CITS 220 – Implementing Internet Tools and Technologies, 3 cr
Instructor:
Tatiana Piatanova
Location: asynchronous online — start here: http://classes.uaf.edu
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9a-5p via email or Twitter
Email: tapiatanova+cits220@alaska.edu
Twitter: @boris_dog
Course Description
This course explores the use of “social software” and emerging Web 2.0 applications and how to implement and understand these web social communication tools. Additionally, the course will investigate the impact of participating in social networks and how it is affecting the nature of “community” and our perception of the Internet itself. The format is a survey course with a heavy emphasis on participation and exploration, not an in-depth examination.
Special Requirements and Prerequisites:
This course is a partially Open Course. As part of this course, students will be asked to participate in public spaces on the Internet. Students will be required to create their own blogs and publish their reflection in the open environment as well as create and maintain accounts and screen names for Web 2.0 services covered in the course (see the list of course topics). It’s important to understand that the screen name you choose will be public to the world. If you don’t wish to use your real name, we suggest using your university username (your login username for Blackboard). If you feel the official university username identifies you too publicly, please contact me to come up with an alternative.
Recommended: CIOS F150 or equivalent skills. (3+0)
Course Goals
The primary outcomes are:
- Expose you to a range of contemporary and emerging web technologies.
- Increase your understanding of Web 2.0 and the participatory, socially networked web.
- Help you find applications, services, and tools that fulfill personal, academic, and/or professional needs.
Textbooks and Readings
There is one book required for this class:
- Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky
All other materials are freely available on the web.
Instructional Methods
This is an online asynchronous course that is taught through a combination of Blackboard—a learning management system, and a class blog. Additionally, students will be required to create and manage their own blogs using http://wordpress.com content management system as part of their as their course e-portfolio to showcase their acquired skills and a reflection of their learning process during the semester. This course has a strong collaborative learning component and students will be asked to discuss course-related issues and topics by commenting on each other’s blog posts.
Course Topics
Like the web itself—and particularly the “Web 2.0” breed of social web technologies that we will be using—the topics (and their sequence) are subject to change. In fact, I can guarantee some changes. I may also provide units on applications or ideas at student requests! If you have a request for something particular, please let me know.
You can, of course, work and complete units more quickly if you wish.
Blogging
Throughout this semester you will be expected to make weekly posts o the class blog and comment on other student’s posts on a number of topics:
- Reflections Clay Shirky’s “Cognitive Surplus” chapters.
- Reflections on technology we learn and issues that arise with the use of that technology.
GUIDELINES:
Even though each blog assignment will have a set of questions to guide you, there are really no right or wrong answers. What I really would like to see is evidence that you are thinking and are aware of the concepts covered in the assignments and discussed in “Cognitive Surplus.”
Blog posts, however, are not research papers. Your style of writing should facilitate communication. Your posts should reflect your personal opinion but through appropriate language. Remember, you are writing in public, open space.
Additionally, you should stay focused and cohesive and support your answers by either personal experience or examples or links to relevant websites. If you use images or multi-media in your entries, please acknowledge their sources by either linking to the source or providing a caption.
Grading Policy
This is a graded class, A-F without +/- grades. The point values for assignments fluctuate a bit depending on the term and availability of resources for units, but the percentages are standard:
90–100% – A
80–89% – B
70–79% – C
60–69% – D
0–59% – F
You can use the My Grades link in the navigation panel in Blackboard to the left to view your current grades:
- An ‘!’ in the grade book indicates an assignment you have submitted but I have not yet graded.
- You can click on a score in the grade book to see my comments (if any) on assignments as well as write/wrong answers on quizzes.
Problems or issues with grades should be directed to the class email address: tapiatanova+cits220@alaska.edu
Due Dates
Students are expected to complete the weekly assignments by their due dates (Sundays @ midnight). All late work will result in a deduction of 10pts per assignment. If circumstances arise that cause you to need extra time on any assignment(s), e-mail me (tapiatanova+cits220@alaska.edu) for guidance. Emergency situations will be dealt with as needed. Students are expected to maintain a working backup plan to be implemented in the event of a computer malfunction or an interruption of their normal Internet service during the course.
Except for the very first “Making Contact” assignment, which is found in the Course Information folder and involves sending email, all work will be completed online.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
PART I – Introduction to the web:
Week 1 – Brief History of the Internet and WWW
Week 2 – Digital Literacy
Week 3 – Social Software and Social Networks
PART II – Web 2.0 Tools Exploration:
Part I: Web2.0
Week 4 – Idea of Web 2.0.
Week 5 – Wikis and the Wiki Way
Part II: Blogs
Week 6 – Blogging: Social Software’s Killer App
Week 7 — Blogs and Journalism
Week 8 – Twitter, Microblogging, and Lifeblogging
PART III – Content Curation:
Week 9 – Content Curation Part I
Week 10 – Content curation Part II:
-> Social Bookmarking
-> Web Feed Reading
Part IV – Create on the Web:
Week 11 – Web Accessibility
Week 12 – ePortfolio: put it together.
Week 13-14 –Video Essay
Getting Help, Grading and Response Times
Class email (tapiatanova+cits220@alaska.edu) should receive a response within 24-48 hours, and usually at the low-end of that scale. I can’t guarantee reception of, or response to, email sent to any address other than the class address: tapiatanova+cits220@alaska.edu
I grade at least once per week, sometimes more often, but usually on Sunday following the due date. In any case, you should receive a grade on any assignment within one week of submitting it.
If you have something that needs a response in less than 7 days, send an email to the class address — or contact me via Twitter @boris_dog — and let me know.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, defined as stealing another person’s ideas and passing it off as your own is a serious offense and will not be tolerated in this course. Please review this Web site for more information on how to avoid plagiarism.
Student Support Services
For issues with Blackboard, please contact OIT services (http://www.alaska.edu/oit/ ). Please see http://www.ctc.uaf.edu/student/index.html for additional student services.
Disabilities Services
The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. State that you will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.