CS3SC17-Social, Legal and Ethical Aspects of Computing

Module Provider: Computer Science
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Pat Parslow
Email: p.parslow@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides students with a sound grounding in a range of social, legal, ethical and professional (SLEP) issues that might arise in their possible roles as working in technology related disciplines.

Aims:

• To provide students with the basic SLEP background to develop their professional role in the workplace, beyond simply performing technical tasks assigned to them.


• To encourage students to consider the impacts that technologies they are developing and using could have on individuals, local, global and business communities as well as the wider world around them.

This module also encourages students to develop a set of professional skills, such as diversity, global awareness, self-reflection, team working, creativity, organisation and time-management and personal development planning.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Understand the impact that new technologies have on individuals, businesses, communities and globally;


• Present compelling arguments about the social impact of new technological developments;


• Understand the legal and ethical implications of providing a service or product;


• Understand the legal and ethical issues of holding and using data.

Additional outcomes:

Explore the use of social media and impacts of instantaneous global communication, bots and analysis of profiles and activity.

Outline content:

The social impact of technological change will be taught using interactive lectures, presenting a topic to the class and giving a starting point from which the students can give their own ideas and reasoned arguments. Encouragement will be given for students to continue these discussions outside lectures both in person and using online discussion tools such as Blackboard.

Assignments (requiring self-directed research) will support the aims of the module, in the form of ass essment for learning.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The social impact of technological change will be taught using interactive lectures, presenting a topic to the class and giving a starting point from which the students can give their own ideas and reasoned arguments. Encouragement will be given for students to continue these discussions outside lectures both in person and using online discussion tools such as Blackboard. 

Assignments (requiring self-directed research) will support the aims of the module, in the form of asses sment for learning.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10
Seminars	5
Guided independent study:	85
Total hours by term	100
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	70
Set exercise	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Essay:

Individual draft reports and overall team report providing comparative study of SLEP issues (60%)

Essay:

Individual Reflections (10%)

Online tests:

Online test on legal issues (15%)

Online test on ethics (15%)

Formative assessment methods:

All the assessments are both formative and summative, with students exploring the subject to fulfil a coursework specification, developing their knowledge in the process.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

One individual report (100%)

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 29 July 2021