absences exceed 15 percent of the scheduled classes and laboratories may receive a lowered grade or failure at my discretion.
Disability Statement Students with documented disabilities may be entitled to specific accommodations. The College at Brockport's Office for Student with Disabilities makes this determination. Please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at (585) 395-5409 or osdoffic@brockport.edu to inquire about obtaining an official letter to the course instructor detailing any approved accommodations. The student is responsible for providing the course instructor with an official letter. Faculty work as a team with the Office for Students with Disabilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Sexual Harassment The College at Brockport is committed to maintaining a learning environment free of sexual harassment and intimidation. Sexual harassment is unacceptable behavior, unlawful and intolerable. Students who feel they are being harassed should contact the Affirmative Action Office in Room 418 Allen Administration Building. Fire Alarm and Emergency Evacuation In the event of the fire alarm, please gather your belongings and calmly go to the nearest exit. Once you are outside the building, please go to steps at the front entrance, outside the building, where the class will gather together. If you cannot find the class group outside the building, please stay away from the building until it has been cleared for reentry by the Fire Department, University Police, and/or College personnel. If you feel you may need assistance to exit the building, please notify me as soon as reasonably possible. Weather Conditions and Class Cancellations I have no authority to cancel classes, no matter what the weather condition is. Only the President of the College makes that decision. On days of severe weather conditions, please listen to WBSU (89.1 FM) and WHAM (1180 AM) for class cancellations. You may also call (585) 395-COLD at the College. If I have any information, I will try my best to send email, leave voice mail, or post messages.