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Contact information:
Dr. Adriana de Souza e Silva
Assistant Professor
NCSU Department of Communication
souzaesilva@ncsu.edu
http://www.souzaesilva.com

Class meetings:
Tuesdays and Thursdays , 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Dabney 330

Credit hours: 3

Class website:
http://www.chass.ncsu.edu/com487002

Office:
Winston 201K

Office hours:
by appointment.

Course pre-requisites:
COM250 and COM257

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Course Description:
The primary goal of this class is to investigate interconnections between the Internet and society focusing on the interfaces that allow us to connect to digital spaces. The course will be divided into three main parts.

• Part I includes a historical overview of the development of the personal computer as an assemblage of material interfaces used to represent digital information, like the mouse, the keyboard, the screen, the operational system, and windows. In parallel we will investigate how the concept of cyberspace has been created, leading to the visualization of the computer and the Internet as social spaces. In this part, we will focus on literary and science fiction views of cyberspace.
• Part II focuses on the Internet as a social space. We will investigate how communication interactions happen online focusing on issues such as the visualization of communication environments, online body, and identity construction. Special attention will be given to MUDs, also referred to as multiuser environments, and how these “digital spaces” can be used for sociability, learning, and gaming.
• Part III focuses on current and future issues regading the way we interact with the Internet, and on the future of the Internet itself as a communication medium. We will explore the shift from the fixed to the mobile Internet. We will also discuss the emergence of wireless networks, voice over internet protocol (VOIP), pervasive and wearable computing, and location-based services. Finally, ideas about the digital divide and social access to technology will be addressed.

The ultimate goal of this class is to raise a discussion about the role of the Internet in contemporary society.

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Catalog Description:
Exploration of major issues involved in the growth of computer-mediated communication and information technologies, including: construction of self and body; relation of information technology to social, civic, and political life; gender, race, and class as continuing critical points; knowledge and intellectual property; the implications of software and design on the nature of communication, knowledge, and information.

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Course objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• Identify major concepts related to cyberspace and the Internet
• Outline the main historical developments of the Internet and the personal computer.
• Apply concepts of identity, body, and space to online social multiuser environments.
• Explain contemporary issues related to the mobile internet and wireless technologies.
• Demonstrate general competency in the subject matter through the completion of two exams and a research presentation.

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Course Components and Grading :
The final grade will consist of the following components
Participation: 10 points
Weekly blog posts: 20 points
Research presentation: 20 points
Mid-term exam: 20 points
Final exam: 30 points

I will be grading on the University's A+/F scale, as follows:

• 97-100 = A+
• 93-96 = A
• 90-92 = A-
• 87-89 = B+
• 83-86 = B
• 80-82 = B-
• 77-79 = C+
• 73-76 = C
• 70-72 = C-
• 67-69 = D+
• 63-66 = D
• 60-62 = D-
• below = F

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Course policies:

Attendance and absence policy
Attendance is mandatory and required for a successful completion of the course. Unexcused absences will affect your grade directly. Three unexcused absences will result in a reduction of your final grade by 3 points (e.g., from A+ to A), four unexcused absences by 6 points, and so forth. It is generally recommended to drop the course with more than two absences. Late arrivals are very disruptive for other students. Being more than 10 minutes late to class will count as one unexcused absence.

Per University regulations, excused absences must fall into one of two categories:  sanctioned anticipated situations and documented emergency situations.  Anticipated situations (e.g., participation in official University functions, court attendance, religious observances, or military duty) must be submitted in writing at the beginning of the semester or one week prior to the anticipated absence.  Emergency absences (e.g., student illness, injury or death of immediate family member, must be documented by the Student Organization Resource Center 515-3323) within one week following the emergency.  Late work will be accepted only in situations where absences were excused.  Please consult the following website for further information on University attendance regulations:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.3.php.

I will take attendance at the beggining of each class. It's your responsibility to be in class on time to make sure I take your attendance.

Every lecture, discussion, and presentation from each class period will contain material covered on the midterm and final exam. Consequently, you will need to be present in class, alert, and involved in order to grasp the material, ask questions about it when necessary, learn it, and pass the course. If you should miss a class, it is your responsibility to get notes and explanations from a classmate.

Requirements for Credit-Only
In order to receive a grade of S, students are required to take all exams and quizzes, complete all assignments, and earn a grade of C- or better. Conversion from letter grading to credit only (S/U) grading is subject to university deadlines. Refer to the Registration and Records calendar for deadlines related to grading. For more details refer to:  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.15.php
**Note that students cannot take this course for credit-only if they intend to count it toward a Communication major.

Requirements for Auditors
For details refer to:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/grades_undergrad/REG02.50.3.php

Incomplete and late assignments
Late assignments will only be accepted in the case of verified/documented emergencies. See the University Attendance Policy http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.3.php
Midterm and final exams: Points earned for incomplete exams (midterm and final) will be reduced in proportion to the degree to which the assignment was completed.  For example, an exam requiring three essays, with only one essay completed, will earn one third of the essay point total. Points earned for late exams will be reduced by 50% if received within 24 hours of due date and time due. Exams received later will not be accepted unless in accordance with the excused absence policy referenced above.

Blog posts: Late blog posts will automatically receive a 0. However, if you don't post until one week after the text is due, you will get a -1. If you have an excused absence, you can still get credit to your blog post if you post it within one week of the absence.

All assignments must be completed in order to pass the course.

Class evaluation
Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last two weeks of class. Students will receive an email message directing them to a website where they can login using their Unity ID and complete evaluations. All evaluations are confidential; instructors will never know how any one student responded to any question, and students will never know the ratings for any particular instructors.

• Evaluation website: https://classeval.ncsu.edu
• Student help desk: classeval@ncsu.edu
• More information about ClassEval: http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/classeval/index.htm

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Policy statements:

Academic integrity
Students are bound by academic integrity policy as stated in NCSU Code of Student Conduct: http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_discipline/POL11.35.1.php.

Students are required to uphold the university pledge of honor and exercise honesty in completing every assignment. Instructors may require students to write the Honor’s Pledge on every exam and assignment and to sign or type their name after the pledge. (“I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this test or assignment.”) Academic Integrity website: http://www.ncsu.edu/student_affairs/osc/AIpage/acaintegrity.html

A student shall be guilty of a violation of academic integrity if he or she:

• Represents the work of others as your own;
  
• Obtains assistance in any academic work from another individual in a situation in which you are expected to perform independently;
  
• Gives assistance to another individual in a situation in which that individual is expected to perform independently;
  
• Offers false data in support of laboratory or field work.
  

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is an act of deceit that is taken very seriously by the Department of Communication and by the University. Plagiarism is writing using someone's works -- be it word or ideas -- without giving her or him credit. If you are found plagiarizing you risk failure and even more stringent disciplinary actions. This is particularly important with web-based materials. If you use someone else's image/words/audio, you must give appropriate credit. For an extended explanation of plagiarism, please go to: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/scc/tutorial/plagiarism/what.html 

If you are in doubt regarding any matter relating to the standards of academic integrity in this course or on an assignment, consult with me before presenting the work. By submitting an assignment to be evaluated, you are certifying that you have not received unauthorized help on assignment.

Adverse Weather
Read the complete adverse weather policy for more info: http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/hr/hrim/adverseweather.asp . Check email, news, the NCSU home page, or call 513-8888 for the latest information.

Students with disabilities
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653 http://www.ncsu.edu/dso/. For more information on NC State’s policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.1) at  http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.1.php.

Electronic Hosted Course Components
Students may be required to disclose personally identifiable information to other students in the course, via electronic tools like email or web postings, where relevant to the course. Examples include online discussions of class topics, and posting of student coursework. All students are expected to respect the privacy of each other by not sharing or using such information outside the course.

Anti-Discrimination Statement
NC State University provides equality of opportunity in education and employment for all students and employees. Accordingly, NC State affirms its commitment to maintain a work environment for all employees and an academic environment for all students that is free from all forms of discrimination. Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, creed, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation is a violation of state and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated. Harassment of any person (either in the form of quid pro quo or creation of a hostile environment) based on color, religion, sex, creed, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation is also a violation of state and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated. Retaliation against any person who complains about discrimination is also prohibited. NC State’s policies and regulations covering discrimination, harassment, and retaliation may be accessed at http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ or http://www.ncsu.edu/equal_op . Any person who feels that he or she has been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 515-3148.

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Student resources:
Writing and Speaking Tutorial Services: www.ncsu.edu/tutorial_center/writespeak/index.htm
Academic Policies:  www.ncsu.edu/policies/sitemap.php#acad-pols_regs