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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...

Syllabus at a glance

Jan 24 Politics and Technology of Control: Introduction
Jan 31 Paradigms for Studying the Internet
Feb 7 New Economic Models (Assignment 1 due)
Feb 14 Peer Production and Collaboration
Feb 21 Collective Action and Decision-making (Assignment 2 due)
Feb 28 New and Old Media, Participation, and Information
Mar 6 Law's Role in Regulating Online Conduct and Speech
Mar 13 No class - Spring Break
Mar 20 Regulating Speech Online (Assignment 3 due)
Mar 27 Internet Infrastructure and Regulation
Apr 3 Copyright in Cyberspace
Apr 10 Control and Code: Privacy Online (Assignment 4 due)
Apr 17 Internet and Democracy
Apr 24 Internet and Democracy: The Sequel
May 1 Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare
May 8 Final Project due (no class)


Course Information:

Assignments & Projects:

Resources:

External:

People:

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

  • Attend in person at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, 23 Everett St., Second Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138 (directions)
  • Live audio/video stream available during class through Elluminate.com:
    • Our virtual classroom is located here: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2010226&password=M.A6ADC1B59710132C0FD422DAA89AEE
    • If you have trouble with Elluminate, please visit the Elluminate support website or contact one of the class TAs
    • If your are participating remotely we ask that you change your audio preferences in Elluminate to enable Mute the speaker when "talk" is pressed to prevent feedback. You can find this option by going to Tools -> Preferences, and finding Speaker Settings under Audio in the left hand options tree. Please have this box checked off. (More on how to do this here.)
    • For remote participants: to talk to the class in Cambridge during our regularly scheduled class time, please make sure to:
      • Set up and test your audio according to the instructions above
      • Raise your hand in Elluminate by clicking on the hand icon
      • Make sure that the Gain Volume next to your Talk button is at least at 60%. (You should adjust this manually if we can't hear you.)
      • When given the go ahead to talk, click the Talk button.
  • You may also IM to Rob or David directly via gtalk (or jabber): lstu.e120@gmail.com
  • You may also IM the TAs directly via gtalk (or jabber): internetsociety2011@gmail.com

Participating Asynchronously

Contact Information

  • All questions, comments, etc. should be sent to: internetsociety2011@gmail.com
    • There are no set office hours; feel free to send an email, and the TAs will respond to it as soon as they can.
  • If you need to contact an instructor or TA individually, please use their personal contact info located on the Staff Contact Info page.

Office Hours

Rebekah and Alex will be available for 15-minute calls or text chats in preparation for Assignment #4 (paper drafts).

  • Rebekah
    • Thursday March 31, 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT (also available in person at 23 Everett)
    • Tuesday, April 5, 7:30-8:30pm EDT (immediately after class; available via phone/Skype/in person at 23 Everett)
    • Saturday, April 23, 2:30-4:00pm EDT (available via phone/Skype/chat)
    • Tuesday, April 26, 7:30-8:30pm EDT (immediately after class; available via phone/Skype/in person at 23 Everett)
  • Alex
    • Monday April 4, 5:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
    • Thursday, April 7, 5-6pm EDT
    • Monday, April 25, 5:00-6:30pm EDT

Email internetsociety@gmail.com to schedule a meeting.

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