Cyberspace & Society - Fall 2007
CRN: 091745
Section 002: TR 2:40 PM – 4:00 PM (T: Tuttleman 305A and
R: Tuttleman 9 )
Instructor: Claudia Pine-Simon
Office: Wachman 1042
Phone: 215.204.5140
Office hours: TR 1:30 PM - 2:20PM, TR: after 4:00 by appt only, T: 9:00-9:50 by appt. only,
W: after 2:45 by appt. only.
Email: csimon@temple.edu, claudia.pine-simon@temple.edu
Course Objective: This course provides students with an understanding of the underlying principles of technologies that have an impact on their lives and how those principles are related to real-world activities. Class lectures, readings and student discussions will be utilized to integrate the application of technology with social and ethical issues facing society. For example: What is the impact of the Internet on intellectual property? How far can government surveillance go to detect criminal behavior without reducing our civil liberties? How can vulnerable groups be protected from predators, scam artists, and identity theft?
We will try to achieve an equal mix between technology, social-ethics discussions and hands on laboratory work. I want to encourage a respectful and open environment for the free exchange of ideas. Questioning ideas but not individuals is important to achieve this free exchange.
Required Materials:
· A USB/Flash drive or IPOD will be helpful for working on your websites and for other homework assignments.
· Temple University Access-Net Account (Astro account)
· Recommended Textbook: There are NO required books for this course. An optional technology book has been ordered for the Temple University bookstore. We will be utilizing PowerPoint presentations and Web resources for the technology and ethics component of the course. Research will be done using the Internet as a resource and via other means presented in class. Homework and blogging assignments will be based on research activities.
Succeeding with Technology: Computer System Concepts for Real Life, Stair and Baldauf, Thomason Course Technology, 2007.
Lab Information:
Course Lab Website: http://www.temple.edu/cybersociety
Lab Assistant: Erin Robinson
E-mail: erobinson@temple.edu
Office: Wachman 410
Office Hours: Monday 11am -1 pm and Tuesday 3-4pm.
Lab Schedule: Thursday 2:40-4:00 Tuttleman 9
Examinations: There is a final exam consisting of multiple choice, short answer and essays, Thursday, December 13, 2:00Pm - 4:00PM. This exam is closed book. There will be a review before the exam. Make-up tests will not be permitted except under very unusual circumstances. The final exam requires a legitimate note for the missed attendance. Each case will be handled on an individual basis. Students who miss the final exam and have not made alternative arrangements with me before I turn in the grades will receive an F.
Quizzes: There are several quizzes throughout the semester. There are no make-up quizzes. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
Communication Outside of Class: My office hours and email are listed above. Email is typically the easiest way to reach me outside of class. I am here to help you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are having any difficulties. You need to check Blackboard and your Temple email regularly during the semester
Attendance /Participation/: Class participation and attendance are important and can affect your final grade. The class participation portion of your grade of your grade includes attendance. Required write-ups on ethics readings will also factor into this part of your grade. Class participation is integral for this class to be effective.
Long Term Absence: If you have some special circumstance (house burned down) and you cannot attend classes, please see your advisor immediately for guidance. I cannot help if you just show up for the final or email me the last week of classes.
Final Grade: will be based on the weighted average of
|
Testing |
30% |
5 Quizzes Final Examination Cumulative |
|
Assignments |
30% |
Debate Assignment/Paper/Wiki (one of the Labs Mini Assignments: Summaries on Social and Ethical Issues Other Assignments as assigned |
|
6 Virtual Lab Assignments |
30% |
Website Plan and Website, E-Commerce Review, Digital Editing, PC Configuration Lab, Network Scavenger Hunt |
|
Class Participation |
10% |
4 Blogs on social and ethical issues and participating in the class discussions |
* The lowest quiz grade will be dropped in computing your final grade
Grading Scale: 100 --- 93 A
88 -- 89 B+ 83 -- 87 B 80 – 82 B-
78 – 79 C+ 73 -- 77 C 70 – 72 C-
68 – 69 D+ 63 – 67 D 60 – 62 D-
59 – 0 F
Note: There will be no I’s given.
Cheating and Plagiarism: are serious offenses and will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s work as your own. If you quote someone else’s material, you must cite it properly. This includes material from the Internet. All of your work must be your own including lab assignments. Temple University’s policy on academic honesty can be located at the following link:
http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Responsibilities_rights/responsibilities/responsibilities.shtm
- All labs are due at the beginning of Thursday’s class one week after it was assigned. Late labs will be penalize unless there are unusual and unavoidable circumstances.
· Cell phones and pagers MUST be turned off in my class.
· You will be responsible for research on various topics. Wikipedia and other similar sites are NOT acceptable sources of information for this course
· There is one semester-long research project. Students will work in teams of two. The end product will consist of an in-class debate, student-led discussion, online wiki postings and a written paper.·
Important Web sites:
Blackboard: tuportal.temple.edu All information, handouts, etc., about CIS 0835 is accessible to students through blackboard. Use your Astro user ID
Lab Website: http://www.temple.edu/cybersociety
CIS 1055 Website for documentation on Dreamweaver: http://isc.temple.edu/cis1055
Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed through the following link: http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=03.70.02.
Unix Accounts: https://accounts.temple.edu
Computer Services Information: http://www.temple.edu/cs/
Academic Calendar: httphttp://www.temple.edu/registrar/acad_calendars.html
University’s Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Policy:
http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Responsibilities_rights/responsibilities/responsibilities.shtm
Cancellation Numbers: http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=04.31.12
Temple University Libraries: http://www.library.temple.edu/
Important Dates:
Classes Begin: Monday, August 27th
Labor Day (no school): Monday, September 3th
Last day to drop a course: Monday, September 10th
Last day to withdraw from a course*: Monday, October 29th
Thanksgiving Break (no classes): Thursday, November 22nd and Friday, November 23rd
Last day of Classes: Wednesday, December 5th
Study Days: Thursday, December 6th and Friday, December 7th**
*Students who simply "drop out" of class without formally withdrawing will receive a grade of 'F'.
Disabilities: Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources at 215-204-1280 in Ritter Annex.
Course
Schedule: 
While the schedule below is subject to change throughout
the semester, changes will be communicated through class or Blackboard.
Week 1
8/28-8/30
Technology: Introduction to Computers, Digital Technology, Types of Computers and Mobile Devices.
Social/Ethical: The Digital Divide and the $100 computer laptop
Virtual Lab: Create your own Blog
Assignment: Find one article on
the Digital Divide and one article on the "One Laptop per Child"
initiative. Summarize each article in at least 3 paragraphs, including at least
one paragraph describing your views on each article (total - 6 paragraphs or more,
3 on each article) . Due - beginning of class on Thursday. You must use MS- Word and use proper citations. Your name must be on what
you hand in. We will discuss the
articles in class. Remember- no wikipedia.
Use MLA or APA. Citation Guide
can be found at: http://www.temple.edu/writingctr/student_resources/sr_citation.htm
Week 2
9/4-9/6
Technology: Mobile devices, Cell Phones and Cell Networks
Ethics: Freedom of Speech, Journalism, and Blogging
Virtual Lab: Blackboard, Wikis, Blogs
Evaluating Information and Information Sources:
Assignment: Find 3 articles (1 for each topic) and be prepared to discuss these topics on Thursday.
Post citations for the three articles and a summary of each article on the class Blog by Thursday.
Change in syllabus- Discussions will be on Tuesday instead of Thursday. Please note I have reduced the number of topics due for Tuesday because of this change.
Week 3
9/11-9/13
Technology: Internet and World Wide Web
Ethics: Net Neutrality:
Virtual Lab: HTML Website Plan is due Oct. 2. Website due date October 25
Assignment: Blog #1: Find 1 articles on Net Neutrality and be prepared to discuss this topic on Tuesday. Post citations for the article and as summary of the article on the class Blog before class on Tuesday on Blackboard. See assignment section on Blackboard for more details.
Handouts: Group Projects:
Quiz 1 (9/13): Lecture Material from weeks 1 and 2 (study notes: and PPT presentations posted on
Blackboard)
.
Week 4
9/18- 9/20
Technology: Telecommunications/Wireless
Ethics: Employee Monitoring by their employers, Surveillance Technology: Biometrics
Virtual Lab: HTML Part II
Assignment Blog #2: Find 2 articles (1 for each topic) and be prepared to discuss these topics on Tuesday. Post citations for the three articles and a summary of each article on the class Blog before class on Tuesday on Backboard. See Assignment section on Blackboard.
Week 5
9/25-9/27
Technology: Networks: The Infrastructure
Ethics: Social Networking and Online Dating
Virtual Lab: HTML Part III
Assignment: Blog #3: Find 2 articles (1 for each topic) and be prepared to discuss these topics on Tuesday. Summarize each article in at least 3 paragraphs, including at least one paragraph describing your views on each article (total - 6 paragraphs or more, 3 on each article). Post citations for your articles as well. See Assignment on BB for details.
Quiz 2(9/27): Lecture Material from weeks 3 & 4 (study notes and PPT presentations posted on Blackboard :
Week 6
10/2-10/4
Technology: Hardware and Storage
Ethics: Plagiarism, Stolen Content
Virtual Lab: HTML Part II
Assignment: Find 2 articles (1 for each topic) and be prepared to discuss these topics on Tuesday
Blog before class on Tuesday on BB. See Assignment in BB for details.
Assignment: Due: HTML Website plan-10/4
Week 7
10/9-10/11
Technology: Hardware, Storage and Software
Ethics: Content Control in Libraries,
Virtual Lab: HTML Part 111 and Network Scavenger Lab completed at home
Assignment: Find 2 articles and be prepared to discuss these topics on Tuesday. Post citations for the two articles and a summary for this article on the before Class on Tuesday. See BB fin assignment, Send to my BB digital box
Quiz 3(10/11): Lecture Material from weeks 5 and 6 (study notes and PPT presentations posted on BB.
Debate (10/9): There should be unrestricted Internet access in public libraries.
Week 8
10/16-10/18
Technology: Privacy and Security
Ethics: Digital Piracy, Downloading Copyrighted Material
Virtual Lab: PC Configuration Lab
Assignment: Blog #4: Find 2 articles (1 for each topic) and be prepared to discuss these topics on Tuesday. Post citations for the two articles, viewpoint and a summary of each article on the class Blog before class on Tuesday on Blackboard. See Assignment on BB for details. There will be a debate on this topic.
Debate (10/16): Digital Piracy does not harm anyone.
Week 9
10/23-10/25
Technology: Computer Crime and Security
Ethics: Privacy VS Security.
Assignment: Find 4 articles (2 for each topic) and be prepared to discuss these topics on Tuesday. Post citations for the two articles and a summary of each article with citations in my digital box before class on Tuesday on Blackboard.
Assignment: Due Websites 10/25
Virtual Lab: Network Scavenger Hunt
Quiz 4 (10/25): Lecture Material from weeks 7 and 8 (study notes and PPT presentations posted on Blackboard.
Debate(10/23): Privacy: The benefits of biometric technology outweigh the risks to civil liberties.
Note: 10/22: Walter Mossberg, Sr. Technology Writer, Wall Street Journal Ritter Hall Annex, Riva auditorium: 11:40-12:30
Week 10
10/30-11/1
Technology: Digital Media
Ethics: Altering Digital photos
Virtual Lab: Altering digital photos
Assignment: Find two articles about the topic and be prepared to discuss these topics on Tuesday.
Post citations for the two articles and a summary of each article on the class Blog before class on Tuesday on Blackboard.
Debate (10/30): It is unethical to digitally edit historical photos and videos.
Week 11
11/6- 11/8
Technology: E-Commerce, Emerging Technologies
Ethics: Identity Theft
Virtual Lab: E-Commerce Evaluation
Assignment: Find 2 articles on Identity theft. Post citations for the two articles and a summary of each article in my digital box before class on Tuesday on Blackboard. See assignment section of Blackboard for more details.
Week 11 (cont.)
Assignment: Due- Paper describing the problem, the ethical implications, the pros and cons, and
your views on how this issue should be addressed.
Debate 11/6: The Victim is Responsible for ID Theft
Week 12
11/13-11/15
Technology: Databases
Ethics: Data Mining, Data Merging. Google retaining your searches,
Assignment: Due 11/13. The information from your paper developed into a PPT presentation.
Assignment:
Quiz 5(11/15): Lecture Material from weeks 9 &10 and 11 (study notes and PPT presentations posted on Blackboard)
Virtual Lab: Planning time for group project
Week 13
11/20
Presentations:
11/22 Thanksgiving vacation: Follow Thanksgiving calendar adjustment
Happy Turkey Day!
Week 14
11/27-11/29
Presentations:
Week 15
12/4
Presentations:
Review
12/13 Final Exam Thursday, 2:00-4:00PM