Welcome!

This syllabus contains most of what you need to know to get started in the course. You'll find a description, my goals for the course, a calendar of assignments, and instructions for the Social History project, due at the end of the term. I'm looking forward to exploring the role of science and technology in our society with you over the term.

Syllabus

Catalog Description

A study of the social aspects of science and technology (including values, practices, organization, and impacts) through the analysis of issues revealing the relationships with other social and cultural processes

Mission

The basic mission is to explore the role of science and technology in modern society from a sociological perspective. The text raises questions about the impacts of modern technologies on culture, the environment, and the global system. Class discussions will center around questions of technological dependency, impacts on individuals, and whether we are in control of technological development in any meaningful way.

Conceptual Goals

The conceptual goal is to enable students to use sociological tools to analyze science and technology as social activities in a social context.

Objectives

Students should be able to do an analysis of a specific technology. They will create a social history of a technology of their choice by looking at how it was developed, who or what it affects, and how it can be understood in a social context. Students should demonstrate an understanding of the sociological perspective and ability to use material from text, lectures, and class discussions in an analysis.

Required Textbooks & Materials

Society and Technological Change, 4th edition

Rudi Volti, Worth Publishers, 2001, ISBN 1-57259-952-9. Available at OSU Bookstore or online at Amazon.com.

SocJourney1850

Game on CD from OSU Bookstore.

Materials

Computer with Email, CD-Drive.

Grading Policy

The grade for the course will be determined by work on the Social History Project and quality of participation in the weekly discussions. Ninety Percent of the total points will mean an “A” in the course, 80% will be a “B,” and 70% will be a “C.” Students must participate in at least 8 of the weekly discussions or activities to receive a “C” in the course.

Important Information

• University Information
• Academic Regulations
• Avoiding Academic Dishonesty
• Disabilities Services
• Student Conduct

Students are expected to do their own research and to provide sources and citations for all material gathered. Failure to provide sources for information used in the Social History will result in a lowered grade or failure in the course.

Students who need additional assistance or resources should contact the Instructor as soon as possible – preferably the first week of classes. Every effort will be made to accommodate special needs.

Overview of Activities

My goal in this course is to present an analysis of science and technology from a sociological perspective and to give you the tools you need to look at modern society and global processes using sociological concepts and ideas. Each week I will ask you to read a section of the text, read the on-line lecture assigned for that week, do the Activities included in the lectures, and participate in group discussions on the Group Discussion Board. Below you will find a list of reading assignments, due dates, and Discussion Board topics. In addition to the weekly activities, you will also be asked to write a Social History of a technology. Instructions for the two papers comprising this social history can be found at the end of the syllabus and in the Project Section on Blackboard.

Both The Social History Project and the Group Discussions are graded activities. The Project will be worth up to 150 points. Each Group Discussion will be worth up to 10 points for a total of 80 (Weeks 2-9). Your contributions to the group work will be evaluated on the basis of your understanding of the course material and your ability to use it to answer the question posed for the week. There will be additional points available during the week(s) that you are responsible for coordinating the group discussion and posting the Group response to the Main Discussion Board.

When you go to the Blackboard Discussion section, you will find that you have been placed in a Discussion Group with 3 or 4 other people. Each week I’ll pose a question based on the readings in the text and lecture. The group should discuss their answers to the question and develop a Group response to be posted on the Main Discussion Board for the course. Each week one person from the group will be in charge of coordinating the discussion, writing the group answer, and posting it to the Main Discussion Board. There will be up to 10 points available for the group coordinator that week. Each of you will have a turn to be coordinator. We’ll do it in alphabetical order. The person with the last name closest to the beginning of the alphabet will go first. You can skip your turn any week but will lose the opportunity to earn the points when you do.

Assignments and Due Dates

• All reading assignments are in Society & Technological Change (STC)
• Lectures can be found by selecting the Syllabus button on the Blackboard Main Menu
• Discussion Board Activities (DBA) can be found by selecting the Groups button on the Main Menu
• Instructions for the Social History Project can be found by selecting the Syllabus button on the Main Menu

Calendar

Class Project: Social History of a Technology

Your project for the class will have two parts. Each part answers a question about a technology of your choice. Together they construct a social history of a technology. Your project will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of science and technology in a social context using the concepts discussed in the lectures and the material in the text. Your grade for the project will be based the quality of the information you collect, communication skills, and your demonstrated understanding and use of material from text, lectures, and Group Discussion Board Activities

You submit the papers as an electronic document.

The first thing you need to do is to choose a technology from the following list. Please let me know which technology you have selected by July 2. Then you can begin to collect the information you need to complete Part I.

• Artificial hearts
• Personal computers
• Cloning
• Genetic fingerprinting
• Genetic engineering of plants
• Internal combustion engine
• Television
• Sewing machine
• Cell phones
• Airplane
• Neon lights
• Milking machines

Your mid-term and final papers are your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the sociological perspective on science and technology so be sure to use ideas and concepts from the text, lectures, suggested resources at the end of each lecture, and class discussions. While I am asking you to discuss the technology, my main concern is in seeing what you learned about the sociological perspective during the term. How do you understand science and technology in a social context? Good papers that focus on the technology will earn a “B” or “C.” Papers that demonstrate an understanding of the sociological perspective will earn an “A” or “B.”

Part I: How do science and technology affect us?

Use your sociological imagination and the concept of system to discuss how the technology you have selected affects us, our lives, and modern American culture. Your grade will be based upon your demonstrated understanding of the sociological imagination, the concept of culture, and use of the systems model. Part I is due Week 6 and will be worth up to 50 points.

Part II: How much control do we have over technology?

Discuss the development and adoption of your technology using the concepts of rationalization, idealism, materialism, and science as an institution. How much control do you think we have over this technology? Remember that what I am interested in seeing is your understanding of the sociological perspective and your ability to use it in an analysis of science & technology in a social context.The technology serves as example and not the main subject of the paper. Part II will be due Monday of Finals week and is worth up to 100 points.

Students are expected to do their own research and to provide sources and citations for all material gathered. Failure to provide sources for information used in the Social History will result in a lowered grade or failure in the course.

Course Assessment

In Week 10, the opportunity to evaluate this course is provided with instructions. Please help our teaching staff improve the quality of this course by filling in the evaluation in the Online Student Services area of the OSU web site. Thank you.