IPHS 200 Programming Humanity
TR 1:10-2:30 & 2:40-4:00
Prof. Elkins with guest Prof. Chun
Office Hours:
Professor Elkins: Tuesday & Thursday 4-5, Thursday 11-12 or by appointment
“We become what we behold. We shape our tools and then our tools shape us” – Fr. John Culkin/Marshall McLuhan
Course Description
How do we think of humanity in the digital age? Can we program humanity into our technology by generating music, analyzing vast quantities of literary text, and producing great visual works of art? Or will humans be programmed through genetic engineering, predictive policing, manipulations of social media, and domestic surveillance? Are we firmly entrenched in a Posthumanist world, and is Transhumanism a future to which we should aspire? By the end of this course you will:
- Have basic skills in Python, data visualization, data wrangling, and natural language processing.
- Gain a foundational understanding of key aspects of our Age of Information from Dataism and Information Theory to Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
- Relate this emerging picture to conversations about Humanism, Posthumanism, and Transhumanism.
- Understand how new computational tools both challenge and deepen traditional approaches to the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Fine Arts.
- Understand emerging ethical debates surrounding key technologies poised to transform humanity.
- Have a portfolio of project-based work demonstrating your computational skills with a final project of your choice.
Course Materials
Most of the materials for this course are free including your Datacamp account. However you will be required to have an AI subscription for the course. We will plan to begin as late in the semester as possible to minimize cost ($60 total).
Grades
We will be using Moodle for grades only. Please consult moodle to check on grades. All other assignments can be found on the course website (with links to relevant readings, assignments on Datacamp, etc). Homework
Please consult programminghumanity.wordpress.com for the most up-to-date information on assignments and deadlines.
Attendance
Attendance: Read carefully below; grade drops after 3 absences
25% Attendance/Participation/Preparedness (quizzes)
24 % 3 mini Projects
26% Datacamp exercises
25% Final Project Poster
There is no final exam
In accordance with standard Kenyon policy, absences greater than 25% of the class will result in a failing grade. You are allowed three absences, no questions asked, before your attendance grade drops.
These absences count as combination sick/personal days, i.e. please do not take 3 personal days and then ask for additional sick days. In cases of extreme illness or other unforeseen events, please ensure the advising office is aware and that you’ve been granted an excused absence. We will be notified accordingly.
Class Readiness/Quizzes
If class readiness becomes a problem we will have short quizzes that will test comprehension of key terms and information. Quizzes cannot be made up if you miss class. 3 quizzes will be dropped to accommodate 3 absences. Then the 3 lowest grades will be dropped.Short quizzes will test comprehension of key terms and information. Quizzes cannot be made up if you miss class. 3 quizzes will be dropped to accomodate 3 absences. Then the 3 lowest grades will be dropped.
Datacamp Assignments and Mini-Projects
You will receive a free Datacamp account with assignments due for each class session. Assignments are graded solely on completion, but you must complete them fully (i.e. no 0’s). Please make sure the checkmarks are there on each section on the outline of the course. We will also sometimes use Runestone for programming exercises. In both cases please sign in using your Kenyon email so I can track completion. Links can be found on the course website.
There are Datacamp projects that we will sometimes do, either as assigned or in class. There are also three mini projects. These will prepare you to complete a final project at the end of the semester. Those projects will cover a) telling stories with data b) tech ethics and c) exploring a story shape.
Final Project
For the final project, you may a) complete a data analysis or cultural analytics project working with numeric or linguistic data or b) create an in-depth analysis of a particular technology. b) should demonstrate understanding of both the technology and the ethical/social issues surrounding that technology.
Final Thoughts on Grades
This class is meant to be a fun and exploratory introduction. Students will bring different strengths and backgrounds to this interdisciplinary class, and the emphasis will be on developing these personal interests and competencies. If you do the work, you will do well.
Responsible Employee Information
We will be studying and/or discussing a number of issues that may cause discomfort or distress. If you wish to speak with either of us about any readings, assignments or class discussions, please understand that we may be required to report information about sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator. For confidential support, you may contact the following resources: The Health and Counseling Center, Sexual Misconduct Advisors (SMAs) the College chaplains, and staff at New Directions Domestic Abuse Shelter & Rape Crisis Center.
Statement of Academic Integrity and Disability Accommodations
At Kenyon we expect all students, at all times, to submit work that represents the highest standards of academic integrity. It is the responsibility of each student to learn and practice the proper ways of documenting and acknowledging those whose ideas and words they have drawn upon (see Academic Honesty and Questions of Plagiarism in the Course Catalog). Ignorance and carelessness are not excuses for academic dishonesty. If you are uncertain about the expectations for this class, please ask for clarification. Students with disabilities who will be taking this course and may need academic accommodations are encouraged to make an appointment to see me as soon as possible. Also, you are required to register for support services with the Office of Disability Services in the Olin Library, Center for Innovative Pedagogy.
First Day: Syllabus, Introduction
***Some coding exercises roll over into following weeks. For the most exact information, please consult Programminghumanity.wordpress.com and Datacamp
Week One– Data
Concepts: Data, Information Theory
Code: Data Science for Everyone/Data Science In Python
Ethics: Is Dataism The New Religion?
Week Two– Processing
Concepts: Algorithms, Cognitive Science and Neuroscience
Code: Runestone Chapter 4
Ethics: What is Consciousness?
Week Three– Storytelling Visualized: Persuasion and Deception
Concepts: Storytelling and Visualizations
Code: Understanding Data Visualization/Introduction to Data Science with Python
Ethics: The Good and the Bad: Data Journalism and Fake News
Week Four– Interconnecting Humanity: Network Effects
Concepts: Networks, Hacking and Cyberwarfare
Code: Introduction to Data Science with Python
Ethics: Just War Theory in the Age of Cyberwarfare
Week Five– The Language of Thought: Programming Aesthetics
Concepts: Evolution and Paradigms in Programming
Code: Introduction to Python
Ethics: Natural versus Artificial Languages
Week Six– Ro/Bots: Automating Humanity
Concepts: Cybernetics and Control Theory
Code: Intermediate Python
Ethics: UBI, Autonomous Killing Weapons, Augmenting Humans
Week Seven– Quantifying Uncertainty: Shaping Emotions
Concepts: Probabilistic Programming and Causality
Code: Hacker Statistics, DataCamp Projects (possibly Runestone)
Ethics: Can Computers Know Us Better Than Ourselves?
Week Eight– Data, the New Oil: The Surveillance State
Concepts: Databases, Big Data and The Surveillance State
Code: Data Engineering for Everyone
Ethics: The Ethics of Hacktivism
Week Nine– Models: Predicting Humanity
Concepts: Decision Tree Ensembles and Analytics Pipeline
Code: Introduction to Importing Data
Ethics: Predictive Policing
Week Ten– Natural Language: Finding Humanity in Text
Concepts: Natural Language Processing
Code: Regular Expressions in Python
Ethics: Can/Should the Humanities be Quantified?
Week Eleven– Simulations: Parallel Worlds
Concepts: Models and Game Theory
Code: TBD
Ethics: All Models are Wrong. Are They Useful?
Week Twelve– Evolving Life: Recoding Humanity
Concepts: Genetic Engineering and Brain Computer Interface
Code: Statistical Thinking in Python
Ethics: Transhumanism: Birth and Death Redefined
(Thanksgiving Break)
Week Thirteen–Social Networks: Domesticating the Social Animal
Concepts: Cognitive Biases and Cognitive Science
Code: Intermediate Importing Data
Ethics: Programming Humans
Week Fourteen—AI for the Humanities: Our Last Creation?
Concepts: Artificial Intelligence and Neuromorphic Engineering
Code: Finish up DataCamps, Work on Project
Ethics: Consequences of Superintelligence
Final Poster Due at the End of Scheduled Exam Time
For TR 1:10 Thursday December 18 at 6:30
For TR 2:40-4 Wednesday December 16 at 6:30
We are not allowed to accept projects after December 16 at 4:30 without an approved incomplete from Dean Hawks.
Programming Humanity 