Living in the IT Era

I. Course Description
Living in the IT Era will examine communication and information technologies with particular
emphasis on information technology and its components and in particular how they are used by
the Millennial Generation. Deals with the science, culture and ethics of information technology,
its influence on modern living and human relationships, and uses for personal, professional and
social advancement. The goal of the course is to understand how the communication and
information technologies evolve and the cultural, economic, political and social implications of
such technologies for society.

II. Goals and Objectives

Living in the IT Era is intended to provide students with a broad understanding of the social,
cultural, and economic consequences of new communication technologies and to encourage
critical thinking about “new media” generally. Through exams and media-related assignments,
students will learn to analyze the evolving information ecology as it affects the media industries
as well as media audiences. Through course projects, students will examine issues involving
convergent media and the impact of intensive new media use on consumers.
III. Required Texts & Readings
There are no textbooks for this class. Texts on this subject get outdated quickly. Readings are
available in the NEOLMS/EDU20 portal
IV. Requirements
Exams: There will be three major exams. The exams will be equally weighted. The tests will be
multiple choice, definitions and short answer questions.
Book Review: Each student will read a recent book (one written in 2014 or after) and prepare a
3-5 page book review which provides a description of the scope of the book and analyzes its
strengths and weaknesses. The book can deal with any aspect of the Internet or its components
(e.g. social media, blogs) or other new media (e.g. mobile phones, IPods, video games, digital
movies). Book titles must be approved in advance. You will also give a 7-10 minute oral review
of the book to the class. You need to have a copy of your paper for each member of the class. A
Powerpoint presentation or a typed outline is also required.
Final paper: Each student will write a 7-10 page essay on any topic concerning the Internet or
new media.
Discussion questions: To make sure that you are doing the readings and to try to generate
discussion, bring a discussant question based on that day’s reading to class. Each day’s discussion
question is worth 3 points

The core values of Philippine Christian University are faith, character, and service. Each member
of the University is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, fairness, and
respect toward peers and community.

Part I: The Generations and The Rise of the Information Technology Era
1 Generations
The Generations
https://www.careerplanner.com/Career-Articles/Generations.cfm

Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/17/where-millennials-end-and-generation-z-
begins/

Millennials less confident about nation’s future, but so were their parents, grandparents when
young
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/16/millennials-less-confident-about-nations-
future-but-so-were-their-parents-grandparents-when-young/

Who are the millennials?

Readings: Pew Internet, Millennials Confident, Connected, Open to Change, Overview
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/02/24/millennials-confident-connected-open-to-
change/

Adapting to new Technology

Alan Peslak, Wendy Ceccucci, and Patricial Sendall, “An empirical study of social networking
behavior using diffusion of innovations theory”
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5e13/276bfed1be141d3cc0eef67709b49c7d14ed.pdf

Overview of New Technological Development

Frances Cairncross, “The Roots of Revolution” and “The Trendspotters Guide to New
Communications”

Media Theories: Understanding the New Media

Readings: 1. Roger Fidler, The Principles of Media Morphosis 2. Thomas Kilian, Nadine Hennigs
and Sascha Langner, Do Millennials Read Books or Blogs? Introducing a Media Usage Typology
of theInternet Generation, Journal of Consumer Marketing.

Convergence and Interactivity

Readings: 1. John Pavlik and Shawn McIntosh, Convergence and its Consequences 2. Erik Bucy,
“Interactivity in society: Locating an elusive concept, TheInformation Society,3.Don Tapscott,
“Net Geners Relate to News in New Ways,” Nieman Reports Winter 2008.

Part II: Personal and Social Benefits of Information Technology

Reference: Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the Personal and Social Benefits of the
Information Technology Revolution
1. Education and Training
2. Health Care
3. Personal Safety
4. Accessibility for People with Disabilities
 5. Recreation and Entertainment
6. Access to Information
7. Environment
8. Energy
9. Transportation
10. Public Safety
11. Government
12. Communities

ADDITIONAL READINGS

Why is the Digital Information Revolution So Powerful?

Why is the Information Revolution Happening Now?

Part III: Understanding the Impact of Technologies

Reference: Disruptive Technologies: Advances that will transform life, business and the global
economy, McKinsey Global Institute
1. Mobile Internet
2. Automation of Knowledge Work
3. The Internet of Things
4. Cloud Technology
5. Advanced Robotics
6. Autonomous and near-autonomous vehicles
7. Next-generation genomics
8. Energy storage
9. 3D Printing
10. Advanced Materials
11. Advanced oil and gas exploration and recovery
12. Renewable Energy

ADDITIONAL READINGS

Millennials and news

Paula Poindexter, Why Millennials aren’t into news. Millennials, News,
and social media ,Kenneth S. Kosik, “The Wikification of Knowledge,” NiemanReports, Winter
2008.

Millennials and Social Media

1. Paula Poindexter, “Too busy for news; unlimited time for social
media” . Millennials, News, and social media
2. Andrew Mendelson and Zizi Papacharissi, “Look at us: Collective
Narcissism in College Student Facebook Photo Galleries

Millenials and Twitter

Readings: Aaron Smith and Joanne Brenner, Twitter use

Millennials and mobile technology

Aaron Smith, “ The Best (and Worst) of mobile connectivity

Part IV: Dark Side of the Internet

A. Utopian and dystopian views of the Internet
Readings: Nicholas Carr, “ Is Google making us stupid?”
Adam Clarke Estes, “Google is making us stupid and smart at the same time”

B. Media Acceleration and Information Glut

Todd Gitlin and the Media Torrent
David Shenk, The First Law of Data Smog

C. Internet Addiction and Isolation

Robert LaRose. Article from Zizi’s book”
Pew Internet, Millennials Confident, Connected, Open to Change, chapt. 4

D. Selective exposure and political polarization

Readings: Cass R. Sunstein, “Enclave Extremism and Journalism's Brave New World,”
Nieman Reports, Talia Stroud Niche Snews

Part V: Light Side of the Internet

A. The Internet and Interpersonal Communication
1. Readings: Nancy Baym, “New Forms of personal connection,” in Personal connections in
a Digital Age.

B. Networking and Community

Clay Shirky “It Takes a Village to Find a Phone,” in Here Comes Everybody
Howard Rheingold, “Smart Mobs: The Power of the Mobile Many”

C. Social Capital
Readings: Does following the e-lives of ‘friends build social capital?
‘C. Internet and Civic Engagement

Part VI: Elections in the Internet Age

Internet and the Election
How does the PH automated election system work?
, “YouTube: The Flattening of Politics,” Nieman Reports, Summer 2008
John Dickerson, “Don’t Fear Twitter,” Nieman Reports,

Internet and the Election Campaign

1. Smith, A. (2011). The Internet and Campaign 2010. Pew Internet
2. Smith, A., & Rainie, L. (2010). Politics goes mobile. Pew Internet
Part VII: Policing the Internet
A. Privacy and Surveillance
B. Online Ethics
Readings: Bob Steele, “Ethical Values and Quality Control in the Digital Era,” Nielson
Reports,Winter 2008
C. Public Policy Principles for Driving Digital Quality of Life?
Reference: Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the Personal and Social Benefits of the
Information Technology Revolution

Part VIII: Future of the Internet

Pew Research, Millennials will benefit and suffer due to their hyperconnected
lives.

Part VIII: Related Laws in Information Technology

Republic Act No. 11165 - Telecommuting Act

Republic Act No. 10175, - The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
Republic Act No. 8293 - Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines
Republic Act No. 9239 - Optical Media Act of 2003
Republic Act No. 8792 - Electronic Commerce Act of 2000
Republic Act No. 7925 – “Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines
Republic Act No. 10173 – Data Privacy Act of 2012

ADDITIONAL READINGS

A. How the Internet has Affected Traditional Media

1 State of the News Media 2012, “overview” 2. Pew Internet, “In Changing News Landscape,
Even Television is Vulnerable.”

B. Print Media
Readings:
1. Death of Print Media: Does it Matter?
a. Daniel Lyons, “Don’t bail out newspapers—Let them die and get out of
the way.”
b. Jessica Bruder, “Is the death of newspapers the end of good citizenship?”
2. Possible Solutions
a. “Networking News”
b. Clay Shirky “Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable”
B. Broadcast Media
Eric Spiegelman, “Four weird things the Internet is doing to our
understanding of Television”
The State of the News Media, “Network news: The pace of change
accelerates.”

C. Music Industry
Readings: Nancy Baym, Embracing the Flow”

D. Concentration
Siva Vaidhyanathan, “The Googlization of Everything”