CS101 – Living with
Computers
ACTIVITIES &
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Chapter 9 (Classes 23-25):
- Answer
student questions.
- Demo
what’s on the CD
- Demo
what’s on the website
- Questions
for discussion:
- Explain
how the emerging information economy differs from earlier social and
economic systems.
- Describe
several ways computers and robots have changed the nature and quality of
jobs, both positively and negatively.
- List
several trends in information technology that are likely to continue for
a few more years.
- Outline
several research areas that may produce breakthroughs in computer
technology in the next few decades.
- Describe
some of the social and psychological risks of the information age.
- Speculate
about the long-term future of the information age.
- Projects
- Bring
in old magazines/catalogs. Have
students come up with lists of technological products that didn’t exist
10 years ago. For those devices
that did exist 10 years ago and are still commonplace today, have groups
compare the price and variety of brands available in the past with what
is available today. Select
spokesperson from group to report to class on list (discuss groups’
lists).
- Break
class into small groups, have each group come up with jobs with which
they are familiar and which could be completely or more thoroughly
automated. Structure the task as
a checklist with “benefits” and “costs” columns, then challenge groups to
list both business and social pros and cons of automation. Select spokesperson from group to
report to class on list (discuss groups’ lists)
- Break
the class into small groups(divided in half) to conduct a debate on the
topic: “Resolved: the United
States government should ensure free and unregulated Internet access for
all citizens.” Have half the
groups report on pro’s and the others, cons (discuss groups comments).
- Break
students into small groups, to research the ethical issues brought up by
the possibility of artificial life forms. Questions to include "What
moral responsibilities would we have towards an artificial life form,"
and "Whaat ethical rules should guide the development of artificial
life forms." An additional
source of ideas and projections
here is science fiction, like Asimov's "three laws of
robotics."
- Chapter
9 Quiz: 3-5 short questions from the chapter review and 2-4 definitions
- Chapter
9 Assignment: page 268 - Project 1,2,3, or 4.
- Chapter
e-journal on Future of Computers
- Student
should find material from chapter in newspapers, magazines, or online
- Student
should discuss the most difficult concept for them in this chapter
- Student
should list any terms they do not understand