Fall 2011

021:226 Digital Environments

3:30P to 6:00P

Thursday

3083 Library

Instructor: Andr Brock Ofce: 3074 Library Email: andre-brock@uiowa.edu Mailbox: Located in the SLIS Ofce Ofce Hours: Wednesday 2-4 PM @ 214 Bowman (230 N. Clinton St.)

**This document is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor** Course Description
This course intended to act as a broad survey of the material, technological, spacial, cultural, and embodied inuences on digital environments. Starting with a solid theoretical and critical set of readings, students will be asked to survey and analyze digital locations. Students will gain an understanding of technoculture from various contexts and disciplines through the review and reection on theoretical and historical texts, examination of available examples, and the application of a culturally-aware structural framework for observation and analysis.

Required Texts
I have sought to reduce textbook costs by selecting articles available on the Internet through the University Library or scanning articles from selected texts.

Course Goals
Students should be able to articulate cultural, empirical, and theoretical approaches to technoculture and the digital. Students will learn and apply a critical cultural evaluative framework. Students will publish and participate on a collaborative weblog. Students will prepare an abstract and 5 page nal paper analyzing a digital environment of their choice.

Expectations
As a student in this class, you are expected to:

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Bring an open mind and critical perspective to the course materials and class discussions read the assigned readings BEFORE class, not during post required feedback to the class blog by the agreed-upon deadline complete assignments in a timely fashion.

As your instructor, you can expect me to: provide stimulating OR informative course materials actively facilitate class and online discussions, post assignments and readings on the web in a timely fashion provide readings where noted or at least tell you where to get them and give feedback on assignments in a timely fashion

Assignments and Grading

Participation Reading Responses and Comments Presentation Final Paper/Abstract 40% 25% 15% 20%

Course Policies
You are responsible for reading all required materials listed on the syllabus, including handouts given in class and assignments on the weblog. You are also required to participate in class and on the class weblog. This course is given by the Graduate College. This means that class policies on matters such as requirements, grading, and sanctions for academic dishonesty are governed by the Graduate College. Students wishing to add or drop this course after the ofcial deadline must receive the approval of the Dean of the Graduate College. Details of the University policy of cross enrollments December be found at: http://www.uiowa.edu/~provost/deos/ crossenroll.doc Attendance, Tardiness, and Participation Attendance is mandatory in this course. Students are allowed to miss two excused absences without affecting their grade if assignments are completed for those missed days. Students are expected to be in class on time.

Accommodations
All students who require any disability accommodations, such as class room equipments for hearing and vision impairments, or testing modication are encouraged to speak with the
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instructor so appropriate measures are taken to accommodate those students as soon as possible. Student can reach me through email, in person or by phone to discuss disability accommodations. Students December also reach Student Disability Services: http:// www.uiowa.edu/~sds/.

Diversity
Students in this course will also learn from the different experiences each of student brings. While I recognize that students come into this course with various work and academic experiences, it is the expectation of the instructor, department, and University that those differences be greeted with respect and dignity. The respect to diversity is not limited to knowledge area but also to gender, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, and culture. Students are encouraged to inform the instructor if they feel disrespected in regards to diversity.

Plagiarism and Cheating

The collegiate policy on plagiarism and cheating is outlined in the Schedule of Courses and on the Graduate College home page. It is your responsibility to be aware of this policy. The penalty for the rst offense is disciplinary probation until graduation. A second offense could result in suspension, and a third offense expulsion. Policy on Student Academic Misconduct available online at: http://www.uiowa.edu/~coedean/policies/student_ac_misconduct/index.htm

Making a Suggestion or Complaint

Students with a suggestion or complaint should rst visit the instructor, then the departmental DEO. Complaints must be made within six months of the incident. www.clas.uiowa.edu/students/academic_handbook/ix.shtml#5

Understanding Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. For information on reporting sexual harassment, please visit www.sexualharassment.uiowa.edu

Reacting Safely to Severe Weather

In severe weather, the class members will seek shelter in the innermost part of the building, if possible at the lowest level, staying clear of windows and free-standing expanses. (Operations Manual 16.14.i). If your attendance in class is dependent upon commuting from another town, please let me know in advance if inclement weather will keep you home.

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Topical Schedule
Topics are listed next to the day they will be discussed. The syllabus is subject to constant revision, so make sure you keep up with the posted version on the blog. Each days reading discussions will be led by on

August 25 Introductions September 1 Space September 8 Place, Society, Culture September 15 Information, Technology, Culture September 22 Google and Wikipedia September 29 The Library October 6 The Internet October 13 Online Communities and Social Networks October 20 Short and Long Form Blogging October 27 The University November 3 Facebook November 10 Video Games November 17 Social Games, Virtual Worlds, and Sandbox Games November 24 Thanksgiving Break December 1 Mobile December 8 Presentations

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Date
August 25

Due
Sign up for course blog when you get the link

Readings and Assignments

Syllabus Expectations Exploratory Survey http://goo.gl/9NZQa

September 1

Space

Borges, J. L. On Exactitude in Science [Scan] Lefebvre, H. Plan of the present work. The Production of Space. 1-67 [Scan] Carroll, J., Foth, M., and Adkins, B. (2010). Traversing urban social spaces: How online research helps unveil ofine practice. in J. Hunsinger et al. (eds.), International Handbook of Internet Research, 147-158 [Scan]

September 8 Place, Society, Culture

Lefebvre, H. Social space. The Production of Space. [Scan]] Bourdieu, P. (1989) Social space and symbolic power Sociological Theory 7,1 (Spring) 14-25 [UIowa InfoLink] Oldenburg, R. (1993) The problem of place in America. The Great Good Place. [Scan] Batty, M. (1997) Virtual geography Futures. 29, 4/5. 337-352 [UIowa InfoLink]

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Date
September 15 Information, Technology, and Culture

Due

Readings and Assignments

Headrick, D.R. (2000) Chapter 1. When information came of age!: technologies of knowledge in the age of reason and revolution, 1700-1850. New York: Oxford University Press. [Scan] Anderson, B. (1983)Introduction and Cultural Roots. Imagined Communities. 1-7, 8-37 [Scan] Marvin, C. Annihilating space, time, and difference: Experiments in cultural homgenization. When Old Technologies were New. 191-231 [Scan] Lessig, L. (1999). Chapter 6. Code and other laws of cyberspace. New York, NY: Basic Books. Available from: http:// codebook.jot.com/Book/Chapter6/ Ch6Part1

September 22 Google and Wikipedia

Bowker, G. et al (2010) Toward information infrastructure studies: Ways of knowing in a networked environment in J. Hunsinger et al. (eds.), International Handbook of Internet Research, 97-118 [Scan] Zimmer, M. Web search studies: Multidisciplinary perspectives on web search engines. in J. Hunsinger et al. (eds.), International Handbook of Internet Research, 507-522 [Scan] Vaidhyanathan, S. (2011) Introduction: The Gospel of Google and The Googlization of knowledge: The future of books. The Googlization of Everything. 1-12, 149-173 [Scan] Pariser

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Date
September 29 The Library

Due

Readings and Assignments

Elmborg, J. (2011) Libraries as the spaces between us. Reference and User Services Quarterly 50,4. 338-50 [UIowa Infolink] Feenberg, A. Subversive rationalization: Technology, power, and democracy. First published in Inquiry, 35: 3 / 4, 1992. This paper appears as Chapter 1 of Technology and the Politics of Knowledge. Available from http://www.sfu.ca/~andrewf/Subinq.htm Borgman, C.L. (1999) What are digital libraries? Competing visions. Information Processing and Management 35. 227-243 [UIowa Infolink] Castelli, L. et al (2007) Setting the foundations of digital libraries: The DELOS manifesto. D-Lib Magazine, (March/April) 13, 3/4. Available from http://www.dlib.org/dlib/march07/castelli/ 03castelli.html Rubin, R. (2004) The Library as an Institution: An Organizational Perspective. Foundations of Library and Information Science. New York: NealSchuman. 165-224 [Scan]

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Date
October 6 The Internet

Due

Readings and Assignments

Kirkpatrick, G. (2004) The aesthetics of personal computing. in Critical Technology: A Social Theory of Personal Computing. 47-68 [Scan] Paasonen, S. (2010) Trouble with the commercial: Internets theorized and used. in J. Hunsinger et al. (eds.), International Handbook of Internet Research, 411-422. [Scan] Burnett, R. and Marshall, P.D. (2003) The look of the Web. in Web Theory: An Introduction. 81-104 [Scan] Agre, P E. (2002) Cyberspace as American . culture Science as Culture 11,2 171-189. Available at http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/ pagre/sac.pdf

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Date
October 13 Online Communities and Social Networks

Due
Read all 4 Google Plus arguments [Scan]

Readings and Assignments

Foucault, M. (1995) Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison New York : Vintage Books 1995) pp. 195-228 Available from http://cartome.org/foucault.htm boyd, d (2008). Why Youth Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life." Youth, Identity, and Digital Media. in D. Buckingham, ed. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Media and Learning. 119142. http:// www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/ dmal.9780262524834.119 Brock, A., Kvasny, L., and Hales, K. (2010) Cultural appropriations of technical capital: Black women, weblogs, and the digital divide. Information, Communication & Society. 13,7. 1040-1059 [UIowa InfoLink] Byrne, D. N. (2007). Public discourse, community concerns, and civic engagement: Exploring black social networking traditions on BlackPlanet.com. Journal of ComputerMediated Communication, 13(1), article 16. http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/ byrne.html

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Date
October 20 Short and Long Form Blogging

Due

Readings and Assignments

Webster, T. (2010) Twitter usage in America: 2010 Edison Research. Available from http:// www.edisonresearch.com/home/archives/ 2010/04/ twitter_usage_in_america_2010_1.php Brock, A. (unpublished) Good and Bad Bokeh: Pleasing and Distracting Blurrings of Identity on StuffWhitePeopleLike.com [Scan] TBA TBA

October 27 The University

Haythornthwaite, C. (2000) Online personal networks: Size, composition, and media use among distance learners. New Media & Society 2, 2. [UIowa InfoLink] Jones, S. et al (2008) Academic work, the Internet and U.S. college students. The Internet and Higher Education 11, 3-4, 165-177. doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.07.001 | Noble, D. (1998) Digital diploma mills: The automation of higher education. First Monday 3,1. Available from http:// rstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/ index.php/fm/article/view/569/490

Selwyn, N. (2007) The use of computer technology in university teaching and learning: a critical perspective. Journal of Computer-Assisted Learning 23, 83-94 [UIowa Infolink]

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Date
November 3 Facebook

Due

Readings and Assignments

boyd, d. (2008) The not-so-hidden politics of class online. Personal Democracy Forum. New York, June 30. Available from: http:// www.danah.org/papers/talks/ PDF2009.html Ellison, N.B., Steineld, C., Lampe, C. (2007). The benets of Facebook friends: Social capital and college students use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 12. 1143-1168 [UIowa Infolink] Pempek, T.A. et al (2009) College students social networking experiences on Facebook. Journal of Applied Development Psychology 30, 3 (May) 227-238 [UIowa Infolink]

November 10 Videogames

Gazzard, A. (2011) Unlocking the gameworld: The rewards of space and time in videogames. Game Studies 11,1. Available from http://gamestudies.org/ 1101/articles/gazzard_alison Frasca, G. (2004) Videogames of the Oppressed: critical thinking, education, tolerance and other trivial issues. in Pat Harrigan and Noah Wardrip-Fruin, eds. First Person: New Media as Story, Performance and Game. [Scan] Kirkpatrick, G. (2004) The Cynicism of the Computer Gamer. in Critical Technology: A Social Theory of Personal Computing. 69-88 [Scan] Leonard, D. (2009) Young, Black (& Brown) and dont give a fuck: Virtual gangstas in the era of state violence. Cultural Studies <=>Critical Methodologies 9, p. 248. [UIowa Infolink]

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Date
November 17 Social Gaming, Virtual Worlds, and Sandbox Games

Due

Readings and Assignments

Bartle, R. (2003) From MUDs to MMORPGs: The history of virtual worlds. in J. Hunsinger et al. (eds.), International Handbook of Internet Research, 23-40 [Scan] Nardi, B. and Harris, J. (2010) Strangers and friends: Collaborative play in WOW. in J. Hunsinger et al. (eds.), International Handbook of Internet Research, 395-410 [Scan] McGonigal, J. (2008) Why I Love Bees: A Case Study in Collective Intelligence Gaming." in K. Salen, ed. The Ecology of Games: Connecting Youth, Games, and Learning. 199228. doi: 10.1162/dmal. 9780262693646.199 Everett, A. and Watkins, C. (2008) The Power of Play: The Portrayal and Performance of Race in Video Games".In K. Salen, Ed. The Ecology of Games: Connecting Youth, Games, and Learning. 141 166. doi: 10.1162/dmal.9780262693646.141

November 24

Celebration of Genocides against Indigenous Populations in the Americas

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Date
December 1 Mobile

Due

Readings and Assignments

Lenhart, A., Ling, A., Campbell, S., Purcell, K. (2010) Teens and mobile phones. Pew Center for Internet Research. http://pewinternet.org. Available from http:// www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teensand-Mobile-Phones.aspx Smith, A. (2010) Mobile access. Pew Center for Internet Research. http:// pewinternet.org. Available from http:// www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/ Mobile-Access-2010.aspx. Stald, G. (2008). Mobile Identity: Youth, Identity, and Mobile Communication Media." in D. Buckingham. 143164. doi: 10.1162/dmal.9780262524834.143

December 8

Presentations

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