Technology plays an increasingly important role in today's global society. In the Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS) course, students experience first-hand what to expect in a 21^st century world that will become inc reasingly interconnected in technology and the sharing of information. They learn to think critically about the role technology plays in the United States, as well as about its effect on nations and cultures all over the world. The impact and significance of the information age is explored in several social contexts including economic, political, cultural, legal, environmental, historical, ergonomic, and psychological.

1. To appreciate the key elements of continuity and change that information technology has affected throughout history.
2. To analyse and evaluate social and ethical considerations arising from technology's proliferation in today's society.
3. To understand the various methods and technologies for data collection, description, and analysis used in studies of society and the ways in which complex data can be interpreted.
4. To become familiar with technologies and information tools that enhance communication, facilitate life-long learning, and expand a student's worldview.
5. To demonstrate how technology adds to the integration of disciplines and facilitates the problem-solving process.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of information technology (IT) terminology and concepts and the ethical considerations arising from IT.
2. Apply and use IT concepts relating to an integrated software package, the Internet as a research resource, and a multimedia authoring software suite.
3. Analyze, discuss, and evaluate IT developments and trends, the social significance of IT, and the ethical considerations arising from IT.
4. Explore and construct potential solutions to social and ethical technological problems.

• An introduction to information technology--including information systems, individuals and machines, the global information economy, digital versus analog data transmission, and networks
• Information technology tools and their societal impact--including hardware, software, operating systems and utilities, integrated applications (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphics), desktop publishing, modeling/simulations, multimedia, tutorial/training software, artificial intelligence (including robotics and expert systems), virtual reality, and games
• Convergence of computer and communications--including broadcast media, visual and performance arts, and personal communications
• Networks and the Internet--including Local Area Networks (LANs), client/server, groupware, bandwidth, ISDN, World Wide Web, e-mail, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), basic Internet terminology, and cryptography

Computer Studies: Computers in Society, Annual Editions Series, Dushkin/McGraw Hill

Information Technology, Concepts and Issues, Lauden, Traver, and Laud, ISBN 0-534-24924-8

Computer Currents, Beekman, ISBN 0-805-32448-8

• How Computers Work: A Journey into the Walk-through Computer, Computer Museum, Jarol Video
• The Machine That Changed the World, WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, MA
• World Population, Zero Population Growth, Inc., Washington DC
• Triumph of the Nerds, PBS

• The Cuckoo's Egg, Stoll, ISBN 0-330-31742-3
• The Age of Intelligent Machines, Kurzweil, ISBN 0-262-61079-5

Computers and Society, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

Microsoft Office 97

Microsoft FrontPage 98

Internet Explorer 4.0

Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual J++

• 30 Compaq Presario Windows 95 multimedia computers. Eight of these machines have an Internet connection and e-mail capability.
• Two HP LaserJet printers
• One HP flatbed scanner

ThinkQuest Internet Contest http://www.thinkquest.org

HTML Reference Handout http://www.htmlhelp.com/

Encarta 98 Encyclopedia and Virtual Globe

Streets98

Students are evaluated using multiple assessments--including a portfolio, a project, class

participation, internal exams, lab work, and homework. Students will also be given practice to prepare them for the External Assessment. The portfolio and project are outlined below:

• The portfolio consists of four pieces of written work, each between 700 and 1000 words in length. An individual portfolio should cover a wide range of IT categories--including privacy, business/industry, networking, communications, education, security , and international relations. The portfolio is assessed using the criteria and descriptors outlined on pp. 49-51 of the ITGS curriculum guide.
• The project involves creating a product that integrates at least three IT tools. Each project will be Web-based and will be submitted for the International ThinkQuest contest. (See www.thinkquest.org ). The submitted project consists of three parts:
• A log book including a chronological record of the product’s development
• A report that summarizes and documents the implementation process of the project
• An end product implemented using HTML that integrates various IT tools as outlined on p. 45 of the ITGS curriculum guide