Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - CMPT 105W D200

Social Issues and Communication Strategies in Computing Science (3)

Class Number: 6188

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, Wed, Fri, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 15, 2020
    Tue, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course teaches the fundamentals of informative and persuasive communication for professional engineers and computer scientists. A principal goal of this course is to assist students in thinking critically about various contemporary technical, social, and ethical issues. It focuses on communicating technical information clearly and concisely, managing issues of persuasion when communicating with diverse audiences, presentation skills, and teamwork. Students with credit for ENSC 102, ENSC 105W, MSE 101W or SEE 101W may not take CMPT 105W for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Within the context of writing processes, CMPT 105W teaches the fundamentals of informative and persuasive communication for computing scientists and professional engineers in order to assist students in thinking critically about various contemporary technical, social, and ethical issues. The course focuses on communicating technical information clearly and concisely as well as managing issues of persuasion when communicating with diverse audiences. Students will complete several individual assignments related to writing, as well as creating PowerPoint and poster presentations. Most if not all course components (lectures, assignments, and exams) will be in an online format. Students must have access to a computer with internet access. Some components of the course may require real-time participation during the scheduled lecture and/or exam times. Note that CMPT 105W-3 meets the SFU requirement for a lower division writing intensive course.

Topics

  • History of computing and engineering
  • Ethical and moral responsibilities of computing and engineering professionals
  • Critical thinking (valid arguments, Bloom's taxonomy, the scientific method)
  • Discussion topics: free speech, privacy, intellectual property, big data, AI, etc.
  • Organizing, researching, and planning for writing
  • Revision and editing strategies
  • Design for informative and persuasive papers
  • Presentation strategies

Grading

  • Written Assignments, Participation, Quizzes, and Presentations. A more detailed marking scheme will be provided in the first lecture. Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to obtain a clear pass (C- or better).

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Reference Books

  • Strategies for Engineering Communication, Steve Whitmore, Susan Stevenson, John Wiley and Sons, 2002, 9780471128175
  • Ethics for the Information Age (eText), Michael J. Quinn, Pearson, 2020, 9780135218006

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).