Wayne State University
College of Lifelong Learning
Interdisciplinary Studies Program
Fall, 1999		 Computers, the Internet, and Society
AGS 3340 Section 981 Call Number 96771
or ISP 5990 Section 982 Call Number 98339
http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen/internet

Last updated: 8/26/99
Link back to course Welcome

Syllabus, AGS 3340
Computers, the Internet and Society

Computers, the Internet, and Society, AGS 3340, for Fall 1999 is a course with six course meetings and substantial online work using the course web site for handouts, a computer conference for class discussions, and email for submitting and returning assignments. The major assignment are two quizzes, two papers and a Final Exam.

Content and Overall Schedule. For detailed assignments and schedules, see the "Assignments" page on the course web site.

  1. Overview. Week 1
    1. There is an initial class meeting to demonstrate the course web site and computer conference and to go over the assignments and content of the course.
    2. Computer information - files
      1. Operating systems - Windows
      2. Applications
        1. word processing, spreadsheets and data bases
        2. information becomes increasingly structured, can be used more flexibly
  2. Computer operating systems and applications. Weeks 2 - 4
    1. Operating systems
      1. Common user operations
    2. Major categories of applications
    3. Harware and software trends
  3. The Internet and its applications. Weeks 5 - 9
    1. What the Internet is, and how it works
    2. Internet applications
    3. Trends
  4. Living with the Net. Weeks 10 - 15
    1. What is driving change in this area.
    2. List of social issues. Winners and losers.
    3. Globalization.
    4. What are the new rules?

There is a separate detailed Assignment Schedule on the course web site. This schedule is subject to changes during the semester. Changes will be announced on the course web site, and on the course computer conference. It is your responsibility to keep up with any changes.

Instructor and Office Hours

The Instructor is David Bowen / Interdisciplinary Studies Program / Science and Technology Division.

Office: 2311 A/AB Building
5700 Cass Avenue
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan     48202
Telephone: (313) 577-1498 (WSU)
(248) 549-8518 (Evenings)
(313) 390-2155 (Ford Motor Company
(313) 577-8585 (FAX at WSU)
Email: d.r.bowen@wayne.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 4 - 6 PM in 113 Rackham, other times by arrangement. But call or email any time -- really.

Grading

The course grade will be calculated as follows:

10%
  • Conference postings. Rated on five-line minimum length and on substantive content. Minimum of 15 conference postings during the semester
10%
  • Personal web page
10%
  • Attendance at class sessions as evidenced by sign-in form, weekly course reports, informing Instructor of any attendance problems before they occur
10%
  • Essays A and B (each)
10%
  • Quizzes 1 and 2 (each)
10%
  • Email assignments
20%
  • Final exam

Grading Scale

Letter

Numerical

 Description

A

90-100

 Excellent

B

80-89

 Good

C

70-79

 Fair

D

60-69

 Poor but passing

E

0-59

 Failure

W

----

 Official withdrawal

X

----

 Stopped attending without official withdrawal

I

----

 Incomplete. Must be able to finish course without attending classes, must have completed a substantial part of the written assignments, must have agreement with Instructor for completion date.

The "-" range for a grade is the lower three points, and gets averaged at the middle. For example, A- is 90 to 92 and gets averaged as 91. The "+" for a grade is the top three points, and gets averaged at the middle. For example, B+ is 87 to 89 and gets averaged as 88. A grade of 100 is an A+. Note that the highest grade recognized by the University is A.

On-line Grade Reports

There will be a link on the course web site for on-line grade reports. These reports will let you look at your line in my grade book. If you want to have this available to you, for the on-line information form:

To get an on-line grade report, you will enter your first and last names, and this password.

Course passwords

You will have several IDs and passwords for this course:

  1. Your UserID and password for your Internet Service Provider
  2. Your UserID and password for the computer conference
  3. Your password for on-line grade reports, if enabled
  4. Your UserID and password for uploading files to your personal web site

It can a problem to keep all of these straight. Be aware that you can choose #2, #3 and #4 to match #1, if you want. Ask me for details.

OnLine Components of Course

Agenda 1, Part I.B.2.a describes how to test out of having to attend parts of this class. Check the AGS 3340 Assignment Schedule for changes in the assignments for parts of this course that you take on line.