IT 110 Syllabus - JoAnn Warren

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Technology & Society Syllabus

Required Materials:

Contemporary Technology: Innovations, Issues and Perspectives. ISBN 1-56637-982-2. Markert, Linda Rae. Goodheart Wilcox, 2003. Your text is available through the publisher (1-800-323-0440), Amazon.com and the RWU Bookstore.

Blackboard: http://bb-7.rwu.edu/webapps/login

Assignments will be listed in two places for you. You will find the assignments and any special instructions on the “Assignments” page and the "Due Dates" page. You will be asked to post most of your assignments to the message board. Your First Assignment is ready.

Grades for each assignment will posted as soon as possible. You will find them at “My Grades”. The Criteria for grading assignments will be posted along with the instructions for completing them.

Course Description:

A study of the creation and utilization of adaptive means, including tools, machines, materials, techniques, and technical systems, and the relation of the behavior of these elements and systems to human beings, society and the civilization process. This course will also involve researching literature that deals with the futuristic trends and projections of our technological society and their implications for future developments.

Course Purpose:

This course is designed to:

Communicate to students the differences between Science and Technology
Present to students an overview of the world of technology and engineering
Allow students to present their viewpoints in regards to man & his technology
Develop in each student both an understanding and an awareness of technological change in a democracy.

Instructional Method/Expectations

This course will utilize the web for all instruction and assessment. A Blackboard Platform course has been developed to guide students through the course content. Within the Blackboard course students will find instructional materials, assignments, as well as a discussion forum. Students will not be required to meet “face to face” to complete this course. However, if warranted, orientation and seminar meetings may be scheduled based on student needs.

Successfully completing a course on-line, does require students to be self-directed and self-motivated. The course will adhere to a pre-determined schedule, in order to cover the course content. The flexibility allowed in the on-line environment is limited to access, not completion of assignments. All Assignments will be identified in each course module.

Communication with the instructor will be facilitated through the “Message Board” as well as through e-mail. It is strongly recommended that students visit the web-site on a daily basis.

See What I expect from you and What you can expect from me.

Evaluation (See Student Profiles):

Grades will be determined based on the following.	%
Discussion Questions/Activities: All reading assignments must be completed. Answers to discussion questions and activities may not be found directly in your text, but will require you to think critically about your response drawing upon your experience and current events. They can usually be addressed in 150-200 words. In lieu of face-to-face classroom discussions, we will use the message board to facilitate discussion. Please note the discussion “forums” provided in the Message Board system. You will post comments/questions related to each chapter within a “discussion thread”. Although “more” than “less” is preferred, postings should “add value” to the discussion by posting questions or comments about the chapter. For example you might want to post messages about something significant you learned, a question you may have and/or an insight you gained. To earn full credit for the discussions, you must respond to at least one other student's comments. When posting comments to each others' comments, it is important to be mindful of how the written word is interpreted. For more information on netiquette, please go to: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/rule1.html	65%
E- Learning Resources Throughout the semester you will be asked to find five (5) current articles pertaining to the readings in your text. A special forum will be created where you will post a summary of the article and a link to it for all of us to enjoy.	20%
Research Paper: You will be asked to research the Impact of Technology has on one of many suggested topics, such as: Leisure/Recreation, Social Institutions, Medical Field, Energy Utilization, Environment as well as several others.	15%
Incomplete Grades: Roger Williams University has recently revised its policy on “Incomplete” grades. Based on my interpretation of the policy, an incomplete grade may be submitted when the student has submitted some assignments for review; requested the incomplete and submits a plan to complete all outstanding work prior to the end of the following semester. (A special form must be completed.) It is my understanding that the “I” will convert to an “F” unless the instructor has submitted a Change of Grade Form by the end of the following semester.