TECH 3020 / ACS 3000, Spring 2014

TECH 3020 / ACS 3000: TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS IN SOCIETIES 117 Olscamp Hall, T / Th 2:30 3:45pm INSTRUCTOR DATA Dr. Paul Cesarini 419.372.7740 / [email protected] / Skype: paul.cesarini / FaceTime: [email protected] Department of Visual Communication & Technology Education, 261 Technology Bldg. Office hours: T/W, Noon 2pm (face-to-face, by phone, or via chat), or by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION Technology Systems in Societies (3) Technology Systems in Societies is a BG Perspective (previously called "general education") course in the Social & Behavioral Sciences category, with an international perspective. We will examine current issues and their relationship to technology and systems in various cultures throughout the world, explain technological behaviors, and show how technology permeates all human affairs. REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS AND WEB SITE Rudi Volti, Society and Technological Change, 7th ed. (New York: Worth Publishers, 2013) Additional readings online, as well as video and audio clips, will be assigned as needed. The course will use a Canvas web site (or course shell) where you will be able to access media and related content, use communication tools, and take quizzes / exams. TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS You will need to have an active BGSU email account, and must be able check your BGSU email regularly. You must also familiarize yourself with how the Canvas learning management system (LMS) works. You will need access to a broadband-connected device that has the most recent versions of the following software: Browser: FireFox, Safari, or Chrome (most preferred), or Internet Explorer (least preferred) Media Players: QuickTime Player (either Windows or Mac OS X), Windows Media Player (either Windows or Mac OS X, or the Flip4Mac plugin), H.264 / HTML5-compliant PDF viewer: Adobe Reader, Preview (Mac OS X), or any PDF viewer Word Processor: Microsoft Word or OpenOffice Presentation: Microsoft PowerPoint or OpenOffice All of the above-mentioned software is available for use in the University computer labs, with the possible exception of FireFox and OpenOffice. COURSE OVERVIEW Technology is animated by the conviction that it will always be possible to do something better. -Rudi Volti Technology has opportunities and challenges, pleasures and frustrations, and benefits and drawbacks. Generations of sociologists and anthropologists have articulated that what separates humans from other life forms is technology. Technology developments have historically defined generations and cultures, but today technology is spilling past all barriers in its creation of a mass culture. University students now, perhaps more than ever before in history, need to understand, scrutinize, and reflect on the subject of technology systems and societies. This course introduces the multidimensional aspects of advances in technology and engages students in the assessment of technology's impact on industries, consumers, governments, economies and a host of other stakeholders within the global community. The methodology employed will be through the use of individual assignments including research papers and exams, frequent online discussions /

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debates, and where possible, virtual conferencing with experts. COURSE GOALS This course has the following goals: Learn about the nature of technological change and how it affects groups, individuals, and cultures in different ways Discuss and research American and worldwide technology applications Appraise the influence of technology on human existence in a designed world Articulate ideas about the relationships between technology and society, in American and other cultures. Assess the influences technology has on individuals. Examine the relationships among technology, work, and leisure Understand the necessity of effectively using the Internet for learning and research Participate in groups, share work, and report learning to other class members Prepare and contribute to all class interaction, both face-to-face and online Offer and accept constructive comments from instructors and students

INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY TECH 3020 is required for most students enrolled in the College of Technology. It provides a capstone experience in studying technology and its relationship to the global society. In this class, I want you to work as responsible researchers, problem-solvers, and decision-makers. This class will help you understand the big picture of technologythinking about it and analyzing technology so you can face future problem-solving situations in your careers. This class will also explore the invention process and how it works, the connectivity within technology, and how technology diffuses from industry to the consumer. It will explore the impact of technology on the quality of life. This is a course that asks you to rise to the occasion and the opportunity of having a forum, both live and online, where you can pose questions and formulate solutions to technology issues that you will face in your future careers. COURSE DELIVERY Depending on the specific section, course delivery will be either be a hybrid of face-to-face interaction in our regular classroom and online activity, via Learning Management System (LMS) course facilitation, or will be entirely web-based. In the hybrid section, in place of several face-to-face class meetings throughout the semester, you will participate online with me, our TA (if we have one), and other students to build a cooperative learning community. Asynchronous communication tools, including email and online discussion forums, will be heavily relied upon in addition to our regular class meeting times, and in some cases in place of our regular class meeting times. The Volti book and other texts are for independent study; and the Canvas course site will serve as a clearinghouse for information, where course handouts will be available, and communication tools, discussion board, and virtual classroom will be used by you, myself, and invited guests. Because of the nature of this course, consistent online interaction throughout the semester is mandatory. You must ensure that you complete assignments by their due dates, and respond to me and working groups within a reasonable amount of time. You will participate in regularly scheduled electronic discussion forums that collectively account for a large portion of your final grade. New forums will be posted on predetermined Mondays, and will be archived or locked a week after they are posted. Specific criteria for posting and responding within these forums are listed in the Course Documents area of our Canvas course site. COMMUNICATION

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Announcements will be posted frequently on the Announcement Page (frequently) or communicated via e-mail (very infrequently). Check the Announcement Page and your BGSU email regularly in order to access course related announcements. I will be checking email and/or Canvas messages regularly in order to access communications from you and will typically respond to communications within 48 hours. However, any communication sent after 1:30 pm on Thursday through Sunday may not receive a response from me until the following Monday. UNIT AND ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS The following is a brief description of the course units; specific details about these assignments will be will be available in our Canvas course shell as the semester progresses: Unit 1 Nature of Technology, Effects of Technological Change, Sources of Technological Change; online discussion forums; test covering Volti chapters; Forecasting Assignment Unit 2 Technology and the Transformation of Work; test covering Volti chapters; online discussion forums Unit 3 Technology Connections: How do technologies originate and diffuse; test covering Volti chapters; online discussion forums; Technology Assessment assignment Unit 4 Shaping and Controlling Technology; online discussion forums; Final Exam

Additional required articles, audio interviews, and video clips for each unit are also listed in the corresponding module within our course shell. Whenever possible, audio and video clips will be directly embedded within the corresponding unit folder. Slidecasts of any face-to-face class lecture will be accessible 48 hours prior to each unit exam. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS All assignments will be submitted though each individual assignment link in the Unit folder of the assignment in question. GRADING The following is a list of assignments and their corresponding maximum point values: Unit 1 exam Forecasting paper OR Technology Assessment paper Quiz 1 Unit 2 exam Quiz 2 Unit 3 exam Quiz 3 Group Discussion Board Participation Unit 4 exam Total for the Course 20 points 25 points 5 points 20 points 5 points 20 points 5 points 50 points (or 60; 5 points each x 10-12 forums) 20 points 170 - 180 points

Note: A 90, 80, 70, 60 percentage scale will be followed strictly for the semester grade. There will be no scale or curve of any type. There will be extra credit opportunities at various points throughout the semester. Details on these opportunities will be discussed in class. DISABILITIES

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The Disability Services for Students Office is to help provide equal access and reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities attending BGSU. Students wishing to discuss their eligibility for such accommodations are encouraged to contact the office at 419/372-8495. ACADEMIC HONESTY The Academic Honesty Committee has set forth the following objectives and procedures regarding academic honesty: To communicate to all members of the University community the conviction of the University and its faculty that cheating and plagiarism are destructive of the central purposes of the University and are universally disapproved. To state procedures for accomplishing the above objective by students, faculty, academic deans, and the University Academic Honesty Committee. For the Complete statement, refer to the Academic Honesty Policy as stated in B.II.8 of The Faculty Handbook as it appears in the Academic Charter or refer to Appendix D - Academic Honesty Policy as it appears in Bowling Green State University Student Code. The University Student Code, Academic Honest Regulations and Policies will be strictly followed. What this means is that do not under any circumstances even consider representing the text or work of another person as your own, or submitting work as new that was previously submitted in another class. It is not worth the risk to your GPA or your college career. If you do resort to academic dishonesty, I will find out about it. You will then receive a failing grade for this course, the Deans Office will be notified, and your actions will be documented on your permanent record. LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESOURCES Technology Support Center The Technology Support Center (TSC) provides a central point of contact for faculty, staff and students for questions, problem reports, service requests and inquiries for University computer systems and communications technologies at BGSU. email: [email protected] / Phone: (419) 372-0999 Student Technology Assistance Center Students looking for more in depth assistance with computer technology needed for a class project or tutoring should contact the Student Technology Assistance Center (formerly the Academic Resource Center) or consult their web page at http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/stac/ email: [email protected] / Phone: (419) 372-9277 Learning Commons According to their web site, the BGSU Learning Commons !provides students with academic resources that foster independent learning. The highly trained professional, graduate, and undergraduate staff utilizes technology and additional resources to offer individual and group tutoring and consultations tailored to meet the needs of any student in any course at any time in the learning process. http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/learningcommons/ email: [email protected] / Phone: (419) 372-2823 My BGSU Portal Self-Help http://www.bgsu.edu/its/tsc/self-help/page10888.html BGSU Library

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http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/ BGSUs Office of Distance Education http://online.bgsu.edu COURSE SITE ORIENTATION The purpose of the following set of instructions is to help you navigate and use the course site. The following information is included in this document: Authentication Organization of Course Site Participating in Group Pages Document Preparation for Submitting Assignments Downloading Documents from the Course Site

This course site can be accessed through the My BGSU portal, which provides a link to personal information (grades and bursar accounts), email access, and other university services. Authentication The authentication process enables you to establish your own portal on the BGSU Web and once enrolled in the course, you will have access to the course assignments and other information. The following step-by-step instructions will lead you through the authentication process: 1. Get to the Bowling Green State University Authentication Page by going to the BGSU Homepage at http://www.bgsu.edu and clicking the My BGSU button 2. Once you get to the My BGSU Authentication Page, enter your user ID and password 3. Tab to the Authentication Password textbox and type in your BGNet email password. 4. In My BGSU click on the Courses area and click on the course link to the course. Organization of Course Site Once you are on the course site, you will see a list of navigational buttons on the left side of the screen. Your course site will always begin with the main page, often where I will post announcements, embedded video clips, etc. The next buttons you will use on a regular basis and it will be to your advantage to learn how to use them in the course. Home: As the name implies, this link will always get you back to the main page for this course Syllabus: This link will take you to a combination of the course syllabus (both as a downloadable PDF and as a clickable list, and a quick access course calendar with all assignments listed. Modules: Look here for documents to view and/or download, including course syllabus, book information, lecture presentations, assignment related materials, general instructions, and assignment instructionsexcept for due dates. Assignment due dates can be found on the Course Calendar. Links to all group discussion will be accessible from here, as well. People: This link goes to a list of everyone involved in this class, including students, teaching assistant(s) (if available), and me. Grades: Your grades for this class are accessible 24/7 from here. Chat: This area will be used for virtual office hours for me, in the event you have a quick question and are not geographically close to this side of campus. Calendar (upper, horizontal menu): All relevant dates pertaining to assignments, exams, and discussion boards can be found here. I recommend viewing by month, rather than the default viewing by day, in order to see more calendar entries at once. Please note some of the calendar entries may appear to be truncated or otherwise cut off. Click the link on any entry for additional information.
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TECH 3020 / ACS 3000, Spring 2014

There may be an additional button or two added or changed once the semester starts. I am always trying to improve the overall navigation of the course site. There may be an additional button or two added or changed once the semester starts, as I am always trying to improve the overall navigation of the course site. Group Discussion Forums You will use your Group Discussion Forums to discuss topics posted by me. These will be graded assignments, with specific evaluation criteria and due dates. Do not ignore them or assume that failure to participate in them wont impact your final grade it will. I will be dropping in on your discussions to evaluate the level of your participation. For additional information about discussion board forums, posting, and evaluation criteria, please see the Group Discussion Forums section in our course site. It can be accessed by way of the General Reference Unit. Additionally, there will be an open forum. This ungraded forum represents a venue to discuss anything not directly related to content in the regular discussion forum. You can also ask questions about the class in general. I will attempt to check the open forum regularly. E-mail This is a tool for you to email me. Attaching Documents You can attach documents to either e-mail or the discussion board within your groups when you want to exchange files. Document Preparation for Submitting Assignments When you submit your assignments be sure to compose and save as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice documents. Please include your full name and the assignment title at the top of all of your documents, double-space your papers, and follow APA style when citing and listing references. Be sure to submit assignments by no later than midnight of the due date. I do not accept late assignments. However, you may always submit assignments earlier than the due date. Do not send your assignment as email attachments. Videos / Embedded Media I rely heavily on the use of embedded video content in our Canvas course site, both in the discussion forums and for announcements and related course materials for each unit. Make sure you can access them. If they dont show up in your browser, you may need to check a box that says Show both secure and non-secure content, or something similar.