The main topics for the beginning of this course has been ethics, superpowers, and hackers. From our discussions in class, it is clear that our beliefs and principles and how we view ourselves affect our decisions and our approach to ethical and moral issues. For this first project, you are to work in groups of 2-4 on one of the following options:
Develop a Code of Ethics
Compose a Manifesto and a formulate a Portrait of the Notre Dame Computer Science and Engineering student.
Describe your computing superpower and illustrate your origin story.
After each construction a group artifact, you are to write an
individual reflection regarding the option you chose. These
individual reflections should follow the same guidelines as normal
reading blog posts and should be around 300 - 600 words.
The first option is to write a Code of Ethics for Notre Dame Computer Science and Engineering students. You may model it off of the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct or the IEEE Code of Ethics but your Code should contain original language and thoughts geared toward our student population.
Some things to consider:
What does it mean to be a Notre Dame student and how does this affect your approach to Computer Science?
As discussed in class, some of the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct are ambiguous or unclear. Strive to ensure that your language is as clear as possible and provides actionable imperatives.
Likewise, the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is somewhat dated and doesn't necessarily reflect some recent advances. What emerging technologies need to be addressed by your code?
Your new Code of Ethics can either be a nicely formatted blog post or a PDF file.
Here are some projects from last year: 1, 2, 3
Once you have the Code of Ethics, each group member write a blog post that reflects on the project:
Provide a summary of the highlights of the new Code of Ethics and why you think those components are imporant.
No document is perfect. Are there weaknesses? What are they and why are they present? How can they be addressed?
Is a Code of Ethics really that useful? Was the enumeration of your principles and beliefs a beneficial exercise? Explain.
The second option is to write both a Manifesto in the spirit of The Conscience of a Hacker and a Portrait similar to A Portrait of J. Random Hacker. In this case, however, you are to describe what it means to be Notre Dame Computer Science and Engineering student. What is the ethos, the culture, the common attributes, and general spirit of your class?
Some things to consider:
A Manifesto is bold and emotional. It should evoke feelings.
The Portrait doesn't need to be comprehensive, but it should should try to capture the characteristics of a typical Notre Dame Computer Science and Engineering student:
Your Manifesto and Portrait can either be a nicely formatted blog post or a PDF file.
Here are some examples from last semester: 1, 2, 3
Once you have the Manifesto and Portrait, each group member write a blog post that reflects on the project:
How much does the Manifesto reflect your individual feelings and thoughts? Is it a warcry? What is it?
How much do you identify with the Portrait? Where do you differ?
How significant are stereotypes to how you view the world and how the world views you? Do you think the presence of a Manifesto or Portrait is helpful or harmful?
The final option is to write your comic book biography: a description of your computing superpower, an illustrated (ie. contains multimedia such as audio, images, or videos) explanation of your how you came to acquire these powers, and a reflection on how you plan on using these powers.
Some things to consider:
Your computing superpower should be something you are good at. Are your a design wizard? Network guru? Debugging ninja? What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? Do you have a nemesis?
Describe one epic battle you faced at Notre Dame and how you used your powers to triumph.
Your origin story should describe how you came to Computer Science. What drew you to it and what encourage you to stay with it? Is that draw still there, or are you moving in a different direction?
Describe what Computer Science means to you and what role it plans in your life.
Your reflection should discuss how you plan on using your power. Are you a hero? A villain? Perhaps an anti-hero? Do you see your power growing? How will you use it as you enter the "real world"?
Describe your plans, goals, and ambitions.
Here are some examples from last semester: 1, 2, 3
Because the biographies consist mainly of individual elements and reflection, no further work is required.
Your project is due at noon, Saturday, February 3. Individual reflections should be posted to each student's blog, while the group artifact should be put on a student's blog or a storage site such as Google Drive.
To submit your project, one group member should fill out the following form
Your group artifact will be graded on how well your group addresses the chosen prompt and the quality of the presentation, while your individual reflection will be graded based on the same criteria used for reading assignments.