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HON-H 399
Technology: The Impact on Our Lives
Indiana University Kokomo
Dr. Steven Cox
Fall 2007
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COURSE SYLLABUS (Print
Friendly Version) |
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Time: |
Wednesdays 2:30 – 4:30 PM |
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Room: |
KO 110 |
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Office Hours: |
Monday and Wednesday, 1:00 –
2:00 (and by appointment or
walk-in) |
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Office: |
KO 174J |
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Office Phone: |
(765) 455-9314 |
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Home Phone: |
(317) 696-0571 |
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Office FAX: |
(765) 455-9348 |
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E-mail: |
scox@iuk.edu |
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Web Site: |
http://www.iuk.edu/~bussrc/ |
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Required Text: |
Taking Sides: Clashing Views in
Science, Technology, and Society,
Easton, Seventh Edition |
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Prerequisite: |
This course is open to students
admitted into the Honors Program
or with a GPA of 3.3 or better. |
This course will examine the impact of
technology on our lives. In the twenty first
century it is impossible to avoid the issues
(ethical, behavioral, political, economic,
i.e.) that relate to the technology
explosion we are witnessing. In this class
we will investigate the pros and cons of the
impact of technology on: the military and
diplomacy, medicine and health, science and
the environment, the labor market and
e-commerce, communication and personal
relationships, and censorship, privacy
(first and fourth amendment issues).
Grading:
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Attendance |
150 |
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Providing Material and Class
Participation |
100 |
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Film Papers and Discussion
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100 |
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Book Review and Presentation |
50 |
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Total |
400 |
Attendance:
Students earn points through both attendance
and participation. The attendance portion
of the grade is straight forward.
Attendance at each of the 15 scheduled
classes is worth 10 points each. Each
student is allowed to miss one class and
still receive the 10 points. There is no
other mechanism for “authorized absences”.
Students not present for the entire class
will receive a prorated portion of the 10
points.
Providing
Material and Class Participation:
The primary goal for each class period is
learning through the enjoyment of a lively
and informed debate. Material for the course
is expected to be primarily student
provided. Seven points are available for
each class period after August 22nd.
Preference will be given for material
provided one week ahead of time so that the
rest of the class will have time to prepare.
Students who provide material will be
responsible for in-class initial
presentation of the material and subsequent
“guiding” of the class discussion.
Substantive class discussion without
contributing material can result in a
maximum of 3 points.
Films:
Ten classic “technology” films will be
viewed (not in class). Students will write a
one page “review” of each film focusing on
their interpretation of the message
regarding science and technology. Six of the
films will be discussed on October 10th
and the reviews are due on that date as
well. Four films will be discussed on
November 14th and the reviews are
due on that date. DVDs of all films are
available from the instructor. Each
review and related class discussion is worth
10 points.
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Metropolis
(1927) |
Brazil
(1985) |
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2001 – A Space Odyssey
(1968) |
Gattaca
(1997) |
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Andromeda Strain
(1971) |
Dark City
(1998) |
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Solaris
(1972) |
A.I.
(2001) |
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Blade Runner
(1982) |
I, Robot
(2004) |
Book
Review:
Each student will read one book relating to
technology. A list of suggested books is
below but students can propose an
alternative selection. The written review
should be 4-5 pages. The book and related
review will be presented to the class for
discussion. The written review and class
presentation is worth 50 points.
Where the Wizards Stay Up Late:
The Origins of the Internet
(Hafner and Lyon) |
Brave New World
(Huxley) |
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Technophobia: Science Fiction
Visions of Posthuman Technology
(Dinello) |
The World is Flat
(Friedman) |
Growing Up Digital: The Rise of
the Next Generation
(Tapscott) |
1984
(Orwell) |
Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode
the Internet Out of Idaho
(Katz) |
Soul of a New Machine
(Kidder) |
Grading Scale:
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96% - 100% |
A+ |
90% - 96% |
A |
89% - 90% |
A- |
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86% - 89% |
B+ |
80% - 86% |
B |
79% - 80% |
B- |
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76% - 79% |
C+ |
70% - 76% |
C |
69% - 70% |
C- |
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66% - 69% |
D+ |
60% - 66% |
D |
59% - 60% |
D- |
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Below 59% |
F |
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Library
Usage:
The IUK library system offers a large
variety of resources for the student to
supplement the content of this course.
Examples include current newspapers (Wall
Street Journal), magazines (Business
Week, The Economist), databases (ABI
Inform), and access to the Internet.
Disability Issues:
Indiana University Kokomo provides equal
access and support services to students with
special needs. Students with documented
disabilities should contact the University
Division (455-9309) and discuss any
necessary support services or accommodation
with the instructor.
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Tentative Class Schedule
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Date(s) |
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Introduction
Technology and Film |
Aug. 22 |
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The Role of Science and
Technology in Society
Issue 1. Does Politics Come
Before Science in Government
Decision Making?
Issue 3. Should Creationism and
Evolution Get Equal Time in
Schools? |
Aug. 29 |
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Military and Diplomacy
Power and Weakness
by James Kagan
The Unmanned Army
by Matthew Brzezinski
Military Gulf Separates U’S. and
European Allies
by Steven Erlanger
Robot Wars
by The Economist
High-Tech Weapons: A Loss Of
Control?
by Business Week |
Sep. 5 |
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Community, Citizenship, and
Human Relationships – Part 1
Issue 14 Does the
Internet Strengthen Community?
Does the Internet Strengthen
Community? by William
Galston
A Newer, Lonelier Crowd Emerges
in Internet Study
by John Markoff |
Sep. 12
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Community, Citizenship, and
Human Relationships – Part 2
When Do You Stop The Presses?
by Business Week
Why E-mail is Bankrupt
by Business 2.0
Issue 15 Does the Spread of
Surveillance Technology Threaten
Privacy? |
Sep. 19 |
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Human Health and Welfare
Issue 7 Do Falling Birth
Rates Pose a Threat to Human
Welfare?
Issue 10 Should Potential
Risks Slow the Development of
Nanotechnology? |
Sep. 26 |
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Science Fiction?
Issue 11 Should We Expand
Efforts to Find Near-Earth
Objects?
Issue 12 Is the Search for
Extraterrestrial Life Doomed To
Fail?
The Planet Hunters
by The Economist
Issue 13 Do Humans Belong In
Space?
Will Computers Ever Think?
by Joe Cuchiara
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Oct. 3
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Discussion of Metropolis,
2001: A Space Odyssey, Andromeda
Strain, Solaris, Brazil, and
Dark City
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Oct.10 |
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Medical Ethics
Issue 17 Is the Use of
Animals in Research Justified?
Issue 18 Should Genetically
Modified Foods Be Banned?
Issue 19 Is it
Ethically Permissible to Clone
Human Beings
Wanted: Perfection (Pre-Natal
Testing)
by The Economist
Is This Really The Next Big
Thing?
by The Economist
Lifestyle Drug Binge by
Business Week |
Oct. 17
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The Environment – Part 1
Are Human Activities
Significantly Changing the World
Climate?
(To Be Provided)
Issue 4 Should Society Act
Now to Halt Global Warming?
Are Environmental Regulations
Too Restrictive?
(To Be Provided) |
Oct. 24 |
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The Environment – Part 2
Issue 5 Is It Time To Revive
Nuclear Power?
Issue 6 Will Hydrogen
Replace Fossil Fuels For Cars?
Beyond the Prius
by The Economist
A Stairway to Heaven?
by The Economist
Gassed Up (Synthetic Biology)
by The Economist
Battle of the Mountain Tops
(Coal)
by The Economist
Where the Wind Blows (Power
Transmission)
by The Economist |
Oct. 31 |
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The World is Flat – The Impact
of Technology on the Economy
Summary of The World is Flat
by Friedman
Technology on the March (The
Future of Work)
Business Week |
Nov. 7 |
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Discussion of Blade Runner,
Gattaca, A.I.,
I, Robot
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Nov. 14 |
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Presentations of Book Reviews |
Nov. 28 |
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Presentations of Book Reviews |
Dec. 5 |
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