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CS 1590 Social Implications of Computing Technology Tuesday & Thursday, 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM, SENSQ 5313
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The course is over. Grades will be available after finals week ends. Thank you!
Instructor
Dr.
Bruce Childers (childers"at" cs.pitt.edu)
6409 Sennott Square
Phone: 412-624-8421 (ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES)
Please come earlier, rather than later, to office hours.
I am also available by appointment only. Please send e-mail to schedule an appointment.
Much of the information on this web page is tentative and subject to change. Watch the schedule and the web page for the latest information.
Description
This course is intended to expose students to issues regarding the social and ethical implications of technology. In recent years, many computer professionals have become increasingly aware of the societal impacts of the increased use of computer technology in everyday life. While technology promises many benefits to our society and economy, there are also well founded concerns that serious problems may arise. This course is intended to introduce students to the main issues surrounding the computerization of society, and to help students understand the development, application, and consequences of information technology as social as well as technical processes. Topics include computerization and the quality of work life, unemployment, personal privacy and freedom of information, ownership and rights to software, and the manageability, risks and accountability of complex systems. The course seeks to foster in students a critical approach to the understanding of the impact of technology in society via the academic skills of reading, writing and argumentation. The course is designed to meet the Program W requirement for undergraduates.
Textbook
Cyberethics: Morality and Law in Cyberspace, Richard A. Spinello, 3rd edition, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2006.
Readings in CyberEthics, edited by Richard A. Spinello and Herman T. Tavani, 2nd edition, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2004.
Although it is optional, you will also likely find that an English reference manual is useful. Among the most widely used writing guides is W. Strunk's The Elements of Style, originally published in 1918 (the original is freely available online). The most recent edition is the fourth edition, published in 2000. I strongly recommend you buy this book! You will find it useful throughout your career.
You may also want to consider a book on PowerPoint. Although I find the titles silly, the "Dummy" books are generally pretty good. You may wish to buy or borrow (from the library) PowerPoint for Dummies. I will teach you most of what you need to know about PowerPoint and, more importantly, how to give good presentations, so this is purely optional.
The Not So Short Introduction to LaTex 2e, Tobias Oetiker et al., Version 4.23, January 3, 2008
MiKTeX freely available TeX implementation for Windows
There will also be much supplemental material given throughout the semester.
Writing Templates
LaTeX handouts:
Requirements and Grading
This course is a writing and communication course. Thus, there will
be numerous writing assignments, presentations, and group discussions. You
can expect to write at least 30 pages this semester. In addition, there
will be at least one classroom presentation (using PowerPoint) and
at least one time where you will lead the group discussion. There will be no quizzes or exams.The grade distribution is: Each writing assignment will be worth the same amount. The lowest
grade on any one writing assignment will be dropped. Writing assignments must be done with LaTeX (MiKTeX) using the template
files provided in class. An assignment that does not conform to this
requirement will receive a 0.
You may ask to have an assignment regraded. However, the entire assignment will be regraded. This may or may not result in a grade change, either up or down. To have an assignment regraded, you must hand in the item with a typewritten paragraph explaining what was not graded correctly. To have something regraded, you must ask for the regrading by the next class period after the asignment as returned. There will be no exceptions to this requirement.
Attending class and participating in ALL discussions is vital to success in this course. You will not do well in the course unless you attend class because participation makes up 50% of the grade.
Group work, Plagarism and Late work
All assignments are individual efforts. You may not work with anyone else on these assignments. All sources used in preparation of the writing assignments, class presentation and discussion points must be fully and properly cited.
Plagarism will not be tolerated. For a definition of plagarism, try Google.
Plagarism or working with others will result in a F in the course and will be reported to the appropriate Dean's office.
A writing assignment may be turned in one day late with a 20% penalty. If you are assigned to give a group discussion or a presentation, and you miss class, you will receive a 0 for that assignment.
Make up assignments (beyond the one day grace period for late assignments), will be accepted if you have a valid excuse, according to University rules (e.g., illness). You must provide written documentation for the excuse. All make up must be completed within one week of the due date for the original assignment. If you are sick on the day when you were supposed to give a presentation or lead the discussion, please NOTIFY the instructor as soon as possible BEFORE class.
Cell Phones, Laptops, PDAs (& other electronic devices)
Turn off your cell phone, laptop, PDA, etc., before lecture starts. If you want to use a laptop or PDA to take notes, ask the instructor for permission.
Note for Students
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accomodation, you are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services, 216 William Pitt Union (412-648-7890), as soon as possible in the term. They will verify your disability and determine reasonable accomodations for this course.
Please look at the web pages for the joint BS/MS Computer Science program and the co-op program.
There are also many wonderful opportunities for graduate study in computer science. Ask the instructor if you'd like to know more about graduate school. It's a lot of fun!