COURSE DESCRIPTION
Ethics and Information Technology concerns the ethical dilemmas that exist where human beings, information
objects, and social computing technologies interact. The course explores an emerging model of information
ethics from historical and cross-cultural perspectives and then applies this model to a variety of new and
emerging technologies that are inherently social in their construction and use. Examples of issues that the course
covers in discrete modules that cover such topics as social media interaction; remembering and forgetting; and
game design ethics. Students explore the technological underpinnings of associated technology systems,
experiment with individual and group interaction with technologies, and examine the mechanics of ethical and
unethical behaviors.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
• Construct written arguments in a variety of formats on the evolving nature of ethical norms relating to new
technologies.
• Demonstrate knowledge of current models of information and computer ethics.
• Apply ethical theories to interpret personal and group behavior when using a variety of information technology
tools.
• Evaluate the nature of ethical choices made by self and others when serving various roles that expose social
and multicultural differences.