Science and Technology (graded)
If the scientific test of a scientific theory is accepted by the community of men and women who are called scientists, does that mean that anything is acceptable as long as enough of the right people agree with it? Does that mean there is no such thing as scientific truth? How, if at all, does science differ from politics, art, or religion, in that case?
Technological Revolutions (graded)
Baase states that it is not just technology that changes so quickly, but also the impacts which they have upon society. Do you agree? How does that align with the assertion in the lecture that we are now living in a third great technological transformation called the Knowledge Revolution? Have computers truly changed our lives so much that we can call this a revolution like the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century?
week 2 discussion
Technology and Social Change (graded)
In what way (or ways) is the current Knowledge Revolution a child of the Industrial Revolution? Is this a new revolution or simply an extension of the 18th-century revolution? Given the history, is it perhaps more appropriate to call the current revolution a Communications Revolution?
Technology and Determinism (graded)
Why do the soft technologies open more opportunities for women? To what extent have these technologies impacted the perceptions of mens and womens roles in the economy, within marriage, and in society as a whole?
Technology and Modern Culture (graded)
The availability and even dependence upon computer technology is brought to task by Baase in Chapter 8. What are some of the ways that the ease and simplicity of our current technological devices also lead us at times to surrogate our daily responsibilities onto these devices? Please include examples, and be as specific as possible.
Engineering Our Future (graded)
A kind of genetic engineering happens in nature, with naturally occurring mutations and the dominance of certain strains. What is different about todays processes? What makes them potentially dangerous? What should we consider naturaland what is artificial?
week 4
Technology and Art (graded)
We normally think of the arts as very different from technologies in spite of the fact that art (with perhaps a few exceptions) is practiced with the help of technology. This practice creates interdependence between technology and art. To what extent does art respond to, or is shaped by, the technology that enables it? To what extent have advanced and accessible digital technologies, such as websites, digital photography, and YouTube, changed the relationship between art and technology? Are these technologies reshaping our attitudes toward artists?
m
The Politics of Technology (graded)
Baase discusses freedom of speech and censorship in light of the modern digital landscape, especially given the dubious ways in which technology can sometimes be utilized. Superior expertise about how technologies work does not guarantee superior judgment about how they should be used, regulated, or governed. As technology becomes more sophisticated, how can citizens and political leaders judge and understand whether a given technology offers great perils or great promises? When great technological projects, such as venturing farther into the galaxy or developing new life-extending medicines, are proposed, how should government officials make decisions about how tax dollars should be spent?
week 6
What Is Reality? (graded)
Why do we pursue technologies, such as those associated with virtual reality? Going back to one of our definitions of technology, what problem are we trying to solve? What are the risks associated with these technologies?
week 7
The Energy Crisis (graded)
Given the current state of energy use, which continues to grow exponentially in such countries as China and India, what measures can the United States and other Western countries take to produce more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly fuels? What other sources of energy could be developed to solve the energy crisis? What can the individual do to alleviate this crisis?
midterm
(TCO 1) The Neolithic Revolution was a result of
controlled planting of crops.
domestication of animals.
development of irrigation systems.
All of the above
Question 2. Question : (TCO 1) In the Neolithic Revolution, the growth of communities was a result of
the use of steam as an energy source.
farming and the domestication of animals.
conquest and settlement.
new trade routes to the East.
Question 3. Question : (TCOs 2 & 8) Rapid urbanization in Britain during the 19th century was the result of
new enclosure laws in rural areas.
a shift from household production to factory production.
a growing dependence upon steam power.
All of the above
Question 4. Question : (TCOs 2 & 8) The introduction of four uniform time zones in the United States was a direct result of
the widespread introduction of mechanical clocks from China.
the loss of influence of the Catholic church.
the impact of a fully integrated railroad system.
the growth of commercialized farming in the 20th century.
Question 5. Question : (TCO 4) In Wiki art, the artist is
a trained professional with computer skills.
acknowledged for each individual contribution.
anyone who collaborates on creating and recreating a piece.
usually a CGI expert.
Question 6. Question : (TCO 11) Which of the following is NOT a scholarly resource?
: Journal of the American Medical Association
http://journalofaccountancy.com
Chicago Tribune
www.econlib.org
Question 7. Question : (TCO 8) In Britain, members of the industrial middle classes
kept summer homes in the country to avoid deadly smog.
became Luddites and destroyed machines.
supported labor reforms in Parliament.
did no send their children to work in factories.
Question 8. Question : (TCO 11) The intended reader of a scholarly resource would be
students.
academics.
professionals.
All of the above
Question 9. Question : (TCO 12) The term nanotechnology was first used to refer to
genetically engineered crops.
production technology.
communication between multiple cells.
early personal computers.
Question 10. Question : (TCO 12) In China, much research into genetically modified organisms is sponsored by the state, but in the west, research is
primarily publicly funded.
left solely to research universities.
driven by a handful of large for-profit corporations.
guided by public input and consultation.
(TCOs 1 & 2) Baase states that it is not only technologies and systems that change quickly, but also the social impacts and controversies that are inherent in such rapid development. Discuss some of the positive and negative aspects that the pace of advancement has upon our culture as a whole. Use detailed examples.
Question 2. Question : (TCOs 4 & 8) Define and compare at least two of the ethical theories described by Baase. What are their strengths? In what areas do they lack? Do these theories hold up within our modern, technological society?
Question 3. Question : (TCOs 3 & 4) How have changes in communications technologies affected how we write and what we write? How do Wikis and blogs compare to traditional forms such as textbooks and newspaper editorials? Please be specific.
course Project: Team Project
ObjectiveThis capstone course concludes with a research Team Project that starts during the first week and continues throughout the duration of the class. It culminates with the submission of a formal team report and an oral presentation by each team during Week 7 and Peer Evaluations in Week 8.
Each team will identify and explore an emerging technology. This will be a technology that may already exist but is drawing attention because of new applications, anticipated impacts, or potential controversies. Examples could include
nanotechnology in manufacturing;
genetically modified organisms;
remote or robotic surgery; or
wireless electricity.
The team will explore the technical, social, cultural, moral, and ethical issues presented by the technology.
Guidelines
Teams
All teams will be assigned at the start of the first week. The first deliverable is due on the Sunday of Week 1, so students must get organized and into the project immediately. Each team will select a team leader who will be responsible for the coordination of the research and the submission of assignments. Team members will remain on the assigned team throughout the duration of the class (in the project world, project managers seldom have the opportunity to select their own team members). It is highly recommended that each team develop its own team contract to clearly define expectations, strategies, and timelines.
Emphasis is placed on both individual contributions and the team’s final product. You will communicate with your team through team meetings (online) and team discussion threads. Team members who fail to participate in an assignment will not get points for that assignment.
With the parts of the Team Project where a group grade will be assigned, all team members must submit a copy of the teams work. When an assignment is completed, the team leader will distribute the finished product to all team members, and each team member must submit this copy to the Dropbox.
The Task
The primary focus of the team is to research and assess the issues associated with a specific emerging technology. The team will produce a formal research paper in APA format, with each team member contributing 10 pages of text. The paper will provide the basis for a 20-minute Team Presentation.
The following required elements must be researched and included in the Final Project:
A brief description of the technology and an explanation of the associated science
The historical development and context of the technology
Political and legal influences
Economic questions and considerations
Psychological considerations and sociological effects
The technology in its cultural context, media influence
Implications for the environment
Moral and ethical implications
To properly analyze the various elements of the project, research will cut across disciplines and include academic, scientific, and industry sources. Complete project guidelines and suggestions can be found in Doc Sharing.
Deliverables
All students submit the project individually, not just the Team Leader. With respect to graded group work, the Team Leader must distribute the finished project to the team, so that each member may submit it individually to the Dropbox. With respect to individually graded segments of the project, each team member is responsible for compiling his or her own assignment and submitting it to the Dropbox.
Week 1
Research topic and outline (possible 50 points, group grade). Guidelines for this assignment can be found in Doc Sharing.
Each team will select a topic for research and a team leader. Using the list of required elements for the project, each member of the team will take responsibility for researching specific aspects of the technology. The team will then produce a detailed outline for the project, noting each team members research sections. Please note, the list of required elements is just thata listand does not constitute an outline.
Although this assignment will result in a group grade, each person is required to submit a copy to the Dropbox by the due date. The team leader will distribute the finished product to each team member, whereupon each team member will submit the same assignment to the Dropbox.
Week 2
Resource review (90 possible points, individual grade). Guidelines for this assignment can be found in Doc Sharing.
Each member of the team will assemble at least five scholarly academic references that will be used to write the paper (refer to Week 1s tutorial on Scholarly References). Each student will list his or her references using APA format, and provide a brief explanation of each resource indicating how that resource will be used. The focus should be upon the students specific research assignment. An approximate length of this bibliography is between two to three pages.
Each student will submit his or her assignment to the Dropbox by the due date and provide a copy to the team leader.
Week 6
Submit rough draft to TurnItIn (no points, but required).
Each team leader will submit a single Team Paper to TurnItIn this week, leaving enough time for instructor review and team corrections. This is mandatory, and no papers will be accepted without having been submitted to TurnItIn. After the instructor reviews the paper through TurnItIn, general comments and suggestions for the paper will be directed back to the team.
Week 7
Final draft of the paper (200 possible points, individual grade). Guidelines for this assignment can be found in Doc Sharing.
All written sections will be compiled into one cohesive Team Paper. All students should review the paper to ensure that the transitions are smooth, that the sections fit together, and that the bibliographies are compiled correctly.
The table of contents should clearly indicate each students assigned sections. An introduction should clearly state the papers thesis, outline the scope of the investigation, and comment on any challenges the team faced with respect to research sources. Report sections should be clearly identified using level-1 and level-2 headings. The paper should conclude with recommendations for further research or possible solutions that could be evaluated. A complete list of references, in APA format, should follow along with any appendices.
Although this assignment will result in one cohesive Team Paper, each person is required to submit a copy to the Dropboxby the due date. The team leader will distribute the finished product to each team member, whereupon each team member will submit the same assignment to the Dropbox.