Overview
This course is concerned with digital systems, whose value to an individual depends on the other people who use them. In this course, you will develop the tools to critically and reflectively research, use, build, manage, and evaluate such systems.
Learning in COMP 650 is experiential, research-based, social, and reflective. Following a weekly schedule, within the flexible framework provided by the course, you will have a high level of independence with respect to what you study, how you study, and how you are assessed. You will share with your peers the results of your studies and your reflections on the process. Self-referentially, COMP 650 is reliant on the inputs and interactions of its students, who will work cooperatively and collaboratively to support and enable one another’s learning.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
- choose, design, and manage social media systems to meet the needs of their users and owners.
- explain, predict, and influence human behaviour in social media systems.
- analyze social media systems from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
- use a diverse range of social media systems wisely and well.
- apply ethical approaches to social media system design and use.
- explain the social and structural dynamics of social media systems.
- be a reflective practitioner in the field of social computing.
- stay abreast of developments in social computing.
Optionally, you may also create one or more additional learning outcomes relevant to the field of social computing.
Evaluation
To receive credit for COMP 650, you must achieve an overall grade of at least B– (70 percent) on your portfolio and a grade of at least C– (60 percent) on each of the learning outcomes.
Marks will be awarded for evidence of achievement of each learning outcome, not for individual pieces of work. In your portfolio, you will assemble evidence to show that you meet the learning outcomes, including any created by you. The learning outcomes you create can be worth up to 15% of your total grade.
Although the following activities are not directly marked for credit, you are also required to
- complete learning diary entries at least weekly,
- engage in a majority of the virtual field trips,
- participate in an assessment interview,
- create an artifact, and
- give a presentation.
Materials
All course materials are found online.
Platforms
Note that COMP 650 requires you to post to or otherwise interact with social software systems that lie beyond the control of Athabasca University. The course provides you with advice on risk avoidance, and efforts are made to reduce potential risks, but the nature of this field of study is such that the risks associated with using social software systems cannot be entirely eliminated.