Purpose

This course is designed to give you an introductory level of understanding of the manner in which individuals interact with one another via the network. Possession of this understanding is absolutely critical to your ability to design effective learning environments on the network. This course takes an immersion approach to helping you develop your understanding by requiring you to make extensive, reflective use of several representative interactive media. You will also read several representative pieces of writing in each area.

Required Meetings

All the requirements of the course can be completed asynchronously as per the schedule below.

Optional Chats and Socials

For those who enjoy synchronous interaction, David will be available for Office Hours in the Course Chat. For those who enjoy face to face meetings and food, during the semester we will hold three informal socials at times to be determined.

Schedule


Week
Topic
Assignment Due
1
Introduction None
2
Histories of the Internet and Social Software Hello World, Questions
3
USENET / Newsgroups Personal History, Questions
4
Cooperation / Support / Incentives Newsgroup Newbie, Questions
5
Blogs, Part the First Thread Mini-analysis, Questions
6
Blogs, Part the Second Blog Hopping, Questions
7
Fan Fiction Edublogging, Questions
8
Reputation and Trust You're the Fan, Questions
9
MUDs & MOOs Synthesis 1, Questions
10
IRC MOO, Y'all, Questions
11
Identity, Deception, & Accountability IRCed Online, Questions
12
MMOs Synthesis 2, Questions
13
MMO2 Lineage, Questions
14
Self-organization More Gaming, Questions
15
Final Synthesis OSOSS

Grading

Each week you will be required to complete the assignments listed in the table above. Assignments are due by 10:00 AM local time (10:00 AM Logan, UT time).

Late work will be penalized accordingly to my completely subjective, mood-biased feeling. Please do not submit work late without making arrangements in signficant advance of the due date (3 hours is not signficant advance). I will, of course, be understanding of true emergencies. However, problems relating to procrastination ("I finished 25 minutes before the deadline, but couldn't get connected to the Internet!") will not be treated as true emergencies.

Design and Development Credits

The Credits file names individuals who have made significant contributions to the design and development of the course. It also contains links to similar online courses whose structure, readings, and assignmnets are openly accessible and were very helpful in the design of the course.