January 17

What’s legal and what’s ethical?
Introduction to problems of ethical and legal decision-making in a computer science context.
Background of the U.S. legal system
Examples of real-life situations, including some current US Supreme Court cases
Handout: Supreme Court current oral argument schedule
Discussion of expectations from the course

Assignment: due the following week: Read Chapters 1-3 of text. Scan newspapers, internet for relevant news. Be prepared to discuss in class.

January 24

Sources of legal and ethical principles and codes, legal cases
Guest speaker: Clarissa Ihssen, American University Library

Assignment due the following week: From Chapter 1 of the text discuss assigned questions in approximately 200 words using Word, double-spaced, keeping in mind principles learned in your W1 course. Email with Word attachment to mgray@american.edu before 8 a.m. Tuesday, January 31. Be certain that your name is on the attachment. Be prepared to discuss in class. In general be alert for news reports pnline or in the press of developments relevant to ethical and legal issues. Share your discoveries with the class.

January 31

Discussion of procedures in conducting and reporting of legal cases.

Assignment due the following week: Brief (approximately 300 words) discussion of an assigned case, including basic principles, history and any follow up. Email before 8 a.m. February 7 to mgray@american.edu Read Barger, chapters 6 -10, and be prepared to discuss in class.

February 7

Discussion of group projects
Ethical principles. Codes of ethics of professional societies, educational institution

Assignment due the following week: Review and compare the code of ethics of an organization relevant to your interests or work. Email reference and summary (approximately 200 words)) of at least one code before 8 a.m. February 14. Read Barger, chapters 16 and 17 and be prepared to discuss.

February 14

What is speech? Underlying legal and ethical concepts.
What is special about computers?
The First Amendment – press, activity – violence, libel and slander, harassment, sexually explicit material, harm to minors
Network neutrality – pending legislation

Assignment due in two weeks (February 28, 8 a.m.): An opinion piece (approximating 300 words) concerning “Twitter”: history. current status, comparisons, ethical and legal concerns Handout

February 21

Discussion of projects, assignment to groups.
The regulation of speech, proposed legislation

Assignment due in two weeks: Examine the role of Congress and state legislatures. Be prepared to discuss. Consider possible project topics. You will be asked to write during class time on a topic to be assigned; bring your laptop with appropriate software so that you can send it to me at the end of class.

February 28

Privacy, 4th and 5th Amendments
Security
Opportunity for group discussions
Guest speaker: Dr. Nawar Shara
  Director, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Medstar
  Associate Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University
Ethical and legal dilemmas in medical research

Assignment due in two weeks (March 7, 8 a.m.): Describe a situation where ethical and legal concerns and principles might clash. How would you decide what to do? (300 words)

March 7

U.S. Constitution: To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.
What ”rights” and who owns them?
Intellectual property – patents,
Read Barger chapters 18 and 19

Assignment due in two weeks (March 21, 8 a.m.): Preliminary draft of project.