Social and Professional Issues in Computing COSC 3315-06 Course Guidebook

FALL 2023

Dr. Sara McCaslin

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
 Contents
Course Description...........................................................................................................2
Mission..........................................................................................................................2
Course Objectives.........................................................................................................2
Course Pre-Requisite.....................................................................................................3
Textbook..........................................................................................................................3
Course Organization.........................................................................................................3
Grading.............................................................................................................................4
Assignments.....................................................................................................................5
Quizzes..........................................................................................................................5
Discussion Boards.........................................................................................................5
Netiquette..................................................................................................................5
Rubric.........................................................................................................................6
Video Assignments........................................................................................................6
Communication................................................................................................................6
Course Schedule...............................................................................................................7

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 SOCIAL AND
PROFESSIONAL ISSUES
IN COMPUTING
COSC 3315-06 COURSE
GUIDEBOOK
Course Description
Introduction to the social and professional issues that arise in the context of computing.

Mission
The mission of this course is to address many of the myriad social and ethical concerns
which arise from the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence,
machine learning, blockchain technology, 5G, robotics, digital weapons, and facial
recognition. We will also examine various views of a "profession" and "professional
conduct" in computer science and information systems. Finally, we will explore issues in
"empathic technology."

Course Objectives
By the time you complete this course, you should be able to

1. Describe the basic components of ethical reasoning

2. Consider what ethical decisions you would make throughout the various
scenarios
3. Describe the basic principles of significant moral theories
4. Explain how theorists define the constituents of a profession
5. Explain what defines a professional
6. Explain how advances in technology call for new privacy protection laws
7. Explain how the Internet has affected intellectual property laws
8. Describe best practices on how to help prevent computer failures

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 9. Explain how social networking sites and online games have the potential to
change an individual's self-concept from a single 'true' self to multiple explicit
personas
10. Explain how current free speech laws are interpreted when applied to recent
methods of expression
11. Describe how the arguments of theorists are applied to protect vulnerable
members of society
12. Explain what it means for a technology to be pervasive and for it to be
autonomous
13. Discuss how empathy is built in a tech-obsessed world

Course Pre-Requisite
COSC 1337 or COSC 1437. The student is expected to have taken a foundational
course in college-level composition and have a working knowledge of Microsoft Word
and PowerPoint.

Textbook
The Future of Feeling: Building Empathy in a Tech-
Obsessed World, by Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips, Published 2020

Any of these ISBNs will be acceptable:

 ISBN-13: 9781542041843 (hardcover)

 ISBN-10: 1542041848 (hardcover)
 ISBN-13: 9781542041850 (paperback)
 ISBN-10: 1542041856 (paperback)

Also available in Kindle eBook edition (with text-to-speech

enabled) on Amazon [and free if you have Kindle Unlimited]

This book will not be needed until the week of

February 20.

Course Organization
This course is organized into Modules. Here’s what a typical module may include:

 Video lecture
 Reading assignment (from the textbook, not until February 20)
 Supporting materials
o Lectures and slides (pdf)
o Handouts (pdf)
o Videos
o External links

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  Assignments
o Quizzes
o Discussion boards
o Videos (only twice during the semester)

Grading
Here are the sources for your grades:

Type of Assignment How Many Assigned Points Possible

Test 1 100
Test 2 100
Test 3 100
Quizzes 13 x 10 pts 130
Video Assignments 2 at 35 pts each 70
Discussion Board 10 at 10 pts each 100
Total Possible Points 600

Here is a visual representation of how course points are distributed:

Point Distribution

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3

Quizzes Video Assignments Discussion Board

At the end of the semester

 Your total points will be added together to obtain the sum

 The sum will be divided by 600, the total possible points
 That value will be multiplied by 100 and compared to this table

Semester Grade
Percent
90-100 A

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 80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
<60 F

Assignments
There are three types of assignments in this course:

 Quizzes over the material covered during the week

 Discussion Boards to support an open discussion of relevant topics
 Video Assignments, of which there are only two, were students will prepare a
simple 2- to 5-minute video about a topic of interest related to the course

Quizzes
Quizzes are open notes, open book, open lecture and you will have two chances to
complete the quiz. There is no time limit for taking a quiz, but they are due one week
from the day they are made available. Quizzes will have multiple choice, true/false, and
matching questions and you will receive your grade immediately after the quiz is
complete.

Discussion Boards
Discussion board assignments give everyone an opportunity to all of you to share your
diverse viewpoints and experiences related to the topic of the week. Your posts can
include photos and links if they stay on topic.

Netiquette
Here are the basic rules for online discussion boards you will be expected to follow in
this course:

 Stay on topic.
 No personal attacks.
 Do not type in ALL CAPS – it is the online equivalent of screaming
 Remember that tone does not translate well online: avoid writing in a way that
someone could interpret as angry or sarcastic
 Respect the opinions and viewpoints of your classmates.
 When you disagree, do so in a respectful manner and make
 If you refer to something said earlier in the discussion, take a minute to quote
just a few key lines so others will not have to reread the entire thread to figure
out your post or comment
 Some may be new to English. Be forgiving when spelling or grammatical errors
occur

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Rubric
Here is an example of a rubric, or grading tool, that will be used for discussion board
assignments.

Criteria Possible
Points
Instructions followed 3
Comment on another post 2
made
Remains on-topic 2
Follows Netiquette 3

Video Assignments
There will be two video assignments for the course for which you will need to record a
very short video (between 2 and 5 minutes) discussing one of the topics provided. More
details will be provided during the semester.

Here an example of a rubric for a video assignment:

Criteria Possible
Points
Begins with introduction of yourself 10
and your topic
Discussion flows logically 10
Presentation of material is 5
engaging
Conclusion 10
Instructions followed 5
Remains on-topic 2
Falls within length requirements 3

Communication
Office hours held virtually by using Zoom, and you are not required to have your
camera on. Contact me through Canvas and we can find a time that works well for both
of us.

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 Course Schedule
Here is the course schedule.

DATE MODULE ACTIVITIES

Aug 21 Course Introduction

Aug 28 1 Introduction to Ethics

Quiz 1, Discussion Board 1
Sept 4 2 ACM Code of Ethics
Quiz 2, Discussion Board 2
Sept 11 3 Intellectual and Intangible Property
Quiz 3, Discussion Board 3
Sept 18 4 Establishing a Culture of Trust
Quiz 4, Discussion Board 4
Sept 25 5 Cybersecurity
Quiz 5, Discussion Board 5
Test 1
Oct 2 6 Textbook, Chapters 1 -2
Quiz 6, Discussion Board 6
Oct 9 7 Textbook, Chapters 3 – 4
Quiz 7, Discussion Board 7
Oct 16 8 Textbook Chapters 5 – 6
Quiz 8, Discussion Board 8
Oct 23 9 Textbook Chapters 7 – 8
Quiz 9, Discussion Board 9
Oct 30 10 Ethical Issues with AI
Quiz 10, Discussion Board 10
Test 2
Nov 6 11 IIoT, Industry 4.0 and Autonomous Systems
Quiz 11, Discussion Board 11
Nov 13 12 Autonomous Vehicles
Quiz 12, Discussion Board 12
Nov 20 Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov 27 13 Ethical issues in Gaming
Quiz 13, Discussion Board 12
Dec 4 Finals week, Test 3

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