Ethical and Social Issues in Computing Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Ethical and Social Issues in Computing
Week 1: Overview of Ethics in Computing
Definition and Importance of Ethics in Computing
Historical Context and Evolution
Key Ethical Theories: Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue Ethics
Week 2: Understanding Social Impacts
The Role of Technology in Society
Positive and Negative Impacts of Computing Technologies
Case Studies on Social Impacts
Module 2: Privacy and Security
Week 3: Privacy Issues
Definition of Privacy in the Digital Age
Data Collection and Surveillance
Ethical Concerns Related to Big Data and Personal Information
Week 4: Security Concerns
Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking
Ethical Implications of Cyber Attacks
Legal and Ethical Issues in Digital Security
Module 3: Intellectual Property
Week 5: Intellectual Property Rights
Understanding Intellectual Property: Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks
Software Licensing and Open Source
Ethical and Legal Implications of Intellectual Property Theft
Week 6: Digital Content and Media
Ethical Issues in Digital Content Creation and Distribution
Plagiarism and Digital Piracy
Fair Use and Digital Rights Management (DRM)
Module 4: Digital Divide and Access to Technology
Week 7: The Digital Divide
Definition and Causes of the Digital Divide
Social and Economic Impacts of the Digital Divide
Strategies to Bridge the Digital Divide
Week 8: Access to Technology
Technology Accessibility for People with Disabilities
Global Perspectives on Technology Access
Policies and Initiatives to Promote Digital Inclusion
Module 5: Professional Ethics and Responsibilities
Week 9: Professional Ethics
Ethical Codes of Conduct for Computing Professionals
Responsibilities of Software Developers and IT Professionals
Whistleblowing and Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace
Week 10: Corporate Social Responsibility
The Role of Corporations in Promoting Ethical Practices
Corporate Policies on Privacy, Security, and Intellectual Property
Case Studies on Corporate Social Responsibility in Tech Companies
Module 6: Emerging Technologies and Ethical Challenges
Week 11: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Ethical Concerns in AI Development and Deployment
Bias and Fairness in Machine Learning Algorithms
Accountability and Transparency in AI Systems
Week 12: Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Ethical Implications of Robotics and Automation
Human-Robot Interaction and Social Impact
Regulatory and Legal Challenges
Module 7: Future Trends and Societal Implications
Week 13: Future Technologies
Ethical Considerations in Emerging Technologies: Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology
Predicting and Preparing for Future Ethical Challenges
The Role of Policymakers and Technologists in Shaping the Future
Week 14: Societal Implications
Long-term Impacts of Technological Advancements on Society
Ethical Decision-Making in Technological Innovation
Building an Ethical Framework for Future Technologies
Week 15: Course Review and Final Project
Review of Key Concepts and Ethical Theories
Final Project Presentations and Discussions
Course Wrap-up and Future Learning Paths