What you will need for your presentation:

1. A small USB memory stick formatted in either NTFS or FAT32 (preferred) for your presentation slides. I recommend against accessing your slides from a cloud service because of the delays involved. However, understand that your presentation will be limited to 10 minutes including any time spent accessing your slides.
2. You will need access to a computer that can be used to prepare your presentation slides. The UNLV Office of IT has Windows labs for students on campus. Alternative formats such as PDF are acceptable so long as OIT can confirm that they can be rendered by the classroom computer.
3. Only hardcopy will be accepted (these documents will be retained for ABET accreditation purposes). To minimize the amount of paper used, you must submit the slides "handout style" 4 or 6 to a page, double sided. Failure to use handout style will result in a 25% grade penalty. The course TA will provide advice on how to print handout style should you need help.

ABET Course Outcomes:

• By the end of the term, you will:

  1. Learn about the intersection of technology, Information and Innovation , such as:
  • Understand the implications of the velocity of innovation
  • Understand how technology may be used to spread disinformation
  • Understand how technology can be created in "bad faith"
  • Be introduced to the study of disinformatics
  • Understand the technical issues that relate to intellectual property (copyrights, patents, EULAs)
  • Develop a basic understanding of copyright law in the U.S. (e.g., PIPA, SOPA, COPA, etc.)
  • Understand something about the widespread use of social media
  2. Learn about Social and Anti-Social Uses of the Internet, such as:
  • Understand computing and network issues involved in the protection of privacy
  • Understand something about cyber and information warfare
  • Understand the uses and effects of phishing and trolling
  • Understand the motivation behind and technical implications of anonymizing and remailing technology
  • Understand the advantages and disadvantages of "social networking"
  • Understand the difficulty in controlling computing and networking technology for the good of society
  • Understand the nature of typical hacking activities and exploits
  • Understand the nature of financial fraud and identity theft
  3. Learn About the Implications of Information Technology on Democracy , such as:
  • Understand the challenges facing reliable voting technology
  • Understand the implications of net neutrality
  • Understand the effect of fake news on social media
  • Understand how social media has been used to influence elections
  • Understand the computing and network issues behind free speech
  • Understand the difference between cultural and legal perspectives on free speech
  4. Learn How Information Technology Affects You, such as:
     1. Understand the security and privacy threats incurred with computer and networking technology
     2. Understand the nature of illegal uses of computers and networks
     3. Understand how IT practices affect your online activities
     4. Understand the difference between the surface, dark, and deep 'Webs"
     5. Understand how computers and networks are used to commit identity theft and financial fraud
     6. Understand the implications of computing and network technology on employment and work
  5. Understand how to create professional presentations and reports for a technical audiences (re: ABET SLO 3: Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts)
     1. Slide Evaluation Criteria
     1. 25 slides minimum required
     2. Slide layout
     3. Slide design
     4. Appropriate depth of material
     5. Effective slide format
     6. Effective use of graphics
     7. Effective use of slide building techniques
     2. Presentation Criteria
     1. Was the presentation balanced?
     2. Did the presentation provide an adequate overview of the topic?
     3. Did the presentation reflect a reasonable history behind the topic/issue?
     4. Did the presenter "talk over" the slides (vs. read them)?
     5. Did the presentation fit into the allotted time?
     6. Was the presentation professionally made?
     7. Was the presenter in command of the material?
     3. Report Criteria
     1. 3000 words minimum required
     2. Did the student "mine" relevant media sources for material?
     3. Was the narrative well documented with original sources?
     4. Did the report complement the slides and presentation well?
     5. Was the report well-written grammatically and stylistically?
     6. Were the technical issues exposited correctly?
     7. Was the report of professional quality, focused and effective?
  6. Understand the importance of professional ethics (re: ABET SLO 4: Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles. )
     • Understand general ethical frameworks
     • Understand the nature of "rights"
     • Understand the implications of privacy law on computing
     • Understand the difference between "hacking," "ethical hacking," and "hactivism"
     • Learn about the "open source" and "free software," and "copyleft" movements
     • Understand different approaches to software licensing (e.g., GNU, MIT, etc.) and how they differ
     • Understanding the individual's responsibilities in systems development
     • Familiarization with the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (Reviewed during last class period of semester)

  ABET Core Competencies

  1. An appreciation of the implications of computing and network technology on people, society and government
  2. You will understand how computing and network technology may be used against people, society and government
  3. You will understand how computing and network technology may be used for the common good
  4. You will understand the difference between open source and closed source agendas
  5. You will be able to articulate the best practices of computing and network professions
  6. You will be able to articulate the difference between risk averse, risk-neutral, and risk positive deployments of technology
  7. You will develop some understanding of best practices in computing and network technology
  8. You will develop professional presentation skills to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences

Syllabus

(reminder: When UNLV closes during the classweek, students are advised to attend other sections. You are still responsible for the material covered.)

General Overview of Course

• How to use the online course resources (syllabus, readings, links to digital libraries)
• Discussion of Required in-class presentations
• Calculation of final grade: presentation and slides -or- semester report will each count 50% toward your final grade. The mid-term exam will also count 50%. There will be no final in this class
• quality of presentation slides (at keast 25 slides to be submitted to me in hardcopy on the day of presentation: 4/6 slide/page handout style)
• quality of oral presentation (10 minutes maximum; you are not expected to cover all of the slides. This will be your opportunity to have fun sharing the more interesting information with the class.)
• quality of 3000 word written report fully referenced (any style of your choosing)
• Grading Criteria for Presentation, Slides and Report: (Re: ABET Student Learning Outcome 3, above).
• exemplar of acceptable slide format
• General Guidelines for Preparing Slide Presentation
• assignment: look over the assigned readings and think of a few topics that might suit you for an in-class presentation. Finalize a topic within the first two weeks of class. If you want my opinion on the suitability of the topic(s), just ask in class, speak with me after class or during office hours, or send me an email.
• In class assignment: place your name on note paper and summarize your opinion of the video shown in class (link below). Your summary will be returned to you on the last day of class and you will be asked to determine whether your opinion has changed. (this exercise is for student use only and will not be graded ).
• Dr. Chuck's iPad Steering Wheel Mount
• Study Guide to the assigned readings
• Pa$Sw0rDZ

Lectures by date and topics: (see the CS301 online text for specific reading assignments.)

Week of August 29: Technology, Information, and Innovation

Week of September 5: Disinformatics

Week of September 12: Information Technology and Democracy

Week of September 19: The World of Computing, Professional Ethics and You (lecture and readings relate directly to ABET Student Learning Outcome 4, above).

Week of September 26: Review/Exam Preparation

Week of October 3- Mid-Term Exam -Exams is "closed everything": e.g., "closed book," "closed notes," PDAs and computers turned off, cell phones off, etc. The detection of any mobile device in use will result in an exam grade of F. Make sure to confirm that you have the latest revision of the study guide.

Student Presentations Begin (Speakers: provide slides in handout form to instructor on your way to the lectern. USB port available on lectern computer. Attendance will be taken!)

Week of October 10 - Student Presentations

1. section 1001 (Monday)
   1. tbd
2. section 1002 (Tuesday)
   1. tbd
3. section 1003 (Wednesday)
   1. tbd

Week of October 17 - Student Presentations

1. section 1001 (Monday)
   1. tbd
2. section 1002 (Tuesday)
   1. tbd
3. section 1003 (Wednesday)
   1. tbd

Week of October 24 - Student Presentations

1. section 1001 (Monday)
   1. tbd
2. section 1002 (Tuesday)
   1. tbd
3. section 1003 (Wednesday)
   1. tbd

Week of October 31 - Student Presentations

1. section 1001 (Monday)
   1. tbd
2. section 1002 (Tuesday)
   1. tbd
3. section 1003 (Wednesday)
   1. tbd

Week of November 7 - Student Presentations

1. section 1001 (Monday)
   1. tbd
2. section 1002 (Tuesday)
   1. tbd
3. section 1003 (Wednesday)
   1. tbd

Week of November 14 - Student Presentations

1. section 1001
   1. tbd
2. section 1002
   1. tbd
3. section 1003
   1. tbd

Week of November 21 - Student Presentations

1. section 1001
   1. tbd
2. section 1002
   1. tbd
3. section 1003
   1. tbd

Week of November 28 - Student Presentations

1. section 1001
   1. tbd
2. section 1002
   1. tbd
3. section 1003
   1. tbd

Week of December 5- Student Outcome Assessment, review of ACM Code of Ethics, and course review (Re: ABET Student Learning Outcome 4, above).

• Review of your comments on the video shown during the first class period. Have your views changed?
  • Dr. Chuck's iPad Steering Wheel Mount
• We will review the The Association for Computing Machinery Ethics and Professional Conduct Guide for computing professionals in this class. Read it before coming to class. (20 minutes)
• Completion of ABET Outcome 4 form (20 min)
• Have a great holiday break!