GEN 110 - Freshman Seminar: Computers and Society

Dr. R. M. Siegfried

214 Post Hall      (516)877-4482      siegfrie@adelphi.edu

Office Hours - MWF 10:00-10:50AM; Th 10:00AM-1:00PM

1. COURSE TITLE
   GEN 110 - Freshman Seminar: Computers and Society
2. CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
   Over the last two decades, computers have become an extremely common and integral part of our lives, first as tools to help us with our work and avocations and more recently as a means to become connected to each other through the Internet. The purpose of the seminar is to explore the social impact that this has had and to examine the ethical issues that arise with increasing computer use.
3. RATIONALE
   The course is to provide students with the intellectual that are necessary in order to make ethical decisions in the use of computers and automated information resources and to evaluate the impact that they have had on society
4. COURSE OBJECTIVES
   This course will meet the following General Education Learning Goals and Objectives:
   • Communication is the clear, coherent interchange of ideas with a particular purpose and audience, using written, oral, and/or electronic means. Note that the development of students' communication skills may be either an explicit goal or an implicit, yet essential, component of instruction.
   • Critical and Integrative Thinking is the ability to identify, evaluate, and construct arguments and proposed solutions to problems. Students should be able, through logical analysis and synthesis, to categorize information, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant data, and predict outcomes.
   • Information Literacy is a set of abilities enabling students to recognize when information is needed, and to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information. "Information" in this context, includes a variety of sources - print, non-print, and electronic.
5. REQUIRED TEXT
   There is no required textbook; however, miscellaneous readings will be assigned throughout the semester.
   • COURSE OUTLINE
     1. General Introduction to Ethics
     2. Social and Ethical Issues in Computing
     3. Computer Crime
     4. Computer Errors
     5. Software Reliability
     6. Hacking
     7. Computer Viruses
     8. Software Piracy, Music Piracy and Intellectual Property
     9. "Netiquette" - Social Protocols on the Internet
     10. Computers and Privacy Issues
     11. Computerizing the Workplace
   • COURSE REQUIREMENTS
     1. 4-6 Short Papers (each 2-3 pages in length)
     2. A term paper (15-25 pages in length)
     3. 2-3 Short presentations
     4. Final presentation (based on term paper)
   • GRADING OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE
     1. Communication will be assessed based on the writing assignments (the short papers and term paper) and the in-class presentations.
     2. Critical and Integrative Thinking will be assessed based on the short papers and term paper
     3. Information Literacy will be assessed based in the short papers and term paper
     4. Grading Algorithm:

        Short Presentations	25%
        Final Presentation	25%
        Short Papers	25%
        Term Paper	25%

   • OTHER RELATED READINGS IN THE AREA
     None
   • ATTENDANCE
     Attendance is required. After four absences, your grade will be lowered by one-third of a grade (e.g., A to A-, A- to B+, etc.). You are also responsible for whatever work is covered in class whether or not you are there. Absence from quizzes, the midterm and the final exam will be excused only for a good and well-documented reason. The decision to allow a make-up exam will be made in accordance with the policies of Adelphi University.
   • NOTA BENE:
     • This class will not meet on Friday, April 10 and Wednesday, April 15. The meetings will be made up uduring the Study Period and/or online. The schedule for make-up classes will be announced during the term.
     • Assignments are due at the start of class. Late penalties may be assessed.
     • All students are expected to conform to the University's standards of academic integrity. Violations of these standard, including (but not limited to) plagiarism or misconduct during exams, will be dealt with in accordance with University regulations and procedures.