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Internet and Society: Technologies and Politics of Control

LSTU E–120 - Harvard Extension School - Spring 2010 - Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 pm EST

Berkman Center for Internet and Society - 23 Everett Street - Conference room, 2nd floor

The Internet has taken on an ever-widening role not only in the production and sharing of information, but also in the political, social, and economic processes of everyday life around the world. The Net has been heralded by many as nothing less than a means of fundamentally transforming our world into one that is more just, more democratic, and more affluent, while redrawing the boundaries of political and economic power. However, the frontierism of the early Internet provoked regulatory responses, followed by various attempts to develop collective control via emergent structure. This course asks: what now is the balance between these forces, and what, if anything, should be done? continued...

Course Information: Overview of Assignments Class Participation Grading Statement on Plagiarism Course FAQ

Assignments & Projects: Assignments Final Project Class introduction

Resources: Recorded class videos Powerpoint Slides from Class How to edit a wiki

External: Upcoming Events In the news

People: Staff Contact Info List of User Profiles

During Class (Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 pm EST)

• Live Quicktime stream during class (open this URL in Quicktime Player):
  
  • rtsp://harmony.law.harvard.edu/ptc.sdp
    
  • The best option is generally to copy this URL into QuickTime Player
  • You can also watch via http (http://harmony.law.harvard.edu/ptc.sdp). This is typically not as clear.

• Question Tool (pick "InternetSociety2010") Direct URL

• You may also IM to Colin/Rob/Tim/Seth directly via gtalk (or jabber): lstu.e120@gmail.com

Participating Asynchronously

• You can add your thoughts to the Question Tool even after class is over; we will leave up the discussions from class for the entire week following. Direct URL
• Online Office Hours with the TAs TBD

Syllabus at a glance:

Jan 26	Politics and Technology of Control: Introduction
Feb 2	Frameworks For Studying The Web
Feb 9	New Economic Models	(Assignment 1 due)
Feb 16	Peer Production and Collaboration
Feb 23	Collective Action and Decision-making	(Assignment 2 due)
Mar 2	New and Old Media, Participation, and Information
Mar 9	Regulating Speech Online	(Assignment 3 due)
Mar 23	Internet Infrastructure and Regulation
Mar 30	Copyright in Cyberspace
Apr 6	Control and Code: Privacy Online
Apr 13	Internet and Democracy
Apr 20	Internet and Democracy: The Sequel
Apr 27	Digital Natives and Internet Culture
May 4	New Opportunities for Education
May 11	Final Project due (no class)