CSC 385 - Course
Description & Grading (
Computer
and information technology has pervaded modern society. With the introduction
of this unavoidable computing presence have come many important social and
ethical issues and concerns. This course will examine some of these issues and
concerns.
Catalog
Description
_________________________________________________________________________
General
Course Information
Meeting Days/Time: Wednesdays
11:00 – 11:50am
Location: CI1006
_________________________________________________________________________
Instructor
Information
Name:
Office
Location:
CI 2046
Office
Hours:
MWF 10-11am or by appointment.
Phone: (910) 962-3819
email:
simmondsd[at]uncw.edu
_________________________________________________________________________
Required
Text
Ethics and Technology: Ethical Issues in
an Age of Information and Communication Technology
Herman T. Tavani
ISBN: 0-471-24966-1
Paperback
368 pages
June 2003.
Class Format
The course format will be "led
discussions" where each student will be assigned discussion topics
relevant to the course to research and present. The student is required to do
independent research on the topic. A schedule will be generated at the start of
the semester outlining the general topic and dates of presentation for each student.
Details on the format of these presentations will be provided in
class.
You should meet with the instructor on Monday
or Tuesday the week before your presentation to discuss your plans and draft
slides. Your final slides must be emailed to the instructor by noon on the day
before your presentation.
Presentation Dress Code: Formal attire is required for all presentations
Participation
Regular class attendance is mandatory.
Completion of assignments will entail reading the textbook and researching various
topics germane to the course. Each student will lead class discussion
based on a presentation of the topic. Expect to spend several hours researching
and formulating your topics to lead the discussion group.
Outside of class, you will need to read the
course text, prepare three class presentations, and write a paper. There will
be many deadlines during the semester to help you write a high-quality paper.
The class schedule will list all the deadlines, as well as the topics for each
day's discussion and the relevant book chapters. There will be no final exam.
Chapter Summaries
Each week, each student must submit a two page summary of the discussion chapter for the week. The summary
should include:
1.
The basic points
presented by the author.
2.
An evaluation of
these points from the student’s perspective.
3.
A list of questions for in-class discussion.
Your summaries should highlight the main points made by the author and
the examples used by the author. You should also express your own thoughts on the
subject. For example, for each point made by the author, you could say whether
you agree or disagree, state the conditions for this agreement/disagreement and
say what you thing there are present and future implications of the points
made.
Format of Summaries
Name of student
Course number
Summary for Chapter<#>
//actual summary
Discussion Questions
Course Project
Each student must prepare and submit a
seven-ten page paper, analyzing and discussing an ethics-related topic of
interest to the student.
Deadlines
A due date will be specified for every
assignment when it is distributed. Late assignments will not be accepted.
If you have an emergency that interferes with
your ability to attend class or to complete an assignment on time, let me know
as soon as possible and as far in advance as possible. Do so before the due
date has passed. Once the deadline has passed, I will likely be unable to offer
you an extension.
Evaluation
- A
10-point scale will be used to compute your course grade. If your course
score falls just below a cutoff, a higher plus / minus grade may be
assigned.
|
30% |
|
|
30% |
|
|
Class Attendance
& Participation |
20% |
|
Course Project |
20% |
|
Total |
100% |
- Course Grade
A modified 10-point scale will be used to compute your course grade. If your course score falls just below a cutoff, the higher grade may be assigned. Factors that affect this judgment are the distribution of grades, improvement during the semester, and attendance
|
90 -
100 A |
|
80 -
89.5 B |
|
70 -
79.5 C |
|
60 -
69.5 D |
·
If your course
score falls just below a cutoff, a higher, + grade may be assigned
solely at the discretion of the instructor.
Honor Code
It is the responsibility of every student to
follow the UNCW Academic Honor Code (see Section V of your Student Handbook).
You violate the honor code when you represent someone else's work as your own.
Learning Strategies
You are expected to take an active role in
your learning in this course. This includes regular attendance, paying
attention in class, reading the textbook, and completing all course
requirements. You are encouraged to study with your classmates outside of
class.
Students with Disabilities
If you have a
disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform
the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as
soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register with the
Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (extension 3746) and obtain a
copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then meet with your instructor to
make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the
Accommodation Letter.
OTHER POLOCIES
This document contains additional policies to
compliment the information in the other links on the csc385 web page.
Late
assignments will not be accepted.
Academic
Expectations for Students
“In
choosing UNCW, you have become part of our community of scholars. We recognize
that the UNCW learning experience is challenging and requires hard work. It
also requires a commitment to make time available to do that hard work. The
university expects you to make academics your highest priority by dedicating
your time and energy to training your mind and acquiring knowledge. Academic
success in critical thinking and problem solving prepares you for the changes
and challenges you will encounter in the future. Our faculty and academic
support resources are readily available as partners in this effort, but the
primary responsibility for learning is yours”.
Honor
Code
“It is the
responsibility of every student to uphold and maintain the UNCW Academic Honor
Code (see Section V of your Student Handbook). You violate the honor code when
you represent someone else's work as your own. Programming assignments may be
discussed at a conceptual level with other students but details and coding must
be your own. Copying and team collaboration is prohibited.”
Learning
Strategies
“You are expected to
take an active role in your learning in this course. This includes regular
attendance, paying attention in class, reading the textbook, and completing all
course requirements. You are encouraged to study with your classmates outside
of class. Programming assignments usually require a lot more time than
expected, so start early and work some every day.”
Code
of Student Life (pdf)
UNCW practices a zero-tolerance policy for
violence and harassment of any kind. For emergencies contact UNCW CARE at
962-2273, Campus Police at 962-3184, or Wilmington Police at 911. For
University or community resources visit http://uncw.edu/wrc/crisis.htm
Students with Disabilities
“If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (extension 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then meet with your instructor to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter.”
Student Affairs Disability Services - Policies and Procedures
Department & University
Policies