Syllabus - Beyond Calculation (IE 162)

Spring Semester 2008

Professor: Mike Erlinger
Office: Olin 1258A
Phone: x-18912
E-mail: mike@cs.hmc.edu

Meeting Times: Monday/Wednesday, 4:15 - 5:30 PM
Meeting Place: Jacobs B 134

Mail lists: ie-162-l@hmc.edu for all issues
Graders: Mike and Class
Secretary: Joyce Greene, Olin 1258, 621-8225,

Catalogue Course Description

Students will review the history of computing, the current state of computing, and various predictions of the future of computing. The reviews will encompass social and economic aspects of computing along with the technical. Using these three views of computing and their breath in science and the humanities, the students will produce their own prediction of computing in ten, fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five years. This prediction will include all aspects of the computing equation: scientific, economic, and social.

Course Counting

• This course counts as an IE course.
• Can count within the Hum/Soc criteria for concentrations in STS and for elective credit, i.e., it can be considered an offcampus hum.
• Meets the Hum/Soc department's criteria for a seminar as described in the off-campus seminar form.

Course Description, This Time

This semester the class will have a three pronged approach with a focus on one aspect of the use of Computing. First prong: We will look at papers, movies, etc. related to the history of computing. Second prong: We will look at papers, books, etc. related to the use of technology in education. Since early 1900s radio, television, computers, etc. have all been promoted as the silver bullet for education. Our emphasis here will be computers in the classroom. Third prong: We will look at approaches to using computers in education in the developing world. Among these will be One Laptop Per Child (OLPC). Our one overall focus will be One Laptop Per Child (OLPC). http://laptop.org We have a number of these laptops for use in the course. Our focus will be on determining the capabilities of these laptops; their failings; and their use in a classroom. Besides reviewing, inspecting, etc. these laptops, the class will build tools for classroom use of the laptops.

We will read papers, and books related to the above topics. In all these endeavors we will constantly focus on societal effects.

Course Format

This course is a discussion and seminar course. Thus the success of the course depends on students taking responsibility for investigating the course material and expressing themselves in class discussions, papers, and projects. Things that will happen:

• Students will each lead multiple class discussions.
• A number of short essays/reviews. Most will be one or two pages.
• Group projects
  • The class will bring up and organize a OLPC network.
  • A review of a use of computers in education in a developing world environment. Examples are: OLPC in Peru, OLPC in Nigeria, Digital Study Hall. These reviews will be presented to the class in the form of a presentation and discussion.
  • A tool for an OLPC environment. This could be a game, a set of administrative documents for an OLPC environment, or ?
• Final Paper.

Classroom Participation

For each class, designated individuals will be responsible for leading the class discussion parts of the readings, they are the moderators. Also for each class each individual will be responsible for participating in the discussion. Besides having done the readings, you need to come to class having thought a little about the topics.

Students will do a final seminar level paper on a critical analysis of computers in the classroom. Part of this analysis will be a prediction on the future of computers in the classroom. You are free to focus on OLPC or anything else that interests you.

Grading

• 100% - Attendance
  It is difficult to have a discussion course with no students. To get this credit, you need to miss no more than 1 class during the semester. (Obviously real problems, like being run over by a car or Clinic trips, will be treated as an exception). Just let me know what is happening.

• 15% - Class Participation & Monderator
  I realize many students are reluctant to speak up in class, but a discussion course requires discussion. Thus, plan on participating in class or not doing well on this aspect of the course. This aspect of the course also includes your performance as both moderator and adversary.

• 20% - Short Papers
  At various times, you will be asked to write a short paper. For example, an abstract on a particular paper being read for the class or a summary of a historical machine. These papers will provide an illustration of your ability to critically read material. Make sure to spell check these papers.

• 50% - Group Projects/Presentations
  As described above.

• 15% - Individual Paper
  This is a 10 page final paper as described above. Details to follow as the semester progresses. Remember, your paper must consider social and technical aspects of your prediction.

Course Outline

We will start with a short discussion of the course and then a couple of history films movies. Besides a historical context, these films indicate the time it takes to bring products to market and how sometimes the designers miss the customer base.

We will follow computer history with a discussions of the history of technology in education and specially the use of computers in the classroom. The course calendar is the place to see where we are going week to week.

In the background the class will be constantly working on their OLPC laptop and the OLPC classroom.

Course Books

You need to go get these. I did not order any of them. There will be at least a 5th book. I am still making that choice.

• Teachers and Machines, the Classroom Use of Technology since 1920
  Larry Cuban
  ISBN 0-8077-2792-X

• Oversold & Underused, Computers in the Classroom
  Larry Cuban
  ISBN 0-674-00602-X

• being digital
  Nicholas Negroponte
  ISBN 0-679-76290-6

• The Children's Machine, Rethinking School in the Age of the Computer
  Seymour Papert
  ISBN 0-465-01830-0

Mike Erlinger