Technological and Quantitative Literacy
   

-- This page is revised frequently:  Last updated 09/09/08  --

Weekly Schedule of Readings, Activities, and Assignments
Online Visual Key:
Major writing assignments
Bb-based assignments
Optional revision due dates

Week One (9/9):  Orientation and Introductions

Thinking critically about technology and quantitative information.  A sampling of technology and statistics in the media.

• Introduction to course goals, organization, and requirements
• Orientation to course homepage in RUOnline, Roosevelt's virtual campus in Blackboard (Bb)
• Discussion items:
  • Pew Internet & American Life Project, "What Kind of Information Technology User Are You?" (online quiz)
  • Interactive graphic -- How Class Works (NY Times 15 May 2005)  
  • Gallup Poll, Election 2008
  • EPIC 2014 -- A Future History of the Media

Week Two (9/16):  Introduction to Technological Literacy

How do published notions of tech literacy square against our working definitions? What components of technological literacy do we already have, and what do we need to acquire?

• Required readings for discussion: 
  • Dan Headrick, "On Technology" (2005)
  • Interview with Robert Pool, "Beyond Engineering" (PBS Newshour 1998)
  • Defining Technological Literacy; Characteristics of a Technologically Literate Person; and Benefits of Technological Literacy.  Excerpts from Technically Speaking:  Why All Americans Need To Know More about Technology (National Academy Press 2002).  [Online version of complete text] 
• Assignment:  Create your personal homepage in Bb; post your Info Tech user quiz results to the Discussion Board (DB)

Week Three (9/23):  Critiques of Technology

How does one critically analyze technology and assess its relation to contemporary society?

• Required readings for discussion:

  • Katherine Millett, "People:  Nurture and Nature" (Chicago Wilderness Summer 2007)

  • Ian Parker, “Absolute PowerPoint” (New Yorker 28 May 2001)

  • Wendell Berry, "Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer" (1987)

• Assignment:  Self-Assessment of Technological Literacy due

Week Four (9/30):  Information Literacy I -- Locating Sources / Assessing Wikipedia

How do we use the online research tools in Roosevelt's library to search for articles effectively?  What are the benefits and limits of Wikipedia as a research tool and information source?

• CLASS MEETS IN LIBRARY (room 140)
• Required readings:

  • RU Library, "What Is a Scholarly Journal?" [in Bb, Course Documents]

  • RU Library Research Tutorial

  • Ms. Information, "Why Does Everyone Tell Me Not To Use Wikipedia?" (RU Library Blog, Sept. 2007)

  • Brock Read, "Can Wikipedia Ever Make the Grade?" (Chronicle of Higher Ed 26 Oct. 2006)

  • Pew Internet & American Life Project, Data Memo on Wikipedia Users (April 2007)

• Assignment:  At the orientation session, start the Research Tutorial  Worksheet [Bb, Course Documents].  Later this week, post your completed worksheet as well as your reflections on the exercise to the DB.

Week Five (10/7):  Information Literacy II -- Reading and Evaluating Sources

How has the web impacted what (and how) we read?  Strategies and tools for critically evaluating online information.

• CLASS MEETS IN LIBRARY (room 140)
• Required readings:

  • Motoko Rich, "Literacy Debate:  Online, R U Really Reading?" (NY Times 27 July 2008)

  • John R. Henderson, A Guide to Critical Thinking about What You See on the Web

• Assignment:  Take Henderson's quiz and then work through "The Oil Crisis" case study by evaluating any two of the five websites.  Post your assessment to the DB.

Week Six (10/14):    Technology and the Environment

The role of technology in causing -- and addressing -- environmental problems.

• Required readings for discussion:
  • Selected articles from The Energy Challenge series (NY Times)
    • Julie Scelfo, "Any Other Bright Ideas?" (10 Jan 2008)
    • William J. Broad, "How To Cool a Planet (Maybe)" (27 June 2006)
    • Martin Fackler, "The Land of Rising Conservation" (6 Jan 2007)
    • Matthew Wald, "Slow Start for Revival of Nuclear Reactors" (22 Aug 2006)
  • Just for fun . . . try out the BP Carbon Footprint Calculator

• Assignment:  Bring in draft of the Technology Critique paper (2 copies) for writing workshop

Week Seven (10/21):  Polls -- Where Numeracy and Technology Meet

How can understanding the polling process build a foundation for quantitative literacy?

• Required readings for discussion:
  • Ryan, Everyday Math (pp. 125-29)
  • Gallup Organization, "How Are Polls Conducted?" [pdf document]
  • Gallup Poll, Election 2008 (specific poll report TBA)
• Assignment:  Technology Critique Essay due

Week Eight (10/28):  Introduction to Quantitative Literacy / The Growing Income Gap

What is Quant Lit?  Contemporary data on and analysis of the income gap among Americans.

• Required readings for discussion:
  • Niederman and Boyum, What the Numbers Say (ch. 1 and 2)
  • David Cay Johnston, "Income Gap Is Widening, Data Shows" (NY Times 29 March 2007)
  • Henry Louis Gates, Jr., "Forty Acres and a Gap in Wealth" (NY Times 18 Nov 2007)

Week Nine (11/4):  Numbers as Evidence / Statistics in the News

Developing strategies for reading and analyzing quantitative/statistical information in news sources.

• Required readings for discussion:
  • Niederman and Boyum, What the Numbers Say (ch. 8, "The Proof Is in the Numbers")
  • Ryan, Everyday Math (ch. 8, "Statistics")
• Assignment:  Find a news article containing statistical information, and bring 8 copies to class for group analysis and discussion.  Post a 1-2 paragraph reaction to the article in the DB, and include a link to the article.

Week Ten (11/11):  Percentages / Women and Work  

Usefulness and limitations of percentages.  Trends in the labor force participation of women with children.  Analyzing news articles alongside relevant research reports.

• Required readings for discussion: 
  • N and B, What the Numbers Say (ch. 4, "Playing the Percentages")
  • Linda Hirshman, "Off to Work She Should Go" (NY Times 25 April 2007)
  • Sharon R. Cohany and Emy Sok, "Trends in Labor Force Participation of Married Mothers of Infants" (Monthly Labor Review Online Feb. 2007) [pdf document; also in Course Documents]
  • Class articles from week 9 (continued)
• Reference reading:  Ryan, Everyday Math (ch. 2, "Fractions, Decimals, and Percents")
• Assignment:  Start working on Stats News Article Critique.

Week Eleven (11/18):  Measurement / The Natural Environment

Complexities in and problems with measurement with respect to natural resource management and climate change. 

• Required readings for discussion:
  • N and B, What the Numbers Say (ch. 3, "For Good Measure")
  • Pam Belluck, "From Beaches to Pine Barrens, a Study Puts Values on New Jersey’s Natural Assets" (NY Times 21 May 2007)
  • Andrew Revkin, "Quarter-Degree Fix Fuels Climate Fight" (NY Times 26 Aug 2007)
  • Steve Lohr, "The Cost of an Overheated Planet" (NY Times 12 Dec 2006)
• Reference reading:  Ryan, Everyday Math (ch. 6, "Measurement and Conversion")
• Assignment:  Stats News Article Critique due.  Review guidelines and tips for the Stats Analysis Essay. 

Week Twelve (11/25):  The Visual Display of Quantitative Data

How do graphic representations of quant information improve/impede understanding?  How do such visual tools complement quantitative analysis? 

• Required readings for discussion:
  • Joel Best, "Confusing Numbers" [in Bb, Course Documents]
  • Ryan, Everyday Math (ch. 9, "Charts and Graphs")
  • Scan the website Junk Charts
• Assignment:  Find a data graph in a news source.  Post a citation/link and a 1-2 paragraph reaction to the DB.    
• Optional revisions of Technology Critique due

Week Thirteen (12/2):  Uncertainty, Probability, and Risk

Application of insights about uncertainty, probability, and risk assessment to news articles and other documents.

• Required readings for discussion:
  • N and B, What the Numbers Say (ch. 7, "Taking Chances")
  • Ryan, Everyday Math (ch. 7, "Probability and Odds")
  • "Smokers 'Misjudge Health Risks,'" BBC News, Feb. 2005
  • David Ropeik, "How Risky Is Flying?" (NOVA Nov. 2006)

Week Fourteen (12/9):  Writing about Numbers

Peer-review of essay drafts; critiquing and writing about quantitative sources.

• Required reading for discussion:
  • Sample student papers [in Bb, Course Documents]
• Assignment:  Bring draft of the Stats Analysis Essay (2 copies) for writing workshop
• Optional revision of Stat News Critique due

Week Fifteen (12/16):  Class Wrap-up

• Stats Analysis Essay due
• Course evaluations
• Repair to local establishment for pizza and beverage?

-- I reserve the right to revise this schedule as needed --

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M. Bryson's Faculty Home Page
Last Updated:  09 September 2008