CISC 355: Computers, Ethics, and Society

Fall 2009
Instructor: Richard Gordon

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General Information

Instructor:
Richard Gordon
Office: 227LL, UDCC (192 S. Chapel Street)
Office Hours: By Appointment
Phone: (302) 831-1717

Meeting Information:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00 - 6:15 p.m.
061 McKinly Lab

Required Texts:

  • Quinn, M. (2009) Ethics for the Information Age. 3rd Edition (Quinn)

  • Singh, S. (1999) The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography. (Singh)

  • An assortment of readings on the World-Wide Web (and possibly at UD Library's Reserve Room).

Course Requirements:
In part because the content for this class changes from year to year--and sometimes from week to week, I'm always tinkering with this course. This year, we'll
  • use Sakai for quizzes
  • do more "project-style" problem-solving work rather than traditional exams
  • find ways to incorporate current events into our class discussions
  • try to incorporate blogs and a wiki into class activities.

The best way to teach an applied ethics class is to give the students the opportunity to discuss situations, deciding how one could sort it out, or making sure one understands where other people's decisions come from. Therefore, I try to keep lecture to a minimum to leave plenty of time for our discussion.

Here's how your work will be evaluated.

  • Quizzes (40%):
    There will be two kinds of quizzes in the class this semester:
    1. Daily Quizzes: a quiz due at 4:59 p.m. each day class meets. Usually one-question or two-question quizzes, occasionally longer ones. Purpose: prove to me you're keeping up with the reading so that you can participate in discussion--in class and in Sakai.
    2. Substantive Quizzes: In lieu of full-blown exams, we will have a handful of longer quizzes to make sure you are digesting the reading and class discussions.

    All quizzes are open-book, open-note, take-home events. However, collaboration with others (beyond lending them the book!) is forbidden.

  • Research Project (0%):
    By acclamation, we will not do a research project this term. However, there will be research components to several of the assignments made in the "Assignments" section of the course.

  • Assignments (40%):
    In lieu of exams, you'll have a about fifteen assignments to complete in Sakai. Nothing too onerous, but these will be designed to replace the essay questions on mid-terms and otherwise challenge you to apply what you've been reading about. The classic project will ask you to apply the reading to a real situation. Some will ask your opinion--which will require a logical presentation of your argument. There will be some in-class exercises that will also count towards the "assignment" portion of the assessment of your work.

    Wiki and Blog assignments will also be rolled into this area of the gradebook.

  • Current Events Responses (20%):
    This set of assignments will be developed as we collectively figure out what format we want to use to discuss current events.

  • Class Attendance, Participation, Late Assignments, Academic Honesty:

    1. Students are expected to participate actively in all class discussions. Hence the daily quizzes. Being an active listener is fine. However, being physically present and reading the newspaper or studying for an exam in another class or "chatting on line with babes all day" does not make you an active participant.

      Use the Sakai Blog tool to post ideas about readings on days you miss class: if you want your quiz credit for a day you miss, take the quiz and make a blog posting. The point is, this is a "participatory" class in which I will strive to keep lecture to a minimum. Your absence deprives your colleagues of the benefit of your contribution to class discussion. Therefore, miss class, blog about the reading.

    2. You are adults and can make your own decisions about class attendance. Rule of thumb for this and all classes: try not to cut class more often than the instructor does. Seriously, use common sense and courtesy and let your instructors know when you have to miss class.

      However, if you want your "quiz credit" for a day you've missed, you'd better have negotiated an "excused" absence with me AND had better have blogged about part of the reading for the day you've missed.

    3. Students are expected to do their own work. I fully expect you to discuss things outside of class with your colleagues; however, when it comes time to take a quiz, do an individual project, write an exam, etc., all students need to write independently--unless the assignment specifically asks for you to collaborate with classmates.

    4. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date indicated. Any change in a due date must be negotiated with the instructor ahead of time. Do not assume that a date change has been granted just because you asked for one. Wait for the instructor's written approval or denial of your request. However, ask for an extension rather than copy someone else's assignment. Two students received zeros on their exams during a recent semester because one copied the other's exam with that student's permission.

Grade Scale: 
                   A = 94.0 and up; A- = 90.1 - 93.9
B+ = 87.5 - 90.0;  B = 83.5 - 87.4; B- = 80.1 - 83.4
C+ = 77.5 - 80.0;  C = 74.0 - 77.4; C- = 72.0 - 73.9
D+ = 68.0 - 71.9;  D = 65.0 - 67.9; D- = 63.0 - 64.9
F  = under 63.0

If you keep up with the work, grades are not usually too much of an issue. In aggregate, over 80% of the students in the last 10 sections did work that earned a grade of B- or higher. Given how easy the quizzes usually are, it is rare for a student's work to earn a grade under 75 in my sections. But it does happen. Keep up and things will work themselves out.

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Fall 2009 Syllabus

The syllabus and this course information page were last updated on November 19, 2009. They will be updated from time to time during the semester.

The on-line syllabus is the official syllabus. Check it frequently.