COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY

Computer technology has had a significant impact on society. While computer

technology has affected almost every aspect of our lives, it is important to
understand both the positive and negative implications of computer
technology. For this assignment you will research a topic that deals with
computers and the impact they have had on society. Your research will
require you to find and read 2-3 articles that address the topic you have
selected. Once you have gathered enough information about your topic, you
will then need to create a slideshow using PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. that
summarizes the topic you selected.

REQUIREMENTS:
Your slideshow must include a minimum of 10 slides, with each slide including information, pictures, etc.
about your topic. When describing your topic you must provide a detailed description of the topic as well
as a summary of the various ways in which people are impacted by the technology you are describing.
For example, if you wanted to research how computer technology presents issues around freedom of
speech, you could address some of the challenges that we face with hate propaganda on the internet,
internet censorship, etc. and provide ideas and solutions that may address some of these challenges.

You will, of course, need to cite your references. Your references must be cited in the last slide of your
slide show. Be sure to use MLA format when citing your sources.

TOPICS:
The following are some topics that you may want to research for your slide show:

 E-Waste
 Ergonomics
 Software/Music/Movie Piracy
 Viruses/Spyware/Adware
 Identity Theft
 Cyber Bullying
 Emerging Technologies
 Internet Privacy
 Computer Careers
 Social Networking
 Social Media
 Freedom of Speech
 e-Democracy
 Artificial Intelligence

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RESOURCES:
The following are a list of resources that you might find useful as your work through this assignment:

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Wired News – http://www.wired.com

ZDNet – http://www.zdnet.com
TechWeb – http://www.techweb.com
PCWorld – http://www.pcworld.com
Cnet – http://www.cnet.com

ONLINE NEWSPAPERS

The Toronto Star – http://www.thestar.com/

The Globe and Mail - http://www.theglobeandmail.com
The National Post – http://www.nationalpost.com/index.html
The Toronto Sun – http://www.torontosun.com/

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 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY

< LEVEL 1 LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4

CATEGORY CRITERIA MARK
(0 – 49%) (50 – 59%) (60 – 69%) (70 – 79%) (80 – 100%)

Knowledge Demonstrates an  Shows no  Shows limited  Shows some  Shows  Shows

and understanding of understanding understanding understanding considerable extensive
Understanding the topic of the topic of the topic of the topic understanding understanding
of the topic of the topic /10

0-4.9 5.0-5.9 6.0-6.9 7.0-7.9 8.0-10

Thinking Identifies and  Identifies and  Identifies and  Identifies and  Identifies and  Identifies and
describes the key describes the describes the describes the describes the describes the
ideas (challenges, key ideas of key ideas of key ideas of key ideas of key ideas of
positive and the topic with the topic with the topic with the topic with the topic with
negative impact, no success limited success some success considerable superior /10
etc.) pertaining to success effectiveness
the topic
0-4.9 5.0-5.9 6.0-6.9 7.0-7.9 8.0-10
Communication Communicates  Proofreads  Proofreads  Proofreads  Proofreads  Proofreads
ideas clearly using work for work for work for work for work for
correct grammar grammar and grammar and grammar and grammar and grammar and
and spelling spelling errors spelling errors spelling errors spelling errors spelling errors
with no with limited with some with with great /10
success success success considerable success
success

0-4.9 5.0-5.9 6.0-6.9 7.0-7.9 8.0-10

Application Makes insightful  Makes no  Makes limited  Makes some  Makes good  Makes
connections connections connections connections connections insightful
between the topic between the between the between the between the connections
and its relevance / topic and its topic and its topic and its topic and its between the
impact on society relevance / relevance / relevance / relevance / topic and its
impact on impact on impact on impact on relevance /
society society society society impact on
society /10
Makes good use of  Creates a slide  Creates a slide  Creates a slide  Creates a slide  Creates a slide
presentation show with no show with show with show with show with
software to create success limited success some success considerable great success
an effective slide success
show
0-4.9 5.0-5.9 6.0-6.9 7.0-7.9 8.0-10

CURRICULUM EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE COVERED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT:

C1. Describe key aspects of the impact of computers and related technologies on society.
C2. Describe computer use policies that promote environmental stewardship and sustainability.
C3. Describe legal and ethical issues related to the use of computing devices.
C4. Describe postsecondary education and career prospects related to computer studies.

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