CSci 300: Social Responsibility in Computer Science
Topic and Assignment Schedule (Revised 11 October)

Below is the planned schedule of topics for this semester. The schedule for September and October may change somewhat depending upon the availability of the guest speakers.

Unless otherwise noted, all readings are from Sara Baase's textbook A Gift of Fire (Prentice Hall, 1997).

23 August (Wed.)

Introductory activities

25 August (Fri.)

Chapter 1 -- "Unwrapping the Gift"

• Read the chapter, but no quiz
• In-class discussion -- restaurant scenario
• In-class discussion -- general exercises; #7-10, 12-13 page 32.

30 August (Wed.)

Chapter 6 -- "Constitutional (and Related) Issues"

• Guest speaker: Emmette F. (Buster) Hale, Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology

1 September (Fri.)

Continuation of "Constitutional (and Related) Isses" discussion.

• Quiz over chapter
• In-class discussion -- #8, 11, 13, 17, 23

6 September (Wed.)

Chapter 4 -- "Can We Trust the Computer"

• Quiz over chapter
• In-class discussion -- general exercises #7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16, 19, 25; pages 154-7
• Additional background -- Nancy G. Leveson and Clark S. Turner. "An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents", IEEE Computer, Vol. 26, No. 7, July 1993.

8 September (Fri.)

No class. Preparation for Mock Trial.

13 September (Wed.)

Continuation of "Can We Trust the Computer" discussion.

• In-class group exercise, Therac-25 mock trial, #1, page 157

15 September (Fri.)

Continuation of Therac-25 Mock Trial

20 September (Wed.)

Chapter 7 -- "Computer Crime"

• Guest speaker: Emmette F. (Buster) Hale, Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology

22 September (Fri.)

Deadline for course withdrawals

Deadline for choosing Term Paper topic

Continuation of "Computer Crime" discussion.

• Quiz over chapter
• In-class discussion -- general exercises; #9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17; pages 254-5

25 September (Mon.)

Last day to submit application for December diplomas

27 September (Wed.)

Chapter 8 -- "Computers and Work"

• Quiz over chapter
• In-class discussion -- sexual harassment scenario
• In-class discussion -- general exercises; #9, 10, 13-15, pages 287-88.

29 September (Fri.)

Continuation of "Computers and Work" discussion. CLASS CANCELLED.

4 October (Wed.)

Chapter 5 -- "Protecting Software and Other Intellectual Property"

• Quiz over chapter
• In-class discussion, general exercises; #9, 11, 12, 16, 19, 20; pages 193-4
• Additional background --
  • E. Robert Yoches. "Legal Protection for Computer Software", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 169-70, February 1989.
  • E. Robert Yoches and Arthur Levine. "Basic Principles of Copyright Protection for Computer Software", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 32, No. 5, pp. 544-545, May 1989.
  • J. Michael Jakes and E. Robert Yoches. "Basic Principles of Patent Protection for Computer Software", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 32, No. 8, pp. 922-4, August 1989.
  • Saul Lefkowitz and E. Robert Yoches. "The Role of Trademarks in the Protection of Computer Software", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 32, No. 12, pp. 1391-3,1396, December 1989.
  • Pamela Samuelson. "Should Program Algorithms Be Patented?" Communications of the ACM, Vol. 33, No. 8, pp. 23-7, August 1990.
  • Richard Stallman. "Why Software Should Be Free", Free Software Foundation, 1990.
  • Eric S. Raymond. "The Cathedral and the Bazaar", revised May 2000, http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/ (accessed on 22 August 2000).
  • Eric S. Raymond. "Homesteading the Noosphere", April 1998, http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/homesteading/ (accessed on 22 August 2000).

6 October (Fri.)

• In-class group exercise, software intellectual property debate, #1, page 95. Proposition: "All system software should be freely available in source form." Debate rescheduled for 3 November.

11 October (Wed.)

Chapter 2 -- "Privacy and Information"

• Quiz over chapter
• In-class group exercise -- video store privacy policy; #1; page 79
• In-class discussion -- general exercises #19, 24; pages 77-8

13 October (Fri.)

Fall Break (no class)

18 October (Wed.)

Continuation of "Privacy and Information" discussion. CLASS CANCELLED.

20 October (Fri.)

Annotated Bibliography due.

25 October (Wed.)

No class. Preparation time for term paper.

27 October (Fri.)

No class. Preparation time for term paper.

1 November (Wed.)

Chapter 10 -- "Issues of Professional Ethics and Responsibilities"

• Quiz over chapter
• In-class discussion, general exercises; #9, 11, 12, 21-26; pages 368-70
• Additional background --
  • Helen Nissenbaum. "Computing and Accountability", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 37, No. 1, January 1994.
  • Ronald E. Anderson, Deborah G. Johnson, Donald Gotterbarn, and Judith Perrolle. "Using the New ACM Code of Ethics in Decision Making", Communications of the ACM, Vol. 36, No. 2, February 1993.

3 November (Fri.)

Intellectual Property Debate. Cancelled.

8 November (Wed.)

Deadline for submitting two review copies of Term Paper

10 November (Fri.)

No class. Preparation time for term paper.

15 November (Wed.)

Deadline for submitting two copies of the critique of another student's Term Paper

17 November (Fri.)

No class. Preparation for term paper.

21 November (Tue.)

Deadline for submitting final copy of Term Paper

22-4 November

Thanksgiving Vacation

29 November - 8 December

No class.

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