CSci 300: Social Responsibility in Computer Science
Revised Topic and Assignment Schedule

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).

20 August (Thur.)

Introductory activities

27 August (Thur.)

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

3 September (Thur.)

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

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

10 September (Thur.)

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.

17 September (Thur.)

Continuation of "Can We Trust the Computer"

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

23 September (Wed.)

University deadline for course withdrawals

24 September (Thur.)

University deadline to submit application for December diploma
Deadline for choosing Term Paper topic

Chapter 7 -- "Computer Crime"

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

1 October (Thur.)

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 August 1998, http://www.earthspace.net/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/ (accessed on 18 August 1998).
  • Eric S. Raymond. "Homesteading the Noosphere", April 1998, http://www.earthspace.net/~esr/writings/homesteading/ (accessed on 18 August 1998).

8 October (Thur.)

Continuation of "Legal Protection for Computer Software"

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

13 October (Tue.)

Chapter 8 -- "Computers and Work"

• Note that this class is meeting on a Tuesday!
• Quiz over chapter
• Guest speaker: Bettie Puckett, Director of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance. Topic: sexual harassment

22 October (Thur.)

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.

29 October (Thur.)

No class. Preparation time for term paper.

6 November (Thur.)

No class. Preparation time for term paper. Schedule changes to Tuesdays.

10 November (Tue.)

Deadline for submitting two review copies of Term Paper

17 November (Tue.)

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

24 November (Tue.)

Deadline for submitting final copy of Term Paper

25-27 November (Wed.-Fri.)

Thanksgiving Break (no classes)

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