Class Hours
Please note that this course will be team taught by Profs. Brown and
Hofri.
i.e., sometimes Hofri's section will be taught by Brown,
and vice versa.
This is shown in the "Who" column of the Class
Outline below.
| Hofri, Monday & Thursday, 3:00-4:50 p.m., Washburn 323. |
| Brown, Tuesday & Friday, 3:00-4:50 p.m., Fuller Labs 320. |
Class Mailing List
Information about running the course will disseminated by
email using the class mailing list.
Mail sent to cs3043-staff using at cs dot wpi dot edu will go to the
professor and the TAs.
Please contact us this way, unless the content is personal.
Please note that you can
subscribe or unsubscribe yourself to the class mailing list "cs3043" .
Teaching Staff
Instructor (H): Micha Hofri <hofri @ cs . wpi . edu>
Office: Fuller Labs, room 133, Phone: 508-831-6911
Office Hours: Tue & Fri 1:00 - 2:00 pm, or email for appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Philip Hanson <phanson @ cs . wpi . edu>
Office: FL 140
Office hours: Tue & Thu 11:00 am - 12:00 noon.
|
Instructor (B): David C. Brown <dcb @ cs . wpi . edu>
Office: Fuller Labs, room 131, Phone: 508-831-5618
Office Hours: Thu 6:30 - 7:30 pm, or email for appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Jeff Moffett <jeffmoffett @ cs . wpi . edu>
Office: FL A22/A21.
Office hours: Mon 11:00 am - 12:00 noon, Thur 5:00 - 6:00 pm.
|
Textbook
- Required text:
The bookstore has the text, and there should be a copy on reserve in
the library. While we expect to touch on many of the topics it
considers, there is clearly much more in the book than we can handle
during one term.
- Additional background:
This is a recent book by noted computer scientists. The library
has a copy;
in addition you can read it online, via the library site,
since it is a an open Google Book.
- Supplementary Articles:
A wide range of relevant topics (and a large
bibliography) in a current, detailed
article of the
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
A source for several interesting readings is the
Journal of Advancing Technology.
- Notes:
Class notes will be posted as links on the course web page.
Hnotes refer to notes from Hofri, while Bnotes refer to notes from
Brown.
- Glossary:
The
Glossary from the text book is available
for use in this class.
Course Objectives
We will study and discuss the issues involved in the proliferation of computers
embedded in our lives and the world around us. The course will:
-
Raise our awareness of the effect of computers and information technology
on our current and future ways of life;
-
Provide opportunities to reflect on the responsibility of a
computer professional to society;
-
Inform us about the controversial issues concerning integrating
computers into our lives, as well as the different points of view
about these issues;
-
Provide us with the skills needed to develop a point of view,
to form a personal opinion based on well-thought out arguments,
and to effectively present our positions;
-
Provide an opportunity to work in a group with others who may not have
the same opinions, respectfully resolving differences; and
-
Provide opportunities to develop writing and presentation skills.
Course Methodology
To achieve these objectives, you will:
- Participate in class discussions;
- Write homework papers;
- Research and write an extended report;
- Make a short presentation at one of the last two class meetings.
To achieve our course objectives, it is imperative that you attend
class regularly and stay up to date on readings and
assignments.
Grading
For the course:
- Participation in class discussion: 25%
- Four Homework Papers: 50%
-
Group Project: 25%
For each Homework Paper:
- Organization: 30%
- Quality of argument: 60%
- Grammar, language & spelling: 10%
For the Project:
- Organization: 20%
- Quality of argument: 70%
- 50% - in the group's report
- 20% - in each group member's presentation
- Grammar, language & spelling: 10%
Writing
Plan out your papers carefully, starting with an outline. Define the
issue(s) briefly, give some state-of-the-art survey, lay out your
thesis, and provide supporting arguments. These can be helped by
using several references. Please see Prof. Hofri's note about
document
format and references. Wherever appropriate, include a
description of trade-offs as part of the presentation.
Writing Center Tutors
If you feel your writing skills are weaker than you would wish, and
that you are having difficulty trying to present your opinions and
point of view, then consider attending WPI's
Writing Center. Tutors from the center can be scheduled (best
done online, but you may want to go there first) to help you with your
homework assignments and project.
Project Groups
The project will be done in groups of 3-4 students. Groups must be
formed by the date specified in the schedule. You are free to form
your own groups. Email cs3043-staff with the list of names when you
have formed your group.
Lateness
Late assignments will not be accepted. All work is due at the start of
class on the due date specified. All submissions must be hard copy:
emailed files will not be accepted.
Academic honesty
In a course having professional ethics as one of its focal points,
issues of academic honesty should be self evident!
Please familiarize yourself with WPI's
Academic Honesty Policy.
Laptop Use and Notes
Recent research has shown that students who take notes retain more
information, and that students who multi-task during class (e.g., with
laptops or cell phones) learn less. In fact, those who believed that
they were expert multi-taskers, did the worst. Laptop use in class is
acceptable as long as it is restricted to note taking, or a limited
amount of information seeking. Any other activity that distracts you
or the people around you, preventing thoughtful participation in the
class, is inappropriate.
Provisions for students with disabilities:
"If you need special adaptations or accommodations in tests or
homework because of a disability, or if you have medical information
to share with me, please get to see me as soon as possible. If you
have not already done so, students with disabilities who believe that
they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact
the Disability Services Office (DSO), as soon as possible to ensure
that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. The DSO
is located in Daniels Hall, (508) 831-5235."
Tentative Class Outline
The following outline is tentative. It is possible to achieve the course
objectives in different ways, and while there are topics we really should
devote some time to, things may change as we go along.
| # |
Date |
Notes |
Class Discussion Topics (pages in text) |
Due |
Who |
| 1H |
Mon 15 Mar |
Hnotes |
Introduction, Course Content, Roles of Computation, Cyberethics
(Preface, 1-13) |
--- |
MH |
| 1B |
Tue 16 Mar |
Hnotes
|
Introduction, Course Content, Roles of Computation, Cyberethics
(Preface, 1-13) |
--- |
MH |
| 2H |
Thu 18 Mar |
Bnotes
|
The impact of information processing on Privacy
(132-155,
Computer matching I,
II)
|
Homework 1 due |
DCB |
| 2B |
Fri 19 Mar |
Bnotes
|
The impact of information processing on Privacy
(132-155,
Computer matching I,
II)
|
Homework 1 due |
DCB |
| 3H |
Mon 22 Mar |
Bnotes
|
The impact of computer communications on Privacy
(155-168, in Europe)
|
--- |
DCB |
| 3B |
Tue 23 Mar |
Bnotes
|
The impact of computer communications on Privacy
(155-168, in Europe)
|
--- |
DCB |
| 4H |
Thu 25 Mar |
Hnotes |
Ethics, Basic Concepts and Principles
(35-62, Bynum)
|
Project groups formed |
MH |
| 4B |
Fri 26 Mar |
Hnotes |
Ethics, Basic Concepts and Principles
(35-62, Bynum)
|
Project groups formed |
MH |
| 5H |
Mon 29 Mar |
Bnotes
|
Ethics and Professional Responsibilities
(9-30, 102-127,
ACM)
|
--- |
DCB |
| 5B |
Tue 30 Mar |
Bnotes
|
Ethics and Professional Responsibilities
(9-30, 102-127,
ACM)
|
--- |
DCB |
| 6H |
Thu 1 Apr |
Bnotes
|
Security and Safety in Cyberspace (173-196)
|
Homework 2 due |
DCB |
| 6B |
Fri 2 Apr |
Bnotes
|
Security and Safety in Cyberspace (173-196)
|
Homework 2 due |
DCB |
| 7H |
Mon 5 Apr |
Bnotes
|
Computers and Crime (201-224)
|
Project outline due |
DCB |
| 7B |
Tue 6 Apr |
Bnotes
|
Computers and Crime (201-224)
|
Project outline due |
DCB |
| 8H |
Thu 8 Apr |
Hnotes |
Intellectual Property in Cyberspace (229-260,
Google1
Google2
Google3
Google4
)
|
--- |
MH |
| 8B |
Fri 9 Apr |
Hnotes |
Intellectual Property in Cyberspace (229-260,
Google1
Google2
Google3
Google4
)
|
--- |
MH |
| 9H |
Mon 12 Apr |
Hnotes |
Freedom of speech, software & Commerce in Cyberspace
(265-295)
|
Homework
3 due |
MH |
| 9B |
Tue 13 Apr |
Hnotes |
Freedom of speech, software & Commerce in Cyberspace
(265-295)
|
Homework
3 due |
MH |
| 10H |
Thu 15 Apr |
Hnotes |
Computers in the Workplace (300-325,
FAA I,
II,
III)
|
Project draft due |
MH |
| 10B |
Fri 16 Apr |
Hnotes |
Computers in the Workplace (300-325,
FAA I,
II,
III)
|
Project draft due |
MH |
| -- |
Mon 19 Apr |
Patriots
Day |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 11H |
Tue 20 Apr
Thursday
schedule
|
Hnotes |
Impact of Cybertechnology on Community and Self (330-356,
Time/MOY)
|
Homework 4 due on 23rd April |
MH |
| -- |
Thu 22 Apr |
Project
Presentation
Day |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 11B |
Fri 23 Apr |
Hnotes |
Impact of Cybertechnology on Community and Self (330-356,
Time/MOY)
|
Homework
4 due for both sections |
MH |
| 12H |
Mon 26 Apr |
Bnotes |
Evaluating Technology: Ethical Aspects of Emerging Technologies
(361-388,
Psychotherapy I,
II)
|
--- |
DCB |
| 12B |
Tue 27 Apr |
Bnotes |
Evaluating Technology: Ethical Aspects of Emerging Technologies
(361-388,
Psychotherapy I,
II)
|
--- |
DCB |
y
| 13H |
Thu 29 Apr |
-- |
Group Project
Class Presentations - 1. |
--- |
MH |
| 13B |
Fri 30 Apr |
-- |
Group Project
Class Presentations - 1. |
--- |
DCB |
| 14H |
Mon 3 May |
-- |
Group Project
Class Presentations - 2. |
Final project due |
MH |
| 14B |
Tue 4 May |
-- |
Group Project
Class Presentations - 2. |
Final project due |
DCB |
|
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