Assignment 16: Media Withdrawal

Due: No later than Nov 15 in class

Refrain from all voluntary use of electronic media – cell phone, IM, music player, e-mail, TV, web browser -- for three consecutive days, one of which must be a weekday and one of which must be on the weekend.
[You may start on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.]
Take one uninterrupted hour for deliberate reflection (to consider how this experiment affected you, both good and bad)..
Submit a written journal report on your behavior (including 'cheating').  Cheating is defined as those times when you either inadvertently were exposed to media either because you weren't thinking about it, because someone "thrust it upon you", or you just decided to give in.  Allowable "cheats" are using the computer for homework or other required school activities and cell calls that you consider urgent (such as a call from a parent).  As part of your journal, consider the cheating situations and why they occurred.

Be prepared on Thursday (Nov 15) to discuss your experience with your colleagues.

Assignment 15:

Due October 30 in class

Part 1 - Finish the "internet inventory" in detail.  Based on what you see here, write two stories (no more than one page) about the person that you see on the internet.  Each story will take on a different perspective.  You may choose to write as if you were a prospective employer, a prospective grad school/professional school admissions officer, a parent, a new friend you have met who is checking you out, or a stalker who wants to find you.  Use as much or as little of what you find out on your inventory search.  

Turn in your stories and the inventory on October 30, stapled and with your name on the top page. (5 points inventory, 10 for the stories)

Part 2 - Based on the reading and discussion in class and any other information you find (think of different kinds of sources) write a 1 page or less opinion piece to respond to the issue - Who is responsible for my internet safety?  The argument should have a clear conclusion and supporting evidence to make a strong argument.  We will be doing peer reviews of your articles in class on Tuesday. (10 points at home, 5 points in-class)

Assignment 14: 

Due October 23 in class

To prepare for class on Tuesday, read the articles posted on Blackboard and be prepared to discuss the issue of privacy and the internet in class.  Articles will be posted on Sunday morning.

Three different views of privacy in our Information Age:
Privacy Lost (the dark side of information accessibility)
Privacy vs Convenience (what are we willing to give away)
Nothing is private (an article that you have already seen once before)

Come prepared to discuss the issue of privacy and to begin an exercise on how we give away our own privacy.  You will not need to bring a copy of the article to class, but certainly be prepared to discuss the issues these raise.

Optional Assignment: Rework the Midterm

Due October 23 in class

For each question that you would like to do better on, rework that question.  Feel free to use your notes; you may also come see me during my office hours on Monday to review any aspect that is giving you trouble.  Turn in only those questions that you would like me to regrade...attach them to your original midterm...both will be returned to you after I grade them.

Assignment 13:

Due 10/18/2007

  1. Choose a topic of interest to you related to science, health, or technology.  Find three web sites devoted to your topic.  Using the attached document, evaluate each web site on the Sandvik scale.  Come to class prepared to discuss your findings with your classmates. (5 points homework, 5 points in class).  Download document here.

Assignment 12:

Due 10/11/2007

  1. Take home midterm.  Must be turned in during class time to my office, Room 217.  You will also submit an electronic version of this assignment to the Blackboard assignment page.  Details provided in class on Tuesday and on Blackboard/Assignments.

Assignment 11:

Due: 10/09/2007

  1. Analyze your opinion piece regarding the JMU issue.  Use the document from class on Thursday as a guide, then answer the questions found here.  You should bring one copy of the opinion piece and your analysis to class on Tuesday.  It will serve as a basis for an in-class activity.

Assignment 10:

Due: 10/06/2007

  1. Quiet study - Students these days tend to use a lot of distracting devices during study (personal observation and reports of students themselves).  We will be doing more in the way of experimenting with different kinds of techniques to make ourselves stronger learners.  
    1. This experiment asks that  sometime in the next 2 days you seek out a place without distraction and work on some schoolwork (an assignment, reading, or study) for a one hour period.  You should NOT take an IPod, cell phone, computer or anything else that can cause distractions.  
    2. Some quiet places other students have found include study lounges in dorm basements, the library stacks, an out of the way place outside, etc.  It should be a place where you don't expect to find other people and a place that is conducive to the study at hand (comfortable with tables if needed).  
    3. Reflect in the journal on your experience.  Some of you will find this to be a frustrating experiment; others will find something enlightening.  After the assignment we will explore the effect of distraction on our abilities to think well.
    4. You will receive full credit for this assignment (5 points) if you genuinely try this assignment and reflect about its effects.  It does not matter if this was a useful assignment for you...trying is the important thing.
    5. NOTE:  If you are concerned about your personal safety if you leave your cell phone behind, do take it with you to your quiet study place, but TURN IT OFF for that one hour to avoid the distraction of the vibrate sound or the ring tone.
  2. If you have not done so already, finish reading the Asking the Right Questions book.  The take home midterm will be presented on Thursday.  On Thursday in class you will have the opportunity to ask any questions about items that are still not comfortable for you.

Assignment 9:

Due: 09/27/2007

  1. Rewrite your opinion piece (JMU issues), but focus on clarity of writing and having at least three different kinds of good solid evidence to support your argument.  Turn it in with your original article. (10)
  2. Read Chapters 10, 11, 12

Assignment 8:

Due: 09/25/2007

  1. Read thoroughly Chapter 7.
  2. Read Carl Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit found here.
  3. Take the article returned to you on Tuesday and do a new analysis.  Read it again at least once carefully, looking for the items on the worksheet.  Underline or highlight as you go.  This is a ten (10) point assignment.  I will grade quality on this one.
    1. Download the worksheet that you find here or on the Blackboard site.
    2. Type the answers into the worksheet.
    3. Each answer should be complete.  Use the text to provide citation (support/evidence) of your answers.
    4. Use full sentences and correct grammatical form.
    5. Print a copy of the worksheet and turn it in along with your article, stapled together.  Due Tuesday.
    6. If you did not do an article before, or would rather use a different one, feel free.  Just be sure you turn in the article that you are critiquing along with your worksheet.
  4. Reflect on this past week in class.  Enter a journal entry in Blackboard that answers the following three questions:
    1. What one thing (or more) did I learn in class this week?
    2. What one thing (or more) is still fuzzy to me?
    3. What one thing (or more) will I apply to another class or another situation outside of GISAT 160? (5)

Assignment 7:

Due: 09/20/2007

  1. Continue reading Chapter 8,9.
  2. Rest of assignment reassigned for Tuesday.

Assignment 6:

Due: 09/18/07

  1. Read Chapter 8, 9.  We will take up Chapter 7 on Thursday or Tuesday of next week..
  2. Reflect on this past week in class.  Enter a journal entry in Blackboard that answers the following three questions:
    1. What one thing (or more) did I learn in class this week?
    2. What one thing (or more) is still fuzzy to me?
    3. What one thing (or more) will I apply to another class or another situation outside of GISAT 160? (5)

Assignment 5:

Due: 09/13/07

  1. If you have not already done so, read Chapter 5 and 6.
  2. Read the articles that you find here: Stem cell debate Read carefully, looking for the issue, thesis, and supporting arugments for each of the authors.  Bring a copy of the articles to class on Thursday. (5)

Assignment 4:

Due: 09/11/07

  1. Read chapters 4 - 5
  2. Write a brief (1 page or less 1 1/2 spaced) opinion piece about an issue on the JMU campus.  Bring a hardcopy to class on Monday. (5)
  3. Reflect on this past week in class.  Enter a journal entry in Blackboard that answers the following three questions:
    1. What one thing (or more) did I learn in class this week?
    2. What one thing (or more) is still fuzzy to me?
    3. What one thing (or more) will I apply to another class or another situation outside of GISAT 160? (5)

Assignment 3:

Due: 09/06/07

  1. Read chapters 2 and 3
  2. Bring in an article about a problem that is making an argument about a topic of interest to you.  Keep it short; no more than a few paragraphs. (5)
    1. Can come from the internet...if so, please provide the URL.
    2. Can come from print media...if so, plesae indicate publication and date.

Assignment 2:

Due: 09/04/07

  1. See the Assignment in Blackboard (Technology addiction...)  (5)
  2. Read Chapter 1 of your text.
  3. Respond to the Blackboard survey (background and preferences)  (NOTE:  to have your responses collated with other student responses, this must be completed by Sunday night.) (5)
  4. Bring a copy of a syllabus from a course in your major (or any other course if you are undeclared or you don't have a major course this semester.) (5)
Note:  Items 1 and 3 are graded assignments.  Assignment 2 is preparation for class.  Since we did not get to it on Thursday, I still need you to bring a syllabus to class on Tuesday.

Assignment 1:

Due: 08/27/07

  1. Read the Internet Addiction article that you will find in Course Documents.
  2. Go to http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html and take the Learning Styles Inventory. At the conclusion of the survey, a report will show your scores. Print that page and bring it to class on Thursday. (5)  For those that do not want their data to be posted on another school's website, see me for a paper form inventory.
  3. Log into Blackboard. Find the Journal tab and make your first journal entry. You should reflect on what you personally want to get out of this course. What are your goals? (5)
  4. Bring a copy of a syllabus from a course in your major (or any other course if you are undeclared or you don't have a major course this semester.) 
Note: Items 2, 3, and 4 are graded assignments. You will get points towards your required assignments. Item 1 is preparation for class on Thursday and a work that will be assigned on Thursday.