Email: bylander at cs.utsa.edu or through WebCT

Textbook (required): A Gift of Fire, second edition, by Sara Baase, ISBN 0130082155, published by Prentice Hall.

Prerequisite:

There are no prerequisites, and no specific previous knowledge of computers is assumed.  However, students will be expected to use computers and to access the World Wide Web.  This course counts for the ``Diversity of Thought'' slot in the Core Curriculum.  Note: This course is not designed for computer science majors, and credit in the course will not count toward a Computer Science degree.

Course Goals and Objectives:

• Learning about the information revolution--its new opportunities and problems.
• Learning about the effects of this revolution on society and culture.
• Being exposed to some of the technology behind the revolution.
• Learning the basics of ethics and ethical decision making.
• Practicing essay writing, including not just a focus on ideas, but on the mechanics of writing.
• Learning to use the World Wide Web.
• Working on a longer and larger project for the course.

Attendance:

Students are expected to come to every class.  Students are responsible for material presented and discussed in class, and quizzes and assignments may require or be based on material available only during and within class.

Turning in Assignments: All assignments will be turned in by use of WebCT. Any other method of turning in an assignment will result in a grade of zero (0) for that assignment.

Late Assignments:

All assignments are due at the time specified via the WebCT submission system.  Any assignment turned in after the date and time specified will not be accepted and will be assigned a grade of zero (0).  Please note that the reason that the assignment is late is not considered.

Makeup work:

There are no makeup assignments, no makeup projects, and no makeup quizzes.  Not ever.  Not for any reason.

Grading:

Notes:

1. Quizzes: On six occasions there will be a quiz.  Quizzes may be over the current reading assignments that have NOT yet been discussed in class, or on the discussion in class, or on material that has been assigned and discussed.  Clearly, it will be important to read the assigned material BEFORE you come to class! There will be six (6) quizzes.  I will not give makeup quizzes, so you need to save up your drop for the time you have to miss.  Note: No makeups for missed quizzes.  Not ever.  Not for any reason.

2. One-page Essays: These will have a topic assigned ahead of time and will always be due on the date and at the time specified.  (This must be an individual essay, not a group effort.)

3. Research Project 1: This is a separate project for each student, in which the student researches a topic on the web and produces information and links to relevant sites.  (This must be an individual project, not a group effort.)

4. Research Project 2: Individual students will research and submit on a project that involves the cultural implications and effects of various technological trends and developments.  (This must be an individual project, not a group effort.)

5. Drop Date: April 28, 2008 (Freshmen, 29 hours or less)
6. Drop Date: March 25, 2008 (Sophomore or higher, 30 hours or more)
7. Final Exam: None

• Reading Assessment Quizzes (6 -- 5% each): 30%
• One-page Essays (4 -- 7.5% each): 30%
• Web Resource Project: 20%
• Research Project: 20%
• Final exam: 0% (None)
  

Scholastic Dishonesty:

From the UTSA Undergraduate Catalog: The integrity of a university degree depends on the integrity of the work done for that degree by each student.  The University expects a student to maintain a high standard of individual honor in his/her scholastic work.

General:

There is no makeup work of any kind.  Attendance in class is expected and required.  However, if you have to miss a class, It is important for you to find out from others what happened in the class.  The class web pages are on WebCT and http://www.cs.utsa.edu/~bylander/cs1023/.

You should put bookmark at those pages for easy access.  Class information and assignments will be posted on those page.  You are responsible for reading the web pages.