CSCI 289 02: Social Implications of Computer Technology

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CSCI 289 - Social Implications of Computer Technology

2023 Spring Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 8979

Course Information

You are responsible for knowing this material, so please read carefully. Any changes will be announced in a Blackboard Announcement. You will be responsible for any changes. Your continued enrollment in this course is your implicit agreement to abide by the requirements of this class.

This syllabus describes the requirements and procedures for CSci289 In-Class Social Implications of Computer Technology.  You are responsible for knowing this material, so please read carefully.  Any changes will be announced via Blackboard Announcement.  You will be responsible for making yourself aware of any and all changes.  Your continued enrollment in this course is your implicit agreement to abide by the requirements of this class.

Times and Location

Instructor Information

Emanuel Grant

Associate Professor

Email: emanuel.grant@und.edu

Office: Upson II Room 366M

2023 Spring Office Hours:

Office Hours: Thursday 9:30am – 10:30am CST in-person, or online, or by appointment:
Zoom Meeting
https://und.zoom.us/j/97224120819?pwd=c24vZjBJend0VUsxWXdISWNQNEdHQT09
Meeting ID: 972 2412 0819
Passcode: 377355

Students may join the live lecture, at their desire and convenience at:
Lecture Time: MWF 4:40pm – 5:30pm:
Zoom Meeting
https://und.zoom.us/j/99113017367?pwd=aEdpNWo0VGFLZHJBMFVRc2JpaC83UT09
Meeting ID: 991 1301 7367
Passcode: 668858

Office Phone: 701.777.4133

About the Professor

Emanuel S. Grant received a B.Sc. from the University of the West Indies, MCS from Florida Atlantic University, and a Ph.D. from Colorado State University, all in Computer Science.  Since 2008, he is an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS) at the University of North Dakota, USA, where he started as an Assistant Professor in 2002 with the Department of Computer Science.  His research interests are in software development methodologies, formal specification techniques, domain-specific modeling languages, model-driven software development, and software engineering education.

Course Description

An introduction to the effects of computer technology on society and individuals and to ethical problems faced by computer professionals. Topics covered include privacy, the nature of work, centralization versus decentralization and the need for human factors analysis in the development of a new computer system.

An introduction to the effects of computer technology on society and individuals and to ethical problems faced by computer professionals. Topics covered include privacy, the nature of work, centralization versus decentralization and the need for human factors analysis in the development of a new computer system.

Learning Outcomes

This course offers an introduction to the effects of computer technology on society and individuals and the ethical problems faced by computer professionals.  Topics covered include privacy, the nature of work, centralization versus decentralization of operations, ethics in software development and the workplace, and the need for human factors analysis in the development of a new computer system.
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Apply critical thinking in reasoning about to the use of computer technology in society.
  • Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the use of computer technology in society.
  • Analyze the legal and ethical obligations of software developers to society.
  • Analyze government regulations on the use of computer technology in society.
  • Demonstrate an ability to communicate orally in an effectively manner.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the implication of computer technology in other cultures

Essential Studies - Oral Communication

This course addresses the Essential Studies learning goal of Oral Communication.  This means it is about presenting information (formally or informally) in various settings and to various audience sizes to achieve some purpose, such as to increase the listeners’ knowledge, to foster their understanding of a topic, or to promote a change in their attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors.  You can expect to work on these skills in this course. Please see the following link for information on the ES program https://und.edu/academics/essential- studies/essential-studies-syllabus-language.html#d21e91-1

Course Materials

A Gift of Fire by Sara Baase 5th edition (ISBN-10 0-13-461527-1)

Technical Requirements/Assistance

Whether you’re taking courses in the classroom or online, it’s important to have the right technology and equipment.  Visit the UND Technical Requirements webpage for more information. Students are expected to use their official UND email in the course. For technical assistance, please contact UND Technical Support at 701.777.2222. Visit the University Information Technologies (UIT) website for their hours, help documents and other resources.

Minimum Technical Skills Needed

In order to succeed in this course, at a minimum, you should be able to:

Insert minimum requirements expected and needed. In the bulleted example list below

  • Navigate in and use basic Blackboard functions
  • Download and open electronic documents
  • Create, save, and upload/attach electronic documents
  • Send, receive, and manage email

Course Logistics

Access and Log in Information

This course was developed and will be facilitated utilizing Blackboard. To get started with the course, please go to: http://blackboard.UND.edu and log in with your NDUS.Identifier, Username and Password. If you do not know your NDUS Identifier or have forgotten your password, please visit Your NDUS Account page on the UIT website.

Course Overview

The course content is organized by week for this semester. Each week contains a purpose, learning outcomes, and a variety of links to articles, video/audio files, and other instructional resources selected to enhance the learning experience and support the various topics. Discussions, blogs, wikis, surveys, quizzes, tests and assignments will be used to assess your comprehension and application of those materials. Prior to the start of the first week you should have reviewed the syllabus

On the left side course menu in Blackboard there is a “Learning Modules” tab. Inside Lessons you will find all the required readings, videos, and assignments/activities for the week. An overview of each week can be found in Blackboard under the Schedule tab.

Resources

Many services are available to UND students such as writing assistance from the UND Writing Center, free online tutoring from Smarthinking, and more. Visit the Student Resources page for more information. Students also have access to the UND Student Resource Site via Blackboard. It is recommended that you become familiar with the tools and tutorials within the site to better equip you in navigating the course.

Course Requirements/Expectations

Course requirements/expectations:

  1. The student will review the syllabus and course schedule posted in Blackboard.
  2. The student will access and follow all course instructions found in the weekly area of the Blackboard course.
  3. The student will participate in any lecture or discussion sessions on campus or online as provided and as part of this course.  Watching the recorded lectures is one means of learning, the others include reading course material and conducting independent work.
  4. The student will complete and submit assignments, exams, quizzes, etc. by the dated noted and in the manner described in Blackboard and on the course schedule. The use Central Standard Time will be used for due dates and times.
  5. The student will participate fully and in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from instructor and/or peers.

Instructor Responsibilities and Feedback

Responsibilities students can expect the instructor to meet:

  • The instructor/TA will provide feedback on all assignments and group activities within week.
  • The instructor will be available during appointed Office Hours to answer questions, provide feedback, and offer advice.

Communication

Announcements

Announcements will be posted in Blackboard on a regular basis. Be sure to check the class announcements regularly as they will contain important information about class assignments and other class matters.

Email

All email communications from the instructor and TA will be sent to your official UND email address.  All email from students to the instructor or TA, must be sent from the students’ official UND email address and must include the prefix phrase “CSci289 Online” in the Subject field, otherwise your email may not receive a response.

Discussion Forums, Blogs, & Wikis

The course discussion and communication forums are to be used for course matters only that relates to the entire class.  If there are matters of individual interest then this should be communicated to the instructor or TA via email, during office hours, or by appointment.

Course Etiquette

When participating in class (online or in person) it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner. Always use professional language (no netspeak) in your postings and emails. Please be respectful of your classmates at all times even if you disagree with their ideas.

Assessments

Assessment Summary

Assignment                                               Final Grade

  1. Chapter Assignments                16%
  2. 5-Minute Presentation               15%
  3. 15-Minute Presentation              25%
  4. Midterm Exam                              20%
  5. Final Exam                                     20%
  6. SELFI Course Evaluation              4%

Total: 100%

Final Grade Scale

> 89.5% A

79.5-89.4% B

69.5-79.5% C

59.5-69.4% D

< 59.4% F

Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week of Reading(s): Due:

Appendix

This is a place to add things like resources, rubrics, etc.

Course Policies

This course is made up of a series of assignments and assessments to assist you in achieving the course learning objectives/outcomes.  In this course, your learning will be assessed in the following ways:

Midterm Exam

The mid-term exam will be based on all material covered up to and including the lecture before the mid-term exam. The exam questions will be taken equally from the first four (4) chapters.  There will be three types of questions: Multiple Choice, Short Answers, and True/False.  There will be 30 questions.  The midterm examination will be for 50 minutes through Blackboard and will become available through ProctorU Auto in Blackboard on Thursday March 2, 2023 at 11:59pm and close on Friday March 3, 2023 at 11:59pm.
Please be careful, as you are allowed one opportunity to submit your examination.

Chapter Assignments

On completing the topics of each chapter of the class text book an assignment will be given.  This assignment will test your comprehension of the topics covered in the respective chapters, and will be due one week after being assigned.

Final Exam

The final exam will be based on all material covered up to and including the final lecture of the semester.  The exam questions will be taken equally from the last five (5) chapters.  There will be three types of questions: Multiple Choice, Short Answers, and True/False.  There will be 75 questions.  The final examination will be for 120 minutes through Blackboard and will become available through ProctorU Auto in Blackboard on Sunday May 7, 2023 at 11:59pm and close on Monday, May 8, 2023 at 11:59pm, as scheduled on the Registrar’s Office website.  Please be careful, as you are allowed one opportunity to submit your examination.

15-Minute Presentation

Each student will make a fifteen (15) minute recorded presentation e.g. Power Point, on a relevant topic of your choice.  Each student will select a technology topic and the choice submitted as title to the instructor, at least one week before the presentation.  The chosen topic, in the field of computer technology, may be taken from the following list: (1) a published article; a renowned person; (3) a controversial or current topic/issue; (4) a historical event or invention; (5) any other approved technology topic.  The presentation must highlight the social and/or individual impact of the chosen technology topic.  Please see the associated presentations grading rubric.  You are encouraged to be creative in your presentations.  The date for submission of your course presentation is as set out in the course presentation schedule.  Each student will selected a desired presentation slot and must commit to the selected date; no exception will be made.

5-Minute Recitation

Each student will make a five (5) minute recorded recitation of his or her assigned sections of the class textbook.  The section will be assigned to each student, at the start of the semester.  Each student will read and research the assigned section, and make a presentation of their research.  Please see the associated presentations grading rubric. Presentation will be done without any audiovisual aids; you will recite your presentation.

Assignment Policy

Due dates for each assignment or activity will be posted in Blackboard.

Late Work

Assignments may be submitted up to three school days late.  Such late assignments will incur a penalty of 10% off, for each late school day.  No assignments will be accepted that is more than three (3) school days late, but may be me considered for points if a valid written excuse is provided.  If a test or assignment submission will be missed, then the student should notify the instructor before the date of the test or assignment submission date to obtain approval for alternative arrangements.

If you find that you’re having trouble keeping up in this class, please let me and/or your TA know as soon as possible so we can do what we can to help. Due dates are important insofar as they help you spread out your workload and help us keep the behind-the-scenes aspects of the course as organized as possible.

Please note: You do not need to disclose or perform trauma when asking for an extension; you just need to let us know (very broadly) that you need help, and we will do what we can to get you back on track in the course.

Class Participation

Students are required to login regularly to the online class site. Students are also required to participate in all class activities such as discussion board, blogs, and wikis Students are expected to attend on campus or synchronous classes, etc.

Incompletes

It is expected that students will complete all requirements for a course during the time frame of the course. For reasons beyond a student’s control, and upon request by the student or on behalf of the student, an incomplete grade may be assigned by the instructor when there is reasonable certainty the student will successfully complete the course without retaking it. The mark “I,” Incomplete, will be assigned only to the student who has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester, including the examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her instructor. More information regarding UND’s Incomplete policy can be found on The Grading System webpage.

Resolution of Problems

Should a problem occur, you should speak to your TA. If the problem is not resolved, meet with the instructor. If the problem continues to be unresolved, go to the Director of SEECS, Dr. Ryan Adams, and next to the college dean. Should the problem persist, you have the right to go to the provost next, and then to the president.

Netiquette

When participating in class (online or in person) it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner. Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online. Here are a few basic points to remember when communicating in this course:

Be scholarly. Use proper language, grammar, and spelling. Explain your thoughts, justify opinions, and credit the ideas of others by citing scholarly resources. Avoid misinforming others when you are unsure of the answer.  When discussing something and supplying a guess, clearly state that.

Be respectful. Respect the privacy of others. Do not share personal or professional information about others unless permission has been granted. Respect diversity and opinions that differ from their own. Be tactful when you communicate.

Be professional. Everyone should strive to give their best impression online. Truthfulness, accuracy, and running a final spell check are appropriate expectations for university students. Writing in a legible font and limiting the use of emoticons is considered professional behavior. Profanity and participation in hostile interactions, known as flaming, is unprofessional as well as disruptive.

Be polite. Students should address professors and instructors by the appropriate title or requested name. Students should interact online politely, just as they would be expected to do in a physical environment. Sarcasm, rudeness, and writing in all capital letters (shouting) should be avoided.

Pronouns

Everyone has the right to be addressed by the name and personal pronouns that correspond to their gender identity, including non-binary pronouns, for example: they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.

I recognize that preferred names and pronouns may change during the quarter, if at any point during the quarter you would like to be addressed differently, please let me know.

As part of our commitment to inclusion in this course, it is important that all students in this class respect the preferred names and pronouns of their peers. Mistakes in addressing one another may happen. If you make a mistake or are corrected, please briefly apologize and correct yourself.

Technology Statement

In this class we will have a technology policy that is designed to support your attention to one another and to the course material.  We will spend the majority of our time engaged in activities that depend upon you being present and attentive to one another, and course content we will study. We are all challenged these days by the ways in which our digital devices—including laptops, tablets, phones, and watches—can steal our attention away from our immediate surroundings. Technology should be used for educational purposes only during scheduled class times.

Collaboration and Recording (For Online, Hybrid, Hyflex courses)

Sharing personal experiences and opinions is an important part of the learning process. In the (hybrid, hyflex, synchronous, etc.) environment of this course, all of our interactions are recorded (via Zoom, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, Yuja, etc) and made available to students in the course. The purpose of these recordings is to enhance learning for all students. If your peers make personal statements in this course, consider those comments in the context of our learning goals and do not share them with people outside the course. If you have questions or concerns about any recordings, please contact me.

Copyright Notice

Copyright © 2023 Emanuel S. Grant, Ph.D.

College/Department Policies

In addition to Course and University Policies, the Colleges and/or Departments may have some of their own.  Please edit this section to add any polices for your college or department.  This could include things like mission statements, professional standards, ethical statements, etc.

University of North Dakota Policies & Resources

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a serious matter, and any deviations from appropriate behavior will be dealt with strongly. At the discretion of the professor, situations of concern may be dealt with as a scholastic matter or a disciplinary matter.

As a scholastic matter, the professor has the discretion to determine appropriate penalties for the student’s workload or grade, but the situation may be resolved without involving many individuals. An alternative is to treat the situation as a disciplinary matter, which can result in suspension from the University, or have lesser penalties. Be aware that I view this as a very serious matter and will have little tolerance and/or sympathy for questionable practices. A student who attempts to obtain credit for work that is not their own (whether that be on a paper, quiz, homework assignment, exam, etc.) will likely receive a failing grade for that item of work, and at the professor’s discretion, may also receive a failing grade in the course. For more information read the Code of Student Life.

Access and Opportunity, Disability Support, & Medical Services

The University of North Dakota is committed to providing equal access to students with documented disabilities. To ensure access to this class and your program, please contact Disability Services for Students (DSS) to engage in a confidential discussion about accommodations for the classroom and clinical settings. Accommodations are not provided retroactively. Students are encouraged to register with DSS at the start of their program. More information can be obtained by email UND.dss@UND.edu or by phone at 701.777.2664.

COVID-19

UND is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment while providing quality learning experiences for our students. COVID-19’s continued presence within our UND community may necessitate changes in classroom management as the academic year progresses. As such, UND asks students and instructors to be flexible when necessary to promote a safe environment for learning. Please do not attend an in-person class or lab if you are feeling ill, particularly if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been directed by health professionals to quarantine or isolate. If you are not able to attend class or lab, please notify your instructor as soon as possible and discuss options for making up any missed work in order to ensure your ability to succeed in the course. If you will have an extended absence due to serious illness or other uncontrollable circumstances, you may request an absence notification through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Similarly, if your instructor is ill they may need to cancel class or temporarily move your course to online delivery to ensure that you are able to complete the course successfully.  Instructors may require students to wear masks in the classroom or in the laboratory as a preventative measure designed to facilitate uninterrupted classroom engagement and to facilitate health and safety in the classroom.   If your instructor does require masks in class or in a laboratory, you are expected to comply with that request.

UND also strongly encourages all members of the University community, including students, to get vaccinated, seek out testing when needed, and model positive behavior both on- and off-campus to foster a healthy and safe learning environment for all students. Individuals who would like to discuss disability accommodations regarding masks should contact the Disability Services for Students (DSS) office at 701.777.2664 or UND.dss@UND.edu. Individuals who are unable to wear a mask due to a sincerely held religious belief should contact the UND Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office at 701.777.4171 or UND.EO.TitleIX@UND.edu.

Religious Accommodations

UND offers religious accommodations, which are reasonable changes in the academic environment that enable a student to practice or observe a sincerely held religious belief without undue hardship on the University. Examples include time for prayer or the ability to attend religious events or observe a religious holiday. To request an accommodation, complete the student religious accommodation request form. If you have any questions, you may contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office.

Pregnancy Accommodations

Students who need assistance with academic adjustments related to pregnancy or childbirth may contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office or Academic Affairs to learn about your options. Additional information and services may be found at Pregnancy Resources.

Notice of Nondiscrimination

It is the policy of the University of North Dakota that no person shall be discriminated against because of race, religion, age, color, gender, disability, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, veteran’s status, or political belief or affiliation and the equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. Concerns regarding Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, ADA, and Section 504 may be addressed to Donna Smith, Assistant Vice President for Equal Opportunity & Title IX and Title IX/ADA Coordinator, 102 Twamley Hall, 701.777.4171, UND.EO.TitleIX@UND.edu or the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Education, 230 S. Dearborn St., 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604 or any other federal agency.

Reporting of Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct

If you or a friend has experienced sexual misconduct, such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, please contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office or UND’s Title IX Coordinator, Donna Smith, for assistance: 701.777.4171; donna.smith@UND.edu; or visit the Title IX webpage. You may also contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX office if you or a friend has experienced discrimination or harassment based on a protected class, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, marital or parental status, veteran's status, or political belief or affiliation.

Faculty Reporting Obligations Regarding Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct

It is important for students to understand that faculty are required to share with UND’s Title IX Coordinator any incidents of sexual misconduct or of discrimination or harassment based on a protected class that they become aware of, even if those incidents occurred in the past or are disclosed as part of a class assignment. This does not mean an investigation will occur if the student does not want that, but it does allow UND to provide resources to help the student continue to be successful at UND. If you have been impacted by discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, you can find information about confidential support services on the Equal Opportunity & Title IX webpage..

UND Cares Program

How to Seek Help When in Distress

We know that while college is a wonderful time for most students, however, some students may struggle or have issues that arise. You may experience students in distress on campus, in your classroom, in your home, and within residence halls. Distressed students may initially seek assistance from faculty, staff members, their parents, and other students. In addition to the support we can provide to each other, there are also professional support services available to students through the Dean of Students and University Counseling Center. Both staffs are available to consult with you about getting help or providing a friend with the help that he or she may need. For more additional information, please visit the UND Cares Program Webpage.

How to Recognize When a Student is in Distress

The term “distressed” can mean any of the following:

  • Student has significant changes in eating, sleeping, grooming, spending, or other daily activities.
  • Student has cut off or minimized contact with family or friends.
  • Student has significant changes in performance or involvement in academics, sports, extracurricular, or social activities.
  • Student describes problems (missing class, not remembering, destructive behavior) that result from experiences with drinking or drugs.
  • Student is acting withdrawn, volatile, tearful, etc.
  • Student is acting out of character or different than usual.
  • Student is talking explicitly about hopelessness or suicide.
  • Student has difficulty concentrating or difficulty carrying on a normal conversation.
  • Student has excessive dependence on others for company or support.
  • Student reports feeling out of control of one’s emotions, thoughts, or behaviors.

Land Acknowledgement Statement

Today, the University of North Dakota rests on the ancestral lands of the Pembina and Red Lake Bands of Ojibwe and the Dakota Oyate - presently existing as composite parts of the Red Lake, Turtle Mountain, White Earth Bands, and the Dakota Tribes of Minnesota and North Dakota. We acknowledge the people who resided here for generations and recognize that the spirit of the Ojibwe and Oyate people permeate this land. As a university community, we will continue to build upon our relations with the First Nations of the State of North Dakota - the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

Additional Resources

It is my goal to foster an environment of mutual respect in which everyone feels comfortable voicing their opinions, sharing their stories, and learning about potentially heavy or personally relevant material. If, at any point, you feel like the information covered in this class elicits thoughts, feelings, or concerns that you would like to discuss further, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, or the UND Counseling Center (701-777-2127).

Further, if you experience extenuating circumstances, sexual violence, identity-based harm, or any other personal crisis during the semester, don’t hesitate to reach out to me so we can provide academic assistance and help you in this course, and put you in contact with the appropriate resources and services (if needed).