CS371 Computer Ethics and Technical Communication

Course Description

This course explores moral responsibilities and ethical decision-making by applying ethical theories, professional ethics and codes of conduct, and cyber-related law to cyber-ethical issues, such as privacy, security, and cybercrime. In addition, this course uses human-computer interaction development and other industry standards, such as white papers and user manuals, to reinforce technical writing concepts.

Course Outcomes

• Ability to create effective end-user documentation
• Ability to contribute effectively to a group presentation
• Understand and apply the ACM code of ethics (or similar) and principles underlying them
• Understands software licensing issues
• Demonstrates ethical decision making
• Ability to write a technical "white paper"
• Ability to give an effective oral presentation
• Ability to apply Value Sensitive Design

Tentative Schedule

1. Mon, Aug 29

   First day of instruction; late registration begins

2. Mon, Aug 29

   Introduction & Course Mechanics

3. Wed, Aug 31

   American Psychological Association Style; APA Lab

   • Assignment 1; Read CA

4. Fri, Sep 02

   The Classical Argument; The Classical Argument Lab

   • Read Chapter 1

5. Mon, Sep 05

   Labor Day (offices closed — no classes, registration or fee payment)

6. Wed, Sep 07

   Chapter 1 Introduction to Cyberethics: Concepts, Perspectives, and Methodological Frameworks

   • Read Chapter 2

7. Fri, Sep 09

   Last day for student- and faculty-initiated drops (course does not appear on academic record)

8. Fri, Sep 09

   Chapter 2 Ethical Concepts and Ethical Theories: Establishing and Justifying a Moral System

   • Assignment 1 Due; Assignment 2; Explore COS website: Resumes + Interviews

9. Mon, Sep 12

   Chapter 2 continued

   • Read Chapter 3

10. Wed, Sep 14

    Creating an Effective Resume for Technical Professions; Resume Lab

    • Assignment 3

11. Fri, Sep 16

    Chapter 3 Critical Reasoning Skills for Evaluating Disputes in Cyberethics

    • Assignment 2 Due

12. Mon, Sep 19

    Group Project Examples; Brainstorming Techniques

    • Read Chapter 4

13. Wed, Sep 21

    Brainstorming Lab

    • Assignment 3 Due; Read IEEE

14. Fri, Sep 23

    Chapter 4 Professional Ethics, Codes of Conduct, and Moral Responsibility

    • Assignment 4; Read SEC

15. Mon, Sep 26

    Chapter 4 continued

16. Wed, Sep 28

    ACM, IEEE-CS, and SECEPP Codes of Ethics Lab

17. Fri, Sep 30

    EXAM 1 Review

    • Read HCI

18. Mon, Oct 03

    EXAM 1

    • Read Chapter 5

19. Wed, Oct 05

    Human Computer Interaction

    • Read USE; Read CDE

20. Fri, Oct 07

    Chapter 5 Privacy and Cyberspace

    • Assignment 4 Due

21. Mon, Oct 10

    Chapter 5 Continued

    • Read Chapter 6

22. Wed, Oct 12

    Usability and Contextual Design

    • Assignment 5; Read VDE

23. Fri, Oct 14

    Contextual Design Lab

24. Mon, Oct 17

    Deadline to apply for fall 2016 graduation

25. Mon, Oct 17

    Chapter 6 Security in Cyberspace

    • Read Chapter 7; Skim TA

26. Wed, Oct 19

    Hacktivism; Value Sensitive Design

    • Assignment 6

27. Fri, Oct 21

    Value Sensitive Design Lab

28. Mon, Oct 24

    Chapter 7 Cybercrime and Cyber-related Crimes

    • Read Chapter 8

29. Wed, Oct 26

    The Pentagon Papers

    • Assignment 5 Due

30. Fri, Oct 28

    Task Analysis and StoryBoarding

    • Assignment 7

31. Mon, Oct 31

    Spring 2017 course list available at UAOnline

32. Mon, Oct 31

    Chapter 8 Intellectual Property Disputes in Cyberspace

33. Tue, Nov 01

    Deadline to apply for admission for spring semester (undergraduate students)

34. Wed, Nov 02

    Chapter 8 Continued

    • Assignment 6 Due; Read Chapter 9

35. Fri, Nov 04

    Last day for student- and faculty-initiated withdrawals (W grade appears on academic transcript)

36. Fri, Nov 04

    Copyleft Licenses; White Papers: Types and Uses

    • Assignment 7 Due; Assignment 8

37. Mon, Nov 07

    Prototyping Lab

38. Wed, Nov 09

    Software Licensing Issues; User's Manuals

    • Assignment 9

39. Fri, Nov 11

    Chapter 9 Regulating Commerce and Speech in Cyberspace

40. Mon, Nov 14

    Chapter 9 Continued

    • Assignment 8 Due

41. Wed, Nov 16

    Exam 2 Review

    • Read Chapter 10

42. Fri, Nov 18

    Exam 2

43. Mon, Nov 21

    Group Project PRESENTATION 1: Current Status and Next Steps

    • Assignment 9 Due

44. Wed, Nov 23

    Chapter 10 The Digital Divide, Democracy, and Work

45. Thu, Nov 24

    Thanksgiving holiday (no classes, most offices closed)

46. Fri, Nov 25

    Thanksgiving holiday (no classes, most offices closed)

47. Mon, Nov 28

    Cyberlaw: An Introduction

    • Assignment 10

48. Wed, Nov 30

    Tort Law and the Civil Justice System

49. Fri, Dec 02

    Cyberlaw: Legislative Initiatives

50. Mon, Dec 05

    Cyberlaw: Copyrights, Patents, and Trademarks

    • Assignment 10 Due; Assignment 11

51. Wed, Dec 07

    Cyberlaw: Trade Secrets, eCommerce, and Contract Law

52. Fri, Dec 09

    FINAL EXAM

53. Sat, Dec 10

    Last day of instruction

54. Mon, Dec 12

    • Assignment 11 due

55. Wed, Dec 14

    GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATIONS, 1-3pm

Grading Policies

Grades will be assigned based on the following percentage intervals:

A+

[95%, 100%)

A

[90%, 95%)

A-

[85%, 90%)

B+

[80%, 85%)

B

[75%, 80%)

B-

[70%, 75%)

C+

[65%, 70%)

C

[60%, 65%)

C-

[55%, 60%)

D+

[50%, 55%)

D

[45%, 50%)

D-

[40%, 45%)

F

[0%, 40%)

Assignments

Assignments will reinforce lecture concepts and demonstrate application of critical thinking skills. Unless otherwise specified, all assignments must be done on an individual basis. I will deduct 10% per day for up to three days for late assignments. Assignments marked with an asterisk (*) will be evaluated based on:

• 20%     Formatting and layout

• 20%     Spelling and grammar

• 60%     Technical content

You may discuss homework assignments with others, but everything you turn in must be your own work.

Exams

Examinations MUST be taken at the scheduled time. In particular, there will be no early final exams.

Other Texts

We will use excerpts from most of these texts throughout the semester.

Policies

Students are expected to be at every class meeting on time, and are responsible for all class content, whether present or not. If absence from class is necessary, in-class work (other than quizzes) and homework may be made up only if the instructor is notified as soon as possible; in particular, absences due to scheduled events must be arranged ahead of time. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with according to UAF procedures. Students in this class must pay the CS lab fee.

UAF academic policies http://www.uaf.edu/catalog/current/academics

CS Department policies http://www.cs.uaf.edu/departmental-policies/

Disabilities Services:

The UAF Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and ensures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. I will work with the UAF Office of Disability Services (208 WHITAKER BLDG, 474-5655) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.