TWC453/553: Information and Technology in American History

TWC 453/553
Information and Technology in American History
Multimedia Writing and Technical Communication
Fall 2006

Syllabus

Babara J. D'Angelo
Lecturer, Multimedia Writing & Technical Communication
Sutton Hall, Room 301 P
(480) 727-1160
bdangelo@asu.edu
Yahoo IM: barb_dangelo

Office Hours:

Mondays 9:00-11:00
Thursdays: 1:00-3:00
or by appointment

Course Description and Objectives

Information and the technologies that produce, manage, and disseminate it have been an integral part of American history. This course explores the historical development of information and related technologies in the United States from colonial times to the present. Students will research, explore, and analyze the adoption and use of various information and communications technologies in American history. Topics may include the use of printing during colonial times leading up to and during the American Revolution, the relationship between the railroad and telegraph in westward expansion, the role of information technologies in the industrial age, the role of radio and film during WWII, the impact of information processing machines on business practices, etc.

On completion of the course students will:

Understand the historical factors in the adoption of information and communication technologies in the United States;
Understand the regulatory, legal, and economic factors in the adoption and use of information and communication technologies;
Understand and analyze the role and impact of technologies on writing and communication;
Identify and evaluate the role and affect of communication technologies within specific contexts (social, economic, educational);
Identify and apply effective research strategies

Course Requirements

This is an online course. If you have never taken an online course, you may want to take the Online Learning Readiness Quiz to see if it's right for you. Read the Course Guidelines and Policies and review all information posted in Blackboard to be sure you understand what will be expected of you. All assignments are expected to be completed on time. See course evaluation section below for information on grading and Blackboard for information on assignments and due dates. Readings and assignments are also posted on the Schedule.

Graduate Students: Students registered for graduate credit (TWC553) will complete an additional assignment.

Textbooks

Chandler, Afred D. and Cortada, James W., eds. (2000) A Nation Transformed by Information NY: Oxford University Press.

Course Evaluation

+/- grades are not used in this course

TWC453:

Confirmation email	5 pts
Discussion board posts (15 @ 2 pts each)	30 pts
Research paper	65 pts

Scale:

90 - 100	A
80 - 89	B
70 - 79	C
60 - 69	D
0 - 59	E

TWC553:

Confirmation email	5 pts
Discussion board posts (15 @ 2 pts each)	30 pts
Research paper	65 pts
Graduate assignment	30 pts

Scale:

117 - 130 pts	A
104 - 116 pts	B
91 - 103 pts	C
78 - 90 pts	D
0 - 77 pts	E

Academic Integrity

As a student in this course you are expected to complete your own work, do your own writing, and to properly cite work of others. Please refer to the Student Academic Integrity Policy regarding students rights, responsibilities and obligations.

Students with Special Needs

If you have a documented disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, I encourage you to contact Disability Student Resources (DRS). Their phone number is (480) 965-1362 (voice) or (480) 965-9000 (TTY). They can also be accessed on the web at http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drc/

Last modified: 15 August 2006