You are on page 1of 7

295H Honors Colloquium (Privacy)

Fall 2016
Wednesdays and Fridays
Wednesdays from Oct 19 to Nov 16
Fox Theatre Downtown Tucson
6:30-8:00 PM
Fridays from Oct 14 to Dec 2
Slonaker 219
10:00-10:50 AM
Instructor: Dr. Victor Braitberg
Office Hours : Mondays 2-3PM
Honors West
Room 10
819 East 1st Street
Room 211, 1027 E 2nd Street
Email: victorb@email.arizona.edu
Office: 621-0175
Mondays 6:00-7:00PM
Arbol de la Vida
And by appointment.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This one credit colloquium is structured around the UA College of Social and Behavioral
Sciences Conversations on Privacy lecture series. The lecture series examines a wide
range of issues pertaining to the state of privacy in our society and how it is being
transformed by new economic conditions, technologies, social relationships, and cultural
values. Topics range from the role of technology in shaping young peoples
relationships online and the politics of reputation to the privacy risks created by ehealth and the future of Democracy in an age of mass surveillance.
Students and the instructor will attend the Wednesday lectures at the Fox Theatre and
on Fridays we will take up the issues that were discussed in student-led seminar-style
discussions. The aim of our discussions will be to review our understanding of the
positions that were presented in the lectures and to critically evaluate them.

TICKETS FOR LECTURE SERIES


Beginning Wednesday, Oct 19 @ 6:30PM we will be meeting as a class at the Fox
Theater located in Downtown Tucson for the SBS Downtown Lecture Series on Privacy.
We will attend a total of five lectures. The dates for these are Oct 19, 26; Nov 2, 9, and
16. They all begin at 6:30 and end at 8PM.
Admission is free but they require that you obtain a ticket either online or at
the door. For further details shttp://sbsdowntown.arizona.edu/
ARTICLES AND BOOK CHAPTERS
All required and recommended articles and book chapters will be made available
through the D2L course site.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Identify and describe the defining features of privacy.
2. Identify and describe the sociocultural and historical dimensions of privacy.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Increased understanding of the historical, social, and cultural contexts for the
development of privacy.
2. Increased understanding of the ethical, political, economic, and sociocultural
dimensions of privacy.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
The following methods will be used to explore course topics:
Out of class lectures
Class discussions
GRADES
Attendance
Writing
Participation

300 pts | 30%


400 pts | 40%
300 pts | 30%

A = (100-90)
B = (89-80)
C = (79-70)
D = (69-60)
F = (below 59)
Total: 100pts

COURSE ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENT


Attendance
(35pts/35%)
This will be graded on the basis of pass/fail.
2

You can miss one of the SBS Conversations on Privacy.


You can miss two of our class meetings.
Missing more than the above will result in losing all points for attendance.
Attendance will be taken in class and at the Fox Theatre.
Writing
(35pts/35%)
Writing for this class will involve summarizing and responding to the main point(s) that
were made in the conversations held at the Fox Theatre and/or the assigned readings
(there are two assigned readings).
Your responses will be posted to the assignments section of our d2l site and should be
between 300-500 words, MS Word format.
They will be due Thursdays @ 11:59PM
Your summaries will be evaluated according to the following criteria 1) Following formatting
directions, 2) accuracy of your summary of the article and/or what was discussed at the Fox
Theatre 3) clarity of expression (correct grammar and usage of words, easy to follow and
understand), and 4) substance (absence of generalizations and vague statements, specific
examples).

Participation
(30pts/30%)
Each week one or two students will lead class discussion. You will each receive the same
grade if you present as a pair. You will be evaluated according to the following criteria.
1. Have you clearly and accurately summarized the issue(s) regarding privacy from
the lectures and/or the assigned reading for the week?
2. Have your questions stimulated a lively and engaged class discussion that is
clearly relevant to the issue(s) raised by the lectures and/or the reading?
EXTRA CREDIT
You can submit a question to the panels via Twitter in advance for their consideration
You will receive 5 points for the question you submit (limit one question per
conversation).
You will receive an additional 5pts if the conversation hosts select your question to
address in the course of the conversation.
Organizers of the lecture series will be using the following hashtags:
#kidsonlie
#fameshame
#dataprivacy
#healthprivacy
#govwatch
3

Note that they will cut off the questions at 5:00pm on the Monday before the
Wednesday lecture.
COURSE CONDUCT AND CAMPUS POLICIES (BE FAMILIAR WITH ALL CAMPUS
POLICIES)
Grade Policies
Requests for incomplete (I) or withdrawal (W) must be made in accordance with University
policies, which are available at http://catalog.arizona.edu/policy/grades-and-gradingsystem#incomplete and http://catalog.arizona.edu/policy/grades-and-gradingsystem#Withdrawal respectively.

Absence and Class Participation Policy


The UAs policy concerning Class Attendance, Participation, and Administrative Drops is available
at: http://catalog.arizona.edu/policy/class-attendance-participation-and-administrative-drop
The UA policy regarding absences for any sincerely held religious belief, observance or practice
will be accommodated where reasonable, http://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources/religiousaccommodation-policy.
Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean Designee) will be honored. See:
https://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/absences

Accessibility and Accommodations


Our goal in this classroom is that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you
anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please let me know
immediately so that we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact the Disability
Resource Center (520-621-3268) to establish reasonable accommodations. For additional
information on the Disability Resource Center and reasonable accommodations, please visit
http://drc.arizona.edu.
If you have reasonable accommodations, please plan to meet with me by appointment or during
office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may
impact your ability to fully participate.
Please be aware that the accessible table and chairs in this room should remain available for
students who find that standard classroom seating is not usable.

Code of Academic Integrity


Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and
applications of course materials. However, graded work/exercises must be the product of
independent effort unless otherwise instructed. Students are expected to adhere to the UA Code
of Academic Integrity as described in the UA General Catalog. See:
http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/academic-integrity/students/academic-integrity.

Threatening Behavior Policy


The UA Threatening Behavior by Students Policy prohibits threats of physical harm to any
member of the University community, including to oneself. See
http://policy.arizona.edu/education-and-student-affairs/threatening-behavior-students.

Accessibility and Accommodations


4

Our goal in this classroom is that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you
anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please let me know
immediately so that we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact the Disability
Resource Center (520-621-3268) to establish reasonable accommodations. For additional
information on the Disability Resource Center and reasonable accommodations, please visit
http://drc.arizona.edu.

Code of Academic Integrity


Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and
applications of course materials. However, graded work/exercises must be the product of
independent effort unless otherwise instructed. Students are expected to adhere to the UA Code
of Academic Integrity as described in the UA General Catalog. See:
http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/academic-integrity/students/academic-integrity.

UA Nondiscrimination and Anti-harassment Policy


The University is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of discrimination;
see http://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources/nondiscrimination-and-anti-harassment-policy

Information contained in the course syllabus, other than the grade and absence
policy, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the
instructor.

COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1|

Oct 14 Introduction to Course


Read by Week 2: Daniel Solove, The Value of Privacy Ch. 4 from
Understanding Privacy (2008) Harvard University Press.
RESPONSE DUE BY 11:59PM THURSDAY OCT 20
UPLOAD TO D2L

NOTE THAT FOR WEEK 2 YOU WILL BE SUMMARIZING AND


RESPONDING TO THE SOLOVE READING AND WEDNESDAYS
CONVERSATION AT THE FOX.
Week 2|

Oct 19-21 Relationships and Privacy in a World of Tinder,


Twitter and Hello Barbie
From baby photos posted on grandmas Facebook page to Snapchat
selfies, todays children and teens are growing up publicly
online. The unprecedented rise of virtual interactions and access to
digital information raises concerns about how new technology is
influencing young people and their relationships with peers, loved
ones, and the world at large. How is the first digital generation
managing their online identity and interactions and how will they
redefine privacy"? How is the digital divide influencing the way kids
and parents communicate? What can families, schools,
5

communities, and kids do to ensure safe and fulfilling interactions in


an online world?
RESPONSE DUE BY 11:59PM THURSDAY OCT 20
UPLOAD TO D2L
Week 3|

Oct 26-28 Fame and Shame in the Digital Age


In the digital world, we leave a trail of photos, videos, conversations,
and other information that can be easily obtained and posted online
for everyone to see forever. For journalists trying to hold
governments and corporations accountable, this information can be
helpful in exposing wrongdoing. For private citizens and celebrities,
however, the online publication of personal information can be
devastating. In the complicated information age, how do we balance
the publics right to know with the individuals right to privacy?
RESPONSE DUE BY 11:59PM THURSDAY OCT 27
UPLOAD TO D2L

Week 4|

Nov 2-4 What Are We Willing To Give?


Companies collect information from customers to provide
customized services and stay competitive. Customers too can find
high value in exchanging their information for personalized services.
But is the data market always a win-win situation? What are the
trade-offs you make when you pay for services with personal
information? In this conversation, we will shed light on the hidden
privacy challenges that new technology-based services bring about.
We will also delve into the future of corporate data collection and
digital advertising, including facial recognition technology, mobile
location analysis, and the internet of things.
RESPONSE DUE BY 11:59PM THURSDAY NOV 3
UPLOAD TO D2L

Week 5|

Nov 9-11 Wearing Your Doctor on Your Wrist


Your medical tests, mobile health apps, and wearable devices (like
fitbits) produce data that reveal insights into your health and
behavior. What happens to that data? This conversation will reveal
how new and emerging technologies, such as personal wearable
devices that can collect and transfer information on your wellbeing,
are changing public health, the practice of medicine, and
employment and insurance now and in the future. We will highlight
the biggest risks to your privacy and meaningful ways to
maintain control over your personal information without losing the
health benefits of the digital revolution.
RESPONSE DUE BY 11:59PM THURSDAY NOV 10
UPLOAD TO D2L
6

Week 6|

Nov 16-18 Finding the Right Balance for Democracy


Through our phones and other personal devices, governments have
an unprecedented ability to collect data on our whereabouts,
conversations, habits, purchases, and connections. Many are
concerned that this new level of surveillance will impede free
speech and the ability of social movements to organize. At the same
time, however, illegal groups and networks use these same devices
to organize, recruit, and do harm. Surveillance of these dark
networks can do much to protect society at large. This
conversation grapples with how a democratic society strives to
achieve an acceptable tradeoff between individual privacy rights,
the rights of free speech, and national security.
RESPONSE DUE BY 11:59PM THURSDAY NOV 17
UPLOAD TO D2L

Week 7|

Dec 2 Rethinking Privacy


Daniel Solove, The Value of Privacy Ch. 4 from
Understanding Privacy (2008) Harvard University Press.
RESPONSE DUE BY 11:59PM THURSDAY DEC 1
UPLOAD TO D2L

You might also like