CS 121 Our Digital World Spring 2012

Catalog Description

An exploration of the impact and effects of the Internet on all aspects of our lives as global citizens. This course examines the ethical, cultural, economic and political aspects of the Internet as a social technology. 2 credits.

Goals

• Know the history of the Internet
• Understand the nature of digital information
• Form and defend opinions about the impacts of Internet on culture and society
• Appreciate the ethical concerns raised by the Internet
• Perform quality research using electronic information resources
• Predict the ways in which the Internet will evolve in the coming years

Instructor Details

Course Assessment:

Assignments

• You are required to maintain a blog and you have to post to it on a weekly basis. Posts are required any time before Sunday at 8pm.
• You are required to post comments on your classmates' blogs. You are required to post at least one substantive comment per week.

• Attendance is required.
  
• Readings: You should come to class having done the readings assigned for that period. We will conduct discussions during class meetings which require familiarity with the readings. You will get much less out of class meetings and blogging if you do not do all of the assigned readings on time.
  
• Class Discussions: You are required to participate regularly in class discussions. Your contributions should be thoughtful, on topic, and respectful of others.

• The midterm will be on February 28 and will be a written, closed book exam on the topics covered so far in the class.

• The project will present the analysis of an Internet-related phenomenon (a service, a law, an institution, a company, etc.), its evolution, and how the concepts we discuss in class are reflected in its evolution. You will receive more information about the final project in class.

Important Dates

February 3: Last day to drop with no record

Academic Calendar 2011-2012

Final Date

Monday, March 19, 6-8:30pm

Policies

1. All blog posts are to be submitted by 8pm every Sunday.

2. You must attend all student presentations in the course or your own presentation grade will be lowered.

3. If you have a documented disability covered under the ADA then services and accommodations are available from LSS (Learning Support Services). If you need reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements, you must contact Edna K. Gehring, Director of LSS, at X2107. She will meet with you, review the documentation of their disabilities, and discuss the services Pacific offers. You must inform the instructor of any accommodations you require

4. Pacific University has no tolerance for academic dishonesty. It is university policy that all acts of academic dishonesty be reported to the Assistant/Associate Dean. Sanctions that may be imposed for academic dishonesty range from an "F" for the assignment, an "F" for the course, and suspension or dismissal from the university. Forms of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, fabrication, cheating, tampering with grades, forging signatures, and using electronic information resources in violation of acceptable use policies. Plagiarism is the use of someone else's words, ideas, or data without proper documentation or acknowledgment; it may entail self-plagiarism, i.e. reusing/resubmitting your own work without approval. Quotations must be clearly marked, and sources of information must be clearly indicated in all student work. Please consult the Academic Conduct Policies in the A&S Catalog.

First offense for cheating: 12 percentage points subtracted from your final course grade and a zero on the assignment in question.

Second offense for any cheating : 'F' in the course.

5. Turn off your cell phone! You may be asked to leave the classroom if you are causing a distraction e.g. cell phone ringing, talking, etc . Please turn off all electronic devices, including cell phones, prior to the beginning of each lecture.