Computers, Information And Society

This is a fully on-line course mounted on the Moodle environment.

This course critically examines a broad range of concepts, ideas and issues surrounding information and computer technology. What is a computer system? How do computer-based information systems differ from traditional information systems and technology? How do historical, scientific and social contexts help us to appreciate the impetus for developing ever-powerful technologies? What are the social impacts of technology in the area of communication, employment, education, government, and personal interaction?

Approach

The course guides students to critically explore and acquire an integrated understanding of the implications of information technology that have become ubiquitous in our society. Examples of major topics involve digital data/information representation, relationships between science and technology; communication and representations of knowledge/information; educational and economic implementations; privacy risks and security interests.

While there is no prerequisite for this course, students should have a good working knowledge of computer use particularly computer file management concepts and practice. Also, due to the comprehensive scope of the topics explored, students should anticipate some challenging aspects to the course including:

• Math Content: Grade 10 level - Positional number notation concepts, several binary notational systems and binary arithmetic as samples of digital data representation and basic concepts of statistics.
• Basic Web publishing: HTML concepts and coding techniques will be applied to producing assignments uploaded/published as Web page presentations on the York student Web server.

Grades Breakdown:

• Participation 10% (Forum Contributions & Reflections Posting)
• Assignments 30% (2 x 15% each)
• 2 Tests (2 x 20%)
• Final Examination 20%

Participation Requirements

Everyone is encouraged to contribute to our Student Forums generally. Each is responsible for at least three (3) reflections on some aspects of the assigned readings that caught your interests. These will be available to the class in a form of forum postings to promote discussion.

• Submissions to be grades must be original, (not replies), "quality" (i.e., relevant, thoughtful, critical and logical) reflections of topics that caught your interest.
• Submission links will be activated as the course progresses
• Please note that information related to individual access to our course site and documents available there are recorded by the system.
• Participation in the forums are monitored by the instructor and the TAs.
• At the end of the course, the grade will be generated according to the reflections performance and your participation in the forums throughout the term.
• The latter will look at whether or not individuals contributed constructively to the overall dynamics of class communication.