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Communication Studies (CMNS) 321
Computing in Everyday Life (Revision 4)

Revision 4 closed, replaced by current version.

View previous syllabus.

Delivery mode: Individualized study online.
Video component.*
*Overseas students, please contact the University Library before registering in a course that has an audio/visual component.

Credits: 3 - Social Science.

Prerequisite: None.

Centre: Centre for State and Legal Studies

CMNS 321 has a Challenge for Credit option.

Télé-université du Québec equivalency: COM 3003.

Course website

Overview

Computing in Everyday Life surveys the psychological and sociological impacts of the growth of computers. The first four units form the core of the course: Overview; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Virtual Reality (VR) and Robotics; and The Internet. The next four units consider some of the applications of computing that we use in our daily lives.

Outline

Core Units

  • Unit 1: Overview
  • Unit 2: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Unit 3: Virtual Reality (VR) and Robotics
  • Unit 4: The Internet

Application Units

  • Unit 5: Cellphones
  • Unit 6: Augmented Reality: Portability, Accessibility, and Wearability
  • Unit 7: Video Games
  • Unit 8: Health Information and Disabilities: Computer Applications
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Evaluation

To receive credit for CMNS 321 is based on the grades you achieve on five online postings and five assignments. You must achieve a minimum composite course grade of "D" (50 percent). The chart below summarizes the course activities and the credit weight associated with each.

Assignment #1: Online discussion
(5 posts at 5% each)		 Assignment #2: Experiential/Academic Reports
(5 reports at 10% each)		 Final Exam Total
25% 50% 25% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Annual Editions: Computers in Society 2006/2007. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill, 2007.

Other materials

The course materials also include a study guide, and a student manual.

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