readings

Reading summaries are due 8 am Monday (on your course blog) before Tuesday's class unless otherwise noted. Guide to writing in this class (pdf)

Peer Groups are also discussion groups.

The readings are associated with the night that they will be discussed. NOT FINALIZED FOR SECOND HALF OF THE QUARTER!
Week 2 -- 10 October ­ Communication Theories
Blog your reading assignment:
Two "ah-ha's" from these readings as well as how they might apply to your possible research interests. Please read the posts of your study group (to better prepare you for next week's class) and reply to at least one student in your study group. Reading summaries are due 8 am Monday before Tuesday's class unless otherwise noted.
Week 3 -- 18 October ­ Diffusion of Innovation
Blog your reading assignment:
Discuss the importance of "supervening necessity" - can you think of other examples? What about the law of unintended consequences? How might U&G theory apply to your research this quarter?

For Class Discussion:
Explore why new technologies are adopted, particularly those dealing with communication (and new media).
Week 4 -- 25 October ­ Diffusion of Innovation

Blog your reading assignment (Groups 2-5):
Discuss the effects of applying computing power to communication. What might Bush forecast today, if he were looking to 2050?

For Class Discussion:
What factors have led to the adoption of computing technologies? Where do you see communication technologies moving in the future? What audiences, applications? Why? How do we, as a society, decide to fund long-range research that may or may not "pay off"?

Group 1's Responsibilities, before-during-after class:

  • Before Class:
    • Synthesize all readings (class and group) and supplement discussion material with at least one additional reading per group member.
    • Each group member posts, to their own blog, a reaction to the assigned reading(s)* that includes a short abstract (with link) of the supplemental resource. These blog posts are due 6 pm day of class.
  • In Class:
    • Group 1 will have about 30 minutes to discuss the readings and the supplemental materials and agree upon key learnings. Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 will have time to review each Group 1 member blog post summary.
    • We will then break into groups so that a member of each team is in each group (a group will ideally be composed of one person from 1-2-3-4-5). Now the groups will share the key points and learnings from all the readings and supplemental materials. Members of Groups 2 and 5 will record discussion. We will then have a class debrief.
  • After Class (Groups 1, 2, 5):
    • Group 1 creates a summary of the topic, issues for the class blog/wiki. Include in the post a list of all outside readings found by the team (one per individual) -- include an annotated reference. Groups 2 and 5 elaborate based on their notes. [Multiple authoring/editing of one document.]
Week 5 -- 1 November ­ Personal Technologies
Blog your reading assignment:
General reaction to Friedman's thesis: anything new for you? What do you disagree with? What are the implications for the US economy and position in the world?

In Class Process:
Each group will present a summary of their "flatteners" and be prepared to lead a short discussion (~15 minutes) of their material. We will have some class time for groups to formulate their strategies, learnings, but some pre-conferencing (IM, e-mail, etc) is advised.

Someone from each group should be assigned the role of recorder and should post a summary of the reading/learnings to the class wiki by 6 pm Friday. All group members are responsible for reviewing and contributing to the wiki post.
Week 6 -- 8 November - Community
Blog your reading assignment (groups 1, 4, 5):
What types of community have you experienced online? How have they differed from off-line communities? What characteristics of the Internet (the computing network) affect the growth, power, effectiveness of online communities?

For Class Discussion:
Explore characteristics of new media. What do you agree with, disagree with? Why? How do these characteristics affect online community?

Group 2 and 3's Responsibilities, before-during-after class:

  • Before Class:
    • Synthesize all readings (class and group) and supplement discussion material with at least one additional reading per group member.
    • Each group member posts, to their own blog, a reaction to the assigned reading(s)* that includes a short abstract (with link) of the supplemental resource. These blog posts are due 6 pm day of class.
  • In Class:
    • Group 2 and 3 will have about 30 minutes to discuss the readings and the supplemental materials and agree upon key learnings. Groups 1, 4 and 5 will have time to review each Group 2 and 3 blog post summary.
    • We will then break into groups so that a member of each team is in each group (a group will be composed of one person from 1-2-3-4-5). Now the groups will share the key points and learnings from all the readings and supplemental materials. Members of Groups 1 and 4 will record. We will then have a class debrief.
  • After Class (Groups 1, 2, 3, 4):
    • Groups 2 and 3 create a summary of the topic, issues for the class wiki. Include in the wiki post a list of all outside readings found by the team (one per individual) -- include an annotated reference. Groups 1 and 4 elaborate based on their notes.


Week 7 -- 15 November ­ Activism, Politics

Blog your reading assignment (Groups 1, 2, 3, 5):
How does the theory of the commons relate to the Internet, community, or politics? What are your experiences with electronic government or eDemocracy; how would you rate them? Is this evolution good or bad, and why?

For Class Discussion:
What do you see as the future role of new media in public discourse? How is it similar to or different from other break-through media? How is the Internet a like public space, a "commons"?

Group 4's Responsibilities, before-during-after class:

  • Before Class:
    • Synthesize all readings (class and group) and supplement discussion material with at least one additional reading per group member.
    • Each group member posts, to their own blog, a reaction to the assigned reading(s)* that includes a short abstract (with link) of the supplemental resource. These blog posts are due 6 pm day of class.
  • In Class:
    • Group 4 will have about 30 minutes to discuss the readings and the supplemental materials and agree upon key learnings. Groups 1, 2, 3 and 5 will have time to review each Group 4 blog post summary.
    • We will then break into groups so that a member of each team is in each group (a group will be composed of one person from 1-2-3-4-5). Now the groups will share the key points and learnings from all the readings and supplemental materials. Members of Groups 1 and 5will record. We will then have a class debrief.
  • After Class (Groups 1, 4, 5):
    • Group 4 creates a summary of the topic, issues for the class wiki. Include in the wiki post a list of all outside readings found by the team (one per individual) -- include an annotated reference. Groups 1 and 5 elaborate based on their notes.

 

Week 8 -- 22 November ­ Online Media
Blog your reading assignment:
General reaction to Gillmor's thesis: anything new for you? What do you disagree with? What are the implications for the media, politics, governance for the US and the world?

In Class Process:
Each group will present a summary of their chapter and be prepared to lead a short discussion (~15 minutes) of their material. We will have some class time for groups to formulate their strategies, learnings, but some pre-conferencing (IM, e-mail, etc) is advised.

Someone from each group should be assigned the role of recorder and should post a summary of the reading/learnings to the class wiki by 6 pm Friday. All group members are responsible for reviewing and contributing to the wiki post.

Group 5's Responsibilities, before-during-after class:

  • Before Class:
    • Synthesize Chapters 9 and 12 and supplement discussion material with at least one additional reading per group member as well as websites illustrating these points, particularly "the future" per Chapter 12 or your own experience.
    • Each group member posts, to their own blog, a reaction to the assigned reading(s)* that includes a short abstract (with link) of the supplemental resource. These blog posts are due 6 pm day of class.
  • In Class - Second Discussion:
    • After the larger group discussion, Group 5 will have about 30 minutes to discuss the readings and the supplemental materials and agree upon key learnings. Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 will have time to review each Group 5 blog post summary.
    • We will then break into groups so that a member of each team is in each group (a group will be composed of one person from 1-2-3-4-5). Now the groups will share the key points and learnings from all the readings and supplemental materials. Members of Groups 2 and 4 will record. We will then have a class debrief.
  • After Class (Groups 2, 4, 5):
    • Group 5 creates a summary of the topic, issues for the class wiki. Include in the wiki post a list of all outside readings found by the team (one per individual) -- include an annotated reference. Groups 2 and 4 elaborate based on their notes.

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