CSU Long Beach
ENGR 350
Computers, Ethics, and Society

Syllabus
Schedule
Grading
Portfolio
Homework:
  Guidelines
  Standards
  1 - Images
  2 - Risks
    -- example
  3 - Infobahn
    -- example
  4 - Dataveillance
    -- example
  5 - Worklife
    -- example
  6 - Killer Robot
Term project

Class Portfolio Guidelines

Latest Update: Mon 01 Mar 99

Attendance:

Reminder from the course outline: attendance is required in this class (just like a job!). By "just like a job," I mean that the normal reasons your boss would excuse you from work are probably also valid reasons to miss class -- illness and family emergencies, for example. Excuses that would get you fired from work are also excuses that I won't accept: things like "I had to study for another course," for example.

Purpose of readings:

We are using a wide variety of reading in this course, and it is important that you keep up with the schedule. Some of what I hope that you will learn includes:

• how to deal with diverse literatures: how to define relevant terms used in different disciplines such as sociology, psychology, organizational behavior, engineering -- as well as in the technical and popular press. (knowledge)
• how to identify major concepts that authors use to frame their arguments (technological utopianism, etc.); how to identify specific arguments which are based on these concepts; and how some "sides" of controversies may be incompletely represented. (comprehension)
• how to compare and contrast alternative points of view on major issues. (analysis)
• how to identify key elements of major ethical theories or value systems that may be used to build viewpoints. (comprehension)
• how to categorize differing points of view according to their underlying ethical theories or value systems. (analysis)

Documenting what you do in the course:

Beginning in the second week, you must keep a "class log" in which you record your activities. For each day (worth a total of five points toward the course grade), the log should include:

• a brief statement of the key point of each reading that is starred in the course schedule (do this in advance), worth one point.
• a brief statement of what you learned about the reading (or in addition to the reading) during the class meeting, worth one point.
• a self-assessment (maximum three points) of your own contribution to this class meeting, on the scale of 1 = attended, 2 = some contribution, 3 = active, meaningful participation.
• if you are absent for the class meeting, you should still state the key points of the reading, a statement of what you learned from the reading (in place of what you learned in class), and a statement of the reason for your absence.

The completed logs, with your total of points earned (out of 100 maximum), is due near the end of the semester, as shown in the class schedule.

Outside-class activity, the "Heads-up!" file:

In a separate section of your class log book, keep a file of anything you find outside the class that relates to what we are talking about in the class. Examples, and how to document them, include:

• Articles you see in newspapers and magazines. Just run a copy and insert it in your book
• Things you hear on the radio or television, or situations you encounter in your personal or work life. Write a short description of the image or incident.
• Don't use Web sites for this assignment.

The whole file is worth a maximum of 100 points. Any item just included without comment in the file is worth five points. To get ten points per item, write a short evaluation of the item that gives your own analysis -- how the item is related to what we've discussed in class, and how it affects you and others in society.

The completed file, with your total of points earned, is due with the class log.

My "quality control" of these activities:

I will ask to see your class logs and heads-up files at random, unannounced intervals -- you will lose points for logs that are incomplete or heads-up files that have not been started. Obviously, all of this must be your own individual work -- copied writing will get zero points, and may result in course failure. I intend to grade these assignments in personal conference with each student, after they are turned in.