Assignments: Spring 2004

Note: The "shared readings" are articles which you have divided among your group members. Each group is responsible for all the shared readings, but each group member is only responsible for a couple of those readings during the quarter. Readings listed "for all students" are short introductions to the topic and should be read by all group members prior to the class in which the shared readings will be discussed.

Also note that assignments for the 12 credit option are arranged separately.

Wednesday 7 April: Mobile technology

Writing assignment:

• 3 hard copy pages of autobiographical writing about your own uses of electronic technologies – cell phone, pager, TV, computer, internet, cordless phone, palm pilot etc.

For all students:

• Ito, M. (2004). Mobiles and the appropriation of place. Receiver #08. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://www.receiver.vodafone.com/08/articles/index07.html. [Download PDF file: 75 kb]

Shared readings:

• Kasesniemi, E. & Rautiainen, P. (2002). Mobile culture of children and teenagers in Finland. In J. E, Katz, & M. A. Aakhus (Eds.), Perpetual Contact: Mobile communication, private talk, public performance (pp. 170-192). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  (Lark, Mary, David, Jeneé)
• Ito, M., & Okabe, D. (in process) Mobile phones, Japanese youth, and the re-placement of social contact. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://itofisher.com/mito/publications.html. [Download PDF file: 184 kb]
  (Sylvana, Scott, Cassandra, Oscar)

Saturday 17 April:

Writing assignment:

• Bring 2 pages of autobiographical writing on designated ethical principles and your sonnet using the following rhyme scheme:

  armor
  sweet
  martyr
  defeat
  
  ground
  chimes
  surround
  sublime (wildcard -- your choice)
  
  free
  burning
  ecstasy
  learn
  
  cursed
  first

Wednesday 21 April:

Writing assignment:

• Email responses to peer partner's writings to peer partner and faculty.

For all students (in preparation for Liberal Arts Forum):

• Miller, M. (2003). Teaching poor students: How to make it a prestigious, desirable career. American Educator. 27 (4), 28-37. [ www.aft.org/american_educator/winter03-04/teaching.html.]

Saturday 24 April: Computers in the classroom

For all students:

• Bushweller, K. (2001). Beyond machines. Education Week. 20 (35), 31-36. [Download PDF file: 1.4 Mb]

Shared readings:

• Schofield, J. W. (1995). Introduction. In Computers and classroom culture (pp. 1-20). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  (Leslie, Sara, Candice, ______ )
• Schofield, J. W. (1995). Computers, classrooms, and change. In Computers and classroom culture (pp. 190-228). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  (Sal, Scott, Lindsey, Jeneé)
• Stoll, C. (1999). Selections from High-tech heretic: Why computers don't belong in the classroom and other reflections by a computer contrarian (pp. xi -33). New York: Doubleday.
  (Tina, Mary, David, Gina)
• Cuban, L. (2001). Introduction: Reforming schools through technology. In Oversold and underused: Computers in the classroom (pp. 1-20). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  (Lauren, Pam, Jessi, Oscar)
• Cuban, L. (2001). High-tech schools, low-tech learning. In Oversold and underused: Computers in the classroom (pp. 68-98). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  (Sylvana, Nicole, Theresa, Mike)

Wednesday 28 April: Digital divide

For all students:

• Editorial. (2001). The new divides. Education Week. 20 (35),10-11. [Download PDF file: 1.4 Mb]
• Harwood, P. & Rainie, L. (2004). Use of the Internet in places other than home or work. Data Memo of the Pew Research Center. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=115. [Download PDF file: 160 kb]

Shared readings:

• Compaine, B., & Powell, A. C. (2001). Selections from B. Compaine (Ed.), The digital divide: Facing a crisis or creating a myth? (pp. 105-118; 309-339). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  ( ______, Sheryl, Ryan, Erin)
• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (2004). Toward equality of access: The role of public libraries in addressing the digital divide. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Libraries/. [Download PDF file: 616 kb]
  (Elby, Sara, Kinshasha, Cama)
• Ervin, K. S., & Gilmore, G. (1999). Traveling the superinformation highway: African American's perceptions and use of cyberspace technology. Journal of Black Studies. 29, 398-407. [Download PDF file: 36 kb]
  (Danielle, Kerri, Cassandra, Melissa)

Saturday 1 May: Savage inequalities

For all students, from Kozol, J. (1991). Savage Inequalities. New York: Crown Pub. [on reserve in the library]:

• Looking Backward: 1964-1991 (pp. 1-6).

Shared readings, all from Kozol, J. (1991) Savage Inequalities. New York: Crown Pub.[on reserve in the library]:

• Life on the Mississippi (pp. 7-39).
  (Danielle, ______, ______, Mike)
• Other people's children (pp. 40-82).
  ( ______, Sheryl, Teresa, Cama)
• The savage inequalities of public education in New York (pp. 83-132).
  (Jamie, Daniel, Ryan, Erin)
• Children of the city invincible (pp. 133-174).
  (Sal, Daniel, Jessi, ______ )
• The equality of innocence (pp. 175-205).
  (Leslie, Chris, Sary, ______ )
• The dream deferred, again, in San Antonio (pp. 206-234).
  ( ______, Lydia, Selam, Kelly)

Wednesday 5 May: Media effects on children and culture

Writing assignment

• Bring 5 pages of historical/cultural essay about designated ethical principles.

For all students:

• Wartella, E. A., Lee, J. H., & Caplovitz, A. G. (2002). Selection from Children and Interactive Media (pp. 1-6). Research Compendium Update of the Markle Foundation. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://www.markle.org/news/_news_IMCresearch.stm. [Download PDF file: 440 kb]
• Hochman, D. (2004, March 14). In searching we trust.New York Times. [Download PDF file: 52 kb]

Shared readings:

• Subrahmanyam, K., Greenfield, P. M., Kraut, R., & Gross, E. (2002). The impact of computer use on children's and adolescents' development. In S. L. Calvert, A. B. Jordan, & R. R. Cocking (Eds.), Children in the digital age: Influences of electronic media on development (pp. 3-27). Westport, CT: Praeger.
  (Lauren, Pam, Selam, Gina)
• Borzekowski, D. L. G. & Rickert, V. I. (2002). Adolescents, the Internet, and health: Issues of access and content. In S. L. Calvert, A. B. Jordan, & R. R. Cocking (Eds.), Children in the digital age: Influences of electronic media on development (pp. 71-82). Westport, CT: Praeger.
  (Lark, Nicole, Sary, Kelly)
• Anderson, C. A. (2002). Violent video games and agressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In S. L. Calvert, A. B. Jordan, & R. R. Cocking (Eds.), Children in the digital age: Influences of electronic media on development (pp. 101-119). Westport, CT: Praeger.
  (Elby, Kerri, Candice, Melissa)
• Ito, M. (2004). Technologies of the childhood imagination: Media mixes, hypersociality, and recombinant cultural form.Items and Issues. 4 ( 4). Social Science Research Council. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://www.ssrc.org/publications/. [Download PDF file: 180 kb]
  (Jamie, Lydia, Kinshasha, ______ )
• Bowker, G. C. (2004). The past and the Internet.Items and Issues. 4 ( 4). Social Science Research Council. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://www.ssrc.org/publications/. [Download PDF file: 272 kb]
  (Tina, Chris, Lindsey, ______ )

Saturday 8 May: (No class)

Writing assignment:

• Email (to both peer partner and faculty) responses to peer partner's writings.

Wednesday 12 May:

Writing assignments:

• Bring two newspaper articles which represent your values at work in the local community.
• Internet sound and image links on Brown vs. Board of Education, "separate" and "equal."

Saturday 15 May:

Driving directions to Tacoma campus: www.evergreen.edu/tacoma/driving.htm

Writing assignment:

• Email (to both peer partner and faculty) responses to peer partner's articles.

Special Due Date! -- Monday 24 May:

Writing assignment:

• First draft of encyclopedia entries to faculty and peer reviewer.

Wednesday 26 May:

Writing assignment:

• Return peer response

Saturday 5 June:

• Bring three copies of final written encyclopedia entry and Internet links.

Further reading (For those of you who just can't get enough!)

Mobile technology

• Mante, E. (2002). Korea: Personal meanings. In J. E. Katz & M. A. Aakhus (Eds.), Perpetual Contact: Mobile communication, private talk, public performance (pp. 63-79). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  Note: Contact the instructors for a copy of this.
• Mante, E. (2002). The Netherlands and the USA compared. In J. E. Katz & M. A. Aakhus (Eds.), Perpetual Contact: Mobile communication, private talk, public performance (pp. 110-125). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  Note: Contact the instructors for a copy of this.

Digital divide

• Arrison, S. (2002). Excuse me, what digital divide? ZDNet. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1107-858660.html.
  Note: This article is a typical example of the anti-divide argument out there. Take a moment to evaluate the source and theorize about the agenda being pushed by the author.

• Further articles from Education Week. May 10, 2001. 20 (35):

  • Dividing lines (pp. 12-13). [Download PDF file: 388 kb]
  • Money matters (pp. 14-15). [Download PDF file: 1.0 Mb]
  • Racial disparities (pp. 16-17). [Download PDF file: 800 kb]
  • Not enough girls (pp. 18-19). [Download PDF file: 1.1 Mb]
  • Academic record (pp. 22-23). [Download PDF file: 1.1 Mb]
  • Rural connections (pp. 24-25). [Download PDF file: 2.0 Mb]
  • Special-needs gaps (pp. 26-27). [Download PDF file: 948 kb]
  • Language barriers (pp. 28-29). [Download PDF file: 1.2 Mb]

Media effects:

• Wartella, E. A., Lee, J. H., & Caplovitz, A. G. (2002) Children and Interactive Media. Research Compendium Update of the Markle Foundation. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://www.markle.org/news/_news_IMCresearch.stm. [Download PDF file: 292 kb]
• Wartella, E. A., O'Keefe, B., & Scantlin, R. (2000) Executive summary from Children and interactive media: A compendium of current research and directions for the future (pp. 1-19). Markle Foundation. Retrieved 15 Mar 2004 from http://www.markle.org/news/_news_IMCresearch.stm. [Download PDF file: 996 kb]