Course Objectives:

This course will discuss the impact of technologies on social life and the necessity for applying skills gained in liberal arts to managing new ways of life mediated through technologies.

We will begin by covering the history of media, science, and technology, and then continue with topics including:

• Digital divide
• Media convergence and online journalism
• Legal issues including copyright and privacy
• Blogging & political communication
• Digital literacy and distance education
• Internet culture including online dating, e-commerce, personal Web sites and fandom, video games, religion, activism, online communities, open source issues, cell phones, and text messaging
• Evolving issues such as the Semantic Web and the future of wireless, ubiquitous computing

This course will provide a broad overview of topics taught in the STS curriculum introducing students to academic and popular press thinking on current issues in information technology.

The course requires attendance at weekly lab sessions and lectures as topics tend to build upon one another.

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Textbooks:

Required:
Reading Digital Culture, edited by David Trend, Blackwell, 2001

Course Packet available at Jenn's Copies. Location on Guadalupe near Dean Keaton St. (next to Madam Mam's Thai Restaurant)

Other readings are available online, linked to course outline.

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Office Hours:

Cindy Wed. 11-12:30 CMA 7.264 or by appt.
Ruben Wed. 2-3pm Cactus Cafe

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Grading:

Basic assignments (10) 20%
Informal News (1) 10%
Exams (3) - 60% (Multiple choice, true/false, short answer)
Participation & Attendance10%

The 3 exams are not officially cumulative, but topics tend to build on one another, so you will be expected to invoke materials throughout the course in the short answer section of the exams.

See Assignment Page for details

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Late Assignments and Attendance:

Short assignments for this course will involve posting comments to a personal Web log. Missed assignments will receive a grade of F. A student may turn in one (1) assignment late during the semester, if there is an excused reason with prior arrangement with professor. Any other late assignments will receive a grade of F.

Attendance is important in this course. Many of the exam questions will be topics we cover in class. And discussion and participation are expected in lecture as well as discussion sections.

We will start class at 1pm. It is important that you show up on time, as announcements tend to be made early, and you could miss valuable information. If you arrive later than 1:05pm, you will be marked as late. This can effect your participation grade, as well as your ultimate course grade.

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Supplies and Equipment:

In addition to the textbook and course packet described above, you will be required to set up a Web log. You can use www.blogger.com, your own host and Web site, or other blogging software. Information on Blogger is available under Links.

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Plagiarism and Acceptable Use Policies:

Students are required to submit original work in this course unless otherwise specified in the assignments. This includes text, content, graphics and photography. Infractions of this policy are subject to The Academic Integrity Policy provided by Student Judicial Services at UT.

Students are expected to be responsible with the materials that are prepared for this course. All materials will be subject to the Rights and Responsibilities: Acceptable Use of Information Technology at UT Austin policy.

Student work will be displayed on the Web, which means that it will be available to anyone with Internet access and a browser. Please see the instructor if you have any concerns about posting your assignments to the Web.

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