Instructor: Dr. W. Brett McKenzie Office: GSB Room 210 Office phone number: 401-254-3534 Text: 401-626-0806 Email address: wmckenzie@rwu.edu Office Hours: Tues, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ; 5:00 - 6:00 PM Thursday: 8:30 - 9:30  AM and by appointment Course Hours and Locations: Thurs, 11:AM - 2:00PM, Library Seminar Room

Course Description:
The Internet has been leading to profound changes in many areas of society. In this seminar, students from different disciplines come together to discuss some of these changes. They include changes in arts, science, education, culture, privacy, crime, national security, the economy, gaming and politics.

Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should:
    •    have a better understanding of the Internet and its history;
    •    have better knowledge about changes in selected areas of the society, related to the Internet;
    •    be more capable of analyzing issues in the above and other areas, within or outside their specialized area(s);
    •    be able to better answer the questions of Who I am? What I can know? What I should do? in an increasingly interlinked, technology based society.
 
Texts and Other Materials

• The course website is at:  http://www.wbrett.com/teach  The course key has been sent via email to all students registered for the course.
• Course materials include academic papers, articles from popular press, and videos. The materials are free and available online.
• Text: Markoff, John (2007). What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry, New York, NY: Penguin (electronic edition available) 

Course Requirements
There are four categories of requirements for the class, based on University Core Curriculum Committee Guidelines:

1. Reading &Weekly summaries and quizzes
1. Read/watch weekly assigned materials/video;
2. Write a weekly summary of about 100 words of the reading. The summary should include about three observations and three questions and be submitted before class.
3. Finish weekly online quizzes about the class materials before class;
2. leading a class for discussion
1. prepare a presentation on a chosen topic based on the assigned materials, with 1 or 2 partners;
2. submit the first version of prepared presentation no later than the Tuesday day before the scheduled presentation to the instructor by email for comments;
3. meet and discuss presentation with the instructor in the week before leading the scheduled discussion
4. submit final version of the presentation by the Wednesday day before class;
5.  delivery the presentation(s), and lead class discussions;
3.  research project
   
1. conduct scholarly research, preferably on the topic related your class area, with a team of two or three
2. write and submit a research paper or other acceptable media of expression
   
3. present the project to class;
4. participation
1. attend classes 
   
2. actively participate discussions
3. complete online blog and forum assignments.
   

Attendance Policy
Students are required to attend to all classes. If you miss class, you are required to contact your instructor, wmckenzie@rwu.edu. This will provided a dated record of your absence.
 
Electronic Communications
All students are required to have internet access and use the internet to post their materials. Students are also expect to read their RWU email accounts. This is the prime means of communicating with students.
When you send the instructor email (wmckenzie@rwu.edu), please put “CORE430: " + topic on the subject line. I will try to respond within 48 hours.
Cell phones with text (SMS) service may be required for in-class activities.
 
Academic Integrity
The academic integrity policy of university will be strictly followed.

Grading

Component	Weight
Reading and Quizzes	20
Summaries with 3 observations and 3 questions	20
Presentation of class materials and leading class discussion	20 (10 preparation; 10 discussion)
Research Project	30
Participation	10

Accessibility for Students
Students who wish to receive academic accommodations for this course must first register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) in order to begin the accommodation process. The SAS office will provide registered students with the specific information they will need to share with each instructor. SAS is located on the second floor of the Main University Library and is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Please note Student Accessibility Services was previously known as Disability Support Services and is referenced on page 17 of the 2010-2011 RWU Catalog.

Tentative Schedule:

Week	Topics
I	Class Introduction	26 Jan
II	What is the Internet? What is its history?	2 Feb
III	Internet and the Economy	9 Feb
IV	Internet and Music	16 Feb
V	Internet and Art & Entertainment	23 Feb
VI	Internet and Science & Research	1 Mar
VII	Internet and Education	8 Mar
	S P R I N G     B R E A K
VIII	PROJECTS	22 Mar
IX	Internet and Life/Culture	29 Mar
X	Internet and Crime & Privacy	05 Apr
XI	Internet and National Security *	12 Apr
XII	Internet and Gaming	19 Apr
XIV	Research project and presentation practice	26 Apr
XV	Final presentations	03 May
* this date may change - trying to arrange a tour at the Naval War College, War Gaming Center