EGN 1033 TECHNOLOGY, HUMANS AND SOCIETY SYLLABUS

Transcription

1 EGN 1033 TECHNOLOGY, HUMANS AND SOCIETY SYLLABUS Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Engineering Center Florida International University West Flagler Street Miami, Florida ABET Objectives: (1) Establishing the basic knowledge and concept of the current and future technology. Outcomes: (2) Understanding the impact of technology to economy, ethics, environment, and human society. (3) Having the capability to examine the impact of existing and future technology. (4) Understanding how to assess the appropriate use of the current and future technology. (5) Understanding the existing side effects and impact on economy, ethics, environment, and human society caused by the technology. (C) Understanding of global professional and ethical responsibility. (D) Ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams. (E) Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering/science problems. (F) Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility. (G) Ability to communicate effectively. (H) Broad education necessary to understand the impact of technological solutions in a global and societal context. (I) Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning. (J) Knowledge of contemporary issues. (K) Ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

2 GLOBAL LEARNING Objective: The course examines technology humans develop and their impact on cultures, politics and the quality of life. The foundation for envisioning the use of technology for a sustainable future is developed through a global learning approach. Outcomes: (A) Global Awareness: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the diverse modern technologies and associated ethical, legal, and social issues within and among communities across the globe. (B) Global Perspective: Students will be able to develop a multi-perspective analysis of various modern technologies in terms of their impact on human culture, history, politics, economics, and human life (C) Global Engagement: Students will demonstrate their understanding and willingness to address issues and problems associated with modern technology development within global and international frameworks and limitations. Summary: The interactions amongst technology, human culture, history, politics, economics, and quality of human life are addressed and discussed. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary and intercultural impacts of technologies to human society and their global challenges. Five modern technologies to be discussed in this course include (1) computers and information technology, (2) microelectronics and wireless communications technology, (3) lasers and optical technology, (4) biological and medical technology, and (5) energy and power technology. A lecture for each topic will be provided. Further investigation through team-based discussion, presentation, debate, online research, and report will be performed. Textbook: Overall: Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Science, Technology, and Society, T. Easton, ISBN: Reading Assignments: 1. The Case for Contamination by Kwame Anthony Appiah, The New York Times, January 1st Readings in Human-Computer Interaction: Toward the Year 2000, 2 nd ed., R. M. Baecker, J. Grudin, W. Buxton, and S. Greenberg, ISBN Information and Communications for Development 2009: Extending Reach and Increasing Impact, World Bank Publications, ISBN Laser in Environmental and Life Sciences, P. Hering, ISBN Biotechnology: Assessing Social Impacts and Policy Implications, D. J. Webber, ISBN: Energy, Economics and the Environment, 2 nd ed., F. Bosselman, J. B. Eisen, J. Possi, D. B. Spence, and J. Weaver, ISBN: Homework: (1) Following each topic lectured, a team project pertaining to the topic discussed will be assigned and orally presented, with the project title selected by each individual student team through team study, discussion, and research. Each team is formed by no more than 4 (four) students. The presentation title and outline MUST be submitted to the instructor through at least three (3) days prior to the presentation. The teams that miss the deadline to submit the title and outline will not 2

3 Assessment: be allowed to present their work and therefore receive zero point for the homework. The presentations will be graded by a panel of judges formed by three faculty members and chaired by the instructor. The instructor will collect the presentation files right after the talk and post it on the course website as reference for all students. Each member in a team has to orally present at least two times during the semester. (2) A written report for each team presentation is required, which is due at the time of oral presentation. Questions on evaluating multiple perspectives pertaining to the impact of modern technology on life quality in a developed and/or a developing country must be addressed. (3) Each student is required to write a two-page essay at the end of the semester to summarize what has been learned throughout the semester and make suggestions on possible immediate local, global, international, and intercultural actions regarding impartation of modern technology on quality of life. 1. Exams: There will be three (3) multiple-choice examinations during the semester, which covers materials throughout the entire semester on the topics discussed, including lectures, students team presentations, and reading assignments. Evaluation process: Number of correct answers for the exam. Minimum Criteria for Success: Students need to get 70% correct answers for each exam. Minimum 60 % of the questions in exam will be related to global issues 2. Team-based activity: Student teams will be formed at the beginning of semester, with no more than four (4) members in each team. After each topic lectured, each team of students, through team study, research, and discussion, will identify issues to address pertaining to the main topic and come up with a distinctive team project title. Students will report on the topic selected through team presentations as well as written reports, which are assessed by three (3) faculty members using a 5-point rubric. Evaluation process: A 5-point analytical rubric for the team-based activity. Minimum Criteria for Success: Students will achieve a 3 or better on a 5- point rubric. 3. Common reading: Students will read the article The Case for Contamination by Kwame Anthony Appiah, and discuss in class what aspects of Appiah s analysis relate to the impact of technology on human society and quality of life. Evaluation process: A 3-point rubric will be used to assess the student s performance. 3

4 Minimum Criteria for Success: Students will achieve a 2 or better on a 3- point rubric. 4. Co-curricular activity: A field trip will be arranged to visit the Motorola Facility at South Florida (Plantation) to have the students exposed to the contemporary wireless communication technology. Each student will write a two-page essay after the field trip to address the following questions: What is the mission of the site in the wireless communication industry? What are the essential elements forming the wireless communication industry? What are the challenges faced by the wireless communication industry? Evaluation process: A 3-point rubric will be used to assess the student s performance. Minimum Criteria for Success: Students will achieve a 2 or better on a 3- point rubric. Grade: Project presentation and report 45%, End-of-semester essay: 5%, Exam I: 20%, Exam II: 20%, Exam III: 10%. Notes: A 90, A 87, B+ 84, B 81, B 78, C+ 75, C 72, C 69, D+ 65, D 60, D 55, F < 55. (1) 4C Policy: No Cheating, No Chatting, No Computers, or Cell Phones. (2) There will be NO make-up exams except for extraordinary circumstances. 4

5 WEEKLY SCHEDULE Week Topics and Contents Topic: Introduction to computer and information technology and its impacts to human society, life, Essential Question: What technology gives birth of computer and information technology? What are the basics of digital computing? How computer and information technology have impacted human society locally, globally, internationally, and interculturally? Study Materials: Reading assignment 2, lecture handouts, and reference. Topic: Introduction to computer and information technology and its impacts to human society, life, Topic: The Case for Contamination by Kwame A. Appiah Activities: Team discussion Essential Questions: What does Appiah s analysis relate to the impact of technology on human society and quality of life? Study Materials: Reading assignment 1: The Case for Contamination by Kwame, A. Appiah. impacts to human society, life, Essential Question: What is integrated circuit (IC) and micro/nano-electronics? What are the categories of micro/nano-electronic devices? What are the milestones in the evolution of communication technology? Study Materials: Reading assignment 3, lecture handouts, and reference. impacts to human society, life, impacts to human society, life, Activities: Field trip (Motorola Facility in South Florida) Essential Questions: What is the mission of the site in the wireless communication industry? What are the essential elements forming the wireless communication industry? Activities: Site tour (co-curricular activity) Study Materials: Handout on site information impacts to human society, life, Activities: 1. Movie (Enemy of The State (1998) Impact of computers, microelectronics, and wireless communication technology on human s safety and privacy) 2. Exam I 5

6 Topic: Introduction to lasers and optical technology and its impacts to human society, life, Essential Question: What are the applications of laser technology? How the laser technology can be integrated with the other technologies for interdisciplinary development? Study Materials: Reading assignment 4, lecture handouts, and reference. Topic: Introduction to lasers and optical technology and its impacts to human society, life, Activities: Team presentation, discussion and debate (All teams). life, Essential Question: What are the major challenges in the contemporary biological and medical technology? What is clone technology and its impact? Study Materials: Reading assignment 5, lecture handouts, and reference. life, Activities: Movie The Human Genome Project (NIH 2000), and discussion Essential Question: What is Human Genome Project? What are the goals of this project? What are the ethical, legal, and social issues that need to be addressed in this project? Study Materials: Reading assignment 5. life, life, Activities: 1. Movie The 6 th Day (2000) (Impact of clone technology on human ethics, human society, and its global effects), and discussion 2. Exam II Topic: Introduction to energy and power technology and its impacts to human society, life, Essential Question: What are the various energy types and needs? What is the solution to energy crisis? What is green energy? Study Materials: Reading assignment 6, lecture handouts, and reference. Topic: Introduction to energy and power technology and its impacts to human society, life, 6