Last updated: 1/10/2000
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Syllabus, AGS 3360
Computers, the Internet and Society

Computers, the Internet, and Society, AGS 3360, for Winter 2000 is a course with eight class meetings, a final exam 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 a personal web page, two quizzes, two papers and a Final Exam. Other assignments are weekly course reports, class sign-ins, weekly computer assignments, regular postings on the computer conference, and a personal web page.

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.
      1. Web browsers
      2. URLs
      3. Course web site
      4. Course computer conference
      5. Email
   2. Computer information - files
   3. Operating systems - Windows
      1. What Operating System do
      2. Common mouse operations
      3. Common features of Windows
   4. Applications
      1. word processing, spreadsheets and data bases
      2. information becomes increasingly structured, can be used more flexibly
2. Computer and Internet basics. Weeks 2 - 4
   1. Computers
      1. Major categories of applications
      2. Harware and software trends
      3. Word processing application
   2. The Internet
      1. Information transportation
      2. Domain name system
      3. Client server archtiecture
      4. List of social issues. Winners and losers.
3. The Internet and its applications. Weeks 5 - 9
   1. Computers
      1. Spreadsheet application
   2. Internet applications
      1. Email
      2. FTP
      3. World Wide Web ("web")
      4. Trends - globalization
4. Living with the Net. Weeks 10 - 15
   1. Computers
      1. Databases
   2. The Internet
      1. Privacy and security. Viruses
      2. Living with the Internet
   3. Connecting the themes of computers and the Internet

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.

There is a link to the Instructor's online detailed schedule on the home page for this course.

Grading

The course grade will be calculated as follows:

Grading Scale

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:

• Choose "yes" for the item on-line grade reports
• In the associated text box, enter a password for your grade reports.

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.

Important Dates

Dates of major assignments and evaluations:

NOTE: Near the end of the semester, in the event that some of your work is incomplete, or appears to be incomplete, it is important that I can get in touch with you. Make sure that my information for your telephone number(s) and email address are up to date!

Other important dates:

• Monday January 10: Classes begin, last day to file certificate or degree applications
• Monday January 10 through Monday January 24: Late open registration, $70 late fee
• Monday January 17: Martin Luther King Day observance - University holiday, no classes.
• Monday January 24: Last day to add/register
  Last day for tuition cancellation for courses officially dropped
• Tuesday January 25 through Monday February 7: Courses officially dropped through this period will not appear on your academic record. If you withdraw from all classes, your academic record will bear the notation "Complete Withdrawal". You are contractually liable for the tuition for courses dropped.
• Tuesday, February 8: After this date, the Instructor's signature is required to drop a course. A grade of "W" is assigned for dropped courses.
• Monday March 13 through Saturday March 18: Spring recess. No classes.
• Monday, April 24. Last day of classes.
• Tuesday, April 25. Study day. Last day to drop courses.
• Wednesday April 26 through Tuesday May 2: Final examination period.
• Tuesday May 9: Commencement.