About This Course
Humans have been inventing new ways to communicate since the first shared gestures and spoken language. Inventions do not emerge in a sealed container; the realms of human interaction are complex and interconnected. So, did the printing press really change the world? Did the Internet? Do technologies cause change? Are there similar characteristics in all technologies of communication?
Objectives
Students who finish this course will be able to explain how new communication technologies:
- Affect the societies and cultures that use them.
- Influence daily life.
- Are influenced and shaped by a society or culture.
- Develop in relation to a society's needs and interests.
- Effect uses of existing communication media.
Students should also be able to predict and evaluate the possible consequences of:
- New technologies for storng and sharing information.
- New mediums that transmit information faster and farther.
Attendance and Attitude
Students are expected to show respect for one another and for the instructor. Attendance and arriving on time for class are necessary. If you have been absent, you are responsible for finding out about any missed material by going to the instructor’s office hours. Such matters will not be handled via e-mail.
Deadlines
Late assignments will not be accepted. Assignments will not be accepted via e-mail unless requested by the instructor. If an illness or a personal emergency prevents you from completing an assignment on time, advance notice and written documentation are required.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty of any kind is not tolerated in this course. It will be reported to Student Judicial Affairs, and it will result in an E for the course. The university's Academic Honesty Guidelines provide additional details, which you are expected to understand completely.
Students with Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations will be made for any students with disabilities. If you have a disability, the Dean of Students Office will give you official documentation, which you will give to your instructor. More information is on the Disability Resources page from the Dean of Students Office.