SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

CMNS 253-3

 

Roman Onufrijchuk	Spring Semester 2003
Downtown: c/o(604)291-5116	Harbour Centre Day
email: roman@sfu.ca

INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: THE NEW MEDIA

Prerequisite:

CMNS 110 or 130. Command of email and basic facility with web-based research is also required.

Course Description:

This course introduces the student to information technology – computers and computer networks, and new media in particular -- and the issues raised by its use in the home, the workplace, schools, government, and social relations. Beginning from the technological and scientific bases of new media, the course explores their evolution from earlier non-digital antecedents to the events, forces, innovations, and personalities that shaped them as they are today. This course prepares students for further studies in human and social aspects of technology and communication.

In addition to papers and exams, the course requires group work on a web site as well other web-related assignments.

Required Texts:

available at the downtown bookstore

Morris, Kenneth M, Users Guide to the Information Age. ISBN: 007139475-3
Rowland, Wade, Spirit of the Web: The Age of Information from Telegraphy to Internet.

Additional readings will be put on Library reserve downtown.

Evaluation:

Independent Assignment 20%
Group Project 20%
In-class Mid-term Exam 20%
Final Take Home Assignment 20%
Tutorial Participation 20%

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will also follow Policy T10.02 with respect to intellectual Honesty, and Academic Discipline (see the current Calendar, General Regulations Section).