COMS 202W: Computers in Society

Announcements:  Check here regularly for announcements!

Welcome to COMS 202W! 

The final exam will be Tuesday, 12 December at 6pm in WH 119.

20% of your final exam grade will come from your self evaluation of learning.  The assignment is on the handouts page.

Weekly information is put in the assignments available on the handouts page.

Previous Announcements

Course description: This course seeks to confront participants with complex social and ethical issues associated with computers.  Through thoughtful questions, informative readings and the analysis of dichotomous viewpoints, course participants will gain insight into the complexity of technology-related issues discussed as well as the lack of simplistic solutions to the problems.

Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for this course HOWEVER it is strongly suggested that you have completed English composition since this is a writing intensive course.  You must be able to plan, develop, and write college-level essays.

Professor: Rebecca Bates (bates@mnsu.edu) 
Contact Information

Course Hours and Location

Lectures T 6-8:30pm	WH 288
Lab 01: T 8:30-9:30	WH 119

Lab assignments are based on your previous programming experience.

Office Hours

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
2-3	4:30-5:00	3-5*	2-3	10-12**

*4-5 will be in the ACC
** will be in the ACC or WH 243

Prof. Bates will also read and respond to email questions within 24 hours.  You can usually expect responses to questions the same day if received prior to 10pm. If things that are useful for the entire class come up, they will be posted on the announcement section of the class webpage so check it regularly.

Course Materials
Required: The Best Software Writing I, ed. Joel Spolsky, Apress, 2005.
Choose a writing style guide book to have near you as you write for this course.  The bookstore has several.  A list of suggested guides is on the paper guidelines.
Additionally, there will be suggested books, articles and information linked to from the website and available at the library.  You will also be expected to find your own source information for papers and presentations.

Course Syllabus

Course Objectives

1. Gain insight into the complexity of technology-related issues discussed in class as well as the lack of simplistic solutions to the problems.
2. Write coherent essays with supportive details based on research in current events related to computers, technology and society.
3. Be able to orally present information about a current topic to peers in an engaging way that engenders class discussion about the topic.
4. Use writing to explore and gain a basic familiarity with the questions, values and analytical or critical thinking methods used in the discipline
5. Locate, analyze, evaluate and use source material or data in writing in a manner appropriate to intended audiences.

Grading
Your course grade will be based on four major writing assignments, a final examination, and on your class participation/preparation. You will also make five 10-minute presentations. These presentations can be done as a 20-minute presentation with a partner, if you would prefer.  The top four presentation and top four paper grades will be included in your final grade. 

Writing Assignments: 60%
Presentations and Participation: 30%        
Final exam: 10%

Exam Dates
Final: Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Course Tools

• Desire2Learn: This web-based software package will be used for turning in programming assignments, programming exams and feedback surveys.
• Password protected webpages: The Computer Science Lab computers host these pages.  The assignments and solutions will be available on the web but will be password protected.  You will set up your account name and password during the first lab class.
• Department distribution list: The Computer Science mailing list keeps students informed of current announcements made throughout Minnesota State University, Mankato.  By registering at the following URL, you will begin to receive emails notifying you of important events and opportunities:  http://www.cset.mnsu.edu/cis/currentstudents/csmailinglist.htm

Other Information

COMS 202W Handouts and Assignments

COMS 202W Grading, Collaboration and Make-up Policies

Additional Resources

What do all the acronyms mean?

• www.webopedia.com: an online dictionary of computer and internet terminology.

How can I get information on just about anything?

• www.wikipedia.com: an online project to create a consensus-based encyclopedia with entries on just about everything.

Page last modified by R.A. Bates on 12/06/2006 12:28 AM.