Projects

A paper is due on the last day that this class meets. You must take a position on a significant issue and support it with cogent arguments. There are no very rigid rules about the subject, which can be chosen to match your own interests and talents. It would be a very good idea to look over the course outline and course notes. DO NOT pick a topic that is too general. You must have an outline of the paper approved by me before you begin writing. Here are some specific suggestions, just to indicate the kind of topic that is appropriate:

1. Study the role of technological determinism in arguments for using computers in education. Do a careful analysis of at least three documents that promote particular products or technologies, such as press releases, newspaper articles, magazine articles, or websites.
    
2. Write an essay comparing the views of Marshall McLuhan and Jacques Ellul on technological determinism, and contrasting them with the more holistic views of technological evolution presented in class.
    
3. Write an essay on social aspects of some technology, such as cloning, cellphones, webTV, computer games, Linux, or genomics; make significant use of actor-network theory, paradigm shifts, or other social theories emphasized in this course.
    
4. Write an essay on Newton as a case study in paradigm shifts. You might want to consult Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcer, by Michael White (Addison-Wesley 1998). Or discuss some other paradigm shift (in detail). Try to bring in some actor-network theory to explain the shift.
    
5. Discuss some topic in the area of applications of information technology to education; be sure to include some information on the history of this area; make some use of actor-network theory, paradigm shifts, or other significant social theories from this course.
    
6. Discuss wireless telephony as a social phenomenon using actor-network theory: who are the actors, how are they connected, what translations must be done to get and keep them involved? Or apply a similar approach to some other technology, such as electric cars, the Strategic Defense Initiative (also called "Star Wars"), Java or Netscape.
    
7. If you have the expertise, discuss economic aspects of some information technology, such as ISPs, video games, web browsers, or email.
    
8. Discuss the ethical aspects of some information technology, such as large databases, encryption, or web browsers; some specific issues to consider include privacy, crime, and political manipulation.
    
9. Discuss the management of risky technology and the role of institutions, using the case study of NASA by Diane Vaughan (Chicago 1996) as a source; she brings in Kuhn, and actor-network theory in relevant and interesting ways.

• Make good use of significant material presented in this class; much of your grade will depend on how well you do this.
• The paper should be about 10 to 30 pages long.
• Provide a good solid bibliography; use proper format for citations, with full names of authors, full title, date, page numbers, and publisher, as applicable.
• Each reference should have a unique identifier, and you should use those identifiers in the text whenever you use ideas from that reference.
• Avoid unsupported opinions and appeals to authority.
• Use as much concrete data as possible, such as quotes from original source documents, interviews, etc.; be specific.
• Provide an introduction and conclusions.
• Weak English is acceptable as long as I can understand it clearly.
• The pages of your paper should be numbered.