This course builds upon your prior experiences in STS 1500 and STS 2000/3000.  Those prior courses introduced some foundational lessons:

• Technology is not just things; it is goal-oriented human activity
• We should use technology deliberately to promote human flourishing
• We should integrate social and ethical considerations into the processes of problem definition and technological innovation

In class we will start by revisiting those elements to ensure that everyone has a solid foundation upon which new knowledge and gain new analytical skills can be built.  In this course you will have the opportunity to shape the learning experience in a number of ways. The course is designed to allow you to select a topic and gain expertise in that topic (or knowledge domain) and share your learning with classmates.  There are opportunities to practice expressing your thoughts via individual reflection, online discussions, social media posting, in class debates, brief presentations (informal), formal presentations, and learning activities.  I will continuously encourage you to engage in hands-on activities and problem-solving challenges. So, I welcome you to this class and invite you to rise to the challenges ahead.