University of Northern Iowa

Department of Communication Studies

                                                                             

48E:222:06 Seminar: Computer-Mediated Communication                                     Spring 2004

 

Instructor: Dr. Joyce Chen                                                       Office Hours:    TTh 2-3:30 pm

Office: 321 LNG                                                                                   W 1-3 pm

Office Phone: 32574                                                                              or by appointment

Class meeting times:  W 6-8:50 pm 212 LNG

 

Required Textbook:

            Barnes, S.B. (2002). Computer-mediated communication: Human to human communication through the Internet. New York: Allyn & Bacon

 

Course Objectives:

Internet technology has created an environment of human communication, i.e., Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), in contemporary society where time and space have become less restricted to communication processes. Based on surveys of Internet technologies and human-computer interactions (HCI), this course examines the changes that computer technologies have been bringing to interpersonal relationships, organizational communication, community/social/global structures, and the research/development process in other areas related to human lives. By the end of this semester, students will gain better understanding in following aspects:

 

-- the concepts of CMC and HCI, and the terminology of Internet technologies;

-- theories applied to Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) in communication disciplines;

-- CMC’s impacts on interpersonal communication, group and organizational communication, public communication, and business communication, as well as the concepts of self-presentation and self-identity;

-- social issues related to CMC;

-- how to be a competent CMC communicator; and

-- basic Web page design skills upon the request.

 

Class Organization:

I expect two groups of students in this class. One is majoring in communication, and the other is non-communication major. This composition would help students achieve best outcomes of the course. My teaching philosophy is to promote students' learning processes. Therefore, I will accommodate your learning needs based on your individual background. The course will not be difficult but it needs substantial work to achieve the objectives mentioned above. The class time will mainly contribute to lectures, discussions, research activities, and presentations. Assigned readings, and individual conferences will be emphasized throughout the semester.

 

Leading Discussion (20%):

The leading discussion aims to help students gain better understanding of the materials provided in the textbook, and to promote class discussions. Each student will be responsible for presenting one of the chapters in the textbook and leading the class discussion. It is required to use the materials in the chapter as the basic content and to search additional up-to-date information about the development of computer-mediated communication. The detail requirements will be described in the handout for leading discussions.

 

 

 

"The University of Northern Iowa is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Institution.  Students with disabilities and other special needs should feel free to contact the professor privately if there are services or adaptations which can be made to accommodate specific needs."

 

Attendance & Participation (10%):

Because computer-mediated communication is related to your career and daily life, it needs your active participation in class discussions. You are expected to attend all the classes. The attendance/participation grade (10%) will be determined according to your attendance rate, active participation in class discussions and activities, and respectful listening to other students and the instructor.

 

Research Paper (30%) & Presentation (15%):

There will be one research paper (30%) and the final presentation of your research project (15%). The purpose of the research is to enhance your knowledge and analytical skills of CMC, and demonstrate your competence communicating in the environment of CMC. You will get a handout for the research paper and presentation.

 

Quizzes (15%):

There are two open-notes quizzes. The quiz questions will be given based on the materials in the textbook. There will be review guides and review sessions to help students prepare for the quizzes.

 

Grading:

All the work turned in to this class should be your original work for this class. According to University policy, plagiarism will result in FAILURE of the course and further DISCIPLINARY ACTION.  Plagiarism includes "borrowing" other student's paper or other writer's work, and submitting the papers that you wrote for other courses.  

The grading composition is shown as follows:

 

Attendance/Participation

10%

Response/Critique

10%

Leading Discussion

20%

Quiz X 2

15%

Research Paper

30%

Final Presentation

15%

TOTAL

100%

 

The letter grading scales are shown as follows:

A: >95%

A-: 92-94%

B+: 88-91%

B: 85-87%

B-: 80-84%

C+: 77-79%

C: 74-76%

C-: 70-73%

D+: 67-69%

D: 64-66%

D-: 60-73%

F: < 60%

 

The grades will be weighed by the percentages shown above and combined to result in your final course grade. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date, unless otherwise stated. The penalty for a late assignment is 1 percent deduction for each day late. Any late assignment accepted will be graded based on the reduced percentage. Before giving you the final grade I need to make sure that you achieve the objectives of this course.

 

Tentative Schedule

1/14 Syllabus and orientation to leading discussion requirements

        Preparation for leading discussion

 

1/21 Discussion: Research interest, and Preparation for leading discussion

1/28 Part 1: Overview of Computer-Mediated Communication

        Reading: Chapter 1: Computer-mediated communication

Chapter 2: Characteristics of computer-mediated communication

        Discussion: Research project topics

 

2/4   Reading: Chapter 3: Human Computer Interface (HCI) (Eric)

                        Chapter 4: The Web (Jennifer)

        Research Paper & Presentation Assignment

        Discussion: Research project proposals

 

2/11 Discussion: Research project proposals & individual meetings

 

2/18 Part 2: Interacting through CMC

        Reading: Chapter 5: Language and the Internet (Justin)

Chapter 6: Presenting oneself online (Patricia)

Chapter 7: Internet interpersonal relationships (Traci)

        Review Part 1 & 2

 

2/25 Quiz #1

        Discussion: Literature review

                         Research Methods    

 

3/3   Part 3: CMC and group communication

        Reading: Chapter 8: CMC in organization (Angela)

Chapter 10: Educational contexts (Liz)

                        Chapter 11: Virtual Communities (Jill)

 

3/10 Part 4: CMC and Society

        Reading: Chapter 12: Disruptive online behavior (Jenny)

Chapter 13: Anonymity, privacy and copyright (Nick)

Chapter 14: Democracy and the Internet (Sarah)

 

3/17 (Spring Break, No class)

 

3/24 Due: Draft of Literature review & Research methods

        Reading: Chapter 15: Communicating in the global village

        Discussion: Data collection

        Individual meetings

       

3/31 Review Part 3 & 4

 

4/7   Quiz #2

 

4/14 Due: Data collection

        Discussion: Analyzing Data & Writing up papers

 

4/21 Research paper draft due & individual meetings

 

4/28 Presentation

 

5/5 Presentation, Research Paper Due