Moodle postings (MP1-MP6)
For each of these assignments, you must read the assigned reading carefully and be ready to discuss its content in class. You must also post at least one question worthy of discussion to the relevant Moodle forum. Optionally, you may reply to others’ questions and post additional questions yourself.
Two of the required readings below refer to the following publication as “Fogel”: Producing Open Source Software: How to Run a Successful Free Software Project, by Karl Fogel (first published 2005 by O’Reilly Media; free online version updated 2019).
[The following paragraph was added on 2/8/2022.]
If you are absent from a discussion session or required event (regardless of whether your absence is excused in advance or not), you must still post a discussion question as described above, and you must write a blog post about the reading or event. In your blog post, discuss and respond to one or more of the questions posted by other students. Your post should be made publicly available online somewhere (e.g. tumblr.com). The post must be at least 800 words in length. Submit a link to your blog post to the Moodle forum. The link must be submitted within three days of our discussion session.
MP1
Required reading: Fogel Chapter
1. 6000 words; about
30 minutes’ reading.
Required reading:
- The Problem With Diversity in Computing, by Ian Bogost. Technology column of The Atlantic magazine, June 25, 2019.
- Also available as PDF on Moodle. 1500 words; about 10 minutes’ reading.
- Post discussion questions to MP1 Moodle forum.
Required event: Fireside chat with Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code. Thursday, February 10, in the Stern Center Great Room at 7 p.m.; also available on Zoom.
MP2
Required reading: Fogel Chapter 1. 6000 words; about 30 minutes’ reading. Post discussion questions to MP2 Moodle forum.
MP3
Required reading: parts of Fogel Chapter 6. The first two sections (Written Culture and You Are What You Write) are required reading. The sections on Avoiding Common Pitfalls is recommended reading. The rest of the chapter is also worthwhile and is optional extra reading. Required component: 5000 words; about 25 minutes’ reading. Post discussion questions to MP3 Moodle forum.
MP4
Required event: Lecture by Luis von Ahn, CEO of Duolingo, on Tuesday March 22 at 5pm. The location of the lecture is ATS, Dickinson College. The title of thelecture will be advised later. A discussion question based on the lecture must be posted to Moodle by 8 AM Wednesday, March 23. Post discussion questions to MP4 Moodle forum.
MP5
Required reading: selections from The Cathedral and the Bazaar: Musings on Linux and Open Source by an Accidental Revolutionary, by Eric Raymond (originally published 1999 by O’Reilly Media). Available in html at catb.org or PDF via Moodle.
The required parts of this reading are the first five sections (from “The Cathedral and the Bazaar” to “How Many Eyeballs Tame Complexity” inclusive) and the 11th section (titled “The Social Context of Open-Source Software”). However, it is recommended to read the entire document. Required portions: 7000 words; about 35 minutes’ reading. Entire document: 18000 words; about 90 minutes’ reading.
Post discussion questions to MP5 Moodle forum.
MP6
Required reading: New York Times article about the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Available directly from the New York Times website or on Moodle as a Word document. Full citation:
- E.U. Takes Aim at Big Tech’s Power With Landmark Digital Act. Adam Satariano. New York Times, March 24, 2022.
Post discussion questions to MP6 Moodle forum.