Class Schedule (by date)

17 Jan (Wed):

Introduction -- What is communication technology?   [Lecture]

22 Jan (Mon):

24 Jan (Wed):

How are technologies shaped and why does it matter?   [Lecture]
A link to "blogs" is now at the top of every page   [Announcement]
Sign-Ups for the assigignment due 1/31 are open   [Announcement]
The first assignment is due 1/31   [Announcement]
Case study: Solresol, the Universal Musical Language   [Class Reader]
How are media born and developed?   [Class Reader]

25 Jan (Thu):

Discussion Sections Begin   [Note]

26 Jan (Fri):

Discussion Sections Begin   [Note]
(Lab 1) Blogging and Introduction   [Section Meeting]
An Illustrated Guide to Blogging   [Help/Handout]
Posting an Image in a Blog Entry   [Help/Handout]

29 Jan (Mon):

What can early technologies teach us about today?   [Lecture]
Writing Requirements and Expectations   [Help/Handout]
Grading Rubric   [Help/Handout]
portions of 3: Books and Magazines   [Textbook]
Civilization Without Writing   [Class Reader]
Portions of 4: Newspapers   [Textbook]
"Guest" access to readings is now off. [Get Password Help]   [Announcement]

31 Jan (Wed):

How do comm techs shape society?   [Lecture]
All blogs are now visible on the blogs page   [Announcement]
The second assignment is due 2/7   [Announcement]
Orality, Literacy, and Modern Media   [Class Reader]
The Judgment of Thamus   [Class Reader]
BLOG POST: Communication Infrastructure Treasure Hunt   [Assignment]

2 Feb (Fri):

(Lab 2) Inventing Technology   [Section Meeting]
SPECIAL EVENT: "Rereading Marshall McLuhan"   [Note]

5 Feb (Mon):

What is infrastructure?   [Lecture]
12: The Communications Infrastructure   [Textbook]
The online reading for 2/7 has been fixed   [Announcement]

7 Feb (Wed):

Why is infrastructure important?   [Lecture]
Visions of Technology   [Class Reader]
The blogs page now has "Instructor Faves"   [Announcement]
The third assignment is due 2/14   [Announcement]
BLOG POST: The Misguided Archaeologist   [Assignment]

9 Feb (Fri):

(Lab 3) Recognizing Infrastructure   [Section Meeting]
Two Examples of "A" Assignments   [Help/Handout]

12 Feb (Mon):

What's special and important about digital media?   [Lecture]
9: The Internet   [Textbook]

14 Feb (Wed):

Lecture Cancelled (readings still due)   [Lecture]
2/14 lecture cancelled due to blizzard   [Announcement]
Third assignment deadline extended 1 day   [Announcement]
Readings are still due for 2/14   [Announcement]
portions of 1: The Changing Media   [Textbook]
Numerical Representation   [Class Reader]
BLOG POST: Judge a Communication Technology   [Assignment]

16 Feb (Fri):

(Lab 4) Digital Media   [Section Meeting]
A link to grades is now at the top of each page   [Announcement]
First assignment grade is now on the grades page   [Announcement]
Analog and Digital Exercise   [Help/Handout]

19 Feb (Mon):

How prevalent are comm techs in our lives?   [Lecture]
2: Media and Society   [Textbook]

21 Feb (Wed):

How much of comm tech is 'technical'?   [Lecture]
The midterm has been postponed to 2/28   [Announcement]
Midterm review sheet was passed out on 2/21   [Announcement]
Readings due 2/21 and 2/26 have been reorganized   [Announcement]
Midterm Review Sheet   [Help/Handout]
Studies of the Routine Grounds of Everyday Activities   [Class Reader]
portions of 13 and 15: Media Uses and Effects / Media Ethics   [Textbook]
BLOG POST: Do-It-Yourself Digitization   [Assignment]

23 Feb (Fri):

(Lab 5) Midterm Review   [Section Meeting]

26 Feb (Mon):

How do comm techs affect individuals?   [Lecture]
The Medium is the Message   [Class Reader]
This week's office hours for Sandvig moved to Thurs., 10-12.   [Announcement]
Please bring a #2 pencil for the midterm   [Announcement]

28 Feb (Wed):

MIDTERM EXAM   [Deadline]

2 Mar (Fri):

Submit three of your weekly assignments for grading   [Deadline]
(Lab 6) Web Design Workshop   [Section Meeting]
How to Turn in Blogs for Grading   [Help/Handout]
Publishing Your Web Pages on NetFiles   [Help/Handout]

5 Mar (Mon):

7 Mar (Wed):

It sells you things; it is sold to you (advertising)   [Lecture]
The question box is now online   [Announcement]
Midterm grades are now on the grades page   [Announcement]
portions of 11: Advertising   [Textbook]
BLOG POST: Breaching Experiment   [Assignment]

9 Mar (Fri):

(Lab 7) Advertising   [Section Meeting]

12 Mar (Mon):

You use it to express yourself (presentation software)   [Lecture]
The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint   [Textbook]

14 Mar (Wed):

Presentation Software (cont'd)   [Lecture]
16: Global Communications Media   [Textbook]
The discussion board is now online   [Announcement]
BLOG POST: Advertising Tutor   [Assignment]
Breaching experiments compared on the discussion board   [Announcement]

16 Mar (Fri):

(Lab) Representing information: Powerpoint   [Section Meeting]

19 Mar (Mon):

SPRING VACATION   [Holiday]

21 Mar (Wed):

SPRING VACATION   [Holiday]

26 Mar (Mon):

It teaches you to be American (cultural difference)   [Lecture]
portions of 13: Media Uses and Effects   [Textbook]

28 Mar (Wed):

You try to get a date (representation)   [Lecture]
Local Attachment   [Class Reader]
Love Over the Wires   [Class Reader]
Case study: aloha.net   [Class Reader]
BLOG POST: Scientist of Love   [Assignment]
The blog server is back online   [Announcement]
Wed. 3/28 assignment deadline extended to Fri.   [Announcement]
Turing Game details are on the discussion board   [Announcement]
New instructor faves on the blogs page   [Announcement]

29 Mar (Thu):

Assignments 1-4 are now on the grades page   [Announcement]

30 Mar (Fri):

(Lab 9) Online Identity   [Section Meeting]

2 Apr (Mon):

You enjoy art, or not (art)   [Lecture]
Printable Flyer (PDF) for The Tailenders screening   [Announcement]
The Tailenders screening 4/3 and 4/4   [Announcement]
portions of 7: Film and Home Video   [Textbook]
Making 'White' People White   [Class Reader]
portions of 8: Television   [Textbook]

3 Apr (Tue):

The Tailenders   [Movie Screening]

4 Apr (Wed):

You can find information (search)   [Lecture]
portions of 13: Media Uses and Effects   [Textbook]
The Search   [Class Reader]
BLOG POST: The Identity Census   [Assignment]
The Tailenders   [Movie Screening]

6 Apr (Fri):

(Lab 10) Search   [Section Meeting]
Please see The Tailenders before week 13 sections meet   [Announcement]
Weekly quizzes begin in week 12 sections   [Announcement]

9 Apr (Mon):

It makes you angry (resistance)   [Lecture]
14: Media Policy and Law   [Textbook]

11 Apr (Wed):

You use it to collaborate (peer production)   [Lecture]
Digital Maoism   [Class Reader]
portions of 6: Radio   [Textbook]
portions of 5: Recorded Music   [Textbook]
WIKI / BLOG POST: I am a Wikipedian   [Assignment]

13 Apr (Fri):

(Lab 11) The Tailenders / Intro to Civilization IV   [Section Meeting]
"The Tailenders" In-Class Exercise   [Help/Handout]
How to Obtain and Play Civilization IV for this Class   [Help/Handout]
game help and game helpers are on the discussion board   [Announcement]

14 Apr (Sat):

The games page is now linked from the top menu   [Announcement]

16 Apr (Mon):

You benefit indirectly from it (science)   [Lecture]
1984 -- part one, sections 1-4   [Textbook]

17 Apr (Tue):

For the game assignments, don't forget the tutorial movie   [Announcement]
Civ Lab #1 deadline extended to Friday, midnight   [Announcement]

18 Apr (Wed):

20 Apr (Fri):

(Lab 12) Using Simulations to Test Ideas   [Section Meeting]

23 Apr (Mon):

Technological utopias and dystopias   [Lecture]
1984 -- part two, sections 1-5   [Textbook]

24 Apr (Tue):

Gattaca, mentioned on 4/23 is playing in town on Wednesday   [Announcement]
Civ 4 lab hours are Sun, Mon, Tue from 7-9 only   [Announcement]
Sections are in normal FLB rooms this week   [Announcement]
Optional final exam review sessions to be announced soon   [Announcement]
Extra credit options due at final exam   [Announcement]

25 Apr (Wed):

How can we control technology?   [Lecture]
1984 -- part two, sections 5-10   [Textbook]
BLOG POST: Civilization Lab #2   [Assignment]

27 Apr (Fri):

(Lab 13) 1984   [Section Meeting]

30 Apr (Mon):

The role of comm tech in society   [Lecture]
1984 -- part three   [Textbook]
Invite a friend to Wednesday's special event   [Announcement]
ROOM CHANGE: Wed 5/2 Lecture in Knight Auditorium   [Announcement]
Lab/discussion SECTIONS ARE OVER for the semester   [Announcement]
Submit 6 assignments for grading by 5/8   [Announcement]

2 May (Wed):

Special Event: Serious Games   [Lecture]
1984 -- appendix   [Textbook]
BLOG POST: Civilization Lab #3   [Assignment]
Optional final review sessions on Thurs. and Mon.   [Announcement]
The Final Exam Review Sheet (PDF) is now online   [Announcement]
Final Exam Review Sheet   [Help/Handout]
The FINAL EXAM is Tuesday, May 8 at 7pm   [Announcement]

3 May (Thu):

Optional Review Session   [Note]

7 May (Mon):

Optional Review Session   [Note]

8 May (Tue):

Grade distributions are on the grades page   [Announcement]
FINAL EXAM   [Deadline]
Submit six of your weekly assignments for grading   [Deadline]
EXTRA CREDIT BLOG POST: The technology of 1984   [Assignment]

18 May (Fri):

The class is over! Thanks for a great class. Get some rest!   [Announcement]