Welcome to the Spring 2005 session of Grinnell College's TEC 154,
The Evolution of Technology, which is described briefly
in the official blurb and the
unofficial goals distributed by
faculty who previously taught this course.
My own take on the class is that we will consider the nature and effect
of technology from several perspectives. Rather than simply considering
a history of technology, we will instead reflect on a small number of
technologies, their design, their context, and their impact. To help us
reflect, we will rely on a number of guest lecturers from across campus.
In an attempt to provide up-to-date information, and to spare a few
trees, I am making this as much of a paperless
course as I can.
Hence, materials will be in a course web, available at http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/~rebelsky/Courses/TEC154/2005S/.
Meets: MWF 8:00-8:50, Science 1021 (I drop my children at school right before class, so some classes may start a few minutes late.)
Instructor:
Samuel A. Rebelsky
(rebelsky@grinnell.edu),
Science 2427. Office hours: MWTh 1:15-2:05, Th 10:00-10:50.
I also tend to follow an open door policy: Feel
free to stop by when my door is open or to make an appointment for
another time. Check my
schedule
for more details.
- Class participation (10%)
- Questions and comments on readings (10%)
- Edits of classmates' papers (10%)
- Final paper about a technology not covered in class (20%)
- Midterm (25%)
- Final (25%)
My experience shows that students
who turn in work late learn significantly less than students who turn
material in on time. (I'm not sure about cause and effect.) Hence,
I strongly discourage late assignments. Unless prior arrangements have
been made, assignments are due within five minutes of the start of class.
After that they are considered late. Late assignments are penalized
one letter grade per day late (or fraction thereof).
Throughout the term, I may suggest forms of extra credit.
I have copies of these books available for loan. (I purchased them from
last year's students.) I would appreciate a loan fee
of $20.00,
but if you find that fee difficult, you need not pay it.
- Norman, Donald A. (2002). The Design of Everyday Things. Basic Books.
- A classic reflection on the way in which things are designed and how those designs effect the way in which we use the things.
- Petroski, Henry (1992). The Evolution of Useful Things. Vintage.
- An engineer's reflections on how technology evolves. Emphasizes the role of failure in successful technology.
- Rebelsky, Samuel (2005). The TEC154 2005S Course Web.
- The hypertext that you are currently reading.
- Teich, Albert H., Ed. (2002). Technology and the Future, 9th ed. Wadsworth.
- A broad range of articles on technology.
We will also rely on a number of articles.
Tuesday, 18 January 2005 [Samuel A. Rebelsky]
- Created, based on a similar document from the previous class.
;
Check with Bobby