Intro to Social & Professional Issues in Computer Tech

Course Overview

• The course covers legal, social, ethical, and professional issues involved in the utilization of computer technology.
• It adapts professional ethical and legal practices in both local and global communities.
• The course introduces students to ethical issues such as property rights, freedom of expression, privacy, and Professional Codes of Conduct.
• It equips students with tools for critical reasoning to construct and analyze ethical issues and problems in business and the corporate world.
• The course aims to provide an understanding of social and professional issues in modern society.
• It discusses the different laws and ethics that govern the IT industry.

Assignment #1: Analysis of Professional Ethics in the IT Industry

• Objective: To understand and analyze the importance of professional ethics in the IT industry.
• The assignment consists of four parts:
  • Computer Ethics: Discuss ethical issues that arise from the use of the Internet, such as privacy, copyright infringement, and user interaction with websites, software, and related services.
  • Professions and Professional Ethics: Discuss the role of professional codes of conduct in the IT industry and analyze the impact of professional ethics on the quality of work and the work environment.
  • Professional Ethic Failures: Provide examples of professional ethic failures in the IT industry and analyze their impact on the individuals and organizations involved.
  • Professional Responsibilities: Discuss the responsibilities of IT professionals towards their clients, employers, and society.

Submission Guidelines

• The assignment should be submitted in a PowerPoint format.
• The word limit for the assignment is 2000-2500 words.
• A bibliography citing all the sources used is required.
• The assignment should be submitted by the due date.

Course Learning Outcomes

• Define Computer Ethics and Professional Ethics.
• Explain the professional responsibilities of an individual.

Computer Ethics

• Computer ethics deals with the procedures, values, and practices that govern the process of consuming computing technology and its related disciplines without damaging or violating the moral values and beliefs of any individual, organization, or entity.
• It primarily enforces the ethical implementation and use of computing resources.
• It includes methods and procedures to avoid infringing copyrights, trademarks, and the unauthorized distribution of digital content.
• The core issues surrounding computer ethics are based on the scenarios arising from the use of the Internet, such as Internet privacy, the publication of copyrighted content, and user interaction with websites, software, and related services.

This course covers the legal, social, ethical, and professional issues involved in computer technology, adapting to professional ethical and legal practices locally and globally. It introduces students to ethical issues such as property rights, freedom of expression, and privacy.