CM100: Introduction to Computer-Mediated Communication
Spring 2008
| Part I: HTML Basics
HTML programming in the course will limited to a pretty darn basic level of depth on the premise that one needs to learn the "how-to-do-it- well." Follow tutorials in www.htmlgoodies.com for each topic; You should also download Notetab Lite for free to use as an HTML editor at home. |
|
| Part II: The trail of internet technologies leading to
the the world wide web This section will be predominantly lecture based and provide the historical background for the technological developments that we likely take for granted now. Note: You may follow Howard Rheingold's "Accidental History of the Net" if you prefer to read the history in a single narrative. You will tested on the contextual information (including technological functions, names and dates) provided in lectures and in the links below. |
|
| Part III: A trail of ideas inspiring computer-mediated
communication and the web
These readings will provide depth on the particular theories and technologies discussed in class. |
|
| T 8 Jan | Introduction to the course: The world wide web as a communication
medium; Computer Skills Assessment Test; You need to know your UAH email address and password in order to use FTP. Please figure it out in short order, should you not you will be unable to fully participate in class. |
| R 10 Jan |
The beginning: From ARPA to FTP through the Network Working Group; In-class FTP exercise; Note: You can download FTP explorer from www.ftpx.com to use at home, or you may use the FTP explorer on the computers in the library's first floor lab. If you sign up on your home machine, make sure you sign up for the free (to students and teachers) activation code. |
| T 15 Jan | HTML formatting: Complete the HTML Primers found on htmlgoodies. |
| R 17 Jan |
Background lecture on the internet and web criticism. Origins and develoment of both. Bring information about one development in computing prior to 1970. You should have information about when it happened, what it is, and how it impacted future development of technology. I'm willing to bet you'll be asked to share this infomration with the class. Powerpoint slides for this lecture can be downloaded here. |
| T 22 Jan | Lists and Pictures: Complete the introductory tutorials on indents and lists, CSS and lists, and image formats found in the HTML primers. Bring a favorite digital picture to class. |
| R 24 Jan |
The beginning: How money, efficiency and the cold war produce ARPA, the IPTO, BBN, and the Network Working Group More rhetorical constraints of internet development: How late-nights at the university meet the ICCC conference deadline with Request for Comments, Telnet and FTP Powerpoint slides for this lecture can be downloaded here. |
| T 29 Jan | More Goodies: Complete the introductory tutorials on HR lines, page jumps, and new browser windows. |
| R 31 Jan |
Vannevar Bush' As We May Think: focus on his description of the Memex Eligible for paper |
| T 5 Feb |
Transitioning from ARPANET to the internet: Paul Baran's packet switching at RAND; Vint Cerf, Bob Kahn and the original proposal for TCP/IP (you will not be tested on this technical reading, but if you become interested in Cerf, read his interview about inventing the internet); The first killer app of the internet: Ray Tomlinson and electronic mail Powerpoint slides for this lecture can be downloaded here. |
| R 7 Feb |
Resume Homework Due: Email me the link to your completed resume Web page(s). The online resume must demonstrate all of the formatting, list, link and picture tags that we have learned. Both the site and the code will be evaluated. Be sure to format the code so that it is easy for others to read. Tables: Read the tutorials on tables. |
| T 12 Feb | J.C.R. Licklider's "The
Computer as a Communications Device;" click on "download"
to view the paper in Adobe Acrobat format; read the second essay for today
and the first essay for 6 Mar
Eligible for paper |
| R 14 Feb |
Frames: Read the frames tutorials and then join any two web pages together into a frame. Check out some background on Macromedia Dreamweaver. |
| T 19 Feb | IRC Homework due; Network explosion: Alohanet, Bitnet, Milnet, Merit, and NSFnet Internet communication technologies: USENET, IRC, and LISTSERVs Exam Review Powerpoint slides for this lecture can be downloaded here. |
| R 21 Feb |
Exam 1. You can find a review sheet here. For extra credit you can search for contradicting dates among the following internet history timelines endorsed by the Internet society. You will receive two test points for each contradiction (up to four points) not already brought to my attention by another student. |
| T 26 Feb |
Ted Nelson's brief biography and his project Xanadu: read all links on the about Xanadu page. Homework: Find from Ted Nelson's site, definitions for xanadu, docuverse, transclusion, transpointing, parallel documents, and transcopyright. Eligible for paper |
| R 28 Feb |
The development of the world wide web: Marc Andreessen at the NCSA (MOSAIC) and the commercial release of Netscape Internet communication technologies con't: MUDs, MOOs, The University of Minnesota's Gopher and Tim Berners-Lee release of the WorlDwidEweb at CERN In-class html exercise Powerpoint slides for this lecture can be downloaded here. |
| T 4 Mar |
No Class--Student Structured Workday |
| R 6 Mar |
Doug Engelbart's "Augmenting Human Intellect" and J.C.R. Licklider's "Man-Computer Symbiosis" From Engelbart read the intro and conceptual framework and then skim the recommendations, finally reading the summary and conclusions. Eligible for paper |
| T 11 Mar |
Homework: web mockup pages of a computer-mediated communications theory are due. An interview with Tim Berners-Lee and his original proposal for a global hypertext system Class discussion and review of Bush, Nelson, Licklider. |
| R 13 Mar |
The digital medium: Negroponte's Being Digital Eligible for paper |
| 17 Mar-22 Mar |
No class: Spring Break |
| T 25 Mar |
Oral Presentations--Jackie, Clay Be sure to review the description of Oral Web Reports in the assignments section of the syllabi as well as the grading criteria. Note: You must come to class even when it is not your speaking day. Students who are not presenting will receive participation points for critiquing their classmate's presentations. Should you miss any other student's presentation you will receive a 2% deduction on your grade for each presentation you miss. |
| R 27 Mar |
Oral Presentations--Shakia, Courtney Stutts, Courtney Smith, Leonard, Zach, Donna, Dax, Aaron, Audrey |
| T 1 Apr |
Doug Brent's Rhetorics of the Web: (Read all links from "Further Musings" to "Writing Hypertext") Eligible for paper |
| R 3 Apr |
Tilton and Steadman's Web Weaving, Designing and Managing an effective Web site: Focus on the fresh ideas for effective writing on the web, not on the outdated technical details. Eligible for paper |
| T 8 Apr |
No Class: Honors Day |
| R 10 Apr |
Cyberliteracy--Neuromancer through chapter 6. Reading notes can be found here. Eligible for paper |
| T 15 Apr |
Cyberliteracy--Neuromancer complete part 3. Reading notes can be found here. Eligible for paper |
| R 17 Apr |
Neuromancer--Have it finished. Reading notes can be found here. Eligible for paper Exam Review and in-class HTML work |
| T 22 Apr | Exam #2 covering the assigned reading and discussion since the first exam. |
| Final Exam T 29 Apr 11.30-2.00 | Note: Class will not meet Final Web Sites must be available by 2.00p on your UAH web space with properly formatted code. The web site address must be email to me along with the written critique before 2.00. No late work is accepted. |
| Home | Course Details | Assignments | Schedule | Tutorials |