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On this page: Announcements; Blogs;
About the Class; Texts;
Schedule.
Announcements (recent first)
- (This syllablus last changed on Monday Jun 30.)
Class Member Blogs
All class members have blogs.
See The Researcher Blogs Page for details.
Use The Blog Aggregator Page to read all of them at once.
About This Class
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Essentials
Class Meetings: 338 Davenport Hall, Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:30-4:50 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Christian Sandvig
Distinguished Panel of Public Service Advisors
Instructor Office: 133 Lincoln Hall
Office Hours: 10-11 a.m. Wednesdays and by appointment
Office Telephone: 333-0141 (use only during office hours)
Messages: 333-2683 (department office)
Mailbox: 244 Lincoln Hall
E-mail: csandvig@uiuc.edu
This course partially satisfies the upper-level coursework requirement for the Undergraduate Minor in Informatics and the Undergraduate Minor in Science and Technology in Society.
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Course Description
This course considers developments in wireless communication technology from radio pirates to wearable computers. Across the world, new wireless technologies are being met by laws and policies that will shape their development and use. How is it that we decide where these technologies will take us? Students in this class will work in groups to investigate pressing policy debates linked to wireless communication. These might relate to inequality, social justice, the public interest, or the functioning of democracy.
This is not a traditional course. This course is taught in a service-learning format. Service-learning has been defined as a course that combines learning objectives with public service objectives. In a service-learning course, students have the opportunity to select, design, implement, and evaluate their own service and the content of this course. The class is run in partnership with a distinguished panel of public service advisors. This semester, students will work together to conduct original research projects that improve the quality of the debate in the area of new wireless technology and public policy. At times the class will be run like a workshop; at times the class will be run like a newsroom. This class is all about researching and writing in teams, so if you already know you do not like team projects, do not take this class.
Service projects may involve mapping, interviews, the preparation of educational materials for others, or activities similar to investigative journalism. These will be accompanied by a small number of readings and many opportunities for reflection and discussion. No previous coursework in this area or technical knowledge is required. Students from any area of study are welcome.
Service learning is often useful for students who want to develop concrete examples of their work that can be used on a resume. This course may also be particularly relevant for students who are interested in: wireless networking, community informatics, careers in public service (e.g., government, NGOs, charities), experience doing charitable/public service work, or further study in law and/or public policy (e.g., law school).
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Organization
Workload: Much of the class time will be spent working in teams, and the composition of these teams will change as we move through different weeks of the class. In a typical class, you could be having a meeting with your group, making phone calls, hunting for data online, or writing. This class has no instructor-assigned reading after week 4, but students will still be expected to work about 8 hours per week on your service projects. Class time will provide up to 2 hours a week for meetings with your group, editing each other's work, and conferring with the instructor. The other 6 hours a week may be spent hunting for data online, doing phone interviews, mapping, taking photographs, performing experiments, and writing up your findings.
Evaluation: There are no quizzes or traditional exams in this course. The final grade will be determined by the collaborative writing of at least three research memos, peer review performed by you and your project members, external evaluation by our distinguished panel of public service advisors, and a participation grade given by the instructor. You must be identified as the "lead" on at least one project to pass this course. The grade breakdown is as follows:
| Peer-Reviews (given by you and your peers) | 35% |
| Participation Grade (given by instructor) | 15% |
| Research Memo #1 | 10% |
| Research Memo #2 | 15% |
| Research Memo #3 | 15% |
| External Evaluation (shared grade) | 10% |
Publicity: This class involves creating some material for public dissemination under your own name. If your writing style impedes our ability to understand your arguments or embarrasses the University your grade will suffer, so it is a good idea to have your colleagues proofread your writing. Public work performed for this class will remain available after the course ends.
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Class Policies
Class Attendance. You are expected to attend all class meetings and to be on time for class. As attendance is taken at the beginning of class, if you arrive after roll is taken this is counted as an absence. Attendance affects your participation grade.
Late work. You are responsible
for planning ahead and taking whatever steps are necessary to allow
you turn in assignments on the due dates agreed in class. Late
work will not be accepted except in documented cases
of illness or emergency (see below). Computer problems are not acceptable
as an excuse for late work: if an assignment requires use of the Internet
or unfamiliar software, allow enough time to get help if you have
problems.
Academic Integrity. The Student Code has very strict and explicit
policies prohibiting plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, and facilitating
these acts. Penalties for violations are severe, such as an automatic
failing grade in the course. These rules will be strictly enforced.
Extended illness or family emergency. If an extended illness or
family emergency makes it impossible for a student to attend to their responsibilities,
they must contact the Dean of Students,
who will notify the student's instructors. The instructor will then make any necessary
accommodations after receiving notice from the Dean.
Students with disabilities. In consultation with Division
of Rehabilitation-Education Services, all reasonable and necessary
adjustments will be made to accommodate students with disabilities.
To insure that disability-related concerns are properly addressed,
students with disabilities who require assistance to participate in
this class are asked to consult with the instructor as soon as this
need is apparent.
Required Texts
There are no required texts at the bookstore. You would normally expect to pay at least $50-100 to obtain textbooks for a class like this one. However, unlike a traditional class, the readings in this class have been donated by our distinguished panel of public service advisors, or are available online for free. Please plan to spend the same amount that you would normally spend on buying textbooks on your research projects for this class. (For example, your expenses might include photocopying, postage, or long distance telephone charges.) If this amount is a hardship and prevents you from taking this class, please contact the instructor.
Optional Texts
Schedule
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In the week beginning:
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| (01/14) |
Introduction.
Some of the Service Learning Examples mentioned in class on Monday:
Read for Wednesday:
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| (01/21) |
Monday -- No class for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Read for Wednesday:
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| (01/28) |
Read this week:
- Benkler, Y. & Lessig, L. (1998). Net Gains: Will Technology Make CBS Unconstitutional? The New Republic. Net Gains.pdf
- Benkler, Y. (1998). Overcoming Agoraphobia Harvard Journal of Law & Technology http://www.benkler.org/agoraphobia.pdf
- Undergraduates:
Skip parts IV. and V. from 42-70. Skip pp. 73-86. Skip appendix.
Resources / projects mentioned this week:
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| (02/04) |
By Monday's class meeting, please:
- Login to your blog for the first time (from the blogs page).
- After you login, change your password by clicking on your own name in the upper right corner (then click "change password").
- Post a self-assessment blog entry. That is, write a note to yourself brainstorming about what skill, expertise, experience, equipment, personal connections, or other resources you bring to this class. Here is an example.
(More help with blogging is on the blogs page.)
Read for this week:
IMPORTANT NOTE:This week's readings are on moodle, which is password protected using your Active Directory password. This is NOT your blog password for the class. If you don't have an Active Directory password, you can get one at the link above. If you are having password problems please contact the CITES Help Desk. The instructor does not control the active directory password.
- Rubenstein, R. (2007, February). Radios Get Smart. IEEE Spectrum pp. 46-50 (login to moodle to get this reading)
- Wilson, E. J. III. (2004). The Information Revolution and the Global Digital Divide. FROM: The Information Revolution and Developing Countries. Cambridge: MIT Press. pp. 299-312 ONLY. (login to moodle to get this reading)
- Streeter, T. (1996). Inside the Beltway as an Interpretive Community. FROM: Selling the Air. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 113-162. (login to moodle to get this reading)
- Undergraduates:
Read only pp. 113-120.
Resources / Projects mentioned this week:
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Project work begins.
For Monday:
First project (class-wide): In the groups we picked in class, please figure out how to build your own radio receiver in class on Monday as cheaply as possible. Bring whatever you need (tools parts) to to ensure that your group will be able to build a receiver in class and document how you did it. A list of ideas is on Christian's blog (thanks also to Jake!) but you can also look for other ideas.
For Wednesday:
Post one write up (with pictures) documenting your radio receiver effort in class. Even if your radio didn't work, it is useful to take this seriously as practice at documenting a project. (After all, some people said the problem with the Foxhole Radio was poor directions -- surely we can do better when we write up our work.) You only need one write up per group.
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Project work continues.
For Monday:
Look over the Project Sandbox (list of project ideas) covered in class last Wednesday.
- Add new project ideas that you are interested in (if any). If you know how to use a wiki, add project ideas directly at the above link. If not, post them to your blog and e-mail Christian to be sure he notices the new idea.
- Annotate the project ideas that are there, if you have additional information that is relevant. (In other words, if you have a spin-off idea or a clarification idea that is closely related to something on the list, add it as above.)
Then, look over the example resources at the link below, find three resources of your own, and add them to this wiki page:
496 Wireless Policy Resources
Further instructions are on the page itself. Click the link above to see them.
In class on Monday:
Initial Working Groups
Peer Review Rubric / Brainstorm
For class on Wednesday:
The Project Sandbox (list of project ideas) continues to evolve. Take a look and feel free to edit/annotate. Also:
Other write-ups are still in process. We agreed that they would be done by Wednesday morning. Please find them on the Blog Aggregator Page and read before class.
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Remember we agreed to indicate first project preferences by the end of Thursday 2/21. I will hopefully have the project groups sorted out on Friday 2/22. I will email about that. When you know your group...
Before class on Monday please use e-mail, phone, or an in-person meeting with your group to begin working on your project. Your first task should be:
Make a goal related to the project that is achievable in a short time. (Very short would be better. A weekend! A week! Two weeks at most.)
Then start!
In class on Monday:
Project Groups announced, meet
Proposal from Jameson
Grading
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Project work continues.
The Grading Sheet is now online (requires you to login with your netid)
Don't forget to sign up for 15 minutes of office hours ASAP!
Suggested Deadline: Aim for first output by Friday, 3/7.
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Monday: Form new project groups. Grade your team members when your first output is turned in.
Wednesday: Second Project Groups announced. Commence second projects.
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Spring Break -- No Class
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Project work continues.
Please Sign-up for office hours again if your meeting was canceled last week.
Update: To showcase our work, we agreed to hold an end-of-year presentation called "Wireless Madness" where each group leader would present a 30-second talk on their project (modeled after ACM's CHI Madness).
How do I give a 30-second presentation? See these good examples.
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Monday:
SPECIAL GUEST: Ryan Croke is a Policy Advisor in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois, where he works on the Governor's Broadband Deployment Council and on other efforts to improve the cost, speed, and availability of high-speed Internet service.
Related Links:
Suggested Deadline: Aim for second output by Friday, 4/4
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Project work continues.
Wednesday:
SPECIAL GUEST: Ben Scott is the Policy Director for Free Press, a national nonpartisan organization working to increase informed public participation in crucial media policy debates. He previously worked as a telecommunications fellow in the office of Rep. Bernie Sanders in the U.S. House of Representatives, and previously co-edited the books Our Unfree Press and The Future of Media. He is based in Washington, D.C.
Related Links:
Optional Special Event:
Thursday, April 10, 2:45-4pm, Illini Union
A panel of students who have participated in service-learning courses on campus will address the question: "How does service-learning off-campus affect the campus climate at UIUC?"
(This panel is part of the conference on Race, Diversity, and Campus Climate.) This event is free and open to the public.
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Project work continues.
Wednesday:
SPECIAL GUEST: Dr. J. H. Snider is a public interest researcher in the area of wireless policy and authored Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick: How Local TV Broadcasters Exert Political Power. His op-eds have appeared in the Washington Post, USA Today, and The Atlantic Monthly. He previously served on the staffs of Sen. Wyden and Sen. Leahy in the U.S. Senate.
Related Links:
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| (04/21) |
Project work continues.
Monday:
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Monday's class meets in 314 Altgeld Hall and not in our usual room!
broadCAST Madness:
Service Learning Projects in Wireless Policy
3:30-5:50 p.m. (our normal class meeting time), Monday, April 21
Free Pizza and Drinks
Open to the Public
Each class member must e-mail PowerPoint slides to the instructor (by 4/18) and be prepared to present for 60 seconds about each project they are leading. Presentations will follow the order (and be given the titles from) the Master Projects List.
Printable Flyer in PDF format (please distribute!):
broadCAST MADNESS flyer.pdf
Wednesday:
TWO SPECIAL GUESTS:
Greg DePriest is Vice President for Technology Policy at NBC Universal, where he works on spectrum policy and other technology issues. Before joining NBC, he directed digital television development efforts at Toshiba for twelve years. He also previously led the technical group at the Federal Communications Commission responsible for all technical rules related to broadcasting.
Enrique Armijo is an attorney in the Media and Communications group of Covington & Burling, a law firm that has represented Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, eBay, Amazon.com, and the National Association of Broadcasters on spectrum auctions and other matters. Armijo also practices in international freedom of expression and development, and has advised the governments of Iraq, East Timor, Rwanda and Jordan.
Related Links:
- From Enrique:
Pleading of Frontline Wireless in the initial 700MHz auction proceeding (large file! PDF, ~500K) [see esp. pp. 26-49 on public safety --CS]
Suggested Deadline: Aim for third output by Friday, 4/25
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Project work continues.
Monday:
SPECIAL GUEST:
Matt Adams has worked as a professional artist for 16 years. He is co-founder of Blast Theory, a group of artists based in London that pioneered the use of new wireless media technologies in performances. The group's work is known for combining mobile devices, games, and virtual environments, for which they won the Golden Nica for Interactive Art at Prix Ars Electronica 2003 (and received honorable mention in 2007).
Related Links:
Wednesday:
SPECIAL GUEST:
Dr. Nalini Kotamraju is a Researcher at Sun Microsystems studying technology use and the development of new mobile phone applications. Her previous work has examined mobile wireless technology and the cultural worlds of young people and the early use of the pager in the US. She is also the author of the comprehensive bibliography of Mobile Devices/SMS/Instant Messaging Social Science Research.
Related Links:
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| (05/05) |
This class does not have an in-class final exam. It does not meet during finals week. However, as a take-home final you can revise your project output until the official end of class -- the end of our scheduled final exam time.
Our class officially ends on Friday, 5/2/08 at 1:30 p.m..
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Acknowledgements
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Special thanks to Phil Howard, Ann Bishop, and Paul Adams for suggestions
regarding the design of this class. Many thanks to the distinguished
panel of public service advisors for their donations of time and ideas that
made this course possible.
Image Credits: From top: (1) A portion of a conceptual diagram from the pioneering
1964 RAND Memorandum "On
Distributed Communications" by Paul Baran. (2) A portion of the ARPANET as
planned c. 1980, from
ARPANET Completion Report:
Heart, F., McKenzie, A., McQuillian, J., and Walden, D., (January 4, 1978). Bolt, Beranek and
Newman: Burlington, MA. (3) A portion of the Linux kernel dealing with networking,
visualized using the
BCG/OSDN KernelMapper.
This map is from the 2.4.0 kernel (released in 2001).
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This Web page is the syllabus for this course.
