University of Northern Iowa
Department of Communication Studies
Electronic Media Division
48E:163g Telecommunication and Information
Spring 1998
Instructor: Dr. Joyce Chen Office Hour: 11-1 pm TTh
Office: LNG 347C 10-11am F
Office Phone: 273-2574 or by appointment
Class meetings: 11-11:50am MWF, 348 LNG
Required Textbook:
Institute for Information Studies. (1995). Crossroads on the information highway:
Convergence and diversity in communications technologies. Institute for Information
Studies. (CIH)
Institute for Information Studies. (1997). The internet as paradigm. Institute for
Information Studies. (ITN)
Recommended Textbook:
Mowlana, H. (1997). Global information and world communication (2nd ed.).
Thousand Oaks: SAGE. (GIWC)
Pre-requisites:
48E:021, and junior standing.
Course Objectives:
This course is concerned about information technology and its impact on contemporary
human society. We will discuss the development of information technologies, and
examine the acquisition, transfer, and use of information by the government, business,
education, and individuals. The analyses will be focused on the system of Internet
because it has integrated computer/networking, telecommunication, broadcasting/cable,
and other mass communication technologies. It also facilitated world communication at
individual level, and made the "Global Village" a reality.
Graduate students are encouraged to explore the relationship between Internet
technologies and society from the perspectives of communication or mass communication
studies. The research topics may range from political, or economic, to cultural studies,
depending on individual research interests. Research methods can be qualitative,
quantitative, or critical approaches.
"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."
For undergraduate students, you will learn and use a variety of up-to-date information
technologies to develop real projects for the purpose of professional research,
presentation, and demonstration. By the end of this semester, you will:
-- be aware of the relationship between information technologies and your future
career;
-- understand the relationship between the potential of information technology and
social needs;
-- be familiar with a variety of up-to-date information technologies;
-- be able to use information technology for presentation and demonstration.
Class Organization:
The class sessions will be a combination of lectures, discussions, and practices. There
will be lectures that provide basic theoretical and methodological background for
information communication studies. However, taking this class itself is a practice of
learning information and information technologies to meet the challenge of living in the
information society. For effective learning it requires students’ interaction, participation,
and discussion. Except for special notices, Monday’s class will meet in the Computer
Lab, 115 CAC.
Assignments:
There are three kinds of assignments: leading class discussions, information technology
exercises, and research projects.
Leading class discussion
This is a group task. Although you are required to finish the readings before coming to
the class, you will be assigned to read a specific chapter or chapters in depth so that you
will be able to present it to the class and lead the class discussion.
Exercises
Learning new information technologies is one of the goals for the class. You need to
complete several short exercises before working on your final project.
Research projects
There will be one class project and one individual project. The class project will be
designed to investigate the needs and uses of information and information technologies in
the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. Under my supervision each undergraduate student will be
required to complete a client project either individually or in a group, depending on the
size and complexity of the project. Graduate students have options, either writing a final
research paper or completing a client project individually. Everyone will participate in a
panel discussion to present final paper/project to the class. The requirements for these
assignments will be described in handouts.
Exam:
There will be no midterm exam. Instead, several short quizzes will be arranged in order
to examine your knowledge about the concepts and terminology related to the studies of
information and society. Each quiz includes only one to two short-answer questions, and
takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The date of each quiz will be announced in advance during
the semester. The final exam will be a take-home test. It will help you to summarize
what you have learned during the semester.
Grading:
Grading for each assignment and exams will be as follows:
Attendance/Participation 10%
Short Exercises 15%
Leading discussion 10%
Quizzes 15%
Class project 10%
Research Paper/Project 25%
Final exam 15%
The grades will be weighted 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 unexcused exercise/project or paper is
1 percent deduction for each day late up to 5 percent (i.e. 5 days late). After 5 days
late no paper will be accepted for grading. 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,
submitting the papers that you wrote for other courses.
Attendance & Participation
Since this is a course emphasizing both discussion and practice, attending the class is very
important. I do take your attendance into account for your final grades. The fourth
unexcused absence will result in the loss of the 5% for the final grade. There is no way to
make up leading class discussions or quizzes because they are closely connected to the
content of the scheduled classes.
Tentative Class Schedule
Week 1
1/12 (M) Syllabus & Class Orientation
1/14 (W) Introduction to the information age
1/16 (F) Discussion of defining information
Week 2 (1/21, 23) (1/19 Martin Luther King’s Holiday, No Class)
Discussion: a. The special nature of information
b. Information system and power
Week 3 (1/26, 28, 30)
Discussion: a. International flow of information
b. Political economy of information
Week 4 (2/2, 4, 6) Research Project Assignment
Discussion: Information superhighway, Ch. 1 & 2 (CIH)
Week 5 (2/9, 11, 13)
Discussion: Information superhighway, Ch. 3 & 4 (CIH)
Week 6 (2/16, 18, 20)
Discussion: Information superhighway, Ch. 5 & 6 (CIH)
Week 7 (2/23, 25, 27)
Discussion: Information superhighway, Ch. 7 (CIH)
Class project Assignment
Week 8 (3/2, 4, 6)
Discussion: Internet, Ch.1 & 2 (ITN)
Week 9 (3/9, 11, 13)
Discussion: Internet, Ch.3 & 4 (ITN)
Week 10 (Spring Break)
Week 11 (3/23, 25, 27)
Discussion: Internet, Ch.5 (ITN) & Class project presentation
Week 12 (3/30, 4/1) (4/3 No Class, individual lab practice)
Discussion: Internet, Ch.6 (ITN) & Class project presentation
Week 13 (4/6, 8, 10)
Discussion: Internet, Ch.7 & 8 (ITN)
Week 14 (4/13, 15, 17)
Discussion: a. Information technology development
b. Networking as communication
Week 15 (4/20, 22, 24)
Discussion: a. International communication research
b. Global communication & Information ethics
Week 16 (3/27, 29)
Discussion: Final paper/project presentation
5/1 (F) Final project due; Pick up take-home exam, due 5/5 (Tuesday)
Bach to Course