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College of Information Science and Technology
Drexel University
Winter, 2005-2006
INFO679 Online
Information Ethics
Drexel University
Winter, 2005-2006
INFO679 Online
Information Ethics
Martha M. Smith, Ph. D.
marti.smith@cis.drexel.edu
215-895-1532
msmith@infoethics.org
http://www.cis.drexel.edu/faculty/msmith
Course Description:
Presents the philosophical foundations of applied ethics and technology with primary focus on (1.) the uses and abuses of information, (2.) human moral agency in relation to new information and communication technologies (ICTs), and (3.) the meaning of social responsibility in the global information society, including the concepts of global information justice and human rights.
Specifically this course will consider ethical dilemmas, decision-making strategies, and public policy issues around the broad themes of Access, Ownership, Privacy, Security, and Community including headline topics such as intellectual property rights vs. intellectual freedom; the USA Patriot Act vs. civil liberties; the uses of genetic information for health care vs. for discrimination in insurance. The course will build understanding of major and alternative ethical traditions to inform personal moral agency, professional conduct, and civic participation.
Overview of Topics:
Week 1: Introduction to information ethics in relation to other areas of applied ethics, including computer ethics, cyberethics, bioethics, engineering ethics, media ethics, and related areas in research and public policy;
Week 2: Philosophy of information and philosophy of technology as applied in contemporary life—family, work, entertainment, sports, national and global security;
Weeks 3 and 4: Various models of decision making in professional practice and civic participation;
Weeks 5 and 6: The application of information ethics to professional practice and participation in public policy, including the relationship between ethics and law;
Weeks 7 to 10: Current ethical dilemmas under the broad categories of:
Ø Access,
Ø Ownership,
Ø Privacy,
Ø Security, and
Ø Community such as intellectual property rights, copyright, and copyleft; the USA Patriot Act and civil rights; the digital divide and information democracy; and global information justice.
Assignments and Grading:
Electronic Portfolio: The major assignment for this course will be the building of an electronic portfolio focused on current topics such as (1.) the protection of personal information, (2) information ethics in healthcare, (3.) the global digital divide, (4.) national security and civil liberties, (5.) intellectual property rights vs. the right to know, (6.) DNA information and cloning, (7.) nanotechnology, (8.) the information industry; and containing assignments such as weekly journal entries, resource pathfinders, and an information ethics case study problem for analysis.
Blog Postings: Five blog postings (Weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7) will be due on Mondays by noon of each week. Weekly postings should be between 200-300 words and should reflect the readings with engagement with the assignment question or topic. You may use charts, tables, and hotlinks in your text and may attach small audio and video files. You will post your reflections to your own blog forum on the course site and interact with others in your small, blog ring group.
Grades will be based upon the following:
(50%) Major Term Project: The Completed Electronic Portfolio on a Current Issue (Progress report due in Week 5—15%; Final due in Week 10—35%)
(40%) 5 Blog Postings and Interaction with Other Students in a Blog Ring (Weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 )
(10%) Collaboration and Cooperative Learning (Class Participation, Initiative, Creativity, and more)
Grading Scale
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C= Below 79
Special Needs and Accommodations: If you have a disability and need special help, you must identify yourself to the Drexel Disability Office in time for your needs to be reviewed and appropriate plans made for help.
Required Texts:
Herman Tavani. (2004) Ethics and technology: Ethical issues in an age of information and communication technology. John Wiley. See http://www.wiley.com/college/tavani
Richard A. Spinello and Harman T. Tavani (eds.) (2003), Readings in cyberethics. 2nd ed. Jones and Bartlett. Also see web resources at http://www.jbpub.com/cyberethics/toolsforlearning.cfm
Fiction, Movies, and Media
Selected short stories, novels, movies, radio, and audio resources. For examples, please refer to the Master Syllabus for Global Information Ethics. We will be adding more selections throughout the term. Your suggestions are welcome.
Web Resources
Examples of Optional Readings and Resources: The reading books below may be valuable in your professional library. Other readings and resource lists will be given throughout the term.
Richard Holeton (ed.) (1997). Composing cyberspace: Identity, community, and knowledge in the electronic age. WCB/McGraw Hill. Also see companion website at http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/english/holeton
Richard A. Spinello and Harman T. Tavani (eds.) (2001), Readings in cyberethics. Jones and Bartlett. Also see web resources at http://www.jbpub.com/cyberethics/toolsforlearning.cfm
Albert Teich (ed.), Technology and the Future. Wadsworth. Most recent edition. Also see companion website, Albert Teich’s Technology and the Future Toolkit, at http://www.alteich.com/
Weekly Schedule of Readings and Assignments:
Week 1: Information Ethics in the News
Introduction to information ethics in relation to other areas of applied ethics, including computer ethics, cyberethics, bioethics, engineering ethics, media ethics, and related areas in research and public policy;
Week 2: Information Ethics in History and Philosophy—The Past as Prologue
Philosophy of information and philosophy of technology as applied in contemporary life—family, work, entertainment, sports, national and global security;
Weeks 3: Decision-Making 1
Various models of decision making in professional practice and civic participation;
Week 4: Decision-Making 2
Week 5: Professional Practice, Ethics, and Law
Week 6: Public Policy, Professional Ethics, and Law
The application of information ethics to professional practice and participation in public policy, including the relationship between ethics and law;
Week 7: Current Ethical Dilemmas--- Access and Ownership
Week 8: Current Ethical Dilemmas--- Privacy and Security
Week 9: Current Ethical Dilemmas--- Community
Week 10: The Future of Information Ethics
Ø Community such as intellectual property rights, copyright, and copyleft; the USA Patriot Act and civil rights; the digital divide and information democracy; and global information justice.
1 comment:
Nice to see some more Drexel class blogs!
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