TECH 1940Q, Fall 2012

TECH 1940Q INQUIRY IN SCIENCE & MOBILE TECHNOLOGY T /Th, 2:30pm 3:45pm, 112 Life Science Building INSTRUCTOR DATA Dr. Paul Cesarini 419.372.7740 / email or FaceTime: pcesari@bgsu.edu / Skype: paul.cesarini Department of Visual Communication & Technology Education, 261 Technology Bldg. Office hours: M/W, 1pm 3pm (face-to-face, by phone, or via chat), or by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION TECH 1940Q, Inquiry in Science & Mobile Technology (3) Investigation into the impact of information and communications-related technological trends in different industries. Particular emphasis on analyzing and assessing the diffusion of emerging technologies as they pertain to mobile use, and examining the consequences associated with this diffusion. REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS AND WEB SITE Johnson, L., Smith, R., Willis, H., Levine, A., and Haywood, K., (2012). The 2012 Horizon Report. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium. [This publication is freely available at: http://www.nmc.org/publications/horizon-report-2012-higher-ed-edition ] Johnson, L., Smith, R., Willis, H., Levine, A., and Haywood, K., (2011). The 2011 Horizon Report. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium. [This publication is freely available at: http://www.nmc.org/publications/horizon-report-2011-higher-ed-edition ] Hughes, T. (2005). Human-Built World: How to think about technology and culture. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. [Chapters 1-2 only; freely available via Google Books at: http://books.google.com/books?id=G7xmjLN6uXwC&lpg=PP1&dq=human%20built%20world&p g=PA20%23v=onepage&q&f=true#v=onepage&q=human%20built%20world&f=false ] Kurzweil, R. (1992). The Future of Libraries, Parts 1 3: http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-future-of-libraries-part-1-the-technology-of-the-book http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-future-of-libraries-part-2-the-end-of-books http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-future-of-libraries-part-3-the-virtual-library Volti, R. (2009). Society & Technological Change, 6th Edition. (pp. 58-72). Additional readings online, as well as video clips and audio interviews, will be posted and/or embedded in our Blackboard course shell. The course will use a Blackboard Web site (or course shell) where you will be able to download course handouts, communicate & collaborate with course participants, take assessments, upload assignments, and check grades. At some point in the semester, we may switch over to a different learning management system called Canvas. COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS You will need to have an active BGNet account, and must be able check your BGNet email regularly. If you rely on an alternate email address, it is your responsibility to have your BGNet email forwarded to that address. You must also familiarize yourself with Blackboard conventions. You will need access to a broadband-connected computer that has the most recent versions of the following software: Browser: FireFox or Chrome (most preferred), Safari, or Internet Explorer (least preferred) Media Players: QuickTime Player (either Windows or Mac OS X), Windows Media Player (either Windows or Mac OS X, or the Flip4Mac plugin), Flash browser plugin PDF viewer: Adobe Reader, Preview (Mac OS X), or any PDF viewer Word Processor: Microsoft Word or OpenOffice Presentation: Microsoft PowerPoint or OpenOffice All of the above-mentioned software is available for use in the University computer labs, with the possible exception of FireFox and OpenOffice.

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COURSE OVERVIEW
"Why should we look to the past in order to prepare for the future? Because there is nowhere else to look." James Burke

Perhaps now more than any other time in history, technology is spilling past all barriers, in a truly interdisciplinary manner, and is becoming widely diffused into all aspects of our lives. It has become transparent and ubiquitous that is, the information and communications-related technologies weve come to rely on are both nowhere and everywhere. We take them for granted and have become passive consumers of them, expecting them simply to work. This course introduces current and emerging technological trends, as determined by numerous external sources such as the annual Horizon Report, with the goal of assessing these trends and determining which may or may not be applicable at home, at work, and in different industries. The methodology employed will be through the use of individual assignments including exams, quizzes, frequent online discussions / debates, and where possible, virtual conferencing with experts. LEARNING OUTCOMES Inquiry-based, general education courses in the Natural & Technological World domain have the following broad learning outcomes: 1. Applying technological approaches to identify and analyze questions and problems in ways that contribute to their solution. 2. Gathering data and evidence from various scientific sources, including published data and data that are self-generated and gathered, using multiple scientific and technological approaches. 3. Analyzing data and evidence using scientific reasoning processes and synthesizing competing evidence-based interpretations using appropriate quantitative and qualitative approaches. 4. Drawing logical conclusions with reference to specific relevant evidence-based findings while demonstrating an awareness of the limitations to such conclusions. Additionally, BGSU has learning outcomes focusing on our common responsibility for shared educational values, despite differences in the content of the many majors, disciplines, and activities. These learning outcomes are as follows: A. Intellectual & Practical Skills B. General & Specialized Knowledge C. Personal & Social Responsibility D. Integrate, Apply, and Reflect
[Detailed descriptions are available at: http://www.bgsu.edu/newcatalog/University/University8b.html ]

TECH 1940Q also has the following specific learning outcomes, which match with the abovementioned ones as follows:

Identifying current trends in information & communications-related technology sectors [1; A,B] Articulating critical challenges to the widespread diffusion of these technological trends [4; B,D] Learning about technological change and how it affects groups and individuals [1,2,3,4; B,C,D] Discussing and researching technologies to watch within the mobile space [1,2,3,4; A,D] Examining the likely relationships among emerging technologies, work, and leisure [1,2,3,4; A,B] Using the Internet for learning and research [2,3; A,D] Participating in groups and reporting learning to other class members [1,4; C,D] Offering / accepting constructive comments from instructors and to / from students [4; D]
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INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY TECH 1940Q provides an entry-level experience in studying technology and its relationship to the global society. In this class, you will work as responsible inquirers, researchers, and decision-makers. This class will help you understand the big picture of technology by examining and analyzing technological trends within information & communications-related sectors. We will accomplish this by focusing on evolving issues and trends identified each year in the annual Horizon Report. The Horizon Report is the annual publication from the Horizon Project, a collaborative research project established by the New Media Consortium (NMC) and EDUCAUSE that identifies and describes emerging technologies likely to have a large impact on teaching, learning, or creative inquiry on college and university campuses within the next five years. Since this report is annual, and since some or all of the trends identified may or be not remain the same each year, the specific technologies and related content covered will likely change each academic year, to stay current. The manner in which we analyze and assess them, however, will stay constant. Dated technological issues or concerns will incrementally be replaced by newer, more topical ones as each new report becomes available. COURSE DELIVERY Depending on the specific section, course delivery will be either be a hybrid of face-to-face interaction in our regular classroom and online activity, via Learning Management System (LMS) course facilitation, or will be entirely web-based. In the hybrid section, in place of several face-to-face class meetings throughout the semester, you will participate online with me, our TA (if we have one), and other students to build a cooperative learning community. Asynchronous communication tools, including email and online discussion forums, will be heavily relied upon in addition to our regular class meeting times, and in some cases in place of our regular class meeting times. The Horizon Report and other texts are for independent study; and the course Blackboard site will serve as a clearinghouse for information, where course handouts will be available, and communication tools, discussion board, and virtual classroom will be used by you, myself, and invited guests. Because of the nature of this course, consistent online interaction throughout the semester is mandatory. You must ensure that you complete assignments by their due dates, and respond to me and working groups within a reasonable amount of time. You will participate in regularly scheduled electronic discussion forums that collectively account for a large portion of your final grade. New forums will be posted on predetermined Mondays, and will be archived or locked a week after they are posted. Specific criteria for posting and responding within these forums are listed in the Course Documents area of our Blackboard course site. COMMUNICATION Announcements will be posted frequently on the Announcement Page (frequently) or communicated via e-mail (very infrequently). Check the Announcement Page and your BGNet e-mail regularly in order to access course related announcements. I will be checking e-mail regularly in order to access communications from you and will typically respond to communications within 24-48 hours. However, any communication sent after 1:30 pm on Thursday through Sunday may not receive a response from me until the following Monday. UNIT AND ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS The following is a brief description of the course units; specific details and evaluation criteria about these assignments will be will be available in our Blackboard course shell as the semester progresses:

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Unit 1: Tech Trends Overview from 2011-2012 Horizon Reports o Content covered: Key Trends, Critical Challenges, Technologies to Watch o Assignments: online discussion forums; exam covering first section of Horizon Report and assigned readings & media (Wired, World Mobile Congress, MIT Open Courseware, TED Talks, etc.) Unit 2: Time to Adoption: One Year or Less o Content covered: Electronic Books overview; Tablet Computing overview; Mobile Apps overview; Relevance for teaching, learning, and creative inquiry; Electronic Books in Practice; Mobiles in Practice o Assignments: online discussion forums; exam covering next section of Horizon Report and assigned readings & media (Wired, World Mobile Congress, MIT Open Courseware, TED Talks, etc.); quiz Unit 3: Time to Adoption: Two to Three Years o Content covered: Augmented Reality overview; Game-Based Learning overview; Learning Analytics overview; Relevance for teaching, learning, and creative inquiry; Augmented Reality in Practice; Game-Based Learning in Practice o Assignments: online discussion forums; exam covering next section of Horizon Report and assigned readings & media (Wired, World Mobile Congress, MIT Open Courseware, TED Talks, etc.); quiz Unit 4: Time to Adoption: Four to Five Years o Content covered: Gesture-based Computing overview; Internet of Things overview; Relevance for teaching, learning, and creative inquiry; Gesture-based Computing in Practice; Learning Analytics in Practice o Assignments: online discussion forums; exam covering next section of Horizon Report and assigned readings & media (Wired, World Mobile Congress, MIT Open Courseware, TED Talks, etc.); quiz

Additional required articles, audio interviews, and video clips for each unit are also listed in the corresponding unit folder within our Blackboard course shell. Whenever possible, audio and video clips will be directly embedded within the corresponding unit folder. Slidecasts of each face-to-face class lecture will be accessible 48 hours prior to each unit exam. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS All assignments will be submitted though the view / complete assignment link in the Unit folder of the assignment in question, will be automatically filtered through the SafeAssign plagiarism detection tool, and will then be uploaded directly into the grade book. I will upload your graded and commented assignments back into the grade book as I complete them. GRADING The following is a list of assignments and their corresponding maximum point values: Mid-term exam Quiz 1 Technology Timeline Quiz 2 Group Discussion Board Participation Final exam Quiz 3 Total for the Course 30 points 5 points 20 points 5 points 35 points 30 points 5 points 130 points

(5 points each x 7 forums) (extra credit) (5 points extra credit)

Note: A 90, 80, 70, 60 percentage scale will be followed strictly for the semester grade. There will be no scale or curve of any type. There will be extra credit opportunities at various points throughout the semester. Details on these opportunities will be discussed in class.

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DISABILITIES The Disability Services for Students Office is to help provide equal access and reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities attending BGSU. Students wishing to discuss their eligibility for such accommodations are encouraged to contact the office at 419/372-8495. ACADEMIC HONESTY The Academic Honesty Committee has set forth the following objectives and procedures regarding academic honesty: To communicate to all members of the University community the conviction of the University and its faculty that cheating and plagiarism are destructive of the central purposes of the University and are universally disapproved. To state procedures for accomplishing the above objective by students, faculty, academic deans, and the University Academic Honesty Committee. For the Complete statement, refer to the Academic Honesty Policy as stated in B.II.8 of The Faculty Handbook as it appears in the Academic Charter or refer to Appendix D - Academic Honesty Policy as it appears in Bowling Green State University Student Code. The University Student Code, Academic Honest Regulations and Policies will be strictly followed. What this means is that do not under any circumstances even consider representing the text or work of another person as your own, or submitting work as new that was previously submitted in another class. It is not worth the risk to your GPA or your college career. If you do resort to academic dishonesty, I will find out about it. You will then receive a failing grade for this course, the deans Office will be notified, and your actions will be documented on your permanent record. LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESOURCES Technology Support Center The Technology Support Center (TSC) provides a central point of contact for faculty, staff and students for questions, problem reports, service requests and inquiries for University computer systems and communications technologies at BGSU. email: tsc@bgsu.edu / Phone: (419) 372-0999 Academic Resource Center Students looking for more in depth assistance with computer technology needed for a class project or tutoring should contact the Academic Resource Center (formerly the Student Technology Center) or consult their web page at http://www.bgsu.edu/its/arc/index.html email: arc@lists.bgsu.edu / Phone: (419) 372-9277 Learning Commons According to their web site, the BGSU Learning Commons provides students with academic resources that foster independent learning. The highly trained professional, graduate, and undergraduate staff utilizes technology and additional resources to offer individual and group tutoring and consultations tailored to meet the needs of any student in any course at any time in the learning process. http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/learningcommons/ email: tlc@bgsu.edu / Phone: (419) 372-2823 My BGSU Portal Self-Help http://www.bgsu.edu/its/tsc/self-help/page10888.html

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BGSU Library http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/ BGSUs Office of Distance Education http://online.bgsu.edu COURSE SITE ORIENTATION The purpose of the following set of instructions is to help you navigate and use the course site (Blackboard course shell). Virtually all information pertaining to the course will be communicated via the main announcements page in our Blackboard course shell. It will be up to each of you to manage your time appropriately and actively participate in this course. This course site can be accessed through the My BGSU portal, which provides a link to personal information (grades and bursar accounts), email access, and other university services. Your BGNet account includes an email account, which you can access through the universitys webmail interface. All your email from Blackboard courses will be sent to your BGNet account unless you set up your account to forward your incoming email messages to an email account of your choosing. Authentication The authentication process enables you to establish your own portal on the BGSU Web and once enrolled in the course, you will have access to the course assignments and other information. The following step-by-step instructions will lead you through the authentication process: 1. Get to the Bowling Green State University Authentication Page by going to the BGSU Homepage at http://www.bgsu.edu and clicking the My BGSU button on the left navigation bar of the page 2. Once you get to the BGSU Authentication Page, type in your P00 number and use the tab key to move to the next textbox. 3. Next, Type in your BGNet user name. 4. Tab to the Authentication Password textbox and type in your BGNet email password. 5. In My BGSU click on the Courses area and click on the course link. This will take you into the course site or shell. Organization of Course Site Once you are on the course site, you will see a list of navigational buttons on the left side of the screen. Your course site will always begin with the Announcements page. You will probably only use the Staff Information button a few times at the beginning of the semester to find out more about me. The next buttons you will use on a regular basis and it will be to your advantage to learn how to use them in the course. Course Documents: Look here for documents to download, including course syllabus, lecture presentations, assignment related materials, general Blackboard instructions, and assignment instructionsexcept for due dates. Assignment due dates can be found on the Course Calendar. Tools: Look here to check your grade at any point in the semester, for the Blackboard Student Manual, and for additional functions. You will also find another link to the Course Calendar. Books: Look here for information about the required text(s) for this class. Email: This is a tool to email me. Group Pages: The Group Pages links directly to the group discussion board (see additional information below). To access them, click the Group Pages link & click on the link to your group. Course Calendar: All relevant dates pertaining to assignments, exams, and discussion boards can be found here. I recommend viewing by month, rather than the default viewing by day, in order to see more calendar entries at once. Please note some of the calendar entries may
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appear to be truncated or otherwise cut off. Click the link on any entry for additional information. There may be an additional button or two added or changed once the semester starts. I am always trying to improve the overall navigation of the course site. Group Discussion Board You will use your Group Discussion Board, accessed via the Group Pages button, to discuss topics posted by me. If you want to respond to someone elses message that has been posted to a discussion forum click on reply, but if you want to add a new message (thread) click Add New Thread. I will also be participating in these discussions. For additional information about discussion board forums, posting, and evaluation criteria, please see the Discussion Groups section in our course site. It can be accessed by way of the Course Documents button. Additionally, in the group pages there will be an open forum. This forum represents a venue to discuss anything not directly related to content in the regular discussion forum. You can also ask questions about the class in general. I will attempt to check the open forum regularly. Attaching Documents You can attach documents to either e-mail or the discussion board within your groups when you want to exchange files. Document Preparation for Submitting Assignments Use the assignment tool to submit / upload any papers. Do not send your assignment as e-mail attachments.) Be sure to submit assignments by no later than midnight of the due date. I do not accept late assignments. However, you may always submit assignments earlier than the due date. Downloading Documents from the Course Site To download files from the Course Documents area, right-click a file and choose save as.