Fall 2003 NCLC-249-Internet Literacy, Section 001

New Century College at George Mason University

NCLC 249 - Internet Literacy - Fall 2003
Section 001
Days: Tues, Thurs Times: 0300 pm - 0415 pm Place: Innovation Hall Rm 317

This syllabus is meant to be read using a Web browser. You must click on the links to get the full content. Some readings may be subject to change because of the ever evolving nature of the Internet.
Instructor Virginia Montecino	Day-by-day Schedule
Email me at: montecin@gmu.edu	Required texts
Office hrs: 2 - 3 pm, Tues and Wed, or by appt.	Participation expectations
Course Description and Goals	Class discussion
Major Assignments and due dates	Honor Code and Plagiarism Statement
Class Policies \| Disability Support Services \| Course Resources

The work for this class must be original and should not be
work done in the past or for other courses this semester.

Course Description (Please also see course home page):
This is a 4 credit New Century College course. This course is the prerequisite course for NCLC 350 Cyberculture and Virtual Community. The subject of study is various aspects of the Internet: Web publishing, evaluating Web sources, investigating virtual communities, becoming knowledgeable about copyright and the Internet, and other major Internet issues. A significant amount of class discussion will be on the Web. You will learn some basic html, Web design principles and use some Web publishing software. This is not a graphics design class, programming class or advanced Web publishing class. The major thrust of this course is academic - we will study and critique the Internet culture, discuss basic hypertext theory, and do a significant amount of reading, writing and critiquing. A significant amount of your work will be published on your course Web site. You will have the opportunity to revise some of your work if you follow these guidelines.

Texts:
Required Texts: Internet Literacy, 3rd ed., Fred Hofstetter, McGraw-Hill; Internet Literacy Web site w. online resources. GMU Student Technology Guide; Service Learning Handbook; New Century College Writing Guide (http://classweb.gmu.edu/nccwg); Course Resources. Since this is an Internet Literacy class, appropriately, supplemental readings will be on the Internet. Students (in small groups) will also research current Internet topics to present to class. Supplies: zip disk or diskettes

Experiential Learning Component: This course has a required experiential learning component, for which you and your group members will perform a technology outreach (i.e.., design a Web site, teach Internet skills, perform Internet research) community service for a non-profit organization. You will meet with the organization members and submit a proposal. You are expected to contribute 45 hours of activities to fulfill the one (1) credit experiential learning component. You must successfully complete this component of the course in order to receive a passing grade, if, of course, your other grades for this course also add up to a passing grade.

The work load is commensurate with the number of hours. The sharing of talent, knowledge, ideas, and questions is an important element of a community of learners, so active participation is required in the class and with your group members. You will be expected to assume the role of mentor to your class members as you share your talents. You will also assume responsibility for providing credible and current information related to the course topics.

Participation:
Please review my course policies at: http://classweb.gmu.edu/montecin/249-f03/class_policies.htm. You will participate in some collaborative work. You are expected to do your share of the work and respect the views of other members of your group. Participation in in-class and electronic class discussion is included in your participation grade. You will also assume responsibility for providing credible and current information related to the course topics. You are expected to come to class having read the material for the class and have ready any course work due for that class. (Always bring your course work on a disk when you come to class.) You are expected to have your work posted by the due dates. Quality of work, not just completing it, determines the grade you earn. I will not accept late work. If you think you have a valid reason for late work, such as an emergency, please bring documentation. Please feel free to meet with me anytime for clarification of assignments or other course assistance.

Class discussion: We will engage in in-class and online discussion. Come prepared for discussions by keeping up with the readings and the assignments. Some of our class discussion, synchronous and asynchronous will take place online on Townhall (http://townhall.gmu.edu) See instructions for registering for and using Townhall. Student groups will take turns leading class presentations and research relevant material related to the topic of the week.

Course goals:

become knowledgeable about the social, political, legal, ethical, commercial and psychological aspects of the Internet
become familiar with basic hypertext theory
learn how to research, analyze, and critique Web resources
understand and observe copyright laws
create Web pages using HTML code, work with Web publishing programs, and work with ".gif" and ".jpg" graphics files).
engage in and critique communication on a variety of computer mediated communication mediums
gain real world work experience through the experiential /service learning component of the course - using your technology skills to provide some technology service (create or redesign Web site, do Internet research, teach Internet skills, etc.) for a non-profit organization.
further develop your collaborative work skills and teach each other
compose well written compositions for a variety of audiences and purposes
articulate how your learning experiences in this course relate to the New Century College Competencies

Important Dates Sept 1 Labor Day - University closed
Sept 9 Last day to drop with no tuition liability (full semester courses only*)
Sept 9 Last day to add classes by 8 p.m. (i. e. add on optional experiential learning component)
Sept 9 All individualized section forms submitted
Sept 16 Last day to drop with 33% tuition penalty by 8 p.m.
Sept 26 Last day to drop with 67% tuition penalty by 8 p.m.
Sept 26 Last day to drop (full semester courses only*) by 5 p.m.
Oct 13 Columbus Day Recess (Tues. classes don't meet.)
Oct 14 - 21 Midterm grading period
Oct 24 Incomplete work from Spring/Summer 2003 due to instructor
Nov 26-30 Thanksgiving Recess - university closed
Dec 6 Last day of classes
Dec 8-9 Reading Days

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*You will be simultaneously working on different stages of various assignments.
Major Assignments and Due Dates:	Percent	Due Date
1. Student Course Web Site/Portfolio(includes design, use of graphics, user friendliness, organization, comprehensives, all completed assignments linked.) Review copyright and plagiarism guidelines.	10%	Components have various due dates. Final course site / portfolio will be graded at end of semester
* Experiential Learning Risk Forms		Sept 2
* EL Agreement Form		Sept 11
[Proposal for Experiential Learning Project (a or b). See Assign 6, #1 below.]	(5%) see below	Sept 18
2. Report on the Evaluation of Web Sources	10%	Sept 25
[Proposal for Web-based Report on an Internet topic See Assign 4.a. below.]	(5%) see below	Oct 9
3. Report on Virtual Community/Cyberculture	10%	Oct 16
4.a. Proposal for Web-based Report on an Internet topic (due in Townhall)	5%	Oct 2 w. opportunity to revise final Oct 28
4.b. Web-based Report on an Internet topic	15%	draft 11/13 - peer response final Nov 20 no revision
5. Group led presentations and research on weekly class topic (See Townhall for schedule.)	10%	date varies
6. Experiential Learning Project: REQUIRED - technology outreach OR non-profit Web site You will also present on your experiential learning projects to the class, on Dec 2 and 4. You must successfully complete this one (1) credit experiential learning component of the course to get a passing grade in NCLC 249.
Fill out your forms and and turn them in to the Center for Service and Leadership.
Service Learning Forms due Dates Experiential Learning Risk Forms Sept 2 Agreement FormSept 11 Supervisor's evaluation and Student EL evaluation Dec 02
(Pick OPTION A OR B ( Parts I and II, AND III.)
OPTION A Experiential Learning		Due Date
I. Proposal for Technology Outreach (required before you proceed) (Post in Townhall)	5%	Proposal due Sept 18
II. Assignment for Technology Outreach plus III. REPORT plus Student EL eval & EL supervisor's eval	20%	Report due Dec 2 plus student and supervisor evals
OR	OR	OR
OPTION B Experiential Learning	*	*
I. Proposal for Non-profit Web Site (required before you proceed) (Townhall)	5%	Proposal due Sept 18
II. Assignment for Nonprofit Web Site plus III. REPORT plus Student EL eval & EL supervisor's eval	20%	Report due Dec 2 plus student and supervisor evals
* * * * * *
Participation/class citizenship (Contributions to discussions of readings (in class and in Townhall), sharing knowledge and other learning community activities)	15%	You are expected to contribute to weekly in class and townhall discussions, based on readings.
TOTAL POINTS	100%	*

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Please review the GMU honor code and copyright rules and how to avoid plagiarism.
Class Schedule subject to change, if necessary, to achieve learning objectives. The readings should be read before the class meeting in which they are listed.

Week 1	.	.
8/26	.	First day of classes - Technology Survey. Course overview and review of assignments. What is the Internet, anyway? (email, ftp, create public_html directory, web page (basic) using html, intro to Mason systems.) What is hypertext? How does it influence us as writers and readers? Registering for Townhall, our Web-based meeting place
		**Readings for 8/28: Internet Literacy** text, "Definitions," chp.1(pp 2-15); Brief History of the Internet;"What Is Hypertext?; Guidelines for Student Web Pages; "Strategies for Writing Hypertext" in the Online Integrative Studies Writing Guide; How to Create Your Own Home Page at GMU using HTML
8/28	.	Explanation of Assignment 1: Student Course Web Site/Portfolio. Hands on - creating your initial course Web page. Explanation of required experiential learning project and proposal. (You must successfully complete the experiential learning component to pass the course.) Posting of exp. lrng. Proposal for experiential learning due in Townhall on 9/19. Assignment for 9/2- Write a one page informal essay on how you as a reader, writer, and thinker are influenced by the the Internet and you engage with the Internet and use it for your own purposes. (Turn in your response printed out on paper (a retro approach, I know). Later you will be posting an html version on your course Web site.
..	.	**Readings for 9/02: Internet Literacy** text, "Searching for Information" chp.11(pp 148-161) Criteria to Evaluate the Credibility of WWW Resources and Evaluating Web Sites: A Tutorial (Go through the evaluation steps on Menu on left of screen.) Familiarize yourself with this exercise so you can come to class prepared to contribute to your team effort.
Week 2	.	.
9/02Due- essay on you and the Internet; EL risk forms	.	Hypertext and basic Web design. In class exercise on evaluating web sites.
9/04	.	Work on course Web page. Web page design (audience, purpose, format. graphics); web editors, upload files using ftp. Personalize copyright pledge "page" and post on course web site. Familiarize yourself with Basic Internet Terminology. Overview of some of the issues surrounding the Internet. What are some of the socio-political aspects of the Web? "What does being Internet literate mean?
..	.	Readings for 9/09: See the townhall discussion folder for reading.
Week 3	.	.
9/09	.	Validity of Web Resources. Group led presentation on theme. Review of Assignment 2- Evaluation of Web Sources (due 9/25).
9/11 EL Agreement Form	.	Continuation of exercise on evaluating Web sites. Using search engines, What's the difference between a Web source and a Library database online? Determining criteria to evaluate the credibility of World Wide Web resources.
..	.	**Readings for 9/16: Internet Literacy** text, looking at the ways virtual communities communicate (pp 105-140) and "Netiquette" (pp.70-78); What is a cyberculture?; Virtual Community, "Chapter One: The Heart of The Well," Rheingold; Identity and Deception in the Virtual Community, Judith S. Donath; QUAKE-ING IN MY BOOTS (examining an online gamer population) Mary-Anne Breeze; Familiarize yourself with these resource links, which will be useful through the semester: Cyberculture Resources.
Week 4	.	.
9/16 Due - exp. lrng risk forms	.	What is a Cyberculture? Group led presentation on theme. Turn in risk forms for experiential learning. Explanation of Report on Virtual Community/Cyberculture due on Oct 16.
9/18 Due - Proposal for Exp. Lrng Project	.	Due - Proposal for Exp. Lrng Project. Post EL proposals in Townhall. Peer feedback/suggestions on EL proposals to polish them before they are presented to the clients. "What are the markers of a culture? How do we examine a culture? Work on web pages.
.	.	Readings for 9/23 - *Readings for2/19* - *Internet Literacy* text: Copyright (pp. 334-338); Copyright and the Internet Basics; Honor Code and Plagiarism Guidelines; Digital Copyright Laws Under Scrutiny; Supreme Court upholds longer copyrights; Chained Melodies, Damien Cave; Dr. Dre and Lucas Film, Copyright Website; Net lawyers ponder the right to link; Review copyright pledge to place on your course Web site.
Week 5	.	.
9/23	.	Copyright and the Internet. Group led presentation on theme. Explanation of Assignment #4- Report on Internet Topic - Report Proposal due in Townhall 10/9 Draft due 11/13. Final Report due on course Web site 11/20.
9/25 Due - Report on Eval. of Web Sources	.	Due- Report on Eval. of Web Sources. Report on progress of Experiential learning project. Brainstorming, preliminary research on topics (social, political, legal, ethical, educational, commercial, technical and psychological aspects of the Internet). Search and evaluation exercise
...	.	**Readings for 09/30: Internet Literacy** text: Nationalism and Isolationism (pp. 330-331); Falling Through the Net: Toward Digital Inclusion: Executive Summary (2000); "PBS Digital Divide; From Access to Outcomes (exec. summary), Morino Institute; Accessibility on the Internet, Leo Valdes; Five Steps to Accessible Web Sites, Tom Dahm; The Web Continues to Spread, Robyn Greenspan; Latinos Outpace Other Groups' Online Growth, Christopher Saunders Analyze your Web site for access to the Disabled with Bobby- a web based tool.
Week 6	.	.
09/30	.	Digital Divide Who has access to technologies? What are ways to overcome these disparities? Gender , economics, social issues. Group led presentation on theme.
10/02	.	Update on experiential learning projects
...	.	**Readings for 10/7: Internet Literacy** text: censorship, obscenity, hate issues (pp. 331-333); The Terrifying Reality of Cyberstalking, Kathleen D. Valenzi; Music United .org: Information on illegal downloading of music; Shields Up! - Firewall Information; How Computer Viruses Work, Marshall Brain; Hacker Psych 101;Browse the Hacker Hall of Fame (discovery.com; Resources Drained by E-mail Hoaxes,Will Sturgeon Special to ZDNet, A Beginner's Guide to Computer Security, Nt'l Cyber S\ecurity Alliance
Week 7	.	.
10/07	.	Crime, Ethics. Group led presentation on theme. What measures can we take to protect our privacy on the Internet? How can we be responsible users of the Internet? How can we prevent hacking into our systems?
10/09 Due Proposal for Web-based report (due in Townhall)	.	Proposal for Internet report due in Townhall. Peer review of Internet Report Proposals. Recent Computer Viruses/Worms. Norton Anti-Vuris Software. Take the Internet Security Quiz http://itu.gmu.edu/security/quiz/ Test your computer for security risks ( <---- Must IE instead of Netscape to do this check.)
Week 8	.	.
10/14 NO class	.	No class on the 14th because of schedule shift for Columbus Day Recess. Post your discussion response for Oct 16.
...	.	**Readings for 10/16: Internet Literacy** text: online commerce (pp. 17-21); Going Shopping? Go Global! A Guide for E-Consumers, FTC; Shopping Tip List by ABA Section of Business Law; Consumers set new online spending record (Dec 18 2002) NUA; Preparing your Resume for the Internet - The Riley Guide. Visit an online jobs Web site; Is your company or group Blogging yet?, Todd Stauffer ("Shortcuts," Publish.com)
10/16 Due - Report on Virtual Community/ Cyberculture	.	Group led presentation on theme. E- commerce - What are consumer concerns with doing business on the Internet? How can you protect yourself? How can you judge the credibility of an online business? How does Web design, content, and ease of use influence consumer confidence? How useful are online job searches, job sites?
...	.	**Readings for 10/21: Internet Literacy** text: teaching and learning online (pp. 26 -31); Summary of findings on How Internet-savvy Students Think About and Use the Internet for School; Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever - Chickering and Ehrmann; Getting the Most out of Online Learning - Reena Jana; What We're Doing When We Blog (Writing Journals on the Web).
Week 9	.	.
10/21	.	Group led presentation on theme. Literacy, Education and the Internet. What are the definitions of E-books/ libraries? How is the Internet used for education? What are the controversies about the Internet and Education? How has the Internet changed access to knowledge? How does this affect informal and formal transmission of knowledge? Work on Internet Report project.
10/23 Due - Progress reports on experiential learning	.	Progress reports on Experiential Learning Projects. Respond to questions for progress report in Townhall.
...	.	*Readings for 10/28* - See (below)assignment for townhall instead of discussion. *Internet Literacy* text, Chp 16 "Web Design;" How to Build Lame Web Sites; Top Ten Ways To Tell If You Have A Sucky Home Page. Pick two similar Web sites of your choosing (same basic subject matter, audience). Post the site addresses in the discussion folder for Week 10 and briefly discuss why you think one has a better design than the other. We are not discussing credibility of content primarily, but design issues (layout, graphics, suitable for purpose/audience, ease of navigation) Review readings for 9/4. Pick two similar Web sites of your choosing (same basic subject matter, audience). Post the site addresses in the discussion folder for Week 10 and briefly discuss why you think one has a better design than the other. We are not discussing credibility of content primarily, but design issues (layout, graphics, suitable for purpose/audience, ease of navigation).
Week 10	.	.
10/28 Due - FINAL Proposal for Web-based Report on an Internet topic (due in Townhall).	.	The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Review of good/bad Web design. See Bad Design Features
10/30	.	Workshop on course web sites (rethinking design, incorporating graphics, etc.) Rudimentary course web site "map"
...	.	*Readings for 11/4* - Big Brother Bridges Gap Between Television and Internet; While Napster Was Sleeping; Take a virtual museum tour at the National Gallery of Art (or another virtual art tour of your choosing) Be prepared to discuss this experience in Townhall. Visit a Web site which deals with your favorite form of entertainment (music, sports, movies, etc. Be prepared to discuss this in Townhall).
Week 11	.	.
11/04	.	Arts and Entertainment on the Internet. Sharing of arts and entertainment findings on the Internet.
11/06	.	Workshop on Web materials
Week 12	.	.
11/11	.	Regroup, reassess, progress reports on service learning projects. Be sure you have completed and turned in all of the paperwork to Service Learning. Review of hypertext format/design/navigation.
11/13 Due - draft of Web-based Internet Report	.	Draft of Assign # 4 - Internet Report Web site due. Post drafts on Web for peer response.
Week 13	.	.
11/18	.	Read around and class reviews of Internet reports.Tweaking final reports, uploading content. Refining graphics. Design / content issues.
11/20 Due Final version of Web-based Internet Report	.	Web-based Internet Reports due. Work on course Web pages.
Week 14	.	.
11/25	.	Expectations for oral presentations of service learning reports. Workshop on experiential learning reports / oral presentations.
Nov 26- 30	.	Thanksgiving Recess
Week 15	.	.
12/02 Due - indiv. Report on Exper. Learn. project. Turn in print copy. Please don't post on the Web; Student EL eval & Supervisor's eval	.	Due Report on Experiential Learning project. Oral presentations on experiential learning. Turn in printed copy. Please don't post experiential learning reflection on the Web. Also turn in time sheet, journals, report from project supervisor and your evaluation of the experience.
12/04 Due Web Site/Portfolio	.	Due Course Website/Portfolio. Oral presentations on experiential learning.