CS 4345 -- Computerization in Society

Fall Quarter 1998

TTH 1:30-3 (Section A) TTH 3-4:30 (Section B)

Instructor
Albert Badre
Email: badre@cc.gatech.edu
Phone: 894-2598
Office Hours: TTH 11-12 in 203 CoC

Teaching Assistants
Scott McCrickard (Section A), Carlos Jensen (Section B)
Email: mccricks@cc.gatech.edu, carlosj@cc.gatech.edu
Office Hours (Scott): W 3-4:30, TH 4-5 or by appointment in CCB 226C
Office Hours (Carlos): MW 12-1, TH 11-12 or by appointment in CCB 267

Text
Computerization and Controversy, Rob Kling (Editor), 2nd edition, 1996

Resources
Short announcements will be posted to the newsgroup. The newsgroup is also the best place for you to post questions or comments that may be of general interest to the class. You should check for new news in this group almost daily, especially as exams and assignment due dates approach.

A full syllabus for each section will be maintained on the class Web page. Information about assignments and exams will be added to the syllabi throughout the quarter. Students who present are expected to submit a summary of the book sections and papers that they read as well as comments from the class via email to their TA. The writeups must be in plain text or HTML. The summaries will be linked to the class Web site. Students are encouraged to view the summaries from their own class as well as the other section when writing papers and preparing for the midterm.

Newsgroup: git.cc.class.4345
Web page: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs4345_98_fall/
Section A syllabus: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs4345_98_fall/secA.html
Section B syllabus: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs4345_98_fall/secB.html

Course Objectives
This course explores computing as a social process and will introduce you to the ethical and social responsibilities shared by all computing professionals. The course emphasizes both knowledge and skill which require the student to:

Teaching Philosophy
The primary purpose of this course is to help you develop into responsible and effective professionals by helping you to discover the ethical and social responsibilities shared by all computing professionals as well as the social implications of the technology you will be creating and promoting after graduation.

This is not something you can learn by instruction. Only you can learn. As instructor, I can only guide and assist you. Thus, all of the class activities are designed to help you learn.

I make intensive use of classroom discussions and analytical writing assignments. You will be given many opportunities to express your positions on various situations where computerization is having an impact on such topics as: the economy and labor markets, work life, public safety, consumer rights, intellectual property, individual privacy, social stratification, democracy, education,, gender bias, national security, health, etc.

You will be expected to participate actively in discussions. On any given issues, you may be asked to summarize and criticize reading assignments from the text or articles that you have read for your project papers.

Grading
Weekly Assignments 30%

Term paper 20%

Class participation 30%

Debate 10%

Mid-Term 10%

All weekly Assignments and Term Paper are required for passing the course.