Information Technology Ethics L&I SCI

Transcription

1 Instructor: Michael Zimmer, PhD Office: NWQ-B 2531 Office phone: Office hours: Mondays, 1:00-3:00, or by appointment Jabber/Google Chat: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee School of Information Studies Information Technology Ethics L&I SCI Fall online General Description: This course provides a comprehensive overview of the current ethical issues in information and communication technology (ICT) use. It examines an array of long-standing and emerging issues facing ICT users, ranging from free speech, privacy, intellectual property, net neutrality, security and crime, to ethics in social networking, online communities, and online gaming. The course will discuss the ethical responsibilities of IT professionals, and promote the critical examination and responsible use of ICT. Objectives: 1. To review major ethical theories as they pertain to information and communication technologies 2. To explore current issues in ICT policy and the ethical dilemmas that arise in light of them 3. To investigate students ethical responsibilities as members of our information society Competencies: Upon successful completion of the course, students will: 1. Understand various ethical theories and ethical decision making models 2. Respond to and apply appropriate decisions around ethical issues in an array of information and technology practices 3. Participate appropriately and ethically in the information society Method of Instruction & Learning: - Online class: Student self-directed viewing of recorded classroom lectures, completion of written assignments, participation in online discussion boards, and online exams. Prerequisites: - No specific course prerequisites. Workload: This is a 3-credit, 100-level GER course that meets twice weekly for 2.5 hours of in-class interaction. The UWM guideline is 2.5 hours of work outside of class per credit so you can expect to spend 7-8 hours each week preparing for class or working on assignments, in addition to the course meeting time itself. L&I SCI 120: Information Technology Ethics, Fall online 1 of 6

2 Course Materials: - Textbook: Tavani, H. (2013). Ethics and Technology: Controversies, Questions, and Strategies for Ethical Computing (4th edition). Boston: John Wiley and Sons. ISBN: D2L: Additional course readings will be distributed in class and/or posted on D2L. You are expected to check the D2L website regularly for new postings, including assigned readings (PDFs and webpages), videos & links from lectures, discussion questions, assignments, and so on. - Wikipedia: Students might find it helpful to review relevant articles on Wikipedia, and are encouraged to constructively edit and improve those encyclopedia entries. Course Schedule: (subject to slight modifications) Date Topic Readings 9/4 Course Introduction 9/9 9/11 9/16 9/18 9/23 9/25 9/30 10/2 10/7 10/9 10/14 10/16 10/21 10/23 10/28 10/30 11/4 11/6 11/11 11/13 11/18 11/20 11/25 11/27 12/2 12/4 12/9 12/11 Ethics and Digital Life Introduction to Information Technology Ethics Ethical Theories & Principles Ethical Theories & Principles (cont d) Professional Ethics & Ethical Design EXAM 1 Privacy & Surveillance: Introduction Privacy & Surveillance: Overview Privacy & Surveillance: Current Issues Intellectual Property: Ethical Principles Intellectual Property: Fair Use & Open Access Intellectual Property: Remix & Mashups Intellectual Property: Ethics of Enforcement EXAM 2 Controlling Content: Spam, Porn, Hate Speech Controlling Content: Search Engine Filtering Digital Sex & Violence Hacking, Hacktivism & Information Warfare Whistleblowers & Wikileaks Artificial Intelligence & Robot Ethics Human Implants & Cyborgs EXAM 3 PAPER PROPOSAL DUE NO CLASS: Thanksgiving Break Paper Proposal Feedback Sessions Paper Proposal Feedback Sessions Work on final paper Work on final paper Screening: Growing Up Online Tavani, Ch. 1 (1-28) Tavani, Ch. 2 (33-42, 52-70) Ess, Ch. 6 (pp ; ) Tavani, Ch. 4 ( ) // Manders-Huits & Zimmer Screening: Science of Surveillance Tavani, Ch. 5 ( ) // Dyson Zimmer // Rosen // PRISM articles Tavani, Ch. 8 ( , ) // Ess, Ch. 3 (64-73) Recut, Reframe, Recycle // EFF report // Suber Screening: RiP! A Remix Manifesto Swartz articles // Grodzinsky & Tavani // UWM docs Ch. 9 ( ) Halavais (Ch. 5) // Grimmelmann Ch. 11 ( ) // Ess Ch. 5 // links Tavani, Ch. 6 ( ) Tavani, Ch. 7 ( ) // Zittrain & Sauter // O Neill Ch. 11 ( ) // D2L links Professor Cyborg // D2L links (Due in D2L dropbox by 11:59pm) (optional; via chat) (optional; via chat) 12/18 FINAL PAPER DUE (Due in D2L dropbox by 11:59pm) L&I SCI 120: Information Technology Ethics, Fall online 2 of 6

3 Course Elements: (read these carefully and completely) 1. Class Content & Video Lectures: a. This online class is being taught alongside an onsite section; the schedule of readings and content (above) is the same for online and onsite. The onsite lectures will be video recorded and posted to D2L for the benefit of the online students, along with a copy of the lecture slides. Barring technical difficulties, the lecture videos will be posted to D2L by the morning after the original lecture dates noted on the course schedule. b. Lectures will focus on the assigned reading, highlighting particular items and connecting content in the readings to other real-world examples. Frequently, videos will be shown to complement the course material. Online students are expected to watch each lecture video, having already read the course content. Watching just the lecture videos will not get you through the course do the readings first. c. Taking an online course requires a certain amount of self-discipline. Be sure to keep up with the reading assignments for each week. If you fall behind, it will be hard to catch up and perform well on the other required course elements. Scheduling a time for yourself to check the course content and discussion threads each day will be beneficial to your success. I also suggest taking notes while you read/watch the course content, and bring up questions or issues in the participation element (see below). 2. Online Discussion Participation: a. In week 2, the class will be broken into groups of 5-6 students each. These groups will participate in online discussions of the weekly topics amongst themselves, each group with its own discussion thread on D2L. To spark discussion, multiple questions will be provided for each week s lectures. b. All students are expected to actively and constructively participate in their assigned discussion group. The instructor will be tracking contributions by each student for the Participation grade element. If you make well-informed and relevant contributions on a consistent basis, then you should score very well (simply posting a response of I agree is not sufficient). However, do not feel you need to hog the discussion online discussion benefits from quality over quantity. c. In order to participate constructively, it is imperative that you prepare for discussions; do the readings in advance, and jot down questions or things you disagree with to bring up in your discussion thread. Then, track the discussion and provide any additional comments as needed. Don t just hit and run, but come back and see how group members have responded and engage in a true dialogue. 3. Exams: a. The course includes three exams. Each exam will consist of short answer and/or brief essay questions. Exams will be taken online via the D2L Quiz feature, will have a fixed time limit one started, and must be completed by 11:59pm on the date scheduled. These test dates are fixed, and no exceptions or extensions will be granted, except as allowed in the campus policy on special consideration ( b. Students needing special accommodations must visit the Student Accessibility Center for evaluation and provide the instructor the necessary paperwork at least one week in advance of the test date. 4. Term Paper: a. Students will be required to write a term paper in lieu of a final exam. Your paper will explore the ethical dimensions of an information technology of your choosing, using frameworks and approaches discussed L&I SCI 120: Information Technology Ethics, Fall online 3 of 6

4 in class. You must cite readings used in class, as well as reliable and appropriate sources found elsewhere. Additional details will be provided later in the semester. b. Proposal: Students are required to write a brief proposal for their final term paper (graded for credit). The proposal should open with the identification of the information technology you wish to explore, and a very brief mention of the ethical dimensions to be discussed. Five potential resources/citations should also be identified and provided (use the library databases and scholarly sources, along with news and online sources). Length should be at least 300 words (not including references). The proposal is due via D2L by 11:59pm on November 25, Feedback will be provided on the proposal to guide your progress on the final paper through one-on-one online chat sessions to be scheduled during the 15 th week of the class. c. Final papers must be between at least 1,500 words in length, and be your own original work. Final papers are due via D2L by 11:59pm December 18, 2013 via D2L dropbox. Late submissions will not be accepted. Course Policies: Credit Breakdown: Participation 20% Exam 1 15% Exam 2 15% Exam 3 15% Term Paper Proposal 10% Term Paper 25% Atmosphere for Learning: Grading Scale: A C A C B D B D B D C F Students are encouraged to participate in open and frank discussions of the course material, but are also expected to respect the opinions of other students and to engage in discussion and debates in a sensitive and respectful manner. - Before class begins, please turn off all cell phones, instant messengers, and any other items that might ring, buzz, play Call Me Maybe, or otherwise call attention to themselves and disrupt class. - Laptop computers may be used to assist in note taking. But please check , chat, text, and update your Facebook status on your own time; it is distracting and disrespectful to the instructor and your classmates. - Fair warning of things I will take note of: Coming to class late, leaving class early, sleeping in class, excessive eating in class, playing on your laptop or texting during class, doing work for other courses in class, etc. These, or similar, activities will negatively affect your attendance/participation grade. Special Considerations: - Please don t ask for extensions, make-up assignments, or extra credit (other than what might be offered to the entire class). Here is UWM s policy on special consideration, which I strive to follow closely: Special Consideration. The principle of equal treatment of all students shall be a fundamental guide in responding to requests for special consideration. No student should be given an opportunity to improve a grade that is not made available to all members of the class. This policy is not intended to exclude reasonable accommodation of verified student disability, or the completion of work missed as the result of religious observance, verified illness, or justified absence due to circumstances beyond the student's control. ( L&I SCI 120: Information Technology Ethics, Fall online 4 of 6

5 Contacting Me: - Via chat: I will respond to class-related instant message chats via Google Chat/Jabber protocol (find me at michael.zimmer@gmail.com) during normal work hours, and occasionally in the evenings if you see me online, feel free to send a message. When contacting me via chat, please be sure to introduce yourself by name and as a student in this class. Some course business is more suitable for an or face-to-face discussion, thus I might defer the discussion appropriately. - By I will respond to class-related s during normal work hours, and will generally reply the same day as received (an sent after working hours, however, may not be replied to until the next morning). Please be sure to use your UWM account, identify yourself and the course, and always use proper and professional etiquette and modes of address. For example, don t start your with Hey Mike or end with Kthxbye!. - In person: I will be in my office and available to talk to you during my scheduled office hours (see above). Other times may be available via appointment. UWM and SOIS Academic Policies: The following links contain university policies affecting all SOIS students. Many of the links below may be accessed through a PDF-document maintained by the Secretary of the University: Undergraduates may also find the Panther Planner and Undergraduate Student Handbook useful ( For graduate students, there are additional guidelines from the Graduate School ( including those found in the Graduate Student and Faculty Handbook: - Students with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in order to meet any of the requirements of a course, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. Students with disabilities are responsible to communicate directly with the instructor to ensure special accommodation in a timely manner. There is comprehensive coverage of issues related to disabilities at the Student Accessibility Center ( ), important components of which are expressed here: - Religious observances. Students sincerely held religious beliefs must be reasonably accommodated with respect to all examinations and other academic requirements, according to the following policy: Please notify your instructor within the first three weeks of the Fall or Spring Term (first week of shorter-term or Summer courses) of any specific days or dates on which you request relief from an examination or academic requirement for religious observances. - Students called to active military duty. UWM has several policies that accommodate students who must temporarily lay aside their educational pursuits when called to active duty in the military (see including provisions for refunds, readmission, grading, and other situations. - Incompletes. A notation of incomplete may be given in lieu of a final grade to a student who has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester but who, because of illness or other unusual and substantial cause beyond the student s control, has been unable to take or complete the final examination or some L&I SCI 120: Information Technology Ethics, Fall online 5 of 6

6 limited amount of other term work. An incomplete is not given unless the student proves to the instructor that s/he was prevented from completing course requirements for just cause as indicated above ( - Discriminatory conduct (such as sexual harassment). UWM and SOIS are committed to building and maintaining a campus environment that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person, fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect, and encourages the members of its community to strive to reach their full potential. The UWM policy statement ( summarizes and defines situations that constitute discriminatory conduct. If you have questions, please contact an appropriate SOIS administrator. - Academic misconduct. Cheating on exams and plagiarism are violations of the academic honor code and carry severe sanctions, ranging from a failing grade for a course or assignment to expulsion from the University. See the following document ( or contact the SOIS Investigating Officer (currently the Associate Dean) for more information. - Complaints. Students may direct complaints to the SOIS Dean or Associate Dean. If the complaint allegedly violates a specific university policy, it may be directed to the appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy. - Grade appeal procedures. A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on a capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow SOIS appeals procedures or, in the case of a graduate student, the Graduate School. These procedures are available in writing from the respective department chairperson or the Academic Dean of the College/School ( - Examinations, Finals. The Secretary of the University is authorized to prepare the final examination schedule. The time of the final examination for an individual or a class may be changed only with the prior approval of the dean or director of the respective college/school. The change will involve a postponement to a later date. For individuals with exam conflicts, a separate week at the very end of the exam week will be reserved to take one of the conflicting exams ( - D2L and Student Privacy: Certain SOIS courses utilize the instructional technology Desire to Learn (D2L) to facilitate online learning. D2L provides instructors the ability to view both individual data points and aggregate course statistics, including the dates and times individual students access the system, what pages a student has viewed, the duration of visits, and the IP address of the computer used to access the course website. This information is kept confidential in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), but may be used by the instructor for student evaluation within the constraints of this particular course. L&I SCI 120: Information Technology Ethics, Fall online 6 of 6