Ethical and Social Implications of Computing

Syllabus

 

Course Name:

Ethical and Social Implications of Computing

Course Numbers:

CRN 80345, Course SYCS 390-01

Credit Hours:

3

Times:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:10-9:30 am

Professor:

Dr. Kathleen M. Kaplan

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Systems and Computer Science

Howard University, (202)-806-7286

[email protected], https://www.imappl.org/~kaplan

Office hours:� M (9-11), T (10-12), Th (10-12), or by appointment

Course web-site:

https://www.imappl.org/~kaplan/fall03/ethics/ethics.html

Textbook:

A Gift of Fire, 2nd ed., Sara Baase, ISBN 0-13-008215-5

I-Way Robbery, W. C. Boni & G. Kovacich, ISBN 0-7506-7029-0

References:

Other handouts will be assigned or given in class.

Prerequisites:

None

Major Topics Covered:

Privacy, intellectual property, cyberspace freedom of speech, computer crime, professional codes of ethics, internet and communication ethics, workplace ethics.

 

Goal of the Course:

The student, upon successful completion of the course, will be knowledgeable about ethical concepts with respect to computing.

 

Important Dates:

8/28:��� Last day to add/drop without a �W�

10/9:��� Midterm

11/11:� Veteran�s Day, no class

11/14:� Last day to withdraw

11/27:� Thanksgiving, no class

12/4:��� Last class

12/12:� Final, Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., as stated in the Student Reference Manual and Directory of Classes, First Semester, 2003

 

Attendance Regulations

From https://www.howard.edu/enrollmentmanagement/admission/Fall2003RegManual.pdf:

�All students are expected to attend classes regularly and promptly.� Students who are absent from classes or laboratory periods are responsible for the entire work of the course.� Members of the faculty will hold students responsible for regular and prompt class attendance.� Any student who does not take a scheduled mid-term or final examination must obtain the approval of his or her instructor in order to take a substitute examination.� A student who does not secure such approval will receive a grade of zero for the examination missed.�

Class Participation

Class participation is required.

 

Class Time

Anything that disturbs the class, whether it be a cell phone, pager, or some other noise-making device, must be turned off prior to class time.� Also, students are to be on time.� Please do not attend class if you are ten or more minutes late.� This disrupts the class.� Also, if you must leave class during class time for an unexpected reason, please do not return.

 

These rules are in accordance with the Howard University Student Code of Conduct and Judiciaries:

  • Section III, Student Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities:
    • Subsection C, students share the following responsibilities: �2. To respect the personal and property rights of others and to act in a responsible manner at all times.� 3. To protect and foster the intellectual, academic, cultural, social and other missions of the University.��
  • Section VIII, Prohibited Behaviors:
    • Subsection R, �Failing to comply with the directions of an authorized University official, faculty, or staff member acting in the performance of his or her duties or any other person responsible for a University facility or registered function acting in accordance with those responsibilities.��
    • Subsection T: �Acting in a manner that impairs, interferes with, or obstructs the orderly conduct, processes, or functions of the University or of any person or persons on University owned or operated property.�

 

Academic Infractions

Academic Dishonesty, i.e., cheating, will not be tolerated in this course.� Any instances of cheating will result in, at the very least, a zero for the assignment/exam/etc. and notification to all necessary officials.� This is also in accordance with Howard University Academic Code of Student Conduct, which lists two definitions of academic infractions:

  1. �Academic cheating � any intentional act(s) of dishonesty in the fulfillment of academic course or program requirements� This infraction assumes that with the exception of authorized group assignments or group take home assignments, all course or program assignments shall be completed by an individual student only.�
  2. �Plagiarism � to take and pass off intentionally as one�s own the ideas, writings, etc. of another without attribution (without acknowledging the author).�

It also lists the actions to be taken; please see manual for more information.

 

Handouts

Other reading material will be assigned in the course.

Programs

Programs may be assigned throughout the semester.� Each is due at the beginning of class on the due-date.� Any program not submitted at this time will be late.

 

Quizzes/Homework/Assignments

Students in the course can expect quizzes, homework, and assignments frequently.� Quizzes may not be announced in advance.� A missed quiz is a zero and no make-up quizzes will be given.� Homework and assignments submitted late will be given substantial deductions.� Homework and assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due-dates.

Exams

There will be a midterm and a final exam.� The final exam is cumulative.� Specifications for both exams will be given prior to the exam dates.� Both exams will be open BINDER.� A student can bring into the exams a three-ring binder will all materials neatly secured in the binder via the binder�s rings.

Grading

Class Participation

10%

Quizzes/Homework/Assignments

30%

Course Project

20%

Midterm, Oct. 9, Thursday

20%

Final, Friday December 12, 2003 8:00 a.m. � 10:00 a.m.

20%

 

Submitted Work

All work submitted must:

  • Have in the upper left or right corner:
    • Name & ID
    • Ethical & Social Impact of Computing, SYCS 390
    • Assignment number/name
    • Due date

o       Fall 2003, Dr. Kaplan

�        Be typed, double-spaced, with a 10-12 point font, unless stated otherwise

�        Be stapled in the upper left corner

�        Include page numbers if contains multiple pages

�        Include citations and references.� All submitted material will follow the guidelines of the IEEE formats.� Seehttps:////www.ecf.utoronto.ca/~writing/handbook-docum1b.html for more information.� All material submitted should consist of citations and references.

�        Not be in plastic folders, etc.

�        Not be from pages ripped out of a spiral notebook.

Other Items

�        Recommendations.� If you want me to recommendation you, you must have received As and/or Bs from me, and I must agree to giving you a recommendation.� I need at least a week turn-around time, i.e. from Friday to the following Friday.

  • Contacting me.� Office hours are given above; please see me if you need to meet at a different time.� I can be reached via email ([email protected]) quickly or phone (202-806-7286).� Please do not come to my office to tell me that you missed class and want to know �if anything important happened.�
  • Announcements.� Announcements made in class may or may not be placed on the web.� It is the student�s responsibility for missed class material and announcements.
  • Extra Credit.� Extra credit may not be given!� Do not rely upon extra credit for your course grade.
  • Extra Funding Opportunities.� Sometimes I have work for students outside of class.� If interested, please contact me.

 

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990

If you want to be identified as a person with a disability and need special accommodations, please make an appointment to see Dr. Kaplan.