Overview

Over the course of this semester, you will be working on a multi-stage critical thinking project. This project will be composed of five sections—five contributions, which each have their own due date. This project will be more than a “paper.” It will be an interactive experience for you and those who visit your pages. You will integrate hyperlinks, images, and other forms of media (e.g., videos) into your project contributions. To accomplish this, you will be working in a wiki. And altogether, you will create five wiki pages, work with integrating hyperlinks and images, and compose a 15-20 page “paper,” spanning all five contributions, worth 400 points in total.

You can access the class wiki by opening the "The Networked Society Wiki" page (link found our MyGateway class site navigation menu and in the "Assignments" area, or use this link to access the wiki outside of MyGateway--if you are not logged into MyGateway, you'll be prompted to log on). You are surely eager to get started, and so the first step is to create every wiki page that you will be working in during this semester.This means that you are expected to create 5 “New pages,” one for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. Naming these pages will be up to you. Each page that you create must be named and include your last and first name and a brief description of the content. For example, my first page is named Keel, Robert – Part 1. This name indicates the owner of the page and its content—Part 1 of the critical thinking project. Once you have created each of your pages for the project, they will be floating out in the wiki ether. They will be empty and not be connected together. In other words, you are also expected to “link” these pages together. They do not link on their own.

On each page, you are expected to create a number of internal hyperlinks. These are links that exist inside of your wiki (i.e., NOT to websites on the World Wide Web). These links will connect each of your five pages to the other. For instance, you will create 5 internal hyperlinks on your Part 1 page. You will create one link to the class roster page and four links to your pages for Parts 2, 3, 4, and 5. Note that you will not create a link to your part 1 page on your part 1 page. That would be redundant.

Now that you have created and linked all of your pages together, you must provide a way for the rest of us in class to access your Part 1 page. This page will be your “personal” page, from which every assignment will be accessed. You are expected to hyperlink your Part 1 page to your name on the class roster page. This is what gives the rest of us in class access to your work, either for reading or for me and my teaching assistants to grade. If we cannot access your pages, and thus your work, you will NOT receive credit for it. Your name will appear on the roster page at some point early in the semester, and it will be up to you to edit that page to hyperlink your Part 1 page to your name. This will be the only time during the semester that you are asked to edit the class’ roster page. This is because access to all of your work will be provided via your Part 1 page—your “personal” page. So, after you have created your "Part 1-personal wiki page" click save and exit, return to the wiki roster page and make your name a link to you personal page.

Creating your pages, linking them together, and linking your Part 1 page to your name on the class roster page is only the first part of the first assignment. Your Part 1 assignment also entails critical thinking and writing!

Project Objectives:

• This project entails an investigation the social reality of the internet, mobile computing, and social networks in (post)modern society.
• To become familiar with core concepts, methods, and theories of sociology, and develop a sociological analysis of technology as a socially constructed phenomena.
• To develop critical thinking skills and produce an informed critique of theories of technology and society.
• To learn accepted social scientific writing styles and become familiar with (and critically evaluate) online information resources.
• To develop a competency in online communication and the use of wiki technology for engaging in group projects.
• To explore the features of wikis as a technology to enhance and extend online learning.

You can access the class wiki by opening the "The Networked Society Wiki" page (link found our MyGateway class site navigation menu and in the "Assignments" area, or use this link to access the wiki outside of MyGateway--if you are not logged into MyGateway, you'll be prompted to log on) and then click on the "New Page" button located near the top-left area of the wiki page. Remember to name your wiki page: "your last name, your first name-CT1 personal wiki page."  After you have created your personal wiki page click save and exit, return to the wiki home page and make your name a link to you personal page. When creating new pages in the wiki, ALWAYS name your pages using the following format: "your last name, your first name-descriptor for the page."

Be sure to complete the "Email Feedback Consent." You can find the email feedback consent "test" in the Group Areas section of MyGateway. Until you give consent, you will have to visit Prof. Keel or a TA to receive full feedback on the group project.

For more information on what a wiki is, see the YouTube video: Wikis in plain English

For help creating a personal wiki page, see Prof. Keel's video tutorials on "Working in a Wiki, "making links," and "inserting images" in the Wiki Help folder of the class MyGateway site (Critical Thinking Projects). See also: Wiki Help and Tips and the "Wiki User's Guide." Be sure to review the changes made to the wikis since I last updated these tutorials.

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Evaluation

More specific information regarding the grades for each part of the project is found in the directions for that part. General information can be found here.

• Each student is responsible for completing all parts of the project.
• Your work must be presented in our class wiki as a series of inter-linked web pages. The wiki allows us to share information and collaborate on the development of a "website."
• You are responsible for adhering to the university's technological use policies, and treating all class members with respect.
• Pay careful attention to all directions.
• Use appropriate sources and academic procedures. Certain assignments in the group project will require you to find newspaper or mass media sources; do not use academic sources for these assignments. Other assignments will require the use of academic sources: studies, articles, books, or websites that meet the criteria for reputable work (or here ); do not use inappropriate sources for these assignments. Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA manuscript submission guide (local copy with web citation guidelines or a full version of the ASA Style Guide).  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Remember, we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices in your own work. See academic integrity statement and TurnItIn information.
• You are also expected to make a minimum of four (4) "wiki comments" (minimum 125 word--constructive critique) on contributions of other students for each round of contributions: (2.5 points each, 10 points per round).
• Comments are due within 3 days of the contribution due date.
• Students must email Prof. Keel with the names of the students on whose work they commented and include the text of the comments in the email (no attachments). If email notification is not made, comments may not be evaluated.
• Grading: See the grading rubrics on each project page (above).

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