MSC3001 Professional Issues in Science and Technology

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

Computer Scientists, Mathematicians and Statisticians, as practising professionals, need to be aware of issues wider than their mere theoretical and practical knowledge. For example, knowledge of local and global legislation (environmental requirements, Cyber crime, health and safety, etc) which affects their work; an understanding of industrial relations, and responsibility to the profession. Professionals also have to work in a responsible and effective manner in conjunction with their colleagues both from similar and from dissimilar disciplines or backgrounds. The challenge of working effectively with others in the workplace is considerable and in many cases this aspect of workplace practice will prove critical to a person's effectiveness.

SYNOPSIS

This course explores key contemporary professional issues for practising ICT professionals, mathematicians, and statisticians. The course relates the profession with the society by highlighting the social implications of current technology and globalisation. Assumptions and values are identified to make and evaluate ethical arguments. Students will learn about standards of ethical and professional behaviour, risks and liabilities of computer-based systems, and computer crime. Intellectual property, privacy, civil liberties, career and project management issues in computing will be considered. Access to the Internet is required.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. describe social implications of ICT, Mathematics and Statistics (Exam);
2. explain globalization issues (Exam);
3. describe techniques of effective career management (Exam);
4. explain the functions of and roles in different workplace organisations (Exam);
5. discuss important issues in professional application of ICT, Mathematics and Statistics in any local or international workplace (Assignment 2);
6. identify ethical issues in private and public sectors (Assignment 2);
7. relate law to computer crime (Assignment 3);
8. explain safety issues in the workplace (Exam);
9. describe issues related to taking personal and community responsibility in the workplace (Exam);
10. describe issues related to the protection and respect of privacy (Assignment 3);
11. apply Professional Codes of ethics and conduct (Assignment 2);
12. avoid risks during the practice of the profession (Exam);
13. identify implications of technological advances on the society (Exam);
14. explain the issues of project management in computing (Exam).

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Website of the course is available at: http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/moodle

Tavani, HT 2007, Ethics and technology: ethical issues in an age of information and communication technology, John Wiley & Sons Inc, Hoboken, NJ.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

http://onlineethics.org/

Information Technology Professionals Association (Available: http://www.itpa.asn.au/).

Australian Computer Society (Available: http://www.acs.org.au/index.cfm).

ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (Available: http://www.acm.org/constitution/code.html).

Bott, F, Coleman, A, Eaton, J & Rowland, D 2001, Professional issues in software engineering, 3rd edn, Taylor & Francis, London.
(Available electronically on library catalogue via ebrary)

Loader, B & Thomas, D (eds) 2000, Cybercrime: law enforcement, security and surveillance in the information age, Routledge, London.

Murch, R 2001, Project management: best practices for IT professionals, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Northcutt, S 2004, IT ethics handbook: right and wrong for IT professionals, Syngress, Rockland, MA.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Examination dates will become available during the semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the student's responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   Students whose first language is not English, may, with the Examiner's approval, take an appropriate non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Students who wish to use a translation dictionary MUST request and receive written approval from the Examiner at least one week before the examination date. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the examination period at the end of the semester for the next offering of this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 4 Jul 2008.