Course Description

What is the "social web"? A term to describe web technologies that are highly interactive, conversational and participatory? Or a term to describe future of WWW in which people are linked together in addition to documents? Why is "social web" so important? In this graduate course we will explore the theories, technologies, and issues behind and about social web. The theoretical component focuses on analytic and behavioral interactions in social web from different perspective such as social psychology, and economics. Using the insight gained from theory, the practical component of the course will focus on how to design and use social web applications. Several different social systems will be used routinely throughout the course.

Goals

• Understanding the theories behind social web
• Becoming familiar with social web technologies
• Exploring the social technologies by conducting empirical studies of several social systems
• Employing your gained knowledge by designing and implementation a social system

Formal Data

INFSCI 2955: The Social Web (Special Topics: Systems, CRN 33096)

The class meets every Tuesday from 12:00 to 2:50pm at IS 502

Readings

Students are expected to read about 2 papers every week and comment on the readings on the course blog. The comments should be submitted by Sunday 12:00 am. The list of the readings will be posted on the reading section of the website.

Weekly Coursework

• Assigned reading and response- There will be an assigned reading for every week that everyone should read and post 2 responses by Sunday midnight. The response can be an elaborated question, a critique about the paper, or a reply to earlier posts. You will use Comtella-D system to post your responses. All the response will be discussed during the class.
• Learning journal - Reflection of what you have learned about the topics covered last week, About one paragraph To be posted by the next class on your blog
• Resource sharing - Finding 2 interesting resources (a system, a video, a blog posting, a comic, etc.) related to either topics discussed every class Include a short remark describing the resource To be posted by the next class in Umtella
• Show and Tell - 2 times throughout the semester: Presents the resources you have found to class

Assignments

• Creating “About You” on Facebook
• Programming assignment using social web technologies (Before midterm)
• Comprehensive study of several social systems (Midterm)

The details of the assignments will be posted on the Assignments page of this website.

Grading

• Readings + Posting comments: 15%
• Learning Journal: 8%
• Resource Sharing: 5%
• Show and Tell: 5%
• Facebook assignment: 2%
• Programming assignment: 10%
• Systems study: 15%
• Final project: 40% for Masters students