NCLC 348 Information in the Digital Age
Fall 2003


 
syllabus

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Virginia Montecino
montecin@gmu.edu
703-993-4318 
Enterprise Hall, 4th Floor 
Office hours:Tue/Wed: 
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm 
and by appointment
Lesley Smith
lsmithg@gmu.edu
703-993-4586 
Enterprise Hall, 4th Floor 
Office hours: Mon/Wed: 
3-00 pm to 4-00 pm 
and by appointment
Class meetings Wednesday, 4:30pm - 7:10PM 
Innovation Hall  Room 317
Day-by-day Schedule
Townhall
Course Description and Goals
Disability Resource Center
Major Assignments and due dates
Honor Code and Plagiarism Statement
Required texts
Writing Center
NCC Competencies 
Writing Guide for NCC Students
Course Resources
 
Course Description and Goals

The digital information revolution is causing an explosion in the creation and distribution of  information. The nature and form of digital information is constantly evolving. In this 6-credit course, we will examine how purpose and function relate to form and how digital material can attract or hinder audience receptiveness. We will also learn to evaluate digital information (text, graphics, etc.) to distinguish between "junk" and useful information. 

We will examine the unique concerns about copyright, security and privacy in a digital environment. We will look at significant social, cultural, ethical, business, educational and economic consequences of the digital age, such as who are the "haves" and the "have nots" in the digital age? Lab classes will provide hands-on learning experiences. Some of your work will be published on your course Web Page. You may submit some components, because of privacy issues, via another medium. 

Course Goals
  • become knowledgeable about and critique various forms of digital information
  • publish in a digital environment
  • become knowledgeable about social, political, legal, ethical, commercial and psychological aspects of a digital environment
  • learn how to research, analyze, and critique digital resources
  • understand and observe copyright laws
  • create Web pages using HTML code and some advanced concepts, such as working with HTML editing programs and ".gif" and ".jpg" graphics files
  • engage in and critique communication on a variety of computer-mediated communication mediums
  • 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
Required Texts
Since this is a class which examines the ever-evolving digital culture, some of the readings will be on the Internet (inserted in syllabus on the due dates for the readings). You will also need to use the GMU library databases to find some of the readings (again indicated on the syllabus).

Participation
You will be assigned to groups and are expected to work with group members on group projects and help each other as you are learning new technology skills. If a student does not actively participate in the group projects, that student's individual project grade may be downgraded accordingly. You will evaluate each other's group performance at the end of the semester, using this form. Participation in in-class and electronic class discussion is included in your participation grade. You are expected to come to class having read the material for the class having ready any course work due for that class. (Always bring your courseware on a disk when you come to class.) You are expected to  have your work posted by the due dates. We, your professors, I feel no obligation to accept or respond to work turned in late. Quality of work, not just completing it, determines the grade you earn. 

Class Discussion
We will engage in in-class and online discussion. Small groups of students will be required to take turns in leading the in-class discussions  informed by that week's Web-based student discussions. Come prepared for discussions by keeping up with the readings and the assignments. Some of our discussion will take place online on Townhall (http://townhall.gmu.edu)  See instructions for registering for and using Townhall. 

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Please save all of your work, both formal and informal,
for possible inclusion in your graduation portfolio.
Major Assignments and Due Dates
You will be simultaneously working on different stages of various assignments.
Assignments - 90%: Participation - 10% of total grade
See Assignments page  to  print out assignments and due dates. Percent
Due date
1. Research and analyze digital "texts"
15%
 17 September
2. Research and analyze a multimedia "text"
15%
 29 October
3. Build on course Web site (continuous throughout semester)
15%
3 December 
4. Group Project and proposal (20% total) * *
   a)  Proposal (post in Townhall for faculty and peer feedback)
5%
 1 October 
   b)  Draft (peer and faculty feedback) * 19 November
   c)  Posted on Web
*
 3  December
   d)  Final Group Project/Presentation
*
 10 December
5. Class citizenship assignments (sharing knowledge in short reports, leading discussions, etc.) * *
   Mini research reports (5 reports on topics such as evaluating Internet sources, e-commerce, digital art, hypertext literature, etc.)
15 %
 see mini report
due dates
6. Townhall class discussion (responses to readings - group led)
10%
 varies
Physical (body and mind) and virtual/digital class participation
10%
 *
Total points for class
100%
 *
 
All work must be the student's own effort, in accordance with the GMU honor code and copyright rules. 
Give credit to group members when you collaborate on projects.
See guidelines on how to avoid plagiarism.

 
 
 
Class Schedule
(subject to change, if necessary, to achieve learning objectives)

 
Last day to drop with no tuition liability - Sept. 9
Last day to add classes -  Sept. 9 (full semester courses only) 
Last day to drop - Sept. 26 (full semester courses only) 
Incomplete work from Spring/Summer due to instructor - Oct. 24 
Note: For advance notice, the readings for the next week 
are listed at the end of the previous week's information. 

 

Prior to first class		 Readings for Week 1: 
In Reader, Richard Campbell: The History of Books from Papyrus to Paperbacks" & Randall Packer and Ken Jordan: <overture>." Online, Hybrid Courses a) What are Hybrid Courses? b) Student issues (Online)
Week 1-8/27 Introduction to Digital Information

First day of  classes - Course overview and review of assignments. What is digital information, how is it created, and what are the various forms? Register for Townhall. Explanation of student-led Townhall discussions. Begin the creation of student web pages. Explanation of  assignment one. 
* 
 Readings for Week 2:
In Reader, Richard Lanham: Digital Rhetoric and the Digital Arts;" Peter Lunefeld: Introduction," & "Unfinished Business." Online, Summary of Javenpaa et al., "Communication and Trust in Global Virtual Teams." 
Post on Townhall your individual response to the readings. Please discuss all the assigned readings, this week and every week, in your Townhall response
Sept. 9 - Last day to drop with no tuition liability
Week 2- 9/03 Digital Communication

Technology Self-Assessment Survey.  Class discussion of readings and digital genres. Extend discussion to Townhall. Creating digital text and hypertext. Continue the creation of student course Web pages.
* 
 Readings for Week 3:
In Reader, Timothy Garrand: Interactivity and the Writer." Online, Nicholas Burbules: Rhetorics of the Web" & Summary of chapters I & 2 of Ilana Snyder's Hypertext. 
Post on Townhall your individual response to the readings. 
Week 3-9/10 Linking and Interactivity

Group-led discussion of readings. The politics of linking. Investigating the Link.  Emerging/ mutating genres.  Convergence and intertextuality (multitextuality, video, TV, print, music, hypertext).  Explanation of Major Project and Project Proposal.  Research Brainstorming; Working Collaboratively
* Readings for Week 4: 
In Reader: N. Katherine Hayles: The Condition of Virtuality & Marie Laure Ryan: The Virtual as Potential." Online, Robert Kling, Technological Utopianism and AntI-Utopianism [Read the sections: "Technological Utopianism and Anti-Utopianism" AND "Technological Anti-Utopianism"] & Ursula Frohne & Christian Katti: Crossing Boundaries in Cyberspace?  The Politics of "Body" and "Language" after the Emergence of New Media (Art Journal, Winter 2000, vo. 59, i4, p.9. Access via InfoTrac Onefile from online Library database . Post on Townhall your individual response to the readings.
Week 4-9/17
Due: Research and Analyze Digital Texts Assignment		 Politics of Virtuality

Group-led discussion of readings. Historical and cultural context: collapsing of time, space and hierarchy.  Technophobes, technophilia: What are people afraid of?  Information overload, asynchronous anxiety. 
In-class Research and Evaluation Exercise

Mini-report (due 24 September): Evaluate a web site using the criteria discussed in class. 
* Readings for Week 5: 
In Reader, Cynthia Selfe: Lest We think the Revolution is a Revolution. Online, Howard Rheingold: Multi-User Dungeons and Alternative Identities; Elizabeth Buchanan: Strangers in the" Myst" of Video Gaming: Ethics and Representations & Meg Hourniham: What We're Doing When We Blog
Post on Townhall your individual response to the readings.
Week 5-9/24
Due: Mini-report a) Evaluating Information		 Who Am We? 

Mini-report (due 8 October): Print or Screen?: Reading in the Digital Age
*
 Readings for Week 6: In Reader, Robert Tannenbaum: Legal and Societal Issues Related to Multimedia. Online, Maura Kelly: Your Boss May be Monitoring Your E-mail,Privacy: Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information - Federal Trade Commission (from E-Commerce and the Internet). 
SEPT 27 - LAST DAY TO DROP 
Week 6-10/01
Due: Proposal for Group Project		 Who is Watching Whom?

Dangers of broad-based information access and sharing. Class discussion: Ethics, Netiquette, Computer Crime, Privacy, Copyright, Censorship. 
At the touch of a Button...(Quiz)
In-class rhetorical exercise
* Readings for Week 7: Online: Untuned Keyboards: Online Campaigners, Citizens and Portals in the 2002 Elections (Pew Charitable Trust) & 
The Internet and the Iraq War: How Online Americans have used the Internet to learn war news, understand events, and promote their views (Pew Charitable Trust) 
Week 7-10/08
Due: Mini-report  b) Print or Screen?: Reading in the Digital Age		 Politics

On the road in California...

Mini-Report (due 22 October ): E-Politics
* Readings for week 8:  Bill Joy:  Design for the Digital Revolution 
Post in the weekly discussion folder the technology skills related to this course you would like to learn or improve AND post a note of those skills you would be able to help others master.
October 13 Columbus Day Recess
Week 8 -10/15 Web Publishing

Brushing up on Technology Skills. 
Tweaking Web Sites & Sharing Knowledge. 
Ready Mades...
* Readings for Week 9: On the Web:  Online, safeshopping.org: How Secure Is Your Online Transaction? & Peter Drucker: Beyond the Information Revolution;
Post on Townhall your individual response to the readings
Week 9 -10/22
Due: Mini-report c) E-Politics		 Business and E-Commerce.
Proposal Review Guidelines
The Future of Commerce
Mini-report (due 5 November): Being a digital consumer
* Readings for Week 10: 
Online, Amanda Lenhart: The Ever-Shifting Internet Population (Pew Charitable Trust)  & Summary of Mark Warschauer: Social Capital and Access. Universal Access in the Information Society 2(4) 
Post on Townhall your individual response to the readings & viewings. 
Week 10-10/29
Due: Research and Analyze a Multimedia Text		 Digital Divide
Group Research
Bridging the Digital Divide Activity
* Readings for Wk 11: 
Online, The Digital Disconnect: The widening gap between Internet-savvy students and their schools (Pew Charitable Trusts - Summary compulsory, but browse for illuminating data in the rest of the report; Jeffrey Young, “Hybrid Teaching Seeks to End the Divide Between Traditional and Online Instruction (Chronicle of Higher Education, March 22, 2002, Friday) (via Lexis Nexis) & Holly Dolezalek, “Online Degrees” in Training May 2003 v40 i5 (via InfoTrac OneFile) 
Post on Townhall your individual response to the readings and viewings
Week 11-11/05
Due: Mini-report d) Being a Digital Consumer		 Where is the Classroom?

Research Methodology Exercise
Research and work on specific content areas for your group project, NOT on design.
*
 Readings for Wk 12: "Story-Based Simulations: Art and Technology Masquerading as Life"; The New Culture War, Ken Sanes; Wake (by Gary Simmons at Dia Center: read the introduction before browsing the artwork, which requires sound); The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. 
Week 12-11/12 Art Without Gravity
Virtual Field Trips- art that comes to your desktop.  Is it real Art?   And is it really real? And is it really a museum?  And what is a museum anyway? 
Mini-report (due 3 December): Experiencing Art Online
*
 Readings for Wk 13: In Reader, Jay Bolter & David Grusin, “Computer Games”; C. Shawn Green & Daphne Bevalier, “Action Video Games Modifies Visual Selective Attention." Online, Tony Manninen, Interaction Forms in Multiplayer Desktop Virtual Reality Games (#22) & Alicia Cheng, Action-based video games improve a person’s visual perception. 
Week 13-11/19
Due: Full Draft of Group Project posted on Web		 Gaming

Peer critique of group project drafts (all group members should be present)
Dos and Don'ts of technology-enriched presentations.
Instant Messaging (Fall 2002) Competencies section
Week 14 - Thanksgiving Recess November 26-30
Week 15-12/03
Due: Mini-report e) Experiencing Art 		 Finalizing Group Projects (in-class & we expect everyone to be there) 
Please bring all your work to class with you, and all your research. Post final group project to the web. 
Exam Day - 12/10
Due: Final Group Project on the Web

Presentation of Projects. 
Guidelines for Presentations
Presentation and Reviewing Schedule
Peer and faculty evaluation of projects.

 
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© virginia montecino & lesley smith 
fall 2003
new century college in the college of arts and sciences
george mason university
last updated: 18 Aug 2003