DTC 206 Class Schedule

The class schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the class. Any changes in the schedule will be reflected here and, also, sent out in an email to all students.


Week 1 – May 6th to 10th

Monday

Welcome! In this course we are surveying different ways that we can make technology more inclusive. There are currently several bills or acts being championed (and not) regarding broadband access in the U.S. Government. We will start by looking at these and discuss the differences between them. By the end of the course you will be asked to write your own bill about how we should collectively approach future technology in an equitable manner.

In Class:

Tuesday

Before Class Review:

Wednesday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Breakdown the Digital Equality Act

Thursday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Breakdown the American Broadband Initiative

Friday

In Class:

  • Compare contrast the Acts
  • Review Blog expectations

Due Before the End of the Day:


Week 2 – May 13th to 17th

Monday

When we discussed the concept of how to bridge the Digital Divide and make technology more inclusive it is largely discussed in two ways: access to hardware and the skills/access to software to create digital materials. In this section we’ll look at groups that are trying to bridge the Digital Divide in very different ways.

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Virtual Reality Bill Project
  • Play with One Laptop Per Child computers

Tuesday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Visit Don McMahon’s Lab — Meet in Cleveland 240

Wednesday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Talk with Ewurabena Ashun from Black Girls Code
  • Participate in the Hour of Code

Thursday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Visit the Access Center (217 Washington Building — upstairs from the Student Health Center)

Friday

No Class Meeting

Review on your own:

Due Before the End of the Day:


Week 3 – May 20th to 24th

Monday

In Class:

  • Library Visit — Meet in Terrell 105

Tuesday

Everything that can be used to make the digital world more equitable can also be used to make it more oppressive. In this section we’ll explore how technology is being used for mass surveillance, population control, and to increase the power of large corporations and authoritarian governments.

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Discussion of tactics used in different countries during the Arab Spring in 2010

Wednesday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Social Credit Audit

Thursday

Review Before Class:

In Class:

  • Seminar Leader Assignment Reviewed
  • Social Media Seminar

Friday

No Class Meeting

Review on Your Own:

Due Before the End of the Day:


Week 4 – May 27th to 31st

Monday

No Class – Memorial Day

Tuesday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Making Sense of Net Neutrality
  • Is “freedom” on digital platforms good?

Wednesday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Gamergate Seminar

Thursday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Playing games from Games for Change

Friday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Video Games Seminar

Due By the End of the Day:


Week 5 – June 3rd to 7th

Monday

As technology evolves there are more issues of inclusion in digital spaces coming down the line. In the final section of the course we will look at some issues on the cutting edge of technology and discuss how they may help or hinder digital inclusion.

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Policing and technology

Due by the End of the Day:

Tuesday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Copyright Seminar

Wednesday

Before Class Review:

In Class:

  • Cashless Society Seminar

Thursday

No Class Meeting

Due on Blackboard:

  • Drafts of Bills due before 12pm

Friday

No Class Meeting

Due on Blackboard:

  • Peer review of Bills due before 11:59pm

Week 6 – June 10th – 14th

Monday

No Class Meeting

Due By the End of the Day:

Tuesday

Individual Meetings with Ruth/Work Day

  • Mila 12 – 12:20pm
  • Zainab 12:20 – 12:40pm
  • Melissa 12:40 – 1pm

Wednesday

Individual Meetings with Ruth/Work Day

  • Bethany 12 – 12:20pm
  • Felix 12:20 – 12:40pm
  • Min 12:40 – 1pm

Thursday

Due in Class:

  • Bill Presentations – Felix, Melissa, Mila

Friday

Due in Class:

  • Bill Presentations – Zainab, Bethany, Min

Due by the End of the Day:

  • Final Bills
  • Any extra credit