Department of Computer Science,

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Computer Science 210:
Ethics and Professionalism in Computing
FALL 2007

Instructor: Marsha Woodbury, Ph.D., Lecturer, Dept. of Computer Science
Assistant: Robert Blake, Ph.D. candidate, Dept. of Computer Science

Note: Credit is NOT given for both CS 210 and ECE 316.

Office Hours: By appointment.
Info for our class: http://www.cs.uiuc.edu/class/cs210/

Text: Computer and Information Ethics, by Marsha Woodbury, published by Stipes Publishing Company, 2002, ISBN # 1-58874-155-9. (also on reserve at Grainger Library

Location and times

Four classes offered---maximum size is 24 per class
#1 - noon - 1:50 p.m. Mondays 1103 Siebel Center
#2  - 3 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. Mondays 1103 Siebel Center
#3  - 2 p.m.- 3:50 p.m. Wednesdays 1103 Siebel Center
 #4  - 5 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. Wednesdays 1103 Siebel Center 

Credit 2 hours

Format 2 hours of class per week.

Summary

The course concentrates on the theory and practice of computer and information ethics. It covers the basics of ethical decision-making, and emphasizes group work and presentations. Topics studied in the course include risk and reliability, privacy, warfare, crime, access, business ethics, copyright, patents, and more. Students will write 10 short summaries in response to their readings, respond to discussions in class, and present topics. Attendance is  is taken and graded.

Purpose

This course will convey material such as:

* myth-busting--economic and technological historical misconceptions
* ethical reasoning skills, some interview and negotiation skills
* codes of ethics - the difference between philosophy, religion, law, and ethics
* professionalism and professional responsibility
* effective inter-personal communication
* legal and ethical issues
* awareness of current events - weekly issues
* negotiating and interviewing for a new job
* the impact of computers and other new technology locally and globally
* good oral presentation skills

This knowledge and the accompanying skills are critical for productive and constructive professional careers. Although one course cannot teach everything, we will cover key topics.

Note: We do assume that we will share all sorts of information during the class, and that students are requested to keep the topics discussed within the bounds of the classroom. Sometimes we talk about firms that we've worked for, software theft that we know about, and so on. These remarks are understood to be aired in confidence.

 Grading:

If the course progresses as intended, any student with 90% or more of the available points will earn an A or A. Any student with 80% or more will earn a B+, B, or B-, 70% or more will earn a C+, C, or C-, 60% or more will earn a D of some sort, and a person with less that 60% of the available points will not earn a passing grade.

11 responses in Compass @ 6 points each
One Short Introduction
One Final Presentation
Peer Evaluations
*Attendance @ 5 points

Total possible points:

Mock Interview (extra credit)

66
 15
40
15
70

206

10










 

--Weekly responses.

Weekly written homework: One to two paragraphs (in your own words, not copied) due before the topic covered that week so the students come prepared. Assignments will be due by 11:30 p.m. on the FRIDAY before each section. You have only two weeks to contest your grade on each submission (!!) After the grades have been posted for two weeks they will not be changed.

There is *no* credit for late submission.

Students will be answering prepared questions, or formulating questions raised by the topic. If there are technical problems with Compass, be SURE to email your submission to the TA by the deadline, or it will be late. Double-check that you have submitted to Compass properly by reopening it after you submit.

 Use Notepad or a similar application to create your response, then paste it in Compass and submit. If you don't work that way, then you risk Compass problems, and we won't help you out

Evalution: Up to 6 points for the effort put into the weekly response. We would like you to think about what you've read or experienced, and put some time into your paragraphs. Graded as follows:

6 pts. = Well thought-out response (here is an example of an excellent response)
4 pts. = Adequate response, but needs a little more
2 pt. = Inadequate response, more effort needed
0 pts. = No submission / Completely inadequate

Note: the student is responsible for scheduling the introduction and talk and for having the final presentation topic cleared with the instructor.

--One final presentation, done alone.

The final presentation on a topic that concerns professionalism and computer ethics. The first person to choose a topic in a class gets that topic.

We will watch a film of a presentation and critique it in class before you have to do your talk.
Here are some tips that you must read before you do your presentation. And here is a guide that's fun and helpful: How To Not Throw Up.

--One introduction/game: done with another student or alone.

The Introduction is worth up to 15 points, based on content (10 pts.) and energizing delivery (5 pts.) An adequate dull job earns 10, a lively one earns 15.
 

--Peer Evaluations:

Students also do peer evaluations worth up to 15 pts (here is a sample of an evaluation worth full points).

--Attendance:

5 points for attending and participating, because a main emphasis of CS210 is discussing behavior and issues in computer science today. Be sure to sign the attendance sheet. With four sections to keep track of, the TA and professor often rely on your signature. No signature, no attendance grade! Miss more than three classes, and you won't pass the course.

*Attendance really means "attending," as in being involved. Some people might come to class and try to sleep through it--that would earn a zero. You will lose points for being late to class, too. Lateness is unprofessional behavior.

--Mock Interviews:

Each student can sign up for and do a Mock Interview with Engineering Career Services. The reward is 10 points of extra credit toward your final grade.

--Cell phones: If your cell phone rings loudly in class you will be warned the first time and will lose points each time after that.

--Compass: Check your grades in Compass as the semester advances

--Cheating: No one should cheat in a class on professionalism and ethics. If anyone turns in work that is not his or her own, it will be dealt with according to the Campus Rules, see Rule 33 -- http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/article_1/a1_1-402.html