CS211 - Professional Issues in Computing
| TIMETABLE | TEACHING MATERIAL |
| Credits | 10 |
| Level | 2 |
| Semester | Semester 1 |
| Availability | Possible Elective |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Learning Activities Breakdown | Lectures (online): 10 | Tutorials (online): 5 | Tutorials (in-person): 5 Assignments: 30 | Self study: 50 |
| Items of Assessment | 2 |
| Assessment | Assessment will take the form of 1 practical activity: a group video/podcast (80% for non-CES students; 100% for CES students) and 1 individual activity: individual reflections on student's professional practice which will be broken up over five forum posts to be completed throughout the module and submitted as one document at the end of the semester (20%). |
| Lecturer | Cassandra Kist |
Aims and Objectives
The main aim of this course is to help students develop and practice responsible decision making in computing with consideration for ethics, relevant laws, and potential social impacts.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students will be able:
- To describe the contemporary characteristics of professionalism (e.g., membership, knowledge, professional conduct, and collective responsibility).
- To identify and describe key laws (e.g., GDPR, IP and copyright, computer misuse), tools for ethical reflection (ethical theories, constructive habits, reflective questions, codes of conduct), and potential social impacts (awareness of potential harms and potential good) related to the computing challenges/topics touched upon in this course (e.g., Privacy, Equality, Cybercrime).
- To assess computer technology using tools for ethical reflection, laws, and potential social impacts.
- To critically reflect on professional computing practice in this course and beyond with due regard for ethics, professionalism, social impacts, and relevant laws.
Syllabus
The main aim of this course is to help students develop and practice responsible decision making in computing with consideration for ethics, relevant laws, and potential social impacts.
The course will cover ethical decision-making tools (ethical theories; reflective questions; constructive habits), a range of relevant laws (e.g., Data Protection, Freedom of Information), and an awareness of various social impacts of computing (potential harms and benefits).
Students will be encouraged to ask critical questions – including: should it be created in the first place? If so, how and what ethical, legal, and social implications need to be considered?
The module is designed to encourage students’ personal reflection on key issues in computing and to discuss, debate, and collaborate with their colleagues.
- Weeks 1-4 encompass a foundational overview (1) of the course, (2) professionalism, (3)Technology and UK law/legal system (4) Ethics in computing.
- In weeks 5-10 of the course, we will dive into more specific topics in computing which are often fraught with ethical, social, and legal challenges: (5) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, (6) Privacy: Data protection and Surveillance, (7) Freedom of Information & Expression (8) Ownership: Intellectual Property and Copyright, (9) Algorithmic decision making (bias and misinformation), and (10) Cybercrime (computer misuse; security). During tutorials, students will apply different laws, ethical frameworks, and consider social implications of different challenges/scenarios in professional computing practice.
Recommended Reading
This list is indicative only – the class lecturer may recommend alternative reading material. Please do not purchase any of the reading material listed below until you have confirmed with the class lecturer that it will be used for this class.
Bott, F. (with Internet Archive). (2005). Professional issues in information technology. Swindon, UK : British Computer Society. http://archive.org/details/professionalissu0000bott
Weckert, J., Lucas, R., & Selgelid, M. J. (2013). Professionalism in the Information and Communication Technology Industry. ANU Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5hgxws
Johnson, D. G. (with Internet Archive). (2001). Computer ethics. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall. http://archive.org/details/computerethics3r00debo
The BCS Code of Conduct
Last updated: 2024-08-14 10:23:59