Note: This is a sample syllabus. The real, updated syllabus is located at wu.granneman.com, which is password-protected and is available for students and guests only.
U48 324—Technology in Our Changing Society
Washington University University College
Spring 2005
Thursdays 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Earth & Planetary Sciences 203
Instructor: Scott Granneman
- Adjunct Professor
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Author
- Don’t Click on the Blue E!: Switching to Firefox (O’Reilly: 2005)
- Hacking Knoppix (Wiley & Sons: 2005)
- Linux Phrasebook (Pearson: 2006)
- Podcasting with Audacity: Creating a Podcast with Free Audio Software (Prentice Hall: 2007)
- Google Apps Deciphered: Compute in the Cloud to Streamline Your Desktop (Prentice Hall: 2008)
- Mac OS X Snow Leopard for Power Users: Advanced Capabilities and Techniques (Apress: 2010)
- Contributor, Ubuntu Hacks (O’Reilly: 2006) & Microsoft Vista for IT Security Professionals (Syngress: 2007)
- Former columnist for SecurityFocus & Linux Magazine
- Former professional Blogger for The Open Source Weblog (also see personal blog)
- Full list of publications at http://www.granneman.com/writing/
- Business Owner
- Principal, WebSanity
- Contact Info
- scott at granneman dot com
- 314-644-4900 (office)
- 314-780-0489 (mobile)
- Twitter: scottgranneman
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottgranneman
Course Description
We are said to live in an information society and work in an technological economy, but what does that mean? If we have indeed experienced a "paradigm shift" in what technology means to society, then how do we adapt to these changes and what do they mean for the traditional ways society functions? This course examines how we think about, communicate and use technology in a variety of contexts, including political, financial, historical, ethical, organizational, and educational. Guest lecturers from business, engineering, humanities and social sciences will provide these perspectives. Students must have an e-mail account and access to the Internet to take the course. Also note: Accelerated (ACTRAC) option: University College students have the option of taking this class for 4 units. For more information, contact University College (314) 935-6700, or visit http://ucollege.wustl.edu/accelera.
Required Texts
Readings will consist of articles, analyses, & ephemera from the Internet. If you ever want to pursue a topic further, you can look up further readings using Search (also located at the bottom of every page) or the Site Map.
Grading
Your grade will be based on the following factors:
- Class attendance and participation in discussion (20%): You are expected to attend class prepared to discuss the readings with your fellow classmates. During class we will also discuss how the readings relate to current news, so you should be prepared to extend the readings to new situations and participate in the discussions.
- One short paper (20%): You will research and prepare a short (3-5 page) paper on current technology issues. The paper can relate to one of the topics that we have discussed in class, or it may instead cover a topic that we have not covered in class, but which happens to interest you. The paper can take one of several forms:
- Outline a controversy and argue your take on the issue.
- Make a case arguing that a particular technology should or should not be implemented in your workplace or business.
- Propose one to me.
- One project (30%): You will prepare a project which will act your final for the course. This project cannot be a paper; in fact, it can be anything but a paper. Some ideas include:
- An interview with various people about their uses of social software, saved as an MP3.
- A video interview with various developers of open source software, saved as an MPEG, MOV, or WMV.
- Creating & editing several (at least 10) entries at Wikipedia, & then writing about the experience.
- Creating something beautiful or interesting in a virtual world.
- Keeping a blog for several weeks & then writing about the experience in the blog.
- A web site about organic food comparing it to non-organic food
- In-class presentation (10%): You will make a 15-minute presentation to the class corresponding with an issue in the syllabus. Your presentation will be based on the readings for that class date in addition to some additional essays which I will provide to you, and should include your perceptions, analysis, and critiques of the readings. In addition, your presentation should include questions to the class designed to facilitate a discussion of the issue. On particular subjects, two students can sign up to present the issue in the form of a debate examining competing perspectives on the topic. A sign up sheet will be distributed in class.
- Online discussion group (20%): This Web site has a discussion group that we will use for questions, thoughts, and discussions outside of class. Students are expected to comment on class readings prior to, and after, each class. However, students are free to start new discussions related to the topics discussed in class but not necessarily related to our readings. In addition, all of your papers & written work will be posted to the discussion group. You should try to make 5 posts a week for full credit.
Grades will be based on an average of the above as follows:
100 A+
94-99 A
89-93 A-
86-88 B+
83-85 B
79-82 B-
76-78 C+
73-75 C
69-72 C-
66-68 D+
63-65 D
59-62 D-
0-58 F
Accommodation of disabilities: If you have a disability that might affect your ability to complete the required assignments, please contact me during the first week of class to discuss an accommodation.
Academic Integrity
Policy regarding academic dishonesty: This course will follow Washington University's policies concerning academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty may result in failure for the assignment in question and/or referral to the college's Academic Integrity Office, which has discretion to impose a stricter penalty. While academic dishonesty includes cheating on exams and quizzes, it also includes plagiarism in written assignments. Plagiarism is not only passing off someone else's work as your own, but also giving your work to someone else to pass off as their own. It also includes submitting work from another course. While I strongly encourage you to discuss your work with each other in and out of class, and while you may research issues together, your writing should be your own. The papers you submit must be your work alone, and must include citations to all references in your work. Please include the URL, or Web address, for articles and resources found on the Internet.
Netiquette
It is paramount that we respect each other online, in both email and the discussion group. Follow this simple rule: disagree with the idea, but not the person. In other words, it's OK to say "That's a bad idea, because …", and it's not OK to say "You're a bad/stupid/inconsiderate person, because …". If you have an issue with a classmate's behavior online, please bring it to me privately by emailing me at scott@granneman.com. If you'd like to find out more, please feel free to read The Core Rules of Netiquette, by Virginia Shea.
Tentative Schedule
Thurs. Sept. 1 ~ Introductions. What's the most effective way to search & validate information on the Internet?
Thurs. Sept. 8 ~ How do we retrieve and use information on the Web?
"Assignments for 8 September 2005"
Thurs. Sept. 15 ~ How is social software changing the way people communicate?
Guest: Robert Citek, Leader, Central West End Linux Users Group.
"Assignments for 15 September 2005"
Thurs. Sept. 22 ~ How is social software changing the way people communicate, part 2?
Guest: Ben Jones, VeriTome.
"Assignments for 22 September 2005"
Thurs. Sept. 29 ~ What happens to notions of identity & gender on the Internet?
"Assignments for 29 September 2005"
NOTE: Joint class with Gender in American Politics and Law
Thurs. Oct. 6 ~ Who plays online games, why, and how does reality intrude?
Guest: Jans Carton, Principal, WebSanity.
"Assignments for 6 October 2005"
Thurs. Oct. 13 ~ How do virtual worlds deal with property, government, & law?
"Assignments for 13 October 2005"
Thurs. Oct. 20 ~ How do we balance surveillance, privacy, free speech, & national security?
Guest: Denise Lieberman, Legal Director, ACLU of Eastern Missouri.
"Assignments for 20 October 2005"
SHORT PAPER DUE
Thurs. Oct. 27 ~ How is technology changing food, drugs, & medicine?
Guest: Andy, Owner & Chef, Riddle Penultimate
NOTE: CLASS THIS NIGHT MEETS AT RIDDLE'S IN THE DELMAR LOOP (6307 Delmar Blvd., 63130)
"Assignments for 27 October 2005"
Thurs. Nov. 3 ~ How is open source changing the way software is created, used, and understood?
Guests: Robert Citek, Leader, Central West End Linux Users Group, & Craig Buchek, President, St. Louis Unix Users Group.
"Assignments for 3 November 2005"
Thurs. Nov. 10 ~ How is technology changing the music, movie, & other entertainment industries?
"Assignments for 10 November 2005"
Thurs. Nov. 17 ~ How is technology changing the laws and ethics involved with Intellectual Property?
"Assignments for 17 November 2005"
Thurs. Nov 24 ~ ENJOY THANKSGIVING!
Thurs. Dec. 1 ~ How is technology changing the way people understand & pursue work, love & sexuality?
Guest: Jerry Bryan, Principal, WebSanity.
"Assignments for 1 December 2005"
Thurs. Dec. 8 ~ How is technology changing education?
"Assignments for 8 December 2005"
Thurs. Dec. 15 ~ How can we reconcile technology, ethics, & equity?
"Assignments for 15 December 2005"
Thurs. Dec. 22 ~ Wrap up & evaluations
FINAL PROJECTS DUE
"Assignments for 22 December 2005"