CSCI 215 Social & Ethical Issues In Computing

Class 1 – Introduction & Communications

Social and ethical issues as they relate to computing, including privacy, risks, computer abuse, commerce, professionalism, free speech, intellectual property, social justice, and current issues. Also, the history of computing.

CSCI 215 - Big Brother Really is Watching You

Class 1 - Introduction

CSCI 215 - Choose Your Own Adventureto your robotic overlords

Class 1 - Introduction

First

A little later, we will get to know each other by playing 2 truths & lie, so think of what you want to say:

“Hi, my name is Melissa and1. I was born in Russia

2. Star Trek >> Star Wars

3. I have presented on my research in Italy”

About You• What grade level are you?

• Can you bring a laptop to class? Tablet? Smart Phone? None of the above?

• Why are you taking this class?

My expectations/hopes for you:

• Show up (please) – ideally on time

• Don’t be a jerk

About Me• Undergraduate degree in CS and Modern Languages

• (minor in physics and degree from honors college – magna cum laude)

• Few internships, fellowships, and misc. jobs along the way:• RightNow Technologies, Webfilings, Communications Squadron – Air Force,

MSGC SPOT Manager, TA, Instructor (discrete mathematics & this class)

• NERD

• You are my last class at Montana State University,

next fall I will be pursuing a PhD in Michigan

• I REALLY, REALLY want to be awesome at this

even though I don’t intend to become a professor

As a result, I will frequently be asking/prodding

for feedback – It WILL come across as desperate

About MeMy responsibilities towards you:

• Instruct (grade, reply to emails, post relevant material) in a timely manner

• Be fair and open to adapting the course so you get the most out of it• To this end, Thursday afternoons we will do retrospectives (retros) for the

wee

• If possible, bring a laptop. A tablet or smart phone will also probably work.

• Things I want to hear about: What went well, what you learned a lot from, what could be improved, etc.

• For example:• What went well: Class Conversations

• What I learned a lot from: Ted Talks

• What could be improved: Slides are hard to read

• Etc.: My cat’s name is Fibonacci

Office

Reasons to come to Office Hours:

• Want to discuss course/course material/grades/etc.

• Want to talk about research/graduate program/how to get into research

• Want to discuss Software Engineering/Industry/App Development/IDE’s

• Want to discuss why star wars may be awesome, but star trek is better

Office Hours:T,W: 2:30-3:30pmAnd by appointment

SUB, High top tables across from Union Market and overlooking the library (or in EPS 358 office if requested for privacy reasons)

Most Important Policies

Email:• DO

• Include CSCI 215 in the subject (don’t worry about what to put in rest of the subject)

• DO NOT• USE CAP LOCKS, it comes across as yelling and I will be defensive/irritated before even

reading your email

• Use “!!!!!!” “******” or other special characters repeated. I assume these emails are spam

Most Important Policies

Phones in Class:• If a cell phone goes off in class, I get to answer it.

• Pass it down to the first row

• If my cell phone goes off in class, the first student to raise their hand may answer my phone.

About This Class• My approach to this class

• What I *think* I would’ve enjoyed/gotten the most out of • Structured so you can get out what you put in

• Open to public

• No Textbooks!

• Historically• Class had not changed in at least 7 years• Teachers not super excited to be given this course• Tests/Homework were primarily focused on the history aspects

• Not censored – You are not going to be graded on your opinions.• Be Respectful – no, seriously. This is not a place to vent your anger.• Do Not use the term “femi-nazi” or any derivative

• I REALLY hate that I had to add “femi-nazi” to power point’s dictionary

Elaborations

What will we actually be learning in this class?

Social and ethical issues as they relate to computing,

including privacy, risks, computer abuse, commerce,

professionalism, free speech, intellectual property, social

justice, and current issues. Also, the history of computing.

Elaborations

What will we actually be learning in this class?

Privacy: • Various privacy acts

• How the government (NSA) might be violating your privacy

• How Social Media might be violating your privacy

• How you can protect your privacy (at least a little bit)

• Power of AI, robotics/drones, and their consequences

Risks and Computer Abuse: • Viruses, Worms, Trojans, etc.

• Child Pornography, Modern Day Mafias, Identity Theft, and Hackers

Commerce, Intellectual Property:• Patents, Copyright, Copyleft, Licensing

• Patent Trolls

• Open Source, Freeware

Elaborations

What will we actually be learning in this class?

Professionalism: • How to be a professional Software Engineer/Computer Professional

• The consequences of bad software / not knowing the field

• With great power comes great responsibility

Free Speech & Social Justice:• Cyberbullying

• Hacktivism

Current issues:• Ashley Madison Hack

• FBI v Apple

• Edward Snowden

Also, the history of computing.

Elaborations

What will we actually be learning in this class?

Basically…

The powerful potential computers and technology have to influence your life and society, and the ramifications of that power

Recitations and Class

• During summer classes, we are opting to blur the lines between classes (lecture) and recitation (discussions). To make this possible, please contribute to discussions in class.

• You will get participation points (worth a whopping 20% of your grade) by simply showing up.

Homework

• Generally speaking, homework is a Choose Your Own Adventure of reading/watching articles

• PDF of expected formatting, outline, and example available online: www.cs.montana.edu/~mdale/courses/CSCI215

• And on D2L • Side note: I despise, detest, and loathe D2L

Late Submissions / Missing Recitations

• Late submissions to dropbox:• 20% deduction for first submission, 40% deduction for next submission, 60%

deduction for every subsequent late submission

• You may “make up” up to 2 classes with no penalty • You are still expected to review the material for that day on your own.

• To get points, you may choose 3 articles/videos from the homework options that YOU HAVE NOT already reviewed for homework.

• Submit a PDF containing the following to get points:• A one paragraph summary FOR EACH OF THE 3 ARTICLES. This should demonstrate

you've read/watched the entire article/video, not just read the summary.

• One paragraph analysis FOR EACH OF THE 3 ARTICLES. Write how you interpreted the material and what opinions you have of it.

Project

• Partners Optional

• Choose Your Own Adventure Project• Standard report

• Coding Project

• Surprise Me

• Report – Presentation - Contest

• Contest Prizes:• Nerd Cred / Bragging Rights / Certificate

• Automatic 100% on presentation portion

• Surprise Prizes

Project

• PDF of expectations and grading rubric available online: www.cs.montana.edu/~mdale/courses/CSCI215

• And on D2L • Side note: I despise, detest, and loathe D2L

Extra Credit – Kind Of

• Will announce as opportunities arrive

• Sometimes on Homework for doing extra problem

• Submit ethical dilemma problems for the Midterm/Final:• http://goo.gl/forms/XQvFaaRRmp

• If chosen for a test, you will automatically receive full points for that question on the test – no need to even write down a single word.

Grading

• Recitation Participation …………..…..20%

• Homework ………………………….…...….20%

• Project………………………………………….23%

• Midterm………….…………………...……..15%

• Final………………………………....………...22%

• Extra Credit

Grading

A 94 - 100

A - 91 - 93.9

B+ 88 - 90.9

B 85 - 87.9

B- 82 – 84.9

C+ 79 – 81.9

C 76 – 78.9

C- 73 – 75.9

D+ 70 – 72.9

D 67 – 69.9

D- 64 – 66.9

F -inf – 63.9

Syllabus

• PDF available on course website: www.cs.montana.edu/~mdale/courses/CSCI215

• And on D2L • Side note: I despise, detest, and loathe D2L

Website

• http://www.cs.montana.edu/~mdale/courses/CSCI215/

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

Public Speaking

• is a topic I’m supposed to cover in this course

• Instead, I would like to talk about managing anxiety in a generally stressful environment • Which basically still covers public speaking

Imposter Syndrome

Has anybody in here felt they did really well on a test/lab/homework purely by luck or received a grade they didn’t really deserve?

The Imposter Syndrome is the feeling that you look better on paper than in real life, and that any moment you’ll be discovered as an imposter, that you’re only pretending to be competent

Imposter Syndrome – Tips and Tricks

Fake it:• Try not to say words like “I think…” or “I believe that…”, if you are saying it, it

is assumed that you probably do think or believe it

• Say things with “confidence” – stop speaking in questions

Build Confidence:• Try to prepare for instances you know you may be put on the spot

• Rehearse presentations – in front of the mirror, in front of your friends or family, in front of your enemies if you can catch them

• Mental Exercises

• Ask for help, all the time

Imposter Syndrome – Tips and Tricks

Be ok with not knowing (it’s how you learn):• Learn to say “I don’t know …” +

• I’m not familiar with some aspects of x, do you have a moment to discuss them?

• That’s a good point, my initial thoughts are x, y, z – but I haven’t formally organized these thoughts yet

• What are your thoughts on x?

• Learn something – anything – outside of class. Be excited to talk about it.• Side projects

• Udacity.com

Fail Fast and Often

Dirty rotten trick we’ve been taught: Success == Happiness• “Set goals, obtain, then be happy – you can be happy when you’re successful”

• Be flexible, you can change goals as you go.

• Set a “fail” Goal

• “I want to be told “no” 2 times this month when I ask professors for a recommendation letter

• “I want to try and fail to get 4 scholarships this year”

Get a Mentor

• Most annoying advice ever given… but it is important

• A mentor is not a friend (nor your mother)• Should be somebody you trust to give you open, honest guidance.

• How to ask for a mentor• “Hi ___________, I really think you’re stellar at _______,

do you have time to grab a cup of coffee

and talk about _______________.”

• Example:• “Hi Kirk, I think you’re really awesome at outmaneuvering the

Romulans. Can I buy you a cup of coffee next Tuesday when you’re

Free. I would love to learn a little about how you do that.”

Be a Mentor

• It’s ok to say “no”

• If you’ve benefited from a mentor, pay it forward

• It is completely ok to say “I don’t know”

Public Speaking

• Montana Space Grant Consortium – Space Public Outreach Team• Get paid to give cool presentations to kids and public throughout Montana

• MSGC Managers take care of all necessary accommodations, including: • Providing a rental car

• Making hotel reservations for longer trips

• Paying a periderm for longer trips

• You get paid for time travelling, as well as giving presentations

• http://solar.physics.montana.edu/spot/index.html

Some Resources

Hunter Lloyd’s Tips: http://www.cs.montana.edu/hunterl/215/lectures/publicSpeaking.html

Toastmasters:

https://www.toastmasters.org/Resources/Public-Speaking-Tips

TED

https://www.ted.com/playlists/226/before_public_speaking

Up next:https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are

Questions? Comments? Still with me?

• First homework due Thursday by 11:59PM• (Don’t panic, it’s just a write up about yourself)

• Project Proposal due next Monday by 11:59PM• DO NOT PANIC. The bar is not high, I just need to know you have a plan

• If you are stressing, please talk to me about it