CSE 252    Computers Society and the Internet (3)     

Instructor:   Roger Nagel

Current Catalog Description 
An interactive exploration of the current and future role of computers, the Internet, and related technologies in changing the standard of living, work environments, society and its ethical values. Privacy, security, depersonalization, responsibility, and professional ethics; the role of computer and Internet technologies in changing education, business modalities, collaboration mechanisms, and everyday life. (SS)

Textbooks

1. "The World is Flat" updated & expanded by Thomas Friedman (release 3)

2. "Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion: by Hal Abelson, Ken Ledeen, Harry Lewis.

3. "The Numerati" by Stephen Baker

Course Outcomes     

1.    To stimulate the thinking of participants on how computers, information and network technology are changing the way we work, live and interact.

2.    To raise the awareness of students of the ethical responsibilities of Computer Science professionals with respect to the evolving issues of  privacy, security, social computing platforms, and intellectual property.

3.    To think and write about the ethical challenges posed by evolution of computer and networked based tools in their chosen profession

4.    To cause the students to explicitly examine their thoughts re the role and limitations of government on many of these moral and ethical issues.

5.    Students create their own personalized professional code of ethics.

6.    To examine the cultural shifts moving us to a globally linked economy and the role of technology in doing so. To have students rethink their own ethical views and choices based on the emerging technologically linked world we now live in.

Relationship between Course Outcomes and Program Outcomes   

CSE 252 substantially supports the following program outcomes:

E.  An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues

CSE 109 provides modest support to the following program outcomes:

D.  An ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal

H. Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, continuing professional development

Major Topics Covered in the Course

1. Professional Ethics, Codes of Conduct why we need them, what they accomplish, the need for  personalization 
   a. Career changes implied by evolving computer and network technology
   b. The Digital Divide whose problem, why, what can be done.
   
2. Friedman’s Flat world How the computer and related technology flatten the world and make outsourcing etc. possible
   
3. Social computing and cyber worlds for business and professional growth
        a.field trip into second life.
        b.Web 2.0 Applications of interaction changes business and professional ethics
   
4. Discussions of Blown to Bits Book
        a.The Digital Explosion: Why Is It Happening,and What Is at Stake?
        b.Naked in the Sunlight: Privacy Lost, Privacy Abandoned
        c.Ghosts in the Machine: Secrets and Surprises of Electronic Documents
        d.Secret Bits: How Codes Became Unbreakable
        e.You Can’t Say That on the Internet: Guarding the Frontiers of Digital Expression
   
5. The Numerati: Macro trends from watching cyberspace with mathematics, ethical challenges and concerns
   

Assessment Plan for the Course

a.    The students are weekly reading and writing assignments to stimulate their thinking on the major topics of the course. This homework is 30% of the grade

b.    Students are assigned to work in teams and do background research to lead our class for 45 minutes on topics as they appear in one of the three text books. They dig deeper and expand the material from the book as all student read the books before the presentation. This is 10% of the students grade.

c.    Students write a deep dive essay on a topic they found personally motivating as related to the course and amplified by reading an additional book chosen form a preapproved list. Each essay must identify up front five goals of the writer in taking the deep dive, one goal must reflect the ethical challenges posed to computer scientists by the material in the deep dive, and at least one other goal must reflect on an ethical issue such as privacy or security. This is 25% of the grade.

d.   The take home final consists of a series of questions designed to measure the six course outcomes. The questions measure the effectiveness of each course outcome and relate them to the books, in class discussions, and current news articles used during the semester. This is 25% of the grade.