Syllabus

Contact the instructor

  1. Use this online form to Email Ms. Van Londen. Follow Email Etiquette.
  2. Winter Office Hours:
    Tues/Thurs 1pm to 3pm
    If you are unable to make it, please email me a suggested date and time between 12:00pm and 4pm MTWH.

Communications

This course will be delivered via Blackboard, which allows students to read project objectives, introductions, scoring criteria, instructions, tutorials, and submit work to be scored. It also provides a forum for the Discussion of Readings. In addition, Bb allows you to email me for help. Please read the Course Logistics section below for more detail.

Read the Email Etiquette page to learn best practices for communicating with the instructor.

Technical Assistance:
If you experience computer difficulties, need help downloading a browser or plug-in, assistance logging into the course, or if you experience any errors or problems while in your online course, contact the OSU Help Desk for assistance. You can call (541) 737-3474, email osuhelpdesk@oregonstate.edu or visit the OSU Computer HelpDesk online.

Important Information

Religious Holidays Oregon State University strives to respect all religious practices. If you have religious holidays that are in conflict with any of the requirements of this class, please see me immediately so that we can make alternative arrangements

Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Disability Access Services (DAS) with accommodations approved through DAS are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through DAS should contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098.

Expectations for Student Conduct
Student conduct is governed by the university’s policies, as explained in the Office of Student Conduct.

Updated January 9, 2012

Official Description

In-depth exploration of the social, psychological, political, and ethical issues surrounding the computer industry and the evolving information society. (Bacc Core Course, 3 credits). Prerequisites CS 101 or computer literacy. For Fall 2011, this course is offered on campus and online. This syllabus is for the online version.

Introduction

For many in the advanced field of computer science, the technological progress seems painfully slow. And yet, there are many who argue that the forces of technology are already too strong and changing the face of the earth too fast for society to cope. Clearly, there seems to be a need to pause and confront the social, legal, and ethical issues presented to us by the problems and advances in computer science if we are to be socially responsible producers and consumers of this technology.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze relationships among science, technology, and society using critical perspectives or examples from historical, political, or economic disciplines.
  2. Analyze the role of science and technology in shaping diverse fields of study over time.
  3. Analyze a moral problem related to information technology from the point of view of a consequentialist ethical theory.
  4. Analyze a moral problem related to information technology from the point of view of a nonconsequentialist ethical theory.
  5. Explain the roles and responsibilities of a computer professional.
  6. Articulate in writing a critical perspective on issues involving science, technology, and society using evidence as support.

Read about OSU's Learning Goals

Required Readings

Supplemental Readings

Research of historical and modern issues can be done with library sources and popular periodicals.

Summary Slides

PowerPoint slides converted to .PDF for each chapter:

Rubrics

Course Logistics

By following these guidelines, you'll succeed in this course:

Fall Schedule

Each week, read the appropriate chapter(s), take the online quiz, participate in discussions/activities, and prepare the Persuasive Research Paper:

  1. Chapter 1
    • Take the Chapter 1 quiz by noon on January 16, 2012.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by noon on January 16, 2012.
    • Research paper topics.
  2. Chapter 2
    • Take the Chapter 2 quiz by noon on January 23, 2012.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by noon on January 23, 2012.
    • Research paper topics.
  3. Chapter 3
    • Take the Chapter 3 quiz by noon on January 30, 2012.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by January 30, 2012.
    • Declare the topic of your paper by noon on February 6, 2012.
  4. Chapter 4
    • Take the Chapter 4 quiz by noon on February 6, 2012.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by noon on February 6, 2012.
    • Begin outlining your paper.
  5. Chapter 5
    • Take the Chapter 5 quiz by noon on February 13, 2012.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by February 13, 2012.
    • Continue outlining your paper.
  6. Chapter 6
    • Take the Chapter 6 quiz by noon on February 20, 2012.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by noon on February 20, 2012.
    • Submit an outline of your paper by noon on February 20, 2012.
  7. Chapter 7
    • Take the Chapter 7 quiz by noon on February 27, 2012.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by noon on February 27, 2012.
    • Continue writing a draft of the paper.
  8. Chapter 8
    • Take the Chapter 8 quiz by noon on March 5, 2012.
    • Present your DRAFT in the Peer Review forum by noon on February 29, 2012 and finish the review by noon on March 5, 2012.
  9. Chapter 9
    • Take the Chapter 9 quiz by noon on March 12, 2012.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by noon on March 12, 2012.
    • Revise your paper draft.
  10. Chapter 9 / Dead Week
    • Revise your paper draft.
    • Participate in discussions/activities by noon on March 19, 2012.
  11. Finals Week
    • Submit your final paper by noon on March 19, 2012.

Methods of Evaluation and Grading

OSU's definitions and guidelines for quarter credits implies that 90 hours of your time will be needed to read and understand the lecture notes, participate in interactive activities, and complete work for this 3-credit course (that's 9 hours per week).

A total of 155 points are possible to accumulate on interactions, quizzes, and a research paper. All assignments turned in past the deadline may be be docked 1 point per day late. Scores result in the following grades (updated 12-9-2010):

Incompletes: I give Incomplete (I) grades only in emergency cases (usually only for a death in the family, major illness or injury, or birth of your child), and if the student has turned in 80% of the points possible (in other words, usually everything but the final paper). If you are having any difficulty that might prevent you completing the coursework, please don’t wait until the end of the term; let me know right away.

To be successful in this class, you need to complete the following:

  1. Discussions/Activities (4 points per week; total of 40 points.)
    • Each week's goal(s) include learning at a high level on Bloom's Taxonomy, i.e., rather than just reading slides which summarize the textbook (low-level knowledge acquisition), students will interact with each other to evaluate, analyze, and construct discussions/presentations (high-level skills acquisition) based on scenarios in the textbook and current events.
    • Activities include presentations, interviews, and textbook exercises.
    • Be prepared to actively participate in discussions.
    • You will not be able to make up this work if you are absent or miss the deadline.
    • Discussions are due by 12:00pm (noon) on Mondays.
  2. Quizzes (45 points)
    • Read one chapter per week and take a quiz by 12:00pm (noon) on Mondays.
  3. Persuasive Writing and Presentation (70 points)
    • Research, writing, and presentation of a persuasive paper analyzing a moral issue related to information technology in your career field.
    • Topics are declared by the end of week 2 (Summer) and week 3 (Fall, Winter). (2 points)
    • Outlines are due by the end of week 4 (Summer) and week 6 (Fall, Winter). (3 points)
    • Peer Reviews are done during week 6 (Summer) and week 8 (Fall, Winter). (NOTE: The Peer Review points are accounted for in the Discussions/Activities section above.)
    • Final Paper is due week 8 (Summer) or week 11 (Fall, Winter) (65 points). This project must be turned in to receive a grade for the course.
    • Instructions for submittal are noted in the Bb Weekly Assignments area.

Checking scores and assignment comments

In the Bb Grade Center, you can click on a score to see instructor notes about an assignment.

Use the key below to understand what is happening in your Gradebook in the Check Scores area:
Blackboard Gradebook Key

Philosophy of Teaching

I prefer to mentor, demonstrate, and share methods rather than mandate the memorizing of information. This approach, along with ample opportunity to explore and practice methods allows creative students to put themselves in a professional mode right away, if they're up for it, and use the freedom to study in a direction that interests them.

Technical challenges are opportunities to find solutions, through exploration, systematic troubleshooting, and group interaction. In group interactions, students have the opportunity to teach others; a highly successful way to learn. I like to engage students by bringing them to the podium to share their own methods. When teaching/learning online, this work happens in the discussion forums and blogs; again modeling the way professionals often solve problems.

Course content is presented in a variety of formats to aid a diverse student population. Links to multimedia-rich online tutorials aids the auditory and visual learners. Well-organized and well-designed course materials aid the visual learners and the learners who need only to read to understand new concepts and procedures.