Syllabus Sections
Publish Date
01/10/2021 19:12:17
Computer Ethics
COSC-3360
Credit Spring 2021
01/19/2021 - 05/16/2021
Course Information
Section 001
Distance Learning
ONL DIL
Ralph Hooper
Office Hours
-
M W
11 am - 1 pm
Online
virtual via Blackboard Collaborate -- email for appt -
M W
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Online
virtual via Blackboard Collaborate -- email for appt
Course Requirements
5 Discussion assignments – average will be 20% of your grade
5 Journal assignments – average will be 20% of your grade
5 Project assignments – average will be 30% of your grade
3 Exams – average will be 30% of your grade
An overall grade will be assigned based on the following scale:
90% - 100% A 89% - 80% B 79% - 70% C 69% - 60% D 0% - 59% F
Readings
Do NOT buy the textbook materials access until you receive detailed instructions from your instructor!
Ethics in Information Technology, Sixth Edition, George Reynolds, Cengage Learning, 2019.
Course Subjects
In this class students will “Examine personal and contemporary organizational ethical issues and challenges in the design, development, and use of computing technologies in a global environment. Special emphasis on philosophical basis for computer ethics, reliability and safety of computer systems, protecting software and other intellectual property, computer crime and legal issues, and professional codes of ethics.”
This course is designed to provide students in the BAS Software Development program with an ethical framework from which they may ascertain the appropriate actions to take as they work in the IT field. It is believed that without the proper perspective and understanding of ethical, legal, and societal issues it can be difficult to know the best decisions to make. This course hopes to help individuals take responsibility for their actions, act with transparency and accountability, and understand the implications of their actions towards individuals, organizations, and society.
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
1. Demonstrate the ability to include ethical considerations in your decision-making
2. Outline the manner in which historical philosophers have addressed ethical issues
3. Explain the ethical issues and options that confront IT workers and IT users
4. Identify the actions that should be taken upon discovery of a security intrusion
5. Summarize the capabilities of surveillance technologies as they impact privacy
6. Analyze key federal laws and their effects on technological freedom of expression
7. Examine the scope of intellectual property issues and the available protection measures
8. Define potential ethical issues software manufactures face when making decisions
9. Elaborate on the manner in which AI and machine learning may introduce bias
10. Discuss ethical issues associated with the use of social networks and social media
11. Survey recent whistle-blowing cases focusing on associated ethical issues
Schedule
Week |
Competency |
Readings and Multimedia |
Activities |
Due Date[1] |
1 Jan 18 - Jan 24 |
Orientation |
Onboarding |
Orientation Assignment |
Jan 27 |
2 Jan 25 - Jan 31 |
Competency 1 |
An Overview of Ethics, |
Journal 1 |
Feb 7 |
3 Feb 1 - Feb 7 |
Competency 1 |
In the News – Wired: Ethics for IT Workers and IT Users |
Project 1 |
Feb 7 |
4 Feb 8 - Feb 14 |
Competency 2 |
In the News -- ACM Security: Cyberattacks and Cybersecurity |
Journal 2 |
Feb 21 |
5 Feb 15 - Feb 21 |
Competency 2 |
Privacy |
Project 2 |
Feb 21 |
6 Feb 22 - Feb 28 |
Review and Exam 1 |
|
|
Feb 28 |
7 Mar 1 - Mar 7 |
Competency 3 |
Freedom of Expression |
Journal 3 |
Mar 14 |
8 Mar 8 - Mar 14 |
Competency 3 |
Intellectual Property |
Project 3 |
Mar 14 |
9 Mar 22 - Mar 28 |
Competency 4 |
Ethical Decisions in Software Development |
Journal 4 |
Apr 11 |
10 Mar 29 - Apr 4 |
Competency 4 |
In the News – MIT: News Technology, and Society |
Discussion 4 |
Apr 11 |
11 Apr 5 - Apr 11 |
Competency 4 |
The Impact of Information Technology on Society |
Project 4 |
Apr 11 |
12 Apr 12 - Apr 18 |
Review and Exam 2 |
|
|
Apr 18 |
13 Apr 19 - Apr 25 |
Competency 5 |
Social Media |
Journal 5 |
May 9 |
14 Apr 26 - May 2 |
Competency 5 |
Ethics of IT Organizations |
Discussion 5 |
May 9 |
15 May 3 -- May 9 |
Competency 5 |
Case Studies |
Project 5 |
May 9 |
16 May 10 - May 16 |
Review and Exam 3 |
|
|
May 16 |