Sociology and Ethics in Informatics
Keywords |
Classification |
Keyword |
OFICIAL |
Personal and Communicational Development |
Instance: 2014/2015 - 1S
Cycles of Study/Courses
Teaching Staff - Responsibilities
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
The main objective of this course has is to induce among the students critical thinking about social and ethical questions raised by the use of computers and the Internet. Another objective concerns informing the students of legislation relevant to their future profession. A final outcome is the improvement of their capacities of oral and written communication.
Learning outcomes and competences
A set of subjects is proposed to the students, who must prepare reports with their summary, and present them. That, together with the analysis of the subjects presented in the class and the discussion of its implications, allows the students to aquire a background on the subjects studied in this course.
Working method
Presencial
Program
Study the variety of ethical perspectives. Analysis and discussion of subjects related to informatics, including:
1. software licenses;
2. legislation on informatics and data protection;
3. security and privacy;
4. evaluation and control of risks associated to the use of software;
5. intellectual property, patents;
6. accreditation of courses, codes of conduct;
7. impacts of informatics on the society;
8. history and evolution of informatics.
Mandatory literature
varios; n/a (Papers listed in the first class.)
Complementary Bibliography
Edited by M. David Ermann and Michele S. Shauf; Computers, Ethics, and Society, Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN: 9780195143027
Teaching methods and learning activities
Subjects to be studied, developed, and presented by the students will be proposed. A report and a presentation on each subject will be required, and their analysis made in the classes.
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation without final exam
Assessment Components
designation |
Weight (%) |
Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese |
40,00 |
Participação presencial |
20,00 |
Trabalho escrito |
40,00 |
Total: |
100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
designation |
Time (hours) |
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese |
50,00 |
Frequência das aulas |
50,00 |
Total: |
100,00 |
Eligibility for exams
Presence in the classes (according to rules of the University of Porto); report and its presentation; participation in discussions.
Calculation formula of final grade
Average of the evaluation of the reports 80%.
Participation in the classes and discussions 20%.
Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)
Same as for other students
Classification improvement
With extra report and written examination (50% + 50%).