Wired: How the Internet Works and Why It Matters

- Explore methods of communication using binary numbers.
- Explain bit synchronization in serial communications.
- Collaborate to build a communication protocol using a shared wire.
- Model the function of protocols such as TCP and IP as they relate to the Physical Layer.
- Explain how the user interacts with the Application layer through protocols such as HTTP and HTTP/S.
- Create an abstract model of source to destination Internet traffic through all levels of abstraction.
- Explore risks and analyze solutions associated with content propagation.
- Discuss Internet archival at various levels of abstraction.
- Evaluate data collection methods and the risks associated with them.
- Explain how a data driven culture impacts our view of privacy.
- Compare data collection methods and privacy laws to create a usability model for the future.

This class will be graded and will contain 4 assignments (one per week). These assignments will be done outside of class time but will take around 30 minutes per week to complete. All grades and student feedback will be given through Teacher-Student feedback. 

Example: Think about your morning routine and find a real-life parallel with the simplified abstraction model that we've discussed. What part of your morning relates to the physical layer (less abstraction), the transport layer (medium amount of abstraction) and the application layer (most abstraction)? Put together a simple one page document that shows each of these parts of your routine, clearly labeled as "Physical," "Transport," and "Application." This can be done in a word processor (Google Docs, Word, etc), presentation software (PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc) or other software. Please submit as a PDF document.

Learners will be assigned a final number grade with specific commentary at the end of the course.

2 hours 45 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 0 - 1 hours per week outside of class.