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Internet and Society: Technologies and Politics of Control

LSTU E–120 - Harvard Extension School - Spring 2011 - Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 pm EST

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

This course examines current legal, political, social, and technical struggles for control of the global Internet—and the content and relationships it conveys. The course focuses on the interaction of new technologies and services with emerging models of production, innovation, communication, learning, and civic engagement—looking at both the US and international contexts. Prerequisites: willingness to experiment with new technologies and to participate in class discussions, whether virtually or in person. (4 credits) continued...

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

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

Participating 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 "InternetSociety2011") Direct URL

• You may also IM to Rob or David 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 25	Politics and Technology of Control: Introduction
Feb 1	Paradigms for Studying the Internet
Feb 8	New Economic Models	(Assignment 1 due)
Feb 15	Peer Production and Collaboration
Feb 22	Collective Action and Decision-making	(Assignment 2 due)
Mar 1	New and Old Media, Participation, and Information
Mar 8	Law's Role in Regulating Online Conduct and Speech
Mar 15	No class - Spring Break
Mar 22	Regulating Speech Online
Mar 29	Internet Infrastructure and Regulation	(Assignment 3 due)
Apr 5	Copyright in Cyberspace
Apr 12	Control and Code: Privacy Online
Apr 19	Internet and Democracy
Apr 26	Internet and Democracy: The Sequel
May 3	Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare
May 10	Final Project due (no class)