CP373 is a course that very much differs from all the other courses we would have taken at our time here as a computer science student at Laurier. There is no programming and no theory of programming really. However, it still serves a great purpose. As it allows us the opportunities to critically think about programming in another view. Views as the user, views as a law maker, or views as a society as a whole.
Module 3: Ethical Analysis and Response was a really good topic for me because of the blog, we had to read “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”. I found this reading to be the most interesting and engaging readings out of all the readings. So it really made this topic stand out for me and I would say it was inspiring. Next I would say Module 6: Digital Surveillance because it was using Edward Snowden as the main example. The example was very interesting to read up on and made me more engaged so I could learn more on this topic so I would say this was very informative for me. Finally, Module 8: Video Games mainly because we get to talk about games which is something I already enjoy doing so it was a delight.
I would like to drop the porn topic from the course. I just think it was not really necessary in my opinion. The goal of the course can still be obtained without the need of the porn topic.
Two topics to add could be for an ethical course in computer science can be the digital divide and newer technologies. Digital divide was covered but I think making it a whole topic can be interesting and gives something for students to think about because personally I did not think about the digital divide at all. Also by newer technologies I mean a topic where we would discuss upcoming technologies and ethical impacts they could bring into the world of computers.
I think the blogging experience was nice for me. I think since it is such a different way of learning that it was engaging and interesting for me. So I would say I much prefer this blogging over traditional assignments.
The point system is new to me and I think for a course like this and how it was laid out made me come to enjoy the points system. So I would say my experience with it has been great. Not sure how this system would be applied to our regular computer science course at Laurier but maybe it would allow for people to want to do their assignments.
Overall, the course has made me enjoy reading and researching different kinds of topics again so that is a plus for me. I think regarding my future careers, it has helped in the sense that I can research more and mainly that I can view things in a much broader sense. I can see the different views and get more perspectives of things. Therefore, in my future career I think this course has helped me be more open minded regarding how to view technology.
Virackdara Chhom CP373 Blog 