CSC208 Syllabus -- Elliott?
CSC208 Fall 2014/2015
Logistics:
Class meets:
M-W 11:20 - 12:50 LPC, Levan 304?
Professor: Dr. Clark Elliott?
email: elliott AATT cdm depaul edu.
Include "208: " prefix in subject line, and
a real subject too!?
Course Management: d2l.depaul.edu
?
Textbooks:
Quinn, Michael J., "Ethics for the Information Age, 5th
Edition," Addison-Wesley, Boston, 2012. ISBN13: 978-0-13-2855532
Abelson, Hal; Ledeen, Ken; Lewis, Harry; "Blown to Bits: Your Life,
Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion" Addison-Wesley,
Boston, 2009. ISBN13: 978-0-13-713559-2 Download from?HERE?in
PDF form.
Grading:
50%
Midterm and Final -- (exams or papers)?
10% Four Ethical Frameworks Quiz.
40% Assignments, papers, labs, and PARTICIPATION IN
DISCUSSIONS.? (5% deduction for each
discussion missed.)
I reserve the right to replace final exam points with discussion points.
I reserve the right to raise a student's grade in the case of exceptional work
in a particular area.
Grading Scale:
95%
|
A
|
90
|
A-
|
86,83,80
|
B+,B,B-
|
78,74,70
|
C+,C,C-
|
65,60
|
D+,D
|
Topics:
Formal,
structured, writing is a required part of this course.
Information
Technology and the rapid pace in which it has advanced have had a tremendous
impact on our lives. Changes have been swift and the human capacity to deal
them limited. It has been said that our technology has outpaced our humanity.
This course will research the new responsibilities technology presents and our
ability to deal with these changes in an ethical manner. Students will employ
ethical frameworks, which integrates computer science and ethics, to develop
the skills required to examine different sets of assumptions and question them.
Case studies will provide a historical perspective for analysis.
Typical topics might
include:
- An overview of Computer Ethics
- Digital Divide (Multicultural
Issues)
- Ethics and the Internet
- Privacy and Information Access
- Freedom of Speech in cyberspace
- Ethical Issues and Information
security
- Computer ethics in the workplace
- Intellectual Property
- Liability, Reliability, and Safety
Issues
- Networks
- Case studies
- Ethical issues of building
artificial humans
- Logic
- Basic structure of computers
necessary to understand ethical concerns
D2l
Submission Format:
All files must
be in Word format, HTML format, or plain text. Standard ZIP format is the only
archive/compression format allowed. No PDF files. No .rar
files. No zip files, etc. Free software is available to produce each one of the
formats. It is the student?s responsibility to guarantee that submissions have
not been corrupted.
Late
assignments:
Late assignments
will not be accepted for credit.
Academic Integrity:
Cheating, plagiarism, and
unethical conduct are not allowed, and will be sanctioned, including referral
to the dean's office, and failure in the class. Please refer to the Academic
Handbook by which rules you are expected to abide.
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Note that I reserve the right
to raise the grade of a student that has demonstrated exceptional contributions
in any of these areas.
All grades are
subject to?Academic
Integrity Sanctions. See the class website and the student handbook for
further discussion.
"Minor points" notation:
From
time to time I use the point box as a communication vehicle in two specific
ways, and I reserve the right to add minor points for this purpose:
- One point extra: I am tipping my hat
to you for particularly fine work. That is, if you get 101 points on a 100
point programming assignment, I may be saying, "Hey, I noticed the
five extra modules your wrote, and that you used
SSL instead of sockets! Good job!"
- Two points extra: If you receive two
extra points, I am acknowledging an exceptional
contribution beyond expectations, so 102 points on a 100 point assignment
is something to feel really good about, and is a rare compliment.
- Grade of "1": used as a
placeholder to let a student know that I have reviewed an assignment, and
am waiting for further information or work as per correspondence. A
"1" will?always?be
resolved to a different grade.
- Grade of "2": a serious
warning that you need to communicate with me about possible plagiarism or
some other irregularity that is being investigated.
CSC208 Ethics in Technology,
catalogue description:
?Information Technology and the rapid pace in which it has
advanced have had a tremendous impact on our lives. Changes have been swift and
the human capacity to deal with them is limited. It has been said that our
technology has outpaced our humanity. This course will research the new
responsibilities technology presents and our ability to deal with these changes
in an ethical manner. Students will employ ethical frameworks, which integrate
computer science and ethics, to develop the skills required to examine
different sets of assumptions and question them. Case studies will provide a
historical perspective for analysis.?
There are no computer science prerequisites for this
course.
Learning Domain Description
CSC208 Ethics in Technology is
included in the Liberal Studies program as a course with credit in the Philosophical
Inquiry domain. Philosophical
Inquiry examines the most basic questions of human existence. It considers the
fundamental beliefs and convictions that shape what it means to be human, our
relationships with others, and the nature of the world itself. Its aim is to
develop our critical, imaginative, and analytical abilities, and it enables
students to understand various kinds of important intellectual problems from a
variety of perspectives and approaches, interpret and
assess historical and contemporary texts concerned with these issues, and
articulate reasoned judgments about these most basic concerns of human life.
Philosophical inquiry is thus committed to the task of reflecting on the ideas
and events that make up the cultures, societies, and traditions within which we
live and to enhancing our understanding of their significance and complexity.
Courses in Philosophical Inquiry support the mission of the Liberal Studies
Program by fostering deeper understanding and appreciation of the worlds of meaning
and of value and of the enterprise of intellectual inquiry and social dialogue.
Learning Outcomes:
1.??????
Using multiple perspectives, students will be able to address,
critically think about, and analyze philosophical questions and problems. ?We will
study real-world problems in the modern digital era, and analyze solutions in
structured discussions.
2.??????
Students will be able to evaluate philosophical questions,
issues and/or problems using informed judgment. Students will be able to
analyze and interpret the methods used by philosophers in addressing
philosophical questions, issues, and/or problems. ?We will
study philosophical frameworks and apply them during our discussions.
3.??????
Students will be able to develop an understanding of the
historical context of philosophical topics, figures, and texts. In our readings of the philosophical
frameworks we will come to know their essential historical context. We will
examine some classic philosophical questions that gave rise to the framewords.
4.??????
Students will be able to write an analytic essay treating a
philosophical question, issue and/or problem that forwards an identifiable thesis,
argument, and conclusion. ?We will write, and evaluate our writing,
throughout the quarter, culminating in a larger paper that presents clear,
structured, argments.
5.??????
Students will be able to address, critically think about, and
analyze ethical issues, applying philosophical tools drawn from various ethical
traditions to concrete cases pertinent to a variety of subject matters. As above.
Writing Expectations:
Students
will be expected to complete a minimum of 10 pages of writing for this
course.? This writing may take the form of essays,
response papers, reading journals, take-home essay exams, critical analyses,
etc. At least one assignment should involve revision, which may count (but only
once, not twice) towards the 10-page minimum. [Note: We will far exceed these writing expectations.]
Philosophical Inquiry
Courses in the
Philosophical Inquiry domain address conceptual issues fundamental to
reflection on such philosophical topics as metaphysics (e.g., being and
nonbeing, the one and the many, the nature of reality, same and other, self and
other); epistemology (e.g., the nature and possibility of knowledge, different
ways of knowing, knowledge vs. opinion, truth and falsity); ethics (e.g., right
and wrong action, good and bad, objectivism and relativism in ethics, social
and political philosophies, the idea of value, the problem of evil); and
aesthetics (e.g., the nature of beauty, aesthetic value, the possibility of
aesthetic valuation). Courses address questions of how such topics impinge
upon, shape, and challenge student lives.
More
Policies
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Changes to Syllabus: This
syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter.? If a
change occurs, it will be addressed during class, posted in D2L, and sent via
email.
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Online Course
Evaluations: Evaluations
are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor
and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously
tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the
course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the
course and are key to continue to provide you with the
highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and
administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to
check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is
completely separate from the student?s identity. Since 100% participation is
our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do
not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the
evaluation online in?CampusConnect
.
?
Academic
Integrity and Plagiarism: This
course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More
information can be found at?http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/. If you have any questions be
sure to consult with your professor. There is NO CHEATING OF ANY KIND in this
class!
?
Academic
Policies: All students are required to manage
their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling
and withdrawing as indicated in the?University Academic Calendar.??Information on enrollment, withdrawal,
grading and incompletes can be found at:?
cdm.depaul.edu/enrollment.
?
Attendance: Students are expected to attend each class, or view the lecture
online if they miss class?typically during the week the lecture is presented. Attendance
will be taken on all days when there is in-discussion, and attendance
throughout the discussion is required. These absences cannot be made up. Each
absence will lower the student?s grade five percent.
Class Discussion: Student participation in class
discussions is expected, and a central part of the course.
Attitude: A
professional and academic attitude is expected throughout this course.? Measurable examples of non-academic or
unprofessional attitude include but are not limited to: talking to others when
the instructor is speaking, mocking another?s opinion, cell phones ringing,
emailing, texting or using the internet whether on a phone or computer.? If any issues arise a student may be asked to
leave the classroom.
Cell phones / laptops in class: If you need to use your cell phone for any reason, or your laptop for
any reason other than following the class slides, and taking notes, leave the room. You may quietly leave
and re-enter as often as necessary. Your peers devote hours out of their busy
lives, and hundreds of dollars, to come to each class. They deserve a vibrant,
focused, environment. If you have a special case, discuss it with the
instructor ahead of time. NO TEXTING, EMAIL, FACEBOOK, etc. in the classroom.
Civil
Discourse: DePaul University is a community that thrives on open
discourse that challenges students, both intellectually and personally, to be Socially Responsible Leaders.? It is the expectation that all dialogue in
this course is civil and respectful of the dignity of each student.? Any instances of disrespect or hostility can
jeopardize a student?s ability to be successful in the course.
Students who
feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should
contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All
discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your
needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably
within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the
Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at: csd@depaul.edu.
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296
?
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296