DO ALL THE READING. And please do the readings prior to the class session for which they are assigned. Required books are available at Huntley Bookstore via this link. Other readings are available on Sakai. Please make sure to have the readings available during class, so that we can reference them.
ATTENDANCE. Attending class is its own reward, in terms of learning and doing well on assignments. But due to the pandemic, we recognize this can be a struggle. If you find yourself needing to miss class (especially missing several, consecutive classes), please keep us in the loop and make use of virtual office hour meetings to catch up on anything you miss. (Please refer the ATTENDANCE POLICY under THE FINE PRINT.
PARTICIPATION. Despite the difficulties the global pandemic has created, we nonetheless sincerely hope that when we’re on Zoom, everybody can participate “live,” albeit virtually, in our class discussions. Even in our current virtual environment, we all learn best when we learn together. If we’re lucky enough to meet in person later this semester, we would expect everyone to participate in our discussions in our physical classroom as well. After reading the required materials before each class, please be prepared to ask intelligent questions about those readings. We will frequently ask you direct questions about the readings. This class is not a spectator sport. Come prepared to play. If this expectation becomes an issue for you during the semester, please be proactive about reaching out to us, so that we can work together on a solution. We are confident we will be able to accommodate you!
ASSESSMENTS
1. THREE READING RESPONSES (worth 8% each for 24% total). There will be three Reading Responses. These reading responses will be on assigned readings. More information about these assignments is available under RESOURCES on Sakai.
2. THREE REFLECTION PAPERS (worth 4% each for 12% total). We will ask you to write three reflection papers: (1) the BasicProp project, (2) the Turing Test project, and (3) the Braitenberg project. These papers should be short (no more than 2 double-spaced pages), and will be graded as either completed or not completed.
3. SEARLE COMMENTARY PROJECT (worth 15%). Stay tuned for more details.
4. BOOK PROJECT (worth 20%). For this assignment, a group of students will read one of the books listed below. Each group will present for a day, leading a discussion of the themes and issues of the book. Stay tuned for more details.
- Computer Scientists/Entrepreneurs (Marcus is a former developmental psychologist): Marcus, Gary & Davis, Ernest. (2019). Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust. New York, NY: Pantheon.
- Neuroscientist: Cobb, Matthew. (2020). The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience. New York: NY.
- Philosopher: Schneider, Susan. (2019). Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
- Computer Scientist/Entrepreneur (former philosopher): Larson, Erik J. (2021). The Myth of Artificial Intelligence: Why Computers Can’t Think the Way We Do. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
5. FINAL PAPER (worth 29%). Depending on your graduating status, the final paper will be due as follows:
- Tues., May 3 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time for all graduating seniors
- Thurs., May 13 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time for all non-graduating students
TO CONCLUDE…
Your questions, comments, and answers in class reflect your engagement with the reading. Join us in class with your books, readings, notes, and thoughts, and come prepared to speak. Class participation is expected. Please come to class on time.