Courses Wayne State University College of Lifelong Learning Interdisciplinary Studies Program Computers and Society courses, Winter 2001     ( http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen/casw01) Mondays, 6 - 9:40 PM in 113 Rackham Computers and Society     GST 2710, Section 988, Call Number 95241, 4 credits Computers and Society     AGS 3360, Section 983, Call Number 98319, 4 credits Office hours: Mondays 4 - 6 PM in 113 Rackham	Instructor
	David R. Bowen 2311 A/AB Wayne State University Detroit, MI 48202	Daytime tel: (313) 577-1498 Evening tel: (248) 549-8518 FAX: (313) 577-8585 Home Page:     http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen Email: d.r.bowen@wayne.edu

Last updated: 1/22/01
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AGS 3360 Syllabus
Computers and Society
Winter 2001

This class primarily uses Microsoft Office2000 under the Windows NT operating system.

Instructor: David R. Bowen

Office Hours:
* Mondays and Wednesdays 4 to 6 PM in 113 Rackham Lab, on days when classes are in session
   Lab phone: (313) 577-9705
But call or email anytime!

Office Location: 2311 A/AB Building
(ISP offices, 5700 Cass at the northeast corner of Palmer and Cass)
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48202

Work Phone (ISP office): 313-577-1498
ISP FAX: 313-577-8585
Home Phone: 248-549-8518
At Ford: 313-390-2155
E-mail: d.r.bowen@wayne.edu

Course Description and Objectives:

The purpose of this course is to make students computer literate in an interdisciplinary context. Therefore the objectives are not only to provide students with hands-on experience with commonly used applications such as Word-processing, Database, Spreadsheet, Drawing, and Painting programs, but also to introduce the conceptual underpinnings of the digital computer to to enable them to better grasp its strengths and limitations as a tool in solving a variety of problems, to introduce students to its architecture and how it functions as an information processing system through the addition of appropriate peripherals, to introduce students to methods of communication with a variety of information sources, and to examine the impacts of computers on society with particular emphasis on the transformation of values, and the nature of work in the changing culture.

The course will cover three major areas:

1. Computer Concepts and Computer Architecture
   1. Structure of a computer
      1. Binary representation of information
      2. How machines do logic
      3. Interrelationship of the various parts of the computer
      4. Operating Systems
   2. Peripherals (Floppy and Hard Disks, Printers, Monitors, etc.)
   3. Software (Machine Language, Programming Language, and Applications)
   4. Personal/Mainframe Computer communication
   5. Client / Server architecture
   6. Internet and World Wide Web
2. Laboratory work using selected software (Microsoft Works on DOS/Windows)
   1. Word Processing
   2. Spreadsheets
   3. Database Analysis
   4. Charting
   5. Introduction to programming (QBasic)
   6. Internet and World Wide Web applications
3. The Impact of Computers on Society
   1. Artificial Intelligence
   2. Computer Applications - Cars, Electronic Mail, etc.
   3. Intellectual Property
   4. Impact on the Workplace
   5. Impact on the Economy
   6. Impact on Values

Student Rights and Privileges

Students can appeal grades, assignments or practices that they regard as unfair as follows:

1. Instructor - David Bowen, tel (313) 577-1498
2. Course Coordinator - Thomas Moeller, tel (313) 623-4365 (beeper/cell)
3. Literacy and Critical Thought Coordinator - Andre Furtado, tel (313) 577-4612
4. Director, Interdisciplinary Studies Program - Stuart Henry, tel (313) 577-6566
5. Dean, College of Lifelong Learning - Paula Wood (Interim) tel (313) 577-4675
6. University Ombudsperson (student advocate) - Victoria Anderson, tel (313) 577-3487
7. University President - Irvin D. Reid, tel (313) 577-2230

The Instructor is usually the first step. Those trying to start at the upper levels are usually referred back to the lower levels first.

Materials:

AGS 3360 Texts, available at Barnes and Noble Campus Bookstore, Tel. (313) 577-, except where noted:

1. Microsoft Office 2000 Professional, Course Technology / Thomson Learning ISBN # 0-7600-6961-1
2. Computers, Society and Technology.
3. AGS 3360 Text, available at area bookstores and online, for example at www.amazon.com (new and used) and www.21NorthMain.com (used): The Road Ahead with CD-ROM, by Bill Gates, published 1995 (hardback) and 1996 (paperback)

Other required materials:

1. High Density 3-1/2" Floppy Disk This may be purchased at the University Bookstore, Radio Shack, or any computer store, for about $1.00 before the 2nd class. You may need 2 disks. You will use this disk to store your work between lab sessions. Treat it carefully. You can damage the disk and lose the information on it because of heat, cold, strong electric or magnetic fields, dust or debris in the bottom of a briefcase or handbag, and bending or twisting. Seriously consider buying a diskette carrier. If you buy a formatted floppy diskette, make sure that it is formatted for Windows IBM PCs and compatibles.
2. Wayne State University or other Internet email account. WSU gives students free accounts for Internet access and for Internet email. these accounts are issued to students during their first semester, and are valid for one calendar year after leaving the University. Notification of your AccessID and Password is sent by postcard to your home address listed with the University. If you were a student as of Fall 1997, you were notified at that time. If you entered after Fall 1997, you were notified during your first semester. If you have lost the notification, you can apply in person for a renotification in the C&IT computer center in the Adamany Undergraduate Library (telephone 313-577-4778)
   
   You can also access the Internet free from WSU computer labs, including the 113 Rackham lab, and the computers in the Adamany Undergraduate Library. Other institutions, such as libraries and town halls, provide free Internet access. Free web-based email is available from www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com or www.netscape.com, among others.

Dates of Major Evaluations:

• Half hour quiz at start of class every week for the first 5 weeks
• Four hour midterm exam on the ninth class (March 19)
• Half hour Quiz on April 2
• Course paper is due on the last day of class, April 23.
• Four hour final exam on April 30

Grading:

There will be weekly homework assignment, regular quizzes, several computer assignments and two examinations. Homework is due the week following the assignment. An additional book, Internet references and a 6 page paper are required, on a topic related to the course.

The course grade will be constituted as follows:

• Weekly Assignments: 15%
  ( May be reduced if there is a significant difference between quiz and exam performance and homework performance)
• Quizzes 10%
• Attendance 10%
  No missed classes gets averaged in as a 100 (A+)
  The 100 gets lowered by ten points (one grade) for each missed class, to a minimum of 50 (E).
• Midterm Exam 20%
• Final Exam 25%
• Paper 20%

Paper

The paper for AGS 3360 is on one of the topics 1 through 5 from the list below. Whichever of the questions 1 - 5 you choose, your paper must answer all of the sub-questions.

1. A. List and describe the forecasted trends in The Road Ahead that could increase the individuation of personal lives.
   B. What trends in The Road Ahead could result in the formation of many separate groups?
2. A. What trends does Gates forsee for education?
   B. In what specific ways could these changes affect ISP?
   C. In what specific ways could these chages affect this course?
3. A. What are the stages that Gates lists in the development of computers?
   B. How does Gates see these present trends developing?
   C. What new stage does Gates see coming next?
4. A. List the computer and technology-based corporations that Gates sees as having made serious mistakes in the past.
   B. What lessons does Gates draw from these failures?
   C. What business opportunities does Gates think will develop?
5. A. Does Gates feel that the future of society is determined?
   * If your answer is basically "yes", what determines the future of society?
   * If your answer is basically "no", what forces does Gates feel will influence the development of society?
   B. Does Gates feel that technology is an independent social force?
   * If your answer is basically "yes", how does technology manage to stay independent of the rest of society?
   * If your answer is basically "no", how is technology influenced by other sectors of society?

In addition to The Road Ahead, you should also use three library references and three Internet references.

The standards for the Essay writing are given below.

Essays are to be 3 to 5 pages double spaced (4 to 6 hand-written), and will be graded according to the following criteria:

1. Content. 40%. At the top of your essay, BEFORE the title, you should put your name, indicate which essay this is, and which one of the topics (just the topic number is OK) you are addressing. Does your essay answer the questions in the topic? Does your essay show evidence of having read the assignments and applied them to the topic? Have you formulated a consistent point of view towards the topic? It is fine to present several different points of view, but if you change your point of view while you are writing your essay, and you do not realize that this is happening, then your essay will not have a consistent point of view.
   
   Your essay should include detail as well as general points. That makes your point of view convincing. Detail can include:
   * Quotations. (However, an essay that is mainly quotations suggests that you have not thought enough about the topic to have your own point of view.)
   * Specific examples of the potential effects of your general points.
   * Your own opinions and experience, or the experience of other people, for example from current events.
   
   Detail will also make the connection between the general points in the topic and the reader. What are the consequences of your point of view? Why should anyone care? Examples and other detail will convince the reader of the importance of your topic, and will convince me that you understand your topic. If you have not shown me why your essay matters, I will often write, "So What?" at the bottom.
   
2. Form. 40%. Title, Intro., Body, Conclusion
   1. Does your Title describe the contents of the essay? "Catchy" titles earn brownie points.
   2. Do you have an identifiable Introduction that describes to a general reader what to expect, serving as a "road map" to the essay as a whole? By "general reader" I mean someone else besides the instructor. For example, writing that "This essay will answer Question 1" is NOT addressed to a general reader. A general reader might be interested in your topic, but would not be interested that you are completing a specific assignment. A good idea is to pretend that you are writing a magazine or newspaper article.
   3. Does your essay have a Body that is well organized and proceeds from topic to topic without wandering aimlessly around? In complicated cases, it should even keep track for the reader, where in the overall structure we happen to be. Is the body consistent with the Introduction? Do you support general statements with specific examples and/or information? Your main ideas should be broken into separate paragraphs, and any large or sudden transitions should be identified and smoothed over for the reader.
   4. Do you have an identifiable Conclusion that accurately summarizes your essay, as a whole? Does your Conclusion show that you have dealt with the question or topic posed in the Introduction, and does your Conclusion give an impression of drawing the essay to a close? Generally, new information or ideas should be in the Body, not the Conclusion, and putting them in the Conclusion indicates that you have not yet finished thinking out your answer. An exception to this general rule is that you can place the topic in a larger context or demonstrate its larger importance, if this can be done with a single short question or statement.
      
      Many beginning students will write an essay by emptying out whatever thoughts on the topic are in their heads, and stopping when they have run out of things to write about. This method will not work well for the Times' Harvest essays; they need to be thought out ahead of time, and the writing planned. There is a way to cheat; write the Body first, and then the Introduction and Conclusion.
      
      Some instructors have described this form as, "First you tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em, then you tell 'em, and then you tell 'em what you just told 'em." Another attempt is, "The Introduction says what your point is, the Body proves it, and the Conclusion answers the question 'So what?'".
      
      Even if you are answering a question with several parts, your essay should be a unified whole while still managing to answer the individual parts. That is, in answering a question with several parts, reformulate the question into one question that includes the individual parts of the original question.
3. Mechanics. 20%. This refers to punctuation, spelling, and grammar. The remarks below are not a complete guide to good mechanics, but do point out some of the most common problems.
   1. Punctuation. A complete sentence has at a minimum a subject and a verb, (or an action and actor), expresses a complete thought, and has no missing references. For example, "John ran" and "John ran to the store" are both complete sentences, but "John ran to" is not (missing reference - where is John running?).
      
      The punctuation marks ",;:." indicate progressively higher levels of separation between sentence elements, and are used as follows:
      
      ",". Separates parts of a sentence that would be incomplete by themselves, in order to make the logical structure of the sentence clear. The comma is used, for example, to set off an explanatory phrase, or to separate items in a list.
      
      ";". Indicates a higher level of separation than the comma. For example, if the items in a list have internal commas, then ";" is used to separate the items. Further, a semicolon is used to separate items in a parallel construction: "A's are good; E's, bad." It can also be used to connect two complete sentences, if the second is subordinate to the first: "The grades in this course were high; I got an A."
      
      ":". This is only used to join complete sentences or to signify the beginning of a list.
      
      ".". Ends a sentence. Whatever follows must be a complete sentence since it is not joined to the preceding sentence.
      
      The apostrophe (') indicates possession; it is only rarely used to make a word plural. Normally, a word is made plural by the simple addition of an "s".
   2. Spelling. Some common mistakes: (a) not using the right one of the "three two's" (to, too, two), and (b) there is no "e" at the end of "develop" (this one seems to be common in Michigan, for some reason!). If an abbreviation is specific to your job, or is not common, it should be explained the first time it is used (similarly, a technical term or jargon word should be explained at the first use). In general, use a dictionary or SpellCheck to check your spelling.
   3. Grammar. The most common problem is a verb (the action) that does not agree with the subject (the actor). For example, "it means", not "it mean" ("it" refers to one thing, "mean" to two or more, while "means" is the singular form). Other common problems are changing tense (past, present, future) or person (I, you, them) within a sentence or connected sequence of sentences; and breaking off a phrase into a separate sentence that does not have both a subject and verb. This last practice CAN be acceptable if the intention is to emphasize the second phrase or to emphasize that there are several examples of a major point. A common example goes, "This author (or instructor?) goes on. And on. And on." Generally, you should not break the rules in such a creative manner, unless the rest of your essay shows that you know how to obey them. Help for problems with grammar can be gotten by buying Keys to American English by Richard Raspa et al, published by Harcourt-Brace. The University Bookstore carries this; any bookstore should be willing to order it for you.

   (I will not require a specific format for references or footnotes. References can be put "in line" in the normal body, and do not need to be collected at the bottom of the page. A suitable reference is "As Toffler writes in The Third Wave ...". To be more specific, include the page or chapter number in a similar manner.)

I am aware that this is a high standard for writing, requiring thoughtful and careful reading, your own analysis, and good organization and command of your own written "voice."

PLAGIARISM:

In academic work, plagiarism is treated as a serious breaking of the rules. Plagiarism basically means passing off someone else's work as your own. It does not matter whether this is done on purpose or by accident, by commission or omission, from one source or from many sources; it is still plagiarism, and it is still serious. The most obvious form of plagiarism is "copying" - using another author's words, without a hint that they are not yours. Changing one or two words in a sentence still results in plagiarism. On the other hand, using quotation marks and a reference to the source is OK, since you are not passing off the work as yours. Such references can even add to an impression that you have read the assignments!  References to opinions can also be used to strengthen your arguments, since a reference makes clear that someone else feels the same way that you do.

Work that contains plagiarism will be ignored, as if it were never turned in. In order to receive credit for the assignment, another topic must be chosen, and the essay completely rewritten. The assignment will also be counted as late, which will limit the grade that it can receive. Note that at the end of the course, there may not be enough time to rewrite an essay, or even to notify you, before grades are due. Therefore, plagiarism near the end of the semester can have a particularly serious effect on your grade.

If you have any doubt about what plagiarism is, make sure to ask the instructor. To be safe, make sure that you give credit to any authors you borrow from.

Alternatives to Essays:
Instead of writing an essay, you can develop something equivalent in another form. Possiblities include but are not limited to:

• Web page for course web site
• Short story
• Poem

These alternatives are not substitutes for the reading and analysis that goes into an essay, but present the equivalent content in an alternate form. If you want to try one of these alternate forms, you should contact me first to make sure that I agree that your idea will be equivalent to an essay in content.

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.

Incomplete Policy:

Incompletes will be given in this course only under very exceptional circumstance, as the student cannot be assured of a a computer station in the subsequent terms if the classes are filled to capacity. Under no circumstances will incompletes be given to students who miss two weeks of class in the first 8 weeks of the 16 week term, unless they meet with the instructor before the second absence. Make-up exams will only be given in exceptional circumstances for officially verified medical reasons. The request must come before the actual exam.

Dropping Classes

Do not just stop attending this or any other WSU class. You will still owe tuition and will get a grade, such as E or X, that you do not want on your record. Always use a Drop form to drop a class. These forms are easily availabel through an Academic Counsellor (call (313) 577-0832 for ISP Academic Counsellors). If you have severe problems during the semester, ask the Instructor for an Incomplete (I) that you can make up afterwards, or less, depending on the Instructor.

(for this course, you can turn in work after the Final to count towards a change of grade. I can turn in a change of grade up to the end of the Winter, 2001 semester. You can turn in work up to two weeks before that time.)

Important Academic Dates:

Other Significant Dates:

Grading for Course withdrawals:

Students who do not officially withdraw from the course before the drop deadline will be given an E. Students who have reasons for withdrawal after the drop-deadline that are compelling enough to warrant an exception to this policy will only be considered for an exception if they meet with the instructor about the issue allowing no more than 2 consecutive absences or a total of 3 absences to elapse before the meeting. A grade of X will be considered in such cases.

Exceptions to grading policy:

• Students who score an A in the midterm and the final exams will obtain an A in the course.
• Students who score a C or D on the quizzes, and midterm and final examinations can have their grade improved significantly if their attendance and homework is steady and demonstrates their understanding of the concepts.

Students who miss a class are required to pick up the assignment for the following week as soon as possible, and turn in their assignments for the subsequent week on time. The major cause of student failure in the past in this class has been poor attendance, and irregular attention to the course. Very few, if any, students who have done their own homework and attended class regularly have failed this computer class. Student with anticipated work related attendance problems should contact the instructor well in advance. Students with special emergencies should call and leave a message as soon as possible.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

You must have the required materials. Those individuals who chose not to have the required materials will be seriously jeopardizing their chances for success in this class!. Please contact your instructor and counselor immediately if this is a problem for you.

Laboratory work will be involved for the second half of the four hour class period every week. Students will be provided a computer that runs DOS/Windows and the required software, to work with in the lab, and will be assigned software on disk. Texts associated with the software will be used to do exercises. As lab time is limited, students should be well prepared at home to attack their lab assignments efficiently. Almost all students need to use a computer outside of class hours to finish their computer assignments. The classroom presentation is a distillation of the assigned readings. Concentration in the classroom represents the most efficient use of the student's time. Students are encouraged to tape the lecture-discussion part of each class to ensure that the concepts are internalized. It is much more difficult to glean them cold from the readings.

Miscellaneous Notices:

WHEN WORKING AT THE ISP LAB, OR ON ANY OTHER COMPUTER, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR FLOPPY DISK FOR VIRUSES BEFORE AND AFTER YOU USE THE COMPUTER!!!!!!

USE THE SAME COMPUTER EACH CLASS.

PLEASE MAKE BACKUP OF ALL YOUR DATA FILES FROM THE HARD DISK TO YOUR FLOPPY DISK BEFORE LEAVING THE LAB. YOU MAY FIND YOUR FILES ON THE HARD DISK DESTROYED ACCIDENTALLY OR DELIBERATELY BY ANOTHER USER.

PLEASE SAVE YOUR WORK FREQUENTLY WHILE IT IS IN PROGRESS (ABOUT EVERY 10 MINUTES) SO IT IS NOT LOST IN A SYSTEM CRASH. BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ABOUT SAVING BEFORE PRINTING.

NO SMOKING IN THE LAB UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU CANNOT BRING EDIBLES OR BEVERAGES TO YOUR STATION. THESE MAY DAMAGE THE COMPUTERS.

APART FROM YOUR OWN FILES, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE ALL COMPUTER FILES UNCHANGED BY THE TIME YOU LEAVE THE CLASSROOM. IF YOUR INSTRUCTOR HAS SHOWN YOU HOW TO DO A PARTICULAR FILE OR PROGRAM TRANSFER, PLEASE UNDO THE TRANSFER BEFORE LEAVING SO STUDENTS IN THE NEXT SECTION CAN REPEAT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

PERUSING ANOTHER STUDENT'S PERSONAL FILES IS CONSIDERED AN INVASION OF PRIVACY. DUPLICATION OF ANY FILE OTHER THAN YOUR OWN WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTOR'S PRIOR PERMISSION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE STUDY BUDDY IN THE CLASSROOM. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYONE MAKE YOUR NEIGHBOR IN THE LAB YOUR STUDY BUDDY AND BE SURE TO EXCHANGE PHONE NUMBERS. HAVE YOUR STUDY BUDDY PICK UP MATERIALS FOR YOU IN YOUR ABSENCE.

REGULAR AND PROMPT ATTENDANCE AND ATTENTION TO ASSIGNED READING AND EXERCISES IS ESSENTIAL FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CLEAN UP YOUR STATION AND SHUT THE COMPUTER DOWN BEFORE LEAVING. DO NOT SIMPLY SHUT THE POWER OFF.

KNOW WHERE YOUR FILES ARE! A MAJOR CAUSE OF LOST WORK AND LOWERED GRADES IN THIS CLASS HAS BEEN SAVING WORK TO THE HARD DRIVE (C:) INSTEAD OF THE FLOPPY DRIVE (A:). THESE HARD DRIVES ARE ERASED IMMEDIATELY AFTER EACH SEMESTER, SO ALL WORK SAVED TO THE C: DRIVE WILL BE LOST WHEN THE HARD DRIVES ARE ERASED.

SHUTTING DOWN A WINDOWS NT COMPUTER

1. MAKE SURE THAT ALL WORK IS SAVED.
2. CLICK ON THE "Start" BUTTON (NORMALLY AT LOWER LEFT CORNER OF SCREEN)
3. MAKE SURE THAT "Shut down the computer?" IS CHECKED, AND THEN CLICK ON the "Yes" BUTTON
4. IF YOU HAVE ANY UNSAVED WORK, YOU WILL BE GIVEN A LAST CHANCE TO SAVE IT AT THIS POINT
5. REMOVE FLOPPY DISKETTE
6. IF NECESSARY, WHEN THE SCREEN ANNOUNCES THAT IT IS NOW SAFE TO SHUT DOWN THE COMPUTER, TURN OFF THE POWER