網路社群與文化

網路科技帶來許多社會文化上的衝擊與改變。在這門課中,我們將一起思考這些衝擊與改變。從日常生活中的網路使用出發,我們將一同思考網路社群的發展與特色、網路上的電腦中介傳播有何特質、與其他溝通模式又有何異同,以及網路使用對社會與使用者造成的影響為何。同學們將練習用各種不同的角度來思考網路社群與文化,提升批判與獨立思考能力。 本堂課採用英語授課。同學們將有機會練習英語聽說讀寫,增進英語能力並提升國際觀。 *此課程大綱將根據同學們的興趣做調整。 This course is designed to provide students with an overview of online communities and culture, including the social impacts of the Internet, and the social and cultural aspects of online behaviors and communities. The study of online communities and culture is by nature multidisciplinary; researchers from communication/media and information studies, sociology, psychology, information systems/technology, and other disciplines all study the Internet. However, we will pay particular attention to the social and cultural aspects of online communities. We will focus on the Internet in the social contexts, by studying the development and features of online communities, Internet adoption, digital divide, social construction of online communities, online communication, how larger scale social institutions affect the use and the impacts of the Internet, and the ways that the Internet is used and the online culture is developed. *This is a DRAFT syllabus. The syllabus will be finalized after having discussions with students in class. Course Objectives: At the end of this course, students should be able to: ‧ Describe the main types, history, and uses of online communities among different social groups and in general. ‧ Understand the different aspects and effects of online communities and online culture, and the digital divide. ‧ Be able to describe the different types of social impacts of the Internet on society and critically assess the latest research in this area. ‧ Better understand the impacts of the Internet on their daily lives.

基本英文能力 (Basic English Skills)

In addition to lectures, students will have a lot of in-class discussions and online discussions. Since this course is about “online communities,” we will develop our course-based online community for students to apply what they have learned in class.

Course Requirements: Active Participation If you are not prepared to actively participate in this course, you will not do well in this course. Classes will have some lecture parts, but rather than focusing on long lectures, we will be working on specific questions or issues related to the topic of the week. Attendance and active participation are required components of the course. Merely showing up to class does not equate to class participation. Your attendance will be checked periodically throughout the semester; however, your participation entails more than just attending class. Given the applied nature of the course, all readings should be completed prior to the date they will be covered in class and you are expected to be able to discuss the readings in class. If you are not reading the material prior to class, some random pop quizzes might be implemented. You are also expected to check the course website for the course at least twice per week. Information will be posted there, and you are expected to actively participate in the online discussions. Assignments & Grades: 1. Attendance & Class Participation: 20% 2. Online Weekly Journal: 20% 3. Online Community Discussions: 15% 4. Time-Use Exercise: 10% 5. Online Culture Observation: 10% 6. Project: Evolution and Impacts of Online Communities and Culture: 25% Your grades will be based on in-class and online participation, and performance on all assignments. Please make sure to read the assigned material before class and come to class prepared to participate in class discussions. Assignments are due to be completed on the dates detailed below. Only extreme emergencies will warrant exemption from these pre-assigned due dates. Details of the requirements and instructions for these assignments will be provided later.

Reading materials will be available on e3 or be distributed in class.