Communication 353-4
Social Contexts of
Information Technology
Fall, 1999
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Professor:
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Ellen
Balka |
TA:
Kenzie Andrews |
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Office
location: |
CC
6228 |
TBA |
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Phone
# |
291-3764 |
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Office
Hours: |
Wed.
1:-2:20 and 4:30-5:30 |
During
Labs |
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Classroom
# |
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Lab:
room # |
CC
6125 |
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Class
time: |
Thurs.
10:30-12:30 |
Lab:
times: |
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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/Lab:oratory) Prerequisites: CMNS 253.
This
course has four objectives:
1. to build on students'
previous knowledge of social aspects of computer networking technology;
2. to increase students'
awareness of theory that attempts to explain how technology and society
interact;
3. to introduce skills
necessary for assessing and evaluating the social consequences of information
and communication technologies;
4. to increase awareness
about social issues which emerge from the use of new communication
technologies, especially as they relate to equality amongst different groups of
Canadians.
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.
Topics
to be addressed will include:
Cultural
views of technology and the technology / society relationship;
Technology
assessment;
Technology
and social equality;
New
communication technologies at work, at home and in the public sphere;
Computers
and education;
Computers,
citizenship and democracy;
The
health information highway,
And
other issues including health, privacy and social control.
Required
texts:
Heap, N., Thomas, R.,
Einon, G., Mason, R. and Mackay, H., (Eds.), (1995). Information technology
and society: A reader. London: Sage.
Balka, E., (Ed.).
(1999). Communication 353 Course reader and Lab: manual, (avaiLab:le
from SFU bookstore).
Assignments:
Percentage
of grade: Due Date:
Proposal
for final paper 5% Week
4
Mid-term
(in class) 15% Week 7
Lab:
write-up 20% 1 week
after topic is
introduced
in class
Final
paper 30% 1 week
after last class
Final
exam 15% Exam
period (Dec. 10)
Class
participation (including Labs) 15% Ongoing
DESCRIPTION
OF ASSIGNMENTS
Proposal
for final paper
(Due Sept. 29)
Students
are required to submit a proposal for a final paper, no later than the beginning
of class in week 4. 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.
Mid-term
exam (October
20)
Students
will be given an in class mid-term exam. The exam will consist of some multiple
guess and short answer questions, as well as an essay question. (You will be
given the general topic of the essay question in advance). The exam will be
written with the aim of encouraging students to synthesize material addressed
in classes and Labs.
Lab
write-ups
(Due 1 week after topic is covered in lab, and no later than Nov. 9)
During
the semester, students are required to complete a write-up of a topic addressed
in labs. Lab: write-ups are intended to encourage reflection about the process
of technology assessment, and inspire a more in-depth treatment of a topic than
lab time allowed. A student may choose which topic to submit lab write-ups
about, provided one lab write-up is submitted no later than Nov. 9. 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 an. approach to
technology assessment addressed 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.
Final
Papers
(Due 1 week after last class, by 5 p.m. in Ellen's mailbox)
Students
are required to submit a final paper for this course. The paper may focus on
any aspect of computer networking technology and equity. 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 either as a technology assessment study, or as a
discussion of policy issues related to the topic of their paper and equity. If
students choose to do a technology assessment, 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.
Students
may not use a paper for this course that is being submitted for another course.
It
is expected that students will submit assignments on time. Late assignments
will be subject to penalties of 1% per day of the marks possible for that assignment,
unless accompanied by an original note from a doctor.
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 Spring,
1997
Weekly
Schedule
|
Week
1 Sept.
8 |
Topics: Overview of the
Course Issues in the information
society, equity and public policy |
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Lab: Introduction and
Overview of Lab requirements Brainstorming Lab
will be held |
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Week
2 Sept.
15 |
Topics: Cultural views of
technology and the technology / society relationship Introduction to Technology
Assessment |
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Lab: Introduction to
technology assessment in practice (Bush's view of TA) |
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Readings: pages 9-32 and 41-53
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) |
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Week
3 Sept.
22 |
Topics: Technology
assessment: History and Possibilities Technology and Equity |
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Lab: Technology assessment
'how-to' (part 2): technology and equity (identifying equity isssues in
relation to your technology). |
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Readings: pages 74-99 in Information
technology and society by Heap. Loveridge, D. (1996). Preface: Technology assessment - where is it now. International journal of technology management, 11 (5-6), 2. Dale, A., & Loveridge, D. (1996). Technology Assessement-where is it going. International journal of technology management, 11, 715-723. Morgall, J. Technology
assessment: A feminist perspective. Temple University Press: Philadelphia.
(p. 1-top of 8). |
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Week
4 Sept.
29 |
Topics:
Themes
in the information society Lab:
Problem
definition Readings: pages 54--73 in Information
technology and society by Heap. Porter,
A.L., Rossini, F.A., Carpenter, S.R. and Roper, A.T. (1980). A guidebook
for technology assessment and impact analysis. North Holland: New York.
(p. 42-63). Morgall,
J. Technology assessment: A feminist perspective. Temple University Press:
Philadelphia. (p. 13-33). |
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Week
5 Oct.
6 |
Topics: New Communications
technology at work: Historical context & overview Lab: Assessment of
computers and occupational structure |
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Readings:
pages101-134
in Information technology and society by Heap. Morgall,
J. Technology assessment: A feminist perspective. Temple University Press:
Philadelphia. (p. 75-91). (problems) Proposal for final paper
due, beginning of class |
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Week
6 Oct.
`13 |
Topics: New Communications
technology at work (part 2)- Changes to Work |
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Week
7 Oct.
20 |
Lab: Assessment of
computer networking, work organization and work process |
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Readings: p. 135-178 in Information
technology and society by Heap. |
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Week
8 Oct.
27 |
Topics: 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: |
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Topics: New communication
technologies at home- Overview Lab: Assessment of the
wired home |
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Week
9 Nov.
3 |
Readings: Part 4 of Information
technology and society by Heap. In class mid-term exam |
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Topics: New communication
technologies at home- The collision of home and work Lab: Context based
assessment of computer networking society by Heap. |
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Readings: pages 400-412 in Information
technology and Information technology and society by Heap. |
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Week
10 Nov.
10 |
Topics: New communications
technology and education (part 1) Overview of computer based
education |
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Week
11 Nov.
17 |
Lab: Assessment of the
Internet as an educational tool |
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Readings: pages 192-223 &
237-266 of Information technology and society by Heap. |
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Last
day to hand in lab write-up is WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10 (Leave
in TA's mailbox by 5:00 p.m.) Rememberance
Day-- No class |
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Week
12- Nov.
24 |
Topics: New communications
technology and education (part 2) Training
issues and the new communication technology |
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Lab: Evaluation of
educational software |
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Week
13 Dec.
1 |
Readings: Pages 182-191 &
211-236 in Information technology and society by Heap. |
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Topics: Computers and
Entertainment: The body and the wired world Lab: Assessment of
computer networking as entertainment |
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Readings: Pages 387-400 in Information
technology and society by Heap. TBA |
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Topics: Wrap-up and
directions for the future |
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Topics: 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: