Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Professional Issues in Computing
Code CKIT522
Coordinator Prof FP Coenen
Computer Science
Coenen@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2018-19 Level 7 FHEQ Whole Session 15

Aims

  1. To provide students with the knowledge required for them to identify and understand the Legal, Social, Ethical and Professional Issues (LSEPI) arising in the use, implementation, operation and monitoring of IT systems and organisations.

  2. To provide exposure to the legal and social issues that computing professionals may encounter as part of their practice.

  3. To develop the key management skills required fo r effective utilisation and operation of IT, including risk and computer security management.

Learning Outcomes

An ability to be able to differentiate between ethics, ethical behaviour and approach to ethical decision making in the IT context.

An ability to explain the roles and responsibilities of IT professionals in organisations and society, to evaluate relevant work-related behaviours and issues, and respond to professionals issues.

Knowledge of the legislative and regulatory obligations and standards as they relate to IT environments in organisations, including freedom of speech and intellectual property, and an appreciation of their impact on the work of the IT professional

An ability to assess the impact of business compliance imperatives and a comprehensive understanding of how these impact on the work of the IT professional.

A deep understanding of the issues and techniques associated with consulting and contracting and the management of IT projects.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the full range of impacts of IT on society and organisations.

An ability to analyse current trends that may increase the risk of the misuse of IT.

An ability to identify and describe the elements of risk and computer security management as they relate to IT.


Syllabus
1 

Seminar 1: Introduction:
Technology within Society Key terms; Comparison of different perspectives for identifying and approaching ethical issues in technology; The role that ethical theories play in the analysis of issues and controversies involving technology.
 
Seminar 2: Professionalism in IT 
Comparison of professional codes of conduct; Creating a code of conduct for the workplace; Evaluating the responsibilities of IT professionals in the context of themselves, their employers and clients and to society; The importance of communication. 
   
Seminar 3: Legal Perspectives, Privacy and Data Protection
The legal framework that applies to the computing profession and its impact; Privacy concerns generated by the evolution of technology; Legislative and regulatory obliga tions and standards as they relate to the Internet; Adequacy of current privacy laws and data protection plans.
   
Seminar 4:  Censorship and Intellectual Property in the Context of IT
Methods of computer software pro tection: Copyright, patents and trademarks; Application of the principle of fair use of proprietary information in digital formats; The Free Software Movement and the Open Space Initiative; The impact of censorship and freedom of speech on IT
  
Seminar 5: Security and Cybercrime
Types of technology related crime and enforcement efforts; The implications of cyber-security issues, including the question of whether computer break-ins can ever be justified; The challenges that emerging technologies, such as cloud computing, pose for IT security.
   
Seminar 6: IT investments, Contracts and Outsourcing
Vendor selection processes; Vendor evaluation; Contract types.
  
Seminar 7: Elements of Risk Management
Risk and the terminology used in risk assessment and management; Techniques to identify, analyse, respond to and monitor risk; Designing approaches to risk managing.
  
Seminar 8: Social Aspects of Technology, Emergence and Convergence of Technologies
The range of impacts of IT on human societies and organisations; The impact technology has had on the nature of work and the quality of working life; The social and ethical impact of the emergence and convergence of technology as it relates to topics such as online communities, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

 

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Electure - Weekly asynchronous discussion in virtual classroom conducted by an online instructor.

Number of hours per week that students are expected to attend the virtual classroom so as to participate in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 8.75.

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 70
Weekly asynchronous discussion in virtual classroom conducted by an online instructor.
          70
Timetable (if known) Number of hours per week that students are expected to attend the virtual classroom so as to participate in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 8.75.
  		           
Private Study 80
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  Weekly Discussion Qu  Whole Session  32  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Eight discussion questions There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week/750-1,000 w  Week 1  9  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay - Professional Ethnics There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week/1,500–1,7  Week 2  8  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay - Understanding professionalism by applying Code of Ethics (group project) There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week/750-1,000 w  Week 3  9  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay legislative and regulatory obligations and intellectual property standard There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week/1,500-1,750  Week 4  8  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay – Comparison of global IT legislation There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week/750-1,000 w  Week 5  9  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay analysis: Analysis of a Cybercrime scenario There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week/1,500-1,750  Week 6  8  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Group Project : Security, contracts, vendor selection and outsourcing. There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Written Exam  One week/750-1,000 w  Week 7  9  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Individual assignment : complete a full Risk Assessment of the IT problem There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. 
Coursework  One week/1,500-1,750  Week 8  8  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Group Project :The Impact of Emerging Technologies on Societies and Organiations There is no reassessment opportunity, The nature of the adopted online learning paradigm is such that no reassessment opportunity is available; instead students failing the module will be offered the opportunity to retake the entire module. Notes (applying to all assessments) 1. Due to nature of the on-line mode of instruction this work is not marked anonymously 2. Students who fail the module have the opportunity to repeat the entire module. 3. The "Standard UoL Penalty" for late submission that applies is the "Standard UoL Penalty" agreed with respect to online programmes offered in collaboration with Laureate Online Education. 4. For group work assessments groups typically comprise 3 to 4 students. Both group and individual contributions are assessed and integrated to produce a final mark for each student. 

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List:

The online programmes offered by the department of Computer Science in Collaboration with Laureate Online Education use online materials wherever possible including the online resources available within the University of Liverpool’s libraries. This module does not require a specific text book.