Crown 79: Introduction to Social and Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies
Sections 4 and 6 in Crown 203
Instructor: Dr./ Ms. Marilyn Patton
Email: mapatton@ucsc.edu or mdpatton1@gmail.com
Text or call: 831 234 1697
Office phone: 831-864-5089
https://sites.google.com/site/marilynpattonspage/home/crown-79
Office hours: Crown 109 Thursdays 9 to 9:40 and 1:15 to 1:45
Course Objectives:
CROWN 79 is an introduction to university intellectual life. Our main goal is the development of analytical reading and critical thinking skills focusing on the topic of emerging technologies. Research on this topic is articulated around a group project, which also will be used to learn strategies for effective work in groups, an essential skill in most fields and of particular relevance to STEM disciplines.
This class will enhance your ability to:
1) Critically read and comprehend material drawn from a range of disciplines and genres.
2) Discuss multiple views and perspectives about the course materials and their broad implications for participating in a democratic society.
3) Successfully work collaboratively on projects arising from course materials.
This class will also serve as introduction to Winter Crown Core (Crown 80) in at least three different ways:
1) The development of critical reading and text analysis skills will provide a foundation for writing and other academic skills.
2) The general structure will model the Winter Core class.
3) One of the textbooks, Technology: A Reader for Writers, will be shared with Crown 80. The Circle will also be a textbook for Crown 80.
Group project: For the group project you will work with three other students in a group based on a shared interest in researching a similar topic. Groups will form in Week 2, write a pre-presentation paper laying out the findings by Weeks 8 or 9, and present their findings to the class during the last three weeks of the quarter.
Classes will meet on Thursday and student groups will meet independently on Tuesday at the same time as the class. Groups will meet with me at my office for 30 minutes twice during the quarter to check on progress and receive feedback on their group project.
In-class: During weeks 2 through 8, class will be focused on:
1. Development of your skills in group collaborative writing and presentation through in-class activities.
2. Analysis and discussion of a set of readings placing technologies in a broader societal and ethical context. As reference we’ll primarily use readings from the book Technology: A Reader for Writers.
3. You will be asked to write an informal written response each week on one or more of the assigned texts. Discussion of the readings will continue in class.
4. To enhance the seminar-nature of the class, you and a few fellow students will start discussion on the readings during ONE week of the quarter. You may do this by asking questions that you have about the reading, by making connections between the readings and films or television series, or by setting up a debate, taking opposite opinions about the readings for the week.
Grading – possible points. Total of 1000 possible.
Summer Writing Assignment: 50
eFast Notes: 25
Weekly in-class freewrites: 25 points each. There will be seven, including the pitch, so 175 total.
Collaborative Research and Writing: 300 (includes 50 points each for progress forms)
Collaborative Presentation: 200
Individual Campus Exploration (doing it and presenting results): 100
Participation in Class Discussion: 100
Starting class discussion with questions and ideas one time: 50
Course Requirements:
· Willingness to engage new ideas, collegiality, respect, sense of humor
· Summer Writing Assignment
· eFast Notes
· Weekly in-class freewrites
· Final Group Research paper/ multi-modal work (2000 words, 6-7 pages, and documentation of research)
· Final Group Presentation (15-25 minutes)
· Individual Campus Exploration and presentation (5 minutes maximum)
· Attendance at all ten section meetings
· Class Participation
Notes:
If you experience problems completing the work, seek help. See me right away, and make an appointment with your Academic Advisor. S/he can help you with time management and referrals to tutoring or other resources. Remember, we faculty and staff are here to help you succeed.
Disability Resource Center
UC Santa Cruz is committed to creating an academic environment that supports its diverse student body. If you are a student with a disability who requires accommodations to achieve equal access in this course, please submit your Accommodation Authorization Letter from the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to me privately after class, during my office hours, or by appointment, preferably within the first two weeks of the quarter. At that time, I would also like to discuss ways we can ensure your full participation in the course. I encourage all students who might benefit from learning more about the DRC services to contact them by phone at 831-459-2089 or by email at drc@ucsc.edu.
* Time Management: University of California Systemwide Senate Regulation 760 specifies that 1 academic credit corresponds to 3 hours of work per week per credit in a 10-week quarter. The following is provided as a breakdown of time expectations for a two-credit course (6 hours).
· class time – 1.75 hours
· Team Writing book – 0.5 hour
· Technology anthology and other selected texts – 1 hour
· individual student research preparing for collaborative group work –0.75 hour
· collaborative group work writing paper and preparing presentation – 1.25 hours
· work on your starting-the-class day and your campus exploration – 0.75 hour