Course Outline (SEE REVISIONS BELOW)

CS 1100 (ID:1931602)             The Wired Society            Fall Semester 2001

 

Instructor

Name: Dr. David Ferro

Email: dferro@weber.edu

Web: http://www.weber.edu/dferro

Phone: 626-8095

Office: ET110a

Hours: MTWTH at 9 – 10am, TH at 11am

Class Time

MTW at 11 – 11:50am

Classroom

WB105

Texts

Computers in Society, K. Shellenberg, ed., 8th Edition

Cyber Reader, V.J. Vitanza, ed.

Class Objective

To expose students to an overview of the information society.  To learn to use web facilities to research issues related to the “wired” (and “wireless”) aspects of mainstream culture and sub-cultures, law, business, technology and society.  We will explore the interaction of information technology and society from a number of perspectives.  Many of the readings present opposing or controversial views of IT and will require you to critically examine the views and underlying assumptions.

Class Organization

Class will consist of lecture and discussion on topics assigned through this outline and class assignments.  The instructor will expect the students to have read the covered chapters prior to classroom instruction.  In addition, the class will have both individual and group projects during supervised class times and outside of class.  The instructor will engage with the class to assure that learning occurs.  A number of guest lecturers will entertain the class as well.

Exams, Projects, Homework, Class Participation

There will be 4 exams (one cumulative during final exam week).  These will be in class exams.  The exams will total 30% of the final grade. There will be written papers and short presentations.  In addition, students will have a weekly homework assignment.  Projects (in class and homework) will total 60% of the final grade.  The students will get credit for class participation.  Participation will be measured as presence during homework and project review and in-class projects.  It will constitute 10% of the final grade.  Unless technically impossible, the student’s graded material will be submitted via email. 

Grading Policies

Final Grading:

Exams: 30%, Projects & Homework: 60%, Participation: 10%

 

Exams can only be taken the week given unless arrangements are made far in advance.  Makeup exams will be given.  Homework and projects will loose 20% for every weekday late.  The lowest homework grade for the semester will be dropped.

Note on Special Needs

Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center.  SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.

WSU Student Code

Students are expected to be familiar with the WSU Student Code and abide by it.  The Code may be reviewed on line at http://www.weber.edu/ppm/6-22.htm (pay specific attention to Section 4D).  All necessary steps will be taken to enforce the Stuident Code to guarantee fairness to all students.

Note to Students

Sometime in mid-October I will likely need to take several days to assist in the birth of my child.  With the department’s assistance (if necessary) the course should not be interrupted while I am gone.

 

Tentative Class Schedule, Topic Guide, and Assignments

Week

Starting

Topic & Readings

Work

1

Aug 27

Intro to Course, Internet History

. Shellenberg: Article #1

 

2

Sep 4

More IT History and IT applications

. *Sterling, Bruce.  “Short History of the Internet”

. *W3 History: The History of the WWW. (read overview)

Home/Proj 1

3

Sep 10

Defining the Information Society

. Vitanza: Wooley, B. “Cyberspace”

. Vitanza: Barlow, J.P. “The Economy of Ideas”

Home/Proj 2

4

Sep 17

The NEW e-commerce Economy

. Shellenberg: Articles 3, 4, 5, 6

. *”Nine myths about the new economy”

. *”What’s new about the new economy”

Home/Proj 3

*Exam 1

5

Sep 24

Workplace IT

. Shellenberg: Articles 8, 9, 10

Home/Proj 4

 

6

Oct 1

Computers in Education and Medicine

. Shellenberg: Articles 18, 19

Home/Proj 5

7

Oct 8

Hackers, Crackers, and Computer Ethics

. Shellenberg: Articles 26

. Vitanza: “Vigilantes” p.119

. Vitanza: “Hacker Manifesto” p.122

. Vitanza: “Is Computer Hacking a Crime?” p. 124

 

8

Oct 15

More Wired Applications

*Exam 2

9

Oct 22

Legal and First Amendment Issues

. Shellenberg: Articles 24, 25, 28

. Vitanza: Chap. 3 Introduction pp. 108-110

 

10

Oct 29

Politics, Government, and IT

. Shellenberg: Articles 23

 

Home/Proj 6

11

Nov 5

Cybercommunities and Netizens

. Vitanza: pp. 60 – 62

. Vitanza: Rheingold, “Introduction to the Virtual Community”

. Shellenberg: Articles 12, 16

Home/Proj 7

12

Nov 12

Access to the IT World

. Shellenberg: Articles 36, 37

. Vitanza: B. Kantrowitz, p.173; D. Tannen, p.176; S.Herring, p.190.

Home/Proj 8

*Exam 3

13

Nov 19

Globalization and Technological Impacts

. Shellenberg: Articles 34, 32, 33

Home/Proj 9

14

Nov 26

Future and Fiction

. Shellenberg: Articles 40, 41

Home/Proj 10

15

Dec 3

Academic Study Week

Home/Proj 11

FINALS

Dec 10

Final Exam is Monday, December 10 at 9:30am

*Final Exam

 

Additional Readings will be given as the course progresses.  Readings above marked with an asterisk (“*”) will be found online.

 

 

 

New version of syllabus for remainder of semester

Week Date   Details                                                                                      DUE

9

Oct 22

More on doing ebusiness

Mon – TEST #2

Wed - Guest Lecturer: Kim Howard

Fri - Guest Lecturer: Vern Fitch 

 

10

Oct 29

Hackers, Crackers, and Computer Ethics (into next week)

Mon – Lab –>Movie part II – electric money

Wed - more powerpoint

Fri – presentations (leftover from week 7 also)

 

. Shellenberg: Articles 26 (hackers…)

. Vitanza: “Vigilantes” p.119 

. Vitanza: “Hacker Manifesto” p.122  (hacker manifesto)

. Vitanza: “Is Computer Hacking a Crime?” p. 124  (-long article)

Homework #5 – article review, presentations

11

Nov 5

Politics, Government, Legal and First Amendment Issues

Mon – rest of last week pres, do a little more html

Wed – pres from before, presentations

Fri – finish presentations

 

. Shellenberg: Articles

23,  (cyberpower&freedom)

24,   (legal)

25,   (ethics)

28    (privacy)

. Vitanza: Chap. 3 Introduction pp. 108-110 (freedom/censorship)

Homework #6 – article review,

presentations

12

Nov 12

Access to the IT World

Mon – start presentations

Wed –finish presentations, review

Fri –TEST#3

 

. Shellenberg: Articles 36, 37  (global)

. Vitanza:

p.173; B. Kantrowitz, ( ),

p.176; D. Tannen (gender issues),

p.184;      (gender…)

p.190; S.Herring, (gender issues).

Homework #7 – HTML page (fri)

presentations

 

TEST#3

13

Nov 19

Globalization and Technological Impacts

Mon – With Eric’s class (subject TBD)

Wed – presentations

Fri – THANKSGIVING

 

. Shellenberg: Articles 34  (bablefish, etc.),

32    (pearl harbor?),

33  (Cuban freedom of internet?)

 

14

Nov 26

Virtual community and more

Mon –  presentations

Wed – presentations, con’t

Fri – TBD (leftover presentations?)

 

Vitanza: pp. 60 – 62

. Vitanza: Rheingold, “Introduction to the Virtual Community”

. Shellenberg: Articles 12, 16

 Shellenberg: Articles 40, 41

Homework #8 – article review,

Presentations

15

Dec 3

Academic Study Week (movie: the rise and fall of a .com)

Mon  - Startup.com

Wed – Startup.com (part ii, iii)

Fri –

Leftover presentations

16

Dec 10

Final Exam is Monday, December 10 at 9:30am

 

 

 

Upcoming Presentation Assignments

 

Nov 5 week:

DISTEFANO, GENTRY T     

Shellenberg 23,  (cyberpower&freedom)

 

FERGUSON, JOSIAH D     

Shellenberg 24,   (legal)

 

GARZA, JOHNNIE L            

Shellenberg 25,   (ethics)

 

GLADWELL, CLAYSON R     

Shellenberg 28    (privacy)

 

GLADWELL, KIMBERLY S  

Vitanza: Chap. 3 Introduction and " crimes of net" and "no more anything goes" p. 108 (freedom/censorship),

 

Nov 12 week (start Monday)

 

 

HOWARD, RUSSELL B       

. Shellenberg: Articles 36  (global)

 

JONES, JARED H               

. Shellenberg: Articles  37  (global)

 

KEENER, JASON G             

Vitanza p.173; Intro and B. Kantrowitz, ( ),

 

MERRILL, REBECCA S          

Vitanza p.187; Nicholson and Herring articles

 

MOORE, JEREMY E             

Vitanza p.184;    D. Tannen  (gender…)

 

NORTH, JEFF                 

Vitanza p.190; S.Herring, (gender issues).

 

Nov 19 week (start Wed):

 

 

OLIVER, JAIRUS A            

Shellenberg: Articles 34  (bablefish, etc.),

 

RAMSEY, YOLANDA J           

Shellenberg 32 - Pearl Harbor

 

ROBINSON, WADE A           

Shellenberg 33  (Cuban freedom of internet?)

 

Nov 26 week (start Mon):

 

 

SCHOSS, HEATHER             

Vitanza: p.60-62 including key terms

 

SMITH, SHANNON M           

Shellenberg: articles 12

 

STEVENS, ZAC                

Shellenberg: article 16

 

TE, BRENDON                

Shellenberg: article 40

 

WILLIAMS, SHAINA           

Shellenberg: article 41

 

ZITO, RHETT C               

Vitanza: p.62, "introduction to virtual community"