Instructor: Dr. Keith Miller, email: miller.keith@uis.edu

Catalog Description: This course has no prerequisites, and is taught to computer science majors and non-majors. The course introduces students to computers for those who don't already have basic skills. Students participate in electronic bulletin boards and Web explorations. The course explores, at a relatively low level of sophistication, classical ethical theories. Then we apply those theories to issues and case studies involving computing and telecommunication. There is an emphasis on justifying arguments, improving writing and speaking skills, and tolerance for competing opinions.

Course Learning Objectives: I want students to be aware of the ethical, legal, and social implications of the use of computing and telecommunications. I want them to gain skills in dealing with the tradeoffs required when accepting, adapting, or rejecting the adoption of technologies. I want students to be able to articulate reasonable positions on issues in this field, including references to classical ethical theories in defense of their arguments.

Outline of Topics to be Covered:

• Introduction to ethics
  • consequentialist
  • deontological
  • virtue
  • Rawlsian negotiation
• Current issues in computing:
  • security
  • privacy
  • reliability and liability
  • censorship on the Web
  • automation and employment
  • cryptography
  • ecommerce
  • laws and jurisdiction
  • accountability
• Thinking about communication:
  • building a rational argument
  • differentiating between reason and emotion
  • writing and thinking clearly
  • email and electronic bulletin board
  • being a discerning Web surfer.

Method of Instruction: In class lectures; electronic and in class quizzes; small group and large group discussions in class; electronic bulletin board discussions; web explorations; short written essays

Evaluation Methods: Mastery of class readings are evaluated using periodic quizzes and essay questions on the final exam. Student participations in class discussions and on electronic bulletin boards are evaluated by the instructor. Student essays, often based on fictional or non-fictional cases, are evaluated according to a grading rubric distributed with the writing assignment.