Communication 353-4
Social Contexts of Information TechnologySpring, 1997
Professor: Ellen Balka TA: To be announced
Office location: CC 6144
Phone #
Office Hours: To be announced
Classroom # WMX 2503 Lab room # CC 6125
Class time: Monday, 12:30-2:30 Lab times: Monday 8:30-10:20
Monday 10:30-12:20
Monday 2:30-4:20
Course description:
Examination of a particular application of information/communication technology, focusing on the technology itself and its capabilities; how it is implemented, and what social impacts it has on the people who use it. Emphasis is placed on understanding how the system works in the ongoing social context in which it is developed, installed and used. The specific application studied may vary from semester to semester. (Lecture/Laboratory) Prerequisites: CMNS 253.
This course has three objectives:
- to build on students' previous knowledge of computer networking technology;
- to introduce skills necessary for assessing and evaluating information and communication technologies;
- to increase awareness about the important social issues which emerge from the use of new communication technologies.
The course will focus on computer based communication technologies such as electronic mail, text based computer networking, and the World Wide Web in a wide range of settings.
Each week class will meet for a 2 hour lecture as well as a 2 hour lab. The first hour of each lab will be spent doing hands-on work. The second hour of each lab will be spent doing technology assessment exercises and discussing social issues.
Some prior experience with computer networking will be assumed. No prior experience with technology assessment will be required.
Prerequisite: CMNS 110 or 130 and CMNS 253.
Required texts:
Heap, N., Thomas, R., Einon, G., Mason, R. And Mackay, H. (Eds.). Information technology and society: A reader. London: Sage. (ISBN 0-0839-79819)
Menzies, Heather. (1996). Whose brave new world? The information highway and the new economy. Between the Lines: Toronto.
Assignments:
Mid-term (take home) 20%
Lab write up 1 15%
Lab write up 2 15%
Proposal for final paper 5%
Final paper 30%
Class participation (including labs) 15%
Description of Assignments
Mid-term exam (Due Feb. 17)
Students will be given a take home exam on Feb. 10th, to be handed in at the beginning of class on Feb. 17th.. The exam will consist of one or more essay questions, written with the aim of encouraging students to synthesize material addressed in classes and labs.
Lab write-ups (Due 1 week after topic covered in lab, 1st write up by Feb. 24th)
Twice during the semester, students are required to complete write-ups of topics addressed in labs. Lab write-ups are intended to encourage reflection about the process of technology assessment, as well as a more in-depth treatment of a topic than lab time allowed. A student may choose which topics to submit lab write-ups about, provided one lab write-up is submitted no later than Feb. 24th. Lab write-ups must be submitted no later than one week after the topic is addressed in the lab.
Lab write-ups are basically mini technology assessments completed by students. They should build on group work done in the labs, but should go beyond the treatment of the topic addressed in the lab. Lab write-ups should follow either the Bush or Porter et.al. approach to technology assessment (you will be introduced to these in class), and should also include a brief section discussing difficulties encountered in using the method, as well as some thoughts about issues that arise in the process of doing technology assessments.
Proposal for final paper (Due Jan. 27th)
Students are required to submit a proposal for a final paper, no later than the beginning of class on Jan. 27th. The proposal should contain a one or two paragraph description of the proposed topic for the final paper, a list of ten print and ten electronic resources related to the proposed topic (properly cited), and an indication of how the proposed paper will address equity issues.
Final Papers (Due April 7, by 5 p.m.)
Students are required to submit a final paper for this course. The paper may focus on any aspect of computer networking technology. Final papers should include:
- an introduction to the paper,
- an overview of the technology to be discussed in detail;
- a review of relevant literature;
- a discussion of equity issues related to the use of the technology discussed (e.g., a focus on gender issues, or issues related to ethnicity);
- a discussion of policy issues related to the technology addressed;
- a complete bibliography of print and electronic sources.
Students may structure their papers as technology assessment studies. If they elect to pursue this option, their papers should also include a brief discussion of why they have chosen the approach to technology assessment they have used as a framework for their papers.
With prior approval, students may submit joint final projects or papers.
It is expected that students will submit assignments on time.
The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will also follow Policy T10.02 with respect to "Intellectual Honesty" and "Academic Discipline" (see the current Calendar, General Regulations Section).
Communication 353 Weekly Schedule
Spring, 1997
Week 1-Jan 6 Overview of the Course
Social Contexts of Computer Networking and Equity
Lab Does not meet
Week 2- Jan. 13 Themes in the information society
Cultural views of technology and the technology / society
relationship
Lab Introduction and Overview of Lab requirements
Introduction to technology assessment in practice
Readings pages 9-53 in Information technology and society by Heap.
Bush, C.G. (1983) Women and the assessment of technology: To
think, to be, to unthink, to be. In J. Rothschild, (Ed.). Machina
ex dea: Feminist perspectives on technology. Pergamon: New York.
Reserve (20 pages)
Week 3- Jan. 20 Technology and Equity
Introduction to technology assessment
Lab Technology assessment 'how-to' (part 2): technology and equity
Readings pages 54--100 in Information technology and society by Heap.
Week 4- Jan. 27 New Communications technology at work (part 1)- Restructuring
Historical context, overview of issues
Lab Assessment of computers and occupational structure
Readings Chapters 1-2 of Menzies' Whose brave new world?
Paper proposals due
Week 5-Feb. 3 New Communications technology at work (part 2)- Changes to Work
Organization and Work Process
Lab Assessment of computer networking, work organization and work
process
Readings Chapters 3-4 of Menzies' Whose brave new world?
Week 6-Feb. 10 Computer networking and individual rights
Lab Technology assessment of specific issue (e.g., health, monitoring
and privacy) related to the use of computers at work.
Readings Chapter 5 of Menzies' Whose brave new world?
pages 400-412 in Information technology and society by Heap.
Mid-term handed out
Week 7-Feb. 17 New communication technologies at home- Overview
Lab Assessment of the wired home
Readings Part 4 of Information technology and society by Heap.
Mid-term due
Week 8- Feb. 24 New communication technologies at home- The collision of home and
work
Lab Context based assessment of computer networking.
Readings Chapters 6-7 of Menzies' Whose brave new world?
At least 1 lab write-up should be handed in by this date
Week 9-Mar. 3 New communications technology and education (part 1)
Overview of computer based education
Tutorial Assessment of the Internet as an educational tool
Readings pages 192-223 & 237-266 of Information technology and society by
Heap.
Week 10-Mar. 10 New communications technology and education (part 2)
Training issues and the new communication technology
Lab Evaluation of educational software
Readings Pages 182-191 & 211-236 in Information technology and society by
Heap.
Week 11-Mar. 17 Computers and Entertainment: The body and the wired world
Lab Assessment of computer networking as entertainment
Readings TBA
Week 12-Mar 24 Wrap-up and directions for the future
Lab Technology and democracy
Participatory Design
Student presentations