CS480-01 Computer Science Seminar
Spring, 2003
Instructor: Dr. L. Kaufman
Office:
T213
Office hours:
M, W 3:30-4:30pm and by appointment
Telephone: (973) 720-2952(O), (973) 720-2649(Department)
E-mail:
kaufmanl@wpunj.edu
Website:
cs.wpunj.edu/~kaufmanl
Textbooks: Computer Ethics, 3rd edition, Deborah Johnson, Prentice Hall
2001
References:
1.
Baase, S. 1997; A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues
in Computing, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ(This is an excellent
resource)
2.
Dowler, L. 1997; Gateway to Knowledge: The Role of Academic
Libraries in Teaching, Learning, and Research, The MIT Press, Cambridge,
MA
Journals:
·
·
·
IEEE
·
·
Communications, a monthly journal published by ACM
Computer, a monthly journal published by IEEE Computer Society
IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, a quarterly journal by
IEEE Transactions of various topics.
ACM Transactions of various topics (available in WPUNJ library)
Web sites:
http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill1.htm (Research
process)
http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=06AD7000 (Scientific
method)
http://www.ecf.toronto.edu/~writing/index.html (Advanced research method
in engineering)
Objectives: As a capstone course, a student is expected to
1.
Appreciate of the social impact of computers.
2.
Articulate and practice the ACM code of conducts for computer
professionals
3.
Understand the research process, and to develop and demonstrate
research skills through a substantial research project.
4.
Demonstrate critical thinking and effective communication skills
through active participation in seminars and presentations of research
project in both oral and written forms.
5.
Become aware of current development in computer science
6.
Recognize the rapidly evolving nature of the field and the
importance of keeping current as a lifelong pursuit.
7.
Demonstrate programming skills.
Assessment:
·
Classroom participation (your mere presence is not enough.)-5%
·
Performance as a leader on topical discussions in the areas of
social impact of computers and code of conduct for computer
professionals. Your written reports of the topical discussion. (based on
style, preparation, and content)-30%
·
Research project based on quality of written report and oral
presentation (based on style, preparation, and content).-55%
·
Homework assignments-10%
Topical outline and time allocation
Part I:
Topics on current interest in computer science and new
development in computing technologies (Approximately 4 weeks) during
these four weeks, seminars will be given by professors or guest speakers
on various topics of interest in computer science.
Students must identify a topic to perform research by the end of February
2003.
Part II: Oral presentations by students on topics on ethics of computer
professionals and social impact of computers (approximately 3.5 weeks).
Each student will give a 20-25 minute talk- 3 talks per period
Part III: Oral presentations by students of their research results
Abstract of the presentation must be made available (either in printed
form or on the web) to others at least one week ahead of the time.